Björn and Agnetha commenting on "The Winner Takes It All": Björn: "It is the experience of a divorce, but it's fiction. There wasn't a winner or a loser in our case. A lot of people think it's straight out of reality, but it's not" "I sang a demo of it myself which a lot of people liked and said, you have to sing that. But I saw the sensible thing of course, it had to go to Agnetha. I remember coming to the studio with it and everyone said, Oh this is great, wonderful It was strange hearing her singing it. It was more like an actress doing something when she sang it, but deeply moving. Afterwards there were a few tears as well." "Usually it's not a good idea to write when you're drunk, but it all came out on that one. By the time I wrote 'The gods may throw their dice' the bottle was empty." Agnetha: "... The fact that he wrote it exactly when we divorced is touching really. It was fantastic to do that song because I could put in such feeling. I didn't mind sharing it with the public. It didn't feel wrong. There is so much in that song. It was a mixture of what I felt and what Björn felt... "
Yes, thank you for sharing. For 30 years or so, I always knew this song was deeply emotional and connected to the band. Now I know the whole story and it all makes sense. Thanks again.
Bjorn just said what he said for the press, but he wrote it one night, drunk, after she dumped him. His revenge was to reverse the lyrics and get her to sing it with the roles reversed. Not that she was a winner, Agnetha left Bjorn after he did not not respect her efforts to put motherhood first. Its complicated.
@@darrelljebb4544 And George Harrison sang "Something" with Eric Clapton, the man who "stole" his wife (the wife he wrote "Something" for) … Artists are weird. They see pain as an opportunity to create art
@@KeithGadget Sure, although I'm going to guess you don't actually mean "incestuous" unless they were related? …. Perhaps promiscuous or licentious or even the more positive "variety": polyamorous :) … being in a real life sit-com... is another way of putting it... ;)
Bjorn, in purple, wrote it for Agnetha to sing, about THEIR divorce. That woman should have a fricking medal. She nailed it unfathomably. And he’s smiling away, oblivious...❤️💔❤️
@@OlgaPogozheva LOL! Trolly! Poor little helpless me?😁 "Cruel beyond compare." - Nothing new under the sun - understand, adapt - it's objective reality. Get some sunglasses or embrace existence as eternally victimised - we are all treated same - on that level inside that realm. 😎 czcams.com/video/L_hK7HjmwVQ/video.html But yeah - hurt - it's a bugger - beauty of life! 🙀 ❤ czcams.com/video/aEuWVHzRWpo/video.html IT IS - WHAT IT IS
@@atomicbong7597 I think you are mentally ill, so I'll just pity you, poor deranged baby, who obviously was somehow abused and tries to project his insecurities upon random people on the web. I hope you'll find some peace someday, poor thing.
@@OlgaPogozheva Thank you for your framing 'this' as to the 'other'. I'd rather learn the hidden aspect of 'self' - to see it for what 'it' is in me - through honest expression of what you see - than to keep myself slave to my fears and denials - too afraid to show my true self - in hopes of learning to understand - who I am. Thank you for sharing your observation with me - not faking it cruelly like most everybody else. It will take time - for me to truely appreciate and embrace what you say in full - but I will know that I would not be able to see what is true in me - without embracing your view in full. Judge me for what I am with labels. Know what is mine to suffer - I surrender to the force that will heal me and help me overcome my limits. I am servant - and in debt - for what I will evolve and become - is in no small part enabled by those with grace and mercy in the likes of you. Thank you - for not being cruel. 💞 czcams.com/video/d_HlPboLRL8/video.html
@@marianorman6640 I totally agree. The song is beautifully written and she sings it so beautifully, and it doesn't really do him any favours, so maybe he also realised he was a fool.
@@llamaskank as far as I know, there was another story. They had different oppinion about further life - he wanted to prolong the career, but she wanted to have a good family
A few facts about The Winner Takes It All: - It originally had the title "The Story of My Life" - Björn needed a strong drink to be able to complete the song - It was, and still is Agnetha's favourite ABBA song - The song topped the chart in the UK in 1980, and peaked at number 8 in the US. It also reached number one in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Africa. It only reached number two in the bands native country, Sweden 😐 - The music video was recorded just 10 days after their divorce was finalized
@@oliviarogers3559 don't trust Wikipedia, trust us swedes. I'm a swede who (as most of us) grew up on Abba. One of the two first records I've got from my father when I was 3-4 years old was the Abba Album Ring Ring, I don't remember getting it but remember dancing and singing to it. Check this out: In this interview Agnetha states that it actually was written about their relationship/divorce. And that it also included parts regarding Anni-Frid and Bennys divorce. Try Google translate if you want the details. Nu berättar dock Agneta Fältskog i en stor intervju med tidningens You Magazine att låten visst handlar om uppbrottet - och att det är hennes favoritlåt med Abba. - Björn skrev den om oss efter att vårt äktenskap gick i kras. Det faktum att han skrev den precis när vi skilde oss är rörande faktiskt. Det gjorde mig inget. Det var fantastiskt att göra den låten eftersom jag kunde lägga in så mycket känsla, säger hon till tidningen.Hon berättar att låten även kom att skildrade bandkollegorna Anni-Frid Lyngstad och Benny Anderssons skilsmässa samt hur hon kände inför att lämna ut så mycket av sig själv i låten www.expressen.se/noje/skilsmassolaten-ar-faltskogs-favorit/
@@deportedsouls3165 Wikipedia is right on this - it is indeed fiction, although inspired by Björn's and Agnetha's own experiences during the divorce. //Another Swede (that has spoken to Ulvaeus about it).
@@deportedsouls3165 Given that it was Björn who wrote the song, I think statements by him as to what moved him are a bit more reliable - Agnetha might have seen something in the song that he didn't, all the more given how hard the divorce hit her.
@@deportedsouls3165 Well, interpretation is always subjective and the author doesn't control the interpretation of his work - for HER, it might have very much been about their specific divorce, but it seems for HIM, that wasn't the intention. Though in any case, her feelings and interpretation certainly would have influenced her delivery, and as such, your interpretation could be considered correct inasmuch as it concerns the song AS SUNG by her.
The beauty of this song is that it came right from the heart, it wasn't nasty or full with vengeance. It is just sad so freaking sad, that i almost felt guilty as a man.
This song reminds me of when me and my former wife were told to pick up a newborn little girl from the hospital because her parents weren't able to take care of her.., That was our job as a foster family.., We had 3 kids of our own and they all loved her like it was their little sister ❤️ After 3 years the authorities called and said that the father of the girl now was ready to take care of her, allthough we were told at her birth that it was never gonna happen.., We all lost a part of our hearts the day we had to give her away to her biological father - and our family never was the same again.., Our marriage didn't last and we never really talked about it since.., The little girl always is in my heart and I hope She is fine and one day will look me up of she finds out about her childhood. I love you Maja 🇩🇰❤️ And I miss my wife
This is just one of the many songs I listened to when I was just a child and didn't really think of the lyrics. Listening to it as an adult, it hits you, don't it?
@@digbyinthedoghouse7455 Indeed. On a lighter note, imagine singing along to 'Kisses of Fire' as a child of 10 yrs old. 'I've had my share of love affairs and they were nothing compared to this..' ...lol.
You're right Louisa. I was in my twenties when ABBA was at their peak and I remember singing along with them, but now the lyrics strike a deeper chord within me. Like Karen Carpenter.....so many of the songs she sang were like an autobiography of herself, but I never thought that at the time.
I was always a Classic 70s rock guy, but even in high school in the 70s, everyone I knew had ABBA. It was supposed to not be cool. but they just were too good to ignore. now, they are at the top of my play list.
And that's one of many reasons why high school sucks ass. Peer pressure trying to dictate what you should and shouldn't listen to in music is just complete bullshit. Listen to what you want to. Fuck everyone who disagrees. If only we all knew at the time that school popularity didn't mean anything outside of school once school's over lol.
Written in classical minor (mineur) with voices of all four and female voices were double dubbed at a higher pitch (higher notes). Then you get the typical full harmonic ABBA sound.
@@masculineguy37 Back in the late 80's I was told by a studiotechnician they used something novel back then called 'exciter' - I thought it was compressor/de-esser - but your "double dubbed at a higher pitch" comment seem to spark my memory to be closer description. TY 👌
Chills... literal chills. I love ABBA!!! I would sell everything to see them in concert. I went to see a tribute band with my mom and she was shocked I knew all the songs. She’s like... you really love ABBA... ah yeah mom, they are my spirit animals.
I recall being a child and listening to these lyrics knowing squat about love, relationships and divorce or heartbreak and bawling my eyes out. After living life for 53 years, this song doesn't nget easier to listen to. It's heart-wrenching. I can't imagine writing and performing something like this. It's either brave or masochistic, lol.
This is one of the greatest breakup song ever, specially when the ex-husband is the lyricist and playing guitar standing right next to you and his ex-wife is singing it!! It brings tears to my eyes every time I listen!!
"The judges will decide, the likes of me abide". Band member (on guitar) Björn Ulveaus who was married to Agneta 1971-78, wrote those lyrics for his ex wife.
The loser has to fall! Such an awesome song! And yea, they were still good friends and remained professional even though they were divorcing. Beautiful voice indeed!
@@jamelakajamal Yep yep! The opposite of the members of Fleetwood Mac...read up on their story someday. They went through same stuff except they broke up and wrote solo songs that took jabs at each other. crazy
@@shawnschroeder549 Actually Fleetwood Mac stayed together after the McVies divorced and Stevie and Lindsey ended their relationship. That was around 1977. Although they did write songs about each other like "Go Your Own Way" the lineup stayed together for another 10 years until Lindsey left in 1987. Then they all reunited in the late 90s.
This is a beautiful heart breaking song sung by a beautiful woman.who IS WEARING CLOTHES. Gone are the days when a a beautiful woman kept her clothes on and relied on her voice to sell a song.
Not every. Not even most. She's definitely pretty. But some people are just not attracted to blonde white women. Stop holding this up as the standard of beauty.
@@megavega4 It's just a way to emphasise how popular she was back then, he/she doesn't actually mean that she was EVERY persons dream girl. This should be quite easy to understand if you're above the age of 15
@@timiniho these days I don't assume anything. People love to push their dogma around. If you have a barely functioning brain you should be able to observe that for yourself.
When I watch these video's it's like watch a person hearing music for the first, I never thought of just how much the younger generation really missed out on, makes a person think and appreciate what we had back in the day.
ABBA were the bain of my rock n roll years as a teen - thankfully, I grew up and appreciate now both their pop sensibility as song writers and their pure talent as songers, arrangers and performers. Songs like this one, SOS, Fernando and Mamma Mia are just pop perfection.
The back story is one thing, but WOW. HER VOICE... crisp live recordings are worth everything with a voice like that. I'm 52 now and still can't shake off the teenage crush I had for her..
43 years have passed and this song still pushes on my heart, now that I have a few breakups under my belt to fully understand it. The song also shines a light on our Western focus on our feelings today; as it sings of the strain we endure while sublimating them. A global masterpiece.
The group basically played out their divorces in their music. For all the world to see. I don't know how they did it but they were brilliant. Such raw emotions there.
Such an Angelic voice, LOVE This band. Your commentary is Hysterical, when you asked " Is that him there, in the purple suit" I just Busted my side's!!! 😁🙈💜
One of the absolute most POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL songs EVER! Every word, every line and every phrase of music: Perfection. Her voice here is just incredible. The complete song just sweeps you away like nothing else. Just incredible.
This song always gets me in tears, like every damn time I listen to it. It's indeed the greatest heartbreaking song in history of music! Thanks for reacting to this particular song, man. I really appreciate it. And do more ABBA please!!
I remember her saying she had had enough waking up and not even knowing what country she was in. Not only was she an international star but she was the mum of young children and the bulk of the responsibility of looking after the babies was on her too. She would have been exhausted.
If you want to react to something different check out this czcams.com/video/3sjh6Hq2QmY/video.html It is Spångaforsens Brus by the Swedish band Råg i Ryggen....Swedish prog from 1975 :D The å is pronounced almost like the o in fog ^^
They were able to convey emotions in many different songs whether the songs involved them or not. I felt that there were other songs that may have caused them to think about how they would feel a sad situation in a particular song. “Knowing Me Knowing You” was one of those songs. Thanks for another Great reaction! You show such sympathy and empathy for those who have gone through very rough times in their lives.
Man, this is the best reaction to this song i ve ever seen. Thank you ! They had another divorce, Frida & Benny. "When all is said and done" was the result. You should listen to !
As a child growing up on a housing estate in the south, UK, my childhood was saturated in ABBA when they were actually ABBA making history. Whenever I listen to them today, I'm filled with a craving to return to the 70s. To leave this crazy, not what I thought it would be, future and return to more beautiful and innocent times. I knew, even back then as a child, that ABBA and their music was something special. I wish I had a time machine.
From what I understand, this song was kind of about the break up of both marriages. Agnetha (the singer) & Bjorn (on her right with the guitar) were going thru a break up and I think that the other 2 (Frida & Benny (pianist)) were as well. You can see the pain in Agnetha's eyes as she is singing. 👍👍
ABBA - The letters are for each of the 4 member's first names. Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid. The two married couples formed this group in 1971 (from Sweden). The dark haired lady was married to the dude with the beard, playing piano. The blonde was married to the dude on guitar. they have had numerous chart topping hits on music charts all around the world. Their songs are so unique from each other. Most groups/bands you can tell their "signature sound" but ABBA were such talented innovators that they dove into all different sounding genres of music. Check out Fernando, S.O.S., Does your mother know, Take a chance on me, Waterloo, Chiquitita, & Mamma Mia
Best break song ever. Super super hiper mega deep. The 80's are unmatched and Abba too. Portugal here for the Goat Eminem always since day one and forever but also for other legendary good stuff. Thanks for reacting. Salutes.
I always felt like she was talking about the death of a love that took the two of them to the heights of great love and the agony and loss of the end of their love.
Bjorn denies the song is about his and Agnetha's divorce, saying the basis of the song "is the experience of a divorce, but it's fiction. 'Cause one thing I can say is that there wasn't a winner or a loser in our case. A lot of people think it's straight out of reality, but it's not". Bjorn admits that the sad experience of his and Agnetha's divorce the previous year left its mark on the lyrics--- Hmmm ....
Agnetha had/has such an amazing voice - and she and Frida were able to blend their voices so well. Of course, having such great music and lyrics to work with doesn't hurt. I really enjoy your reactions, so carry on!
This is the only reaction from a guy I've seen so far who actually felt the emotion of this song. The other guys have only touched on the performance, voice, lyrics & beat of the music (which are all amazing by the way!) but all these amazing combinationd should move a person to the sadness she's singing.
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" is their best tune, but they have LOTS of great tunes! Love your reactions - they're so diverse! I just watched some of your RUSH reactions (my favorite band) and now this - this is great stuff!
When All Is Said And Done is a fantastic song. More energetic and with a message of accepting both your past together and your future living apart (or possibly living in parallel as happens with exes who are still friends).
Yes, Björn, the purple suit guy did write the lyrics about their divorce. He has said later that there were no winners in the divorce. Fact is though that he remarried a literal copy of his first wife and that Agnetha has remarried, divorced and have had several relationships but nothing that have lasted. This is her favourite Abba song.
@@mikaelmm1 yes and they are really picky about letting their songs be sampled. The first group they let sample their music were The Fugees and it was their song name of the game, but I can't remember the name of the fugees song but they had a music video for it and John forte was in it.
"Is that him?? The dude in the purple suit, that she's singing about?" Yes that is her (ex)husband. The two couples supposedly had an agreement to keep their personal lives and issues separate from the entity known as ABBA. Personally I don't know if I could do that...practicing this song, recording it and repeatedly playing it over and over in concert. Hats off to them. For me it'd be: "Tell me does she kiss, like I used to kiss you" "That's right, she does that and more. I left you and the kids because she's kinky!" Heh heh....j/k
agnetha said it was therapeutic for her to sing this song. but at the same time, it was difficult. it is her favorite abba song. bjorn said it was not specifically about their divorce, but he did say that their divorced influenced the lyrics.
Both couples split about that time, and the band just broke up a few after....sadly...by the way Agnetha and Frida are with no doubt two of the greatest voices in pop history....good reaction man!..👍🏻
I grew up with this album, and I love every song on it. You have picked one of my favorite songs to react to. Thank you so much for this. You rock dude!
The song is about a woman who meets her ex and reflects on their relationship in which she "Played by the rules" and still got cheated on. I love the line "Spectators of the show, always staying low" meaning mutual friends who watched it all play out and kept their heads down and mouths shut so as not to be seen to taking sides. Many have covered this song but nobody will ever sing it like Agnetha does , she own's it. Voice of an angel.
Their songs still stand the test of time as classic masterpieces. Thank you ABBA. I was a little boy when they were at their highest and still love all their hits.
Björn and Agnetha commenting on "The Winner Takes It All":
Björn:
"It is the experience of a divorce, but it's fiction. There wasn't a winner or a loser in our case. A lot of people think it's straight out of reality, but it's not"
"I sang a demo of it myself which a lot of people liked and said, you have to sing that. But I saw the sensible thing of course, it had to go to Agnetha. I remember coming to the studio with it and everyone said, Oh this is great, wonderful It was strange hearing her singing it. It was more like an actress doing something when she sang it, but deeply moving. Afterwards there were a few tears as well."
"Usually it's not a good idea to write when you're drunk, but it all came out on that one. By the time I wrote 'The gods may throw their dice' the bottle was empty."
Agnetha:
"... The fact that he wrote it exactly when we divorced is touching really. It was fantastic to do that song because I could put in such feeling. I didn't mind sharing it with the public. It didn't feel wrong. There is so much in that song. It was a mixture of what I felt and what Björn felt... "
These quotations really add so much to the song. Thank you for sharing them!
Yes, thank you for sharing. For 30 years or so, I always knew this song was deeply emotional and connected to the band. Now I know the whole story and it all makes sense. Thanks again.
Bjorn just said what he said for the press, but he wrote it one night, drunk, after she dumped him. His revenge was to reverse the lyrics and get her to sing it with the roles reversed. Not that she was a winner, Agnetha left Bjorn after he did not not respect her efforts to put motherhood first. Its complicated.
@DANIEL Olsen That may be correct, but it doesn't really matter as it doesn't need to be "true" to be emotional and to touch the heart...
Some great songs from heartbreak
WOW. Her voice is a sucker punch right to the heart. This brought tears to my eyes.
You’ve never heard it before this? 😮
"They were performing while getting a divorce?" Someone should tell him about Fleetwood Mac.
Also "Suppers ready ", Gabriel wrote it after his wife cheated on him with a roadie, and debuted it with them both in attendance.
@@darrelljebb4544 And George Harrison sang "Something" with Eric Clapton, the man who "stole" his wife (the wife he wrote "Something" for)
… Artists are weird. They see pain as an opportunity to create art
Cybrludite yeah but the Mac is the most incestuous group. Most of the members had either married our coupled-up with each other 😂
@@KeithGadget Sure, although I'm going to guess you don't actually mean "incestuous" unless they were related?
…. Perhaps promiscuous or licentious or even the more positive "variety": polyamorous :)
… being in a real life sit-com... is another way of putting it... ;)
Buggersaurus Rex I just Googled this and saw Grace. Where do I stand in line to wait my turn?
Bjorn, in purple, wrote it for Agnetha to sing, about THEIR divorce. That woman should have a fricking medal. She nailed it unfathomably. And he’s smiling away, oblivious...❤️💔❤️
"F**ked Up!!
I can't believe he made her sing that song. Cruel beyond compare.
@@OlgaPogozheva
LOL! Trolly! Poor little helpless me?😁
"Cruel beyond compare." - Nothing new under the sun - understand, adapt - it's objective reality.
Get some sunglasses or embrace existence as eternally victimised - we are all treated same - on that level inside that realm.
😎
czcams.com/video/L_hK7HjmwVQ/video.html
But yeah - hurt - it's a bugger - beauty of life! 🙀
❤
czcams.com/video/aEuWVHzRWpo/video.html
IT IS - WHAT IT IS
@@atomicbong7597 I think you are mentally ill, so I'll just pity you, poor deranged baby, who obviously was somehow abused and tries to project his insecurities upon random people on the web. I hope you'll find some peace someday, poor thing.
@@OlgaPogozheva
Thank you for your framing 'this' as to the 'other'.
I'd rather learn the hidden aspect of 'self' - to see it for what 'it' is in me - through honest expression of what you see - than to keep myself slave to my fears and denials - too afraid to show my true self - in hopes of learning to understand - who I am.
Thank you for sharing your observation with me - not faking it cruelly like most everybody else.
It will take time - for me to truely appreciate and embrace what you say in full - but I will know that I would not be able to see what is true in me - without embracing your view in full.
Judge me for what I am with labels. Know what is mine to suffer - I surrender to the force that will heal me and help me overcome my limits.
I am servant - and in debt - for what I will evolve and become - is in no small part enabled by those with grace and mercy in the likes of you.
Thank you - for not being cruel.
💞
czcams.com/video/d_HlPboLRL8/video.html
Oh my what a voice! This song made me cry 40 years ago, and still does today!
So true i was born when this song was nr 1 in Holland
Meryl Streep did a fantastic job on it as well in Mamma Mia, so much later!
This brings back so many bitter sweet memories of a love that couldn't be - that goes on to this day ❤️
Smoking hot too!
@@MrCRayAnderson I said the same thing. I actually LOVED Meryl's version!
one of the most beautiful voices in music history......UNDENIABLE
Indeed! She's my all time favourite singer ever!!! Got to love her!! 👍👍❤❤
Exactly! She always take me to tears!!
With Karen carpenters
Truth! I have heard several so called legendary vocalists fail this song.
Agneta Fältskog...unmatched to this day.
Agnetha and Frida have two of the best voices in music history. Even in their live performances...flawless and epic.
The guitarist was her husband and he wrote the song for her to sing. He betrayed her and there is a brutal honesty here. She is a fantastic singer.
But he was a fool.
@@marianorman6640 I totally agree. The song is beautifully written and she sings it so beautifully, and it doesn't really do him any favours, so maybe he also realised he was a fool.
Betrayed Agnetha with her close friend / personal assistant / nanny. And then married the woman.
You are essentially correct. It’s more complex that that, but you are right. So sad. 😢
@@llamaskank as far as I know, there was another story. They had different oppinion about further life - he wanted to prolong the career, but she wanted to have a good family
A few facts about The Winner Takes It All:
- It originally had the title "The Story of My Life"
- Björn needed a strong drink to be able to complete the song
- It was, and still is Agnetha's favourite ABBA song
- The song topped the chart in the UK in 1980, and peaked at number 8 in the US. It also reached number one in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Africa.
It only reached number two in the bands native country, Sweden 😐
- The music video was recorded just 10 days after their divorce was finalized
Björn, in the purple suit, wrote the lyrics for Agnetha to sing.
And yes it was about their divorce.
@@oliviarogers3559 don't trust Wikipedia, trust us swedes.
I'm a swede who (as most of us) grew up on Abba.
One of the two first records I've got from my father when I was 3-4 years old was the Abba Album Ring Ring, I don't remember getting it but remember dancing and singing to it.
Check this out:
In this interview Agnetha states that it actually was written about their relationship/divorce. And that it also included parts regarding Anni-Frid and Bennys divorce.
Try Google translate if you want the details.
Nu berättar dock Agneta Fältskog i en stor intervju med tidningens You Magazine att låten visst handlar om uppbrottet - och att det är hennes favoritlåt med Abba.
- Björn skrev den om oss efter att vårt äktenskap gick i kras. Det faktum att han skrev den precis när vi skilde oss är rörande faktiskt. Det gjorde mig inget. Det var fantastiskt att göra den låten eftersom jag kunde lägga in så mycket känsla, säger hon till tidningen.Hon berättar att låten även kom att skildrade bandkollegorna Anni-Frid Lyngstad och Benny Anderssons skilsmässa samt hur hon kände inför att lämna ut så mycket av sig själv i låten
www.expressen.se/noje/skilsmassolaten-ar-faltskogs-favorit/
@@deportedsouls3165 Wikipedia is right on this - it is indeed fiction, although inspired by Björn's and Agnetha's own experiences during the divorce. //Another Swede (that has spoken to Ulvaeus about it).
@@deportedsouls3165
Given that it was Björn who wrote the song, I think statements by him as to what moved him are a bit more reliable - Agnetha might have seen something in the song that he didn't, all the more given how hard the divorce hit her.
@@ohauss Well, perhaps I was wrong then.
@@deportedsouls3165 Well, interpretation is always subjective and the author doesn't control the interpretation of his work - for HER, it might have very much been about their specific divorce, but it seems for HIM, that wasn't the intention. Though in any case, her feelings and interpretation certainly would have influenced her delivery, and as such, your interpretation could be considered correct inasmuch as it concerns the song AS SUNG by her.
The beauty of this song is that it came right from the heart, it wasn't nasty or full with vengeance. It is just sad so freaking sad, that i almost felt guilty as a man.
This song reminds me of when me and my former wife were told to pick up a newborn little girl from the hospital because her parents weren't able to take care of her.., That was our job as a foster family.., We had 3 kids of our own and they all loved her like it was their little sister ❤️ After 3 years the authorities called and said that the father of the girl now was ready to take care of her, allthough we were told at her birth that it was never gonna happen.., We all lost a part of our hearts the day we had to give her away to her biological father - and our family never was the same again.., Our marriage didn't last and we never really talked about it since.., The little girl always is in my heart and I hope She is fine and one day will look me up of she finds out about her childhood. I love you Maja 🇩🇰❤️ And I miss my wife
This song always breaks my heart.
Melissa Krueger and yet we listen to it over and over and over again😱😭😭😭😭😩😩😩
Anyone feeling sad and hurt after the break-up of a long relationship can relate to this song.
Yep. :)
Most definitely ..
And I did.
Oh yes 😥💔
For sure.
I can't believe she sang that. Strong woman to do that. You rock Agnetha!!!!! God bless you!!!!! You got it Jamel.
One of the best voices in all of music. Even though she didn't really like performing live, she was fantastic at it.
This is just one of the many songs I listened to when I was just a child and didn't really think of the lyrics. Listening to it as an adult, it hits you, don't it?
Hits very hard indeed...
The lyrics to Knowing Me Knowing You are absolutely brutal.
"In these old familiar rooms
where children would play
Now there's only emptiness..."
@@digbyinthedoghouse7455 Indeed. On a lighter note, imagine singing along to 'Kisses of Fire' as a child of 10 yrs old. 'I've had my share of love affairs and they were nothing compared to this..' ...lol.
@@yeesintx7 Kisses of Fire is about what it feels like when a woman has someone perform oral sex on her! It's a long way from Dancing Queen.
You're right Louisa. I was in my twenties when ABBA was at their peak and I remember singing along with them, but now the lyrics strike a deeper chord within me. Like Karen Carpenter.....so many of the songs she sang were like an autobiography of herself, but I never thought that at the time.
I was always a Classic 70s rock guy, but even in high school in the 70s, everyone I knew had ABBA. It was supposed to not be cool. but they just were too good to ignore. now, they are at the top of my play list.
And that's one of many reasons why high school sucks ass. Peer pressure trying to dictate what you should and shouldn't listen to in music is just complete bullshit.
Listen to what you want to. Fuck everyone who disagrees. If only we all knew at the time that school popularity didn't mean anything outside of school once school's over lol.
Their use of emotional chords and notes in this song is just epic.
Written in classical minor (mineur) with voices of all four and female voices were double dubbed at a higher pitch (higher notes). Then you get the typical full harmonic ABBA sound.
@@masculineguy37
Back in the late 80's I was told by a studiotechnician they used something novel back then called 'exciter' - I thought it was compressor/de-esser - but your "double dubbed at a higher pitch" comment seem to spark my memory to be closer description.
TY 👌
Chills... literal chills. I love ABBA!!! I would sell everything to see them in concert. I went to see a tribute band with my mom and she was shocked I knew all the songs. She’s like... you really love ABBA... ah yeah mom, they are my spirit animals.
I LOVE that comment
Boo Radley
ABBA Is supposed to tour in 2022.
They have enough songs for an upcoming album. A few tracts were just recently released.
I recall being a child and listening to these lyrics knowing squat about love, relationships and divorce or heartbreak and bawling my eyes out. After living life for 53 years, this song doesn't nget easier to listen to. It's heart-wrenching. I can't imagine writing and performing something like this. It's either brave or masochistic, lol.
ABBA is so dear to my heart. 🥺❤️
This kind of high heavy caliber of artists must be respected forever
The voice of an angel! It used to send shivers down my spine as a 10 year old kid when Abba songs played
As a wise man said a while back "to sing the blues you got to live the dues".
I love ABBA! I love their voices and never get tired of listening to them.
Abba was Princess Diana's favorite group
Me neither, and I am now 66 and veteran of the prog rock listening era.
In this song Agneta really is given the chance to show what a powerful voice she had. Fantastic!
This is one of the greatest breakup song ever, specially when the ex-husband is the lyricist and playing guitar standing right next to you and his ex-wife is singing it!! It brings tears to my eyes every time I listen!!
I thought the husband was the one on the piano.
@@13dma1rz On the piano yes
The genius of ABBA, truly they were a phenomenon
"The judges will decide,
the likes of me abide".
Band member (on guitar) Björn Ulveaus who was married to Agneta 1971-78, wrote those lyrics for his ex wife.
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" is another extremely famous and influential break up/divorce song from ABBA. I really recommend you to check it out.
1970s.. better than most music these days. Way befor their time.. great reaction. Thank you ❤
The loser has to fall! Such an awesome song! And yea, they were still good friends and remained professional even though they were divorcing. Beautiful voice indeed!
That’s Some Serious Adulting 🙏🏾
@@jamelakajamal Yep yep! The opposite of the members of Fleetwood Mac...read up on their story someday. They went through same stuff except they broke up and wrote solo songs that took jabs at each other. crazy
@@shawnschroeder549 Actually Fleetwood Mac stayed together after the McVies divorced and Stevie and Lindsey ended their relationship. That was around 1977. Although they did write songs about each other like "Go Your Own Way" the lineup stayed together for another 10 years until Lindsey left in 1987. Then they all reunited in the late 90s.
@@qthelost Yup, Rumours is an absolutely wonderful album.
@@jamelakajamal please react to Abba - Chiquitita spanish version
Abba’s last album is a real underrated classic. The title track, The Visitors, is a cold and tense political track. Really powerful.
I totally agree! "The Visitors" is actually a favourite of mine.
Yes, it's a good album and the title track is great, the build-up of tension
is incedible in it.
Agreed. Their best album.
Opp
Their last album is actually the first album to be on compact disc in the world!
One of my favorite ABBA songs. Hits home. Losing out to another.
This is a beautiful heart breaking song sung by a beautiful woman.who IS WEARING CLOTHES. Gone are the days when a a beautiful woman kept her clothes on and relied on her voice to sell a song.
absolute classic. spans generations and musical pallettes.
Look at Bjorn around the 5 minute 20 mark...the way he momentarily looks at Agnetha ....damn there’s some pain there.
Agnetha was every young man's dream girl in the late 70s early 80s. What a beauty and what a voice.
Not every. Not even most. She's definitely pretty. But some people are just not attracted to blonde white women. Stop holding this up as the standard of beauty.
@@megavega4 It's just a way to emphasise how popular she was back then, he/she doesn't actually mean that she was EVERY persons dream girl. This should be quite easy to understand if you're above the age of 15
@@timiniho these days I don't assume anything. People love to push their dogma around. If you have a barely functioning brain you should be able to observe that for yourself.
@@megavega4 You're one of those that love to make every little comment into an argument, that's an exhausting way of life.
@@timiniho I'm not even breathing hard.
When I watch these video's it's like watch a person hearing music for the first, I never thought of just how much the younger generation really missed out on, makes a person think and appreciate what we had back in the day.
ABBA were the bain of my rock n roll years as a teen - thankfully, I grew up and appreciate now both their pop sensibility as song writers and their pure talent as songers, arrangers and performers. Songs like this one, SOS, Fernando and Mamma Mia are just pop perfection.
@Fuz Capp I was into New Wave, The Cars, Bowie , Blondie, Sex Pistols, etc. but in the back of my mind it was hard to ignore ABBA and their talent.
Talk about a song that packs a huge punch! So much feeling in her amazing voice!
He wrote the song. She sang it...still insane to think of the raw emotion u are playing w standing that close night after night performing
The back story is one thing, but WOW. HER VOICE... crisp live recordings are worth everything with a voice like that. I'm 52 now and still can't shake off the teenage crush I had for her..
I can't listen to this song without crying.
Maybe my favorite song ever. The angels in heaven sound just like ABBA.
I'm a huge ABBA fan. This was an excellent review pal.
43 years have passed and this song still pushes on my heart, now that I have a few breakups under my belt to fully understand it.
The song also shines a light on our Western focus on our feelings today; as it sings of the strain we endure while sublimating them.
A global masterpiece.
The group basically played out their divorces in their music. For all the world to see. I don't know how they did it but they were brilliant. Such raw emotions there.
Such an Angelic voice, LOVE This band. Your commentary is Hysterical, when you asked " Is that him there, in the purple suit" I just
Busted my side's!!! 😁🙈💜
One of the absolute most POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL songs EVER! Every word, every line and every phrase of music: Perfection. Her voice here is just incredible. The complete song just sweeps you away like nothing else. Just incredible.
When she starts talking about if the other girl kissing the same. My God it breaks my heart.
This song always gets me in tears, like every damn time I listen to it. It's indeed the greatest heartbreaking song in history of music!
Thanks for reacting to this particular song, man. I really appreciate it. And do more ABBA please!!
One of their most legendary songs in my opinion 💥☝️😄👍💥
A Pitch Perfect, Perfect Pitch singer with B2 - F7 soprano range, Going up and down the scale. One of the FEW in POP music with this ability.
This song comes up in every European New Years Eve party when its 5 o clock in the morning and you are drunk with your friends lmfaoo
Nausithoe That’s the song Happy New Year , also a wonderful song
Yes, both of them were couples who divorced
If this song does not just break your heart in two, you were not paying attention
I remember her saying she had had enough waking up and not even knowing what country she was in.
Not only was she an international star but she was the mum of young children and the bulk of the responsibility of looking after the babies was on her too.
She would have been exhausted.
ABBA!! Every one of them is so talented. High school choir memories flooding back!
Lay All Your Love On Me - ABBA is great
If you want to react to something different check out this czcams.com/video/3sjh6Hq2QmY/video.html
It is Spångaforsens Brus by the Swedish band Råg i Ryggen....Swedish prog from 1975 :D The å is pronounced almost like the o in fog ^^
Happy New Year is a good one too.
All of their songs are good and will always stand the test of time.
My favorite Abba song is one of their more obscure ones, "Eagle".
Mikael Åkerfeldt, the singer from Opeth, said it was perfectly ok for a metalhead to like Abba, lol.
Totally agree about 'Eagle' it's also my favourite by them
Yes! Love 'Eagle'!
Yes, mine too! Frida looks like she is glowing as she sings the words, it's so good!
Me too! I used to repeat that song over and over...
Tell me does she kiss the way i kissed you.thatmustbebthemost heartbreaking line of all-time
Abba had a lot of great songs but this one makes me tear me up on every listen, this is special
This was not about division of assets. It was about losing love.
Sad story behind the song 😔but somehow I love this song💞
They were able to convey emotions in many different songs whether the songs involved them or not. I felt that there were other songs that may have caused them to think about how they would feel a sad situation in a particular song. “Knowing Me Knowing You” was one of those songs. Thanks for another Great reaction! You show such sympathy and empathy for those who have gone through very rough times in their lives.
she can god dam sing can;t she ? she's fantastic one of the best female singers ever and still singing now too
Man, this is the best reaction to this song i ve ever seen. Thank you ! They had another divorce, Frida & Benny. "When all is said and done" was the result. You should listen to !
Thank You🙏🏾
I recommend, "The Day Before You Came." Another great ABBA hit.
Andrew Pinkard so do I probably my favourite Abba song
Day Before You Came in my Top 3 of ABBA. The words and the music were amazing
@aberas also The Visitors and When All is Said and Done.
I let the music speak. Musical and lyrical masterpiece. Also The eagle.
Momma Mia, is the song i like from them.
Agnetha was incredibly beautiful and a voice beyond description!
As a child growing up on a housing estate in the south, UK, my childhood was saturated in ABBA when they were actually ABBA making history. Whenever I listen to them today, I'm filled with a craving to return to the 70s. To leave this crazy, not what I thought it would be, future and return to more beautiful and innocent times. I knew, even back then as a child, that ABBA and their music was something special. I wish I had a time machine.
"Knowing me, knowing you" también te parte el corazón porque ambas me pasaron a mi 💔
From what I understand, this song was kind of about the break up of both marriages. Agnetha (the singer) & Bjorn (on her right with the guitar) were going thru a break up and I think that the other 2 (Frida & Benny (pianist)) were as well. You can see the pain in Agnetha's eyes as she is singing. 👍👍
ABBA - The letters are for each of the 4 member's first names. Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid. The two married couples formed this group in 1971 (from Sweden). The dark haired lady was married to the dude with the beard, playing piano. The blonde was married to the dude on guitar. they have had numerous chart topping hits on music charts all around the world. Their songs are so unique from each other. Most groups/bands you can tell their "signature sound" but ABBA were such talented innovators that they dove into all different sounding genres of music. Check out Fernando, S.O.S., Does your mother know, Take a chance on me, Waterloo, Chiquitita, & Mamma Mia
Best break song ever. Super super hiper mega deep. The 80's are unmatched and Abba too.
Portugal here for the Goat Eminem always since day one and forever but also for other legendary good stuff. Thanks for reacting. Salutes.
I always felt like she was talking about the death of a love that took the two of them to the heights of great love and the agony and loss of the end of their love.
I always thought this about death too.
Bjorn denies the song is about his and Agnetha's divorce, saying the basis of the song "is the experience of a divorce, but it's fiction. 'Cause one thing I can say is that there wasn't a winner or a loser in our case. A lot of people think it's straight out of reality, but it's not". Bjorn admits that the sad experience of his and Agnetha's divorce the previous year left its mark on the lyrics--- Hmmm ....
Agnetha had/has such an amazing voice - and she and Frida were able to blend their voices so well. Of course, having such great music and lyrics to work with doesn't hurt.
I really enjoy your reactions, so carry on!
I'm a 65 year old rocker, seen the best, Floyd, Zep, etc but I just love ABBA 💘 ❤
This is the only reaction from a guy I've seen so far who actually felt the emotion of this song. The other guys have only touched on the performance, voice, lyrics & beat of the music (which are all amazing by the way!) but all these amazing combinationd should move a person to the sadness she's singing.
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" is their best tune, but they have LOTS of great tunes! Love your reactions - they're so diverse! I just watched some of your RUSH reactions (my favorite band) and now this - this is great stuff!
Waterloo!
Also S.O.S.
Nah, If It Wasn’t For The Nights and Fernando are the best
I agree. "Knowing me, knowing you" is the best one. And also, in 1978 Anni-Frid looked absolutely stunning.
'Waterloo' and 'Fernando' round out the top 3!
One of if not the best songs ever.the voice of an angel.
I am 48. Have been an ABBA fan since I was 7. My dad got this 45 when it came out in 1980.
Frita, the redhead sings a song about her break up with the piano player. It’s called when all is said and done.
Rick you mean Frida, right?
Her name is Anni-Frid Lyngstad aka Frida !!
Is Frita a female Fritos??? 😂😂
When All Is Said And Done is a fantastic song. More energetic and with a message of accepting both your past together and your future living apart (or possibly living in parallel as happens with exes who are still friends).
Angelica Öhrn Yes oops
Yes, Björn, the purple suit guy did write the lyrics about their divorce. He has said later that there were no winners in the divorce. Fact is though that he remarried a literal copy of his first wife and that Agnetha has remarried, divorced and have had several relationships but nothing that have lasted. This is her favourite Abba song.
I remember ABBA , from the early 70's , my father was stationed in Germany, we lived there, it was great.
ABBA-One of my guilty pleasures!
One of my favorite ABBA songs.
please react to their song "Gimme Gimme Gimme" it's so ahead of its time and still holds up today
Yea madonna used abbas song gimme gimme in "hung up
I love to crank that one when I’m driving.
@@mikaelmm1 yes and they are really picky about letting their songs be sampled. The first group they let sample their music were The Fugees and it was their song name of the game, but I can't remember the name of the fugees song but they had a music video for it and John forte was in it.
you are listening to an angel from heaven ....... my most beloved song
She is singing about them, Björn and Agnetha and he wrote music and lyrics.
"Is that him?? The dude in the purple suit, that she's singing about?"
Yes that is her (ex)husband. The two couples supposedly had an agreement to keep their personal lives and issues separate from the entity known as ABBA.
Personally I don't know if I could do that...practicing this song, recording it and repeatedly playing it over and over in concert.
Hats off to them. For me it'd be:
"Tell me does she kiss, like I used to kiss you"
"That's right, she does that and more. I left you and the kids because she's kinky!"
Heh heh....j/k
"Actually yea she does. She takes it in the pooper...The winner takes it all!"
That's a very Alanis Morrisette, "You Oughtta Know" approach... ("Does she go down on you in the theater..?") 😁
@@Shelsight ...In the theater? Not actually....more like while standing in line for popcorn. We are there to see a movie for God's sake, so...
😂😂
agnetha said it was therapeutic for her to sing this song. but at the same time, it was difficult. it is her favorite abba song. bjorn said it was not specifically about their divorce, but he did say that their divorced influenced the lyrics.
A similar theme, Fleetwood Mac's song 'Second Hand News' was also about a bitter break up between the two lead singers of the band Lindsey and Stevie.
Both couples split about that time, and the band just broke up a few after....sadly...by the way Agnetha and Frida are with no doubt two of the greatest voices in pop history....good reaction man!..👍🏻
Fantastic song, but then again Abba was an absolute smash and their music never ages. one of my absolute favorites was and will always be Chiquitita
I grew up with this album, and I love every song on it. You have picked one of my favorite songs to react to. Thank you so much for this. You rock dude!
Dude Agnetha KNEW it was a masterpiece from the get go.....and loved it.
The song is about a woman who meets her ex and reflects on their relationship in which she "Played by the rules" and still got cheated on. I love the line "Spectators of the show, always staying low" meaning mutual friends who watched it all play out and kept their heads down and mouths shut so as not to be seen to taking sides. Many have covered this song but nobody will ever sing it like Agnetha does , she own's it. Voice of an angel.
What does the game is on again refer to?
LOVE their harmonies!!! They were perfect together.
Their songs still stand the test of time as classic masterpieces. Thank you ABBA. I was a little boy when they were at their highest and still love all their hits.