SEASON 2 PREVIEW: Full Version! ("Free Spirits with Sparkle Sid")
The complete, and FULL VERSION of our season 2 preview!
See you January 21st, 2021 for Season 2 of “Free Spirits with Sparkle Sid”!
(What’s next in the meantime? The thumbnail reveal on January 2nd, 2021!)
“We want ABBA… WE WANT ABBA!"
The sound of chanting children at the beginning of the film can be grating. The same noises are cross-cut between the exposition of a bare-bones plot to the film that documented their 1977 Australian World Tour. However, these introductions are necessary in allowing the viewer to enjoy this rare example of ABBA, live on stage. We just had to witness the pandemonium that ensued during that time… Even Bjorn was confused!
What is this?! It’s “ABBA: The Movie”… filmed in Panovision!
“ABBA: The Movie” came out at the height of the band’s fame. ABBA’s manager Stig Anderson decided to capitalize on this by hiring director Lasse Hallström to document the tour and the MADNESS that ABBAsolutely ensued. Hallström had directed ABBA’s promo clips, so he was a natural choice to direct a film that offered candid moments living in hotels, traveling, and dealing with the Australian press.
The plot is simple: a high-strung radio disc-jockey named Ashley Wallace is sent to follow the group around Australia in hopes that he will get a one-on-one interview (I mean, “dialogue”) with them. He tries and fails thanks to the movie’s villain: a hard-edged bodyguard that kicks him out at every opportunity. Fun fact: those moments with the were not scripted, and the group did not even know about the plot until halfway through the tour.
Speaking of the Australian press… there is a scene in the film earlier on in the film where the Swedish group has to answer questions at a press conference. The types of questions differ depending on who is being asked; the boys skirt the questions about money, fame and success while the girls are asked about their body parts. It is very jarring to those watching in 2020, however they handle the questions to the best of their ability using their varied command of the English language. This is the first glimpse into Australians’ fascination with the group, and the idolization of the members that ensued during their time in The Outback…
The saving grace of the film are the scenes of ABBA behind the curtain; worrying about being electrocuted from the rain, and the crowds of people pressed against the fences that separated the fans from their idols. Those poor kids waited hours, all for one glimpse of the members, screaming with hysteria as they drove by. Benny even grants an autograph to one girl as she is hanging on to the top of the fence, almost as if she was about to jump for their love of ABBA.
This very type of glimpse into the huge Australian music industry and the convergence of pop culture fandom of the 1970s is one of the very reasons why Agnetha is not fond of touring to this date. During the same tour they witnessed extreme airplane turbulence due to the Australian winds, thus leaving her with a fear of flying that is notoriously the reason why ABBA will never reunite for a world tour…
Despite all these moments, the big saving grace for me, as an ABBA fan who never had the chance to see ABBA live. It is the documentation of a time when the group was still together and performed to those privileged enough to see them in the flesh. I still get goosebumps experiencing “Dancing Queen” with a live orchestra, seeing Agnetha smile when the audience sings “Chiquitita”, and Frida picking up a dangerously-lit sparkler from an audience member (how in GAY HELL did they bring that in?!). We also get a moment from “Get On The Carousel,” a song never recorded from the “Girl With the Golden hair” mini musical that they did for their encores. We also get early versions of the yet-to-be released songs “The Name of the Game” and “Thank You For the Music,” both songs that have gone on to be favourites among ABBA fans. It is well worth the price of importing the DVD, which I have provided a link to you, dear listeners, in the show notes.
Regardless of its’ flaws, “ABBA: The Movie” does shine in the latter moments described, and is well worth a watch to those interested in learning more about the insecurities of the Swedish music scene, or at least the beginnings of it. Or if you want to see Frida and Agnetha acting as marionettes, it is definitely worth a re-watch, and another re-watch, and another…
But what about the disc jockey?! You will have to listen to find out if he got that interview!
I hope you enjoyed this sneak preview of Season 2!
I am hopeful for its’ success…”It’s going to be WORLDWIDE!”
OTHER MEDIA FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE
Wehrenberg Theaters Jingle (STL SHOUTOUT!)
Weezer- 'Buddy Holly'
[title of show] Christmas Special
The Monkees- ‘Daydream Believer’
The Brady Bunch Movie
Cadet Kelly
Even Stevens- “Starstruck”
CLOSET CONCERTS: A new episode of “Closet Concerts” debuts every Wednesday, the day before a new podcast episode!
‘FREE SPIRITS’ THEME SONG (INTRO MUSIC)
‘Winning Streak’ theme, 1974-75
'CRUSH GUSH' MUSIC
Deniece Williams- Let’s Hear It For the Boy
‘HUMBLE HERO’ MUSIC
’The Big Showdown’ theme, 1974-75
‘THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC’ FINALE
from ‘ABBA: In Japan’
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