Extra Credit Opportunity 3- "Why ABBA Songs Just Hit Different" by Switched on Pop

 

For this extra credit opportunity I decided to listen to a podcast episode titled, "Why ABBA Songs Just Hit Different" by Switched on Pop. The hosts open this podcast with a discussion of why ABBA is such a controversial band. Some people very much dislike this band due to their cheesy 80's synths and meaningless lyrics. Others enjoy and idolize this music due to the harmonic intricacy, and even enjoy the cheesiness of these songs. I am absolutely a constituent of the latter group. I adore the cheesy synths and arbitrary lyrics that they incorporate into their songs. I believe them to be one of the most soulful, visionary, and influential pop acts of all time. The hosts later proceed to discuss the "studio wizardry" of ABBA songs. They discuss the unbelievable variety of instruments that they incorporate into every single ABBA song. Many of the instruments are even double tracked. The songs typically start with drums, then a track with percussion enters, a subsequent bass track, a guitar, a second guitar, and then multiple pianos. This variety of instruments and double tracking gives their songs the sound of a symphony orchestra. It gives their songs a fullness and magnitude that can't be accomplished in any other way.  The drums and bass are the engine of their songs that provide a powerful driving force. To conclude, the hosts discuss the sentimentalism of ABBA's songs that pop listeners love. To show this, they played one of ABBA's newly released songs titled "I Still Have Faith in You," which is very reminiscent and almost lachrymose. This song eloquently and beautifully reminds its audience of the influence that ABBA has had on its audience and the influence that it continues to have.

Citation:

Harding, C. and Sloan, N., "Why ABBA Songs Just Hit Different." Switched on Pop., Nov. 2021. https://switchedonpop.com/episodes/why-abba-songs-just-hit-different