Abba – Think Bensonium

Day 211: The name of the game, Abba

Roderick Benson — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 23:00:00 +0000

Another song by a band that is often considered by many as a band for the teeny boppers of the the 70s. Yet Abba wrote some very interesting songs with very interesting lyrics and here is another song from their collection which is possibly exploring in music the increasing tensions that were developing between Frida, Bennie, Bjorn and Agnetha as their marriages began to strain perhaps under the pressure of fame? The song is strange because in it the couples are having so much fun and look very much in love. I wonder if they ever now look back at this video and wish they could return to those days when they were so happy together?

Day 154: Knowing me, knowing you, Abba

Roderick Benson — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 15:59:07 +0000

In the original Covid Island Discs that I published on Facebook, I ended the series at week 11 with the Abba song “thank you for the music” which summarises how I feel about this amazing gift God has given us. Abba was one of those groups that for many became associated with more teeny bopper culture but while their genre was more pop than rock, they really did produce some incredible tunes and this one certainly deserves to be included in my Covid Island Disc collection.

I guess the other disconcerting thing about this tune is that in real life Benny was married to Frida and Bjorn was married to Agnetha and both couples split up around the time they released this song, which ultimately brought Abba to an end. It is almost as though this song is the musical version of their final agreement to part ways.

Day 77: Thank You For The Music, Abba

Rbenson — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:53:03 +0000

Yes I know some people (here’s looking at you Stuart McDonald) will go what?? I have to admit my musical tastes are very broad partly because there are many components of music which I respond to. One important component for me is lyrics and this song really does summarise all my gratitude in what I think is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity (if you don’t believe in God then just substitute the luck of evolution) and that is music. Music has bought so much joy to my life and that is why I embarked on Covid Island discs to share some of the songs that I have enjoyed listening to over the years.

Admittedly, I got a little distracted along the way with songs that felt appropriate for some of the events that have occurred this year whether that be my wedding anniversary, Easter or the dystopian feel of the UK and US governments. Perhaps all three 1984 songs in a row from David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs album was overdoing it?

However, that is also the wonder of music. There is almost a song for every possible situation in which we find ourselves; whether good or bad. And so with this final song I bring my Covid Island discs to an end on Facebook although I continued the posts on my website well into 2021.

PS: as a child I absolutely loved Abba and desperately hoped I would win a competition to meet them in person as I had a child crush on Frida. I did get to see them with my Dad in concert although our tickets were near the back of the Sydney showground so could hardly see them (days before the big screens).

PPS: Listen to the song, you might be surprised just how much you enjoy it.