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June 2004

26/06/04:

Agnetha’s remixes reviewed:

Agnetha’s single has a great review at perfectbeat.com to read others click here !

You can also hear samples of every track on UKCD2.

The formula to a successful sequel to a blockbuster is always to do the exact same thing again, but “more”. And Agnetha rocks it. There’s an honesty to the lyrics that when combined with the exuberance of Agnetha’s vocals leaves you a bit stunned. Lots of little 17 year old pop stars may say similar things in their top 40 stuff, but when the same is delivered by a woman in her 50s, it comes across as comforting and powerful simplicity as opposed to empty and clich�. Almighty lend themselves to this single as well, and deliver a hands-in-the-air treatment reminds you why they’ve been around so long. The Soundfactory Club Anthem has a harder, Junior-esque feel but like Rauhofer’s mix of Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful, remains uplifting through the dark opacity. The video is included as well, which has the same duotone visuals are the single covers.

Agnetha climbs Swedish chart

Agnetha has climbed the Swedish singles charts with “When You Wlak In The Room”. After entering at number 25 last week (with “If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind” out doing it in the same week at number 22) it has now climbed all the way to number 11 and is expected to climb again next week. It has been reported from Sweden that there is a lack of the single in many stores.

The album remains at number 4 and “If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind” drops 4 places to number 26 in it’s 10th week on the chart.

“Take a look” at the Swedish singles

25/06/04:

Theatre: Mamma Mia!
By Sarah Hemming
Published: June 23 2004 17:57 | Last Updated: June 24 2004 11:43

The Prince of Wales is looking handsome these days: it’s amazing what a £7m face-lift can do. The building – what else? – has been completely refurbished and has emerged sleek, shining and spacious.

Picking up on the theatre’s 1930s origins, the foyer and bars now have an art deco feel, with plenty of cool metal and polished wood. The effect is of being on a 1930s liner, down to the tinkling white piano and disorientating stairs. The auditorium, by contrast, is all burnt sienna and copper, with comfortable seats.

Mamma Mia!, now celebrating its fifth anniversary, looks good in its gleaming new home. Mark Thompson’s clean, simple sets are set off well and the musical remains as daft and irresistible as ever.

This, you will recall, is the Abba musical, but while it features the Swedish pop group’s songs, it doesn’t tell the “Abba story” but concocts a plot that employs the songs. Catherine Johnson’s script and Phyllida Lloyd’s direction send themselves up just enough to get away with it.

So we have the tale of Sophie, who on the eve of her wedding decides to invite her three possible fathers to the event – with predictably confusing consequences. Her mother, Donna, is appalled – but a quick rendition of “Dancing Queen” from her old girlfriends soon restores her. One of the potential dads can’t express his feelings for Donna – thank goodness, then, for the lyrics of “S.O.S.” And so it goes.

The cast – the sixth – is breezy and likeable, with enjoyable performances from the fathers (Robert Hands, Dale Rapley and Simon Slater) and Donna’s brassy friends (Kim Ismay and Lara Mulcahy). Vivien Parry is very good as Donna and Alexandra Jay is sweet and fresh as Sophie. This is a feel-good show in a feel-comfortable theatre. And five stars for the capacious ladies’ loos. Tel 0870 850 0393

22/06/04:

ABBA “The Last Video” DVD info:

eil.com have a release date for the DVD with teh title “The Last Video” aswell as a tracklist and cover image:

http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=292057&from=AG01D117

Release date:
July 5th 2004 (UK)

Tracklist:
1. Our Last Video Ever
2. Take A Chance On Me
3. Dancing Queen
4. Waterloo
5. The Winner Takes It All
6. Bonus Material
7. Picture Gallery

20/06/04:

BAO! pics and listen to samples from the album
Weblink

Here are some pics and info from mono music about the new Benny Andersson Orkester CD “BAO!”:

You can listen to samples here: http://www.monomusic.se/baoskiva2_2.html

BENNY ANDERSSONS ORKESTER är: BENNY ANDERSSON Piano, Dragspel, Synclavier GÖRAN ARNBERG Tramporgel, Spinett JANNE BENGTSON Flöjt, Krumhorn, Barytonsax, Blockflöjt PÄR GREBACKEN Klarinett, Altsax, Tenorsax, Blockflöjter LEIF GÖRAS Fiol, Cello, Mandolin (NILS-ERIK) NICKE GÖTHE Fiol, Mandolin (JAN-ANDERS) JOGGA ERNLUND Kontrabas

CALLE JACOBSSON Tuba, Ventilbasun LEIF LINDVALL Trumpet KALLE MORAEUS Gitarr, Banjo, Solomandolin, Fiol, Sång ”Midnattsdans” OLLE MORAEUS Fiol, Viola, Mandolin (PER-ERIK) PERRA MORAEUS Fiol, Mandolin LARS RUDOLFSSON Dragspel HELEN SJÖHOLM Sång ”Du Är Min Man”, ”Midnattsdans”, ” Skenbart”, ”Saknadens Rum”, ”Kärlekens Tid” JÖRGEN STENBERG Trummor, Slagverk

Details on new Benny Anderssons Orkester CD

Here is the full track listing of Benny’s new cd “BAO!”

Glasgow Boogie / En Dans På Rosor / Du Är Min Man (lyrics Björn Ulvaeus and sung by Helen Sjöholm) / Vitalins Vals / På En Solskenspromenad / Jehu / Midnattsdans (lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus and sung by Helen Sjöholm & Kalle Moraeus / Riks1:an / Julvals / Skenbart (lyrics Peter Dalle and sung by Helen Sjöholm) / Trettondagspolkan / Stora Skuggan / Saknadens Rum (lyrics Ylva Eggehorn and sung by Helen Sjöholm) / Kärlekens Tid (lyrics Ylva Eggehorn and sung by Helen Sjöholm & Duvemalakören).

To the Swedish radio stations a single has been sent “Du Är Min Man”. The cd album will be released on June 23rd.

Benny Anderssons Orkester will appear on Swedish Television in “Allsång på Skansen” on August 10th – together with Helen and Tommy Korberg.

The Benny Andersson Orkester tour is as follows:

August 6th – Galejan, Skansen, Stockholm
August 7th – Stadsparken, Örebro
August 8th – Sofiero, Helsingborg
August 11th – Sammilsdal, Leksand
August 12th – Läckö Slott, Lidköping
August 13th – Trädgårdsföreningen, Göteborg

Thanks to ABBF Fan club site

Helen Sjöholm Website

“Our Last Video Ever” release

HMV.co.uk have, what appears to be “Our Last Video Ever” available for pre-order on DVD. It is listed as ABBA – “My Last Video” here are the other details:

Availability: available for pre-order only
Release date: 19-7-2004
Number of Discs: 1
Catalogue Number: 9867154
Label: POLYDOR

http://www2.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=285;5;-1;-1&sku=197290

 

Agnetha enters UK singles chart…..

at number 34 with her new single “When You Walk In The Room”. this means that it is her second highest charting single so far.

On the BBC Radio 1 chart show, presented by Wes he had quite a bit to say about Agnetha Faltskurg; her last single “If I Thought I’d Ever Change your Mind” entered at number 11 and this is her new single “When You Walk In The Door”.

18/06/04:

Confusion over Agnetha’s midweek

There seems to be some confusion over Agnetha’s midweek position. The first rport on Tuesday morning was number 35, but after just one day of sales and that didn’t include online or HMV sales. Now another number has arisen, number 24 in the midweek. Nobody seems to know, the single seems to be selling well on online stores and at my local stores so it may be a top 20 after all !

Fantastic review of “When You Walk In The Room”

Although it seemed the single had gone un-noticed here in the UK, maybe not. Here is a fantastic review from dotmusic.com which gives it 9 out of 10. Also Virgin today had no copies left and HMV very few, could it be the top 20 ?

Here is the review:

Agnetha Faltskog – ‘When You Walk In The Room’
(Friday June 18, 2004 11:11 AM )
Weblink

Released on 14/06/04
Label: WEA

The critical rehabilitation of Abba from kitsch novelties to chinstroke-worthy geniuses is as welcome as it is appropriate. Inevitably, though, the kudos have been bestowed on the band’s beardy songwriting half, all their flares’n’hair fashion crimes forgiven. At the same time, the view persists that any random pair of Scandinavian babes in teensy shorts could’ve served up the warbling.

Amongst all this bigging-up-the-boys theorising, it’s awfully satisfying to note that one of the brightest jewels in Agnetha Faltskog ‘s first album in yonks is not only stone-cold great rather than merely good, but a triumphant collaboration between two women. Doing the songwriting talents of Brill Building classicist Jackie De Shannon full justice in a big, swelling, drum-driven, horn-brightened production, Faltskog ‘s joyous delivery sounds absolutely timeless.

The song’s not new, the arrangement is gloriously, deliberately retro and Agnetha ‘s probably no longer wearing hotpants. But even with no beards involved, this is easily a match for the stuff Bjorn and Benny got all the chinstroking credit for.

by Jennifer Nine

Vote for your favourite “When You Walk In The Room” remix

We have changed the poll in the FromFeatures section. You can now vote for your favourite remix from the new “When You Walk In The Room” singles. These are based on the UK tracklists.

UK CD1:
1. When You Walk In The Room – Original version (3:35)
2. When You Walk In The Room – Radio Version (3:18)

UK CD2:
1. When You Walk In The Room – Original version (3:35)
2. When You Walk In The Room – SoundFactory Radio Edit (3:46)
3. When You Walk In The Room – SoundFactory Club Anthem (8:42)
4. When You Walk In The Room – SoundFactory Dub Instrumental (8:39)
5. When You Walk In The Room – Almighty Mix (6:34)
6. When You Walk In The Room – Almighty Dub (6:32)

Not in UK ? – You can STILL contribute to Agnetha on the chart !

If you live outside the UK but still want to contribute to Agnetha on the charts then you can. Remember online sales only count IF you have a UK address. Here in the UK “When You Walk In The Room” single will be released. We are offering to send 10 people (not in UK) their own copy of the single, this way it contributes to Agnetha in the chart. The conditions are below:

1. You must live outside the UK
2. You must be able to pay for all items and the postage
3. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PAY BY PAYPAL
4. Serious buyers only !

Give us a mail now to get your name on the list !

The list is slowly filling but we have lots more space !

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LIST

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