A mini-review of 'I Stand Alone' (Agnetha Fältskog, 1987)

© 2009-2014 (original sections). (Please request permission to copy via email address, bottom of the page.)

FWIW, I put together a quick, listener's "retro-review" of Agnetha Fältskog's solo album, I Stand Alone. (Pronounced [aŋˈneːta]. A short, funny video (link) has a pronunciation for us at the end.) This review is focused mainly upon Ms.Fältskog's voice and her singing - the primary features many listen for in solo efforts by the artist.

The review was partially posted at another site. Here is that attempt in it's entirety. (Now slightly updated; 2012.):

""Easy listenening Agnetha" = 3.75 stars (Four+ stars (of five) for Agnetha fans.) (Especially for those who - as I do - believe that age 'thirtysomething' Agnetha's feminine voice is one of the most pleasing and distinct (on record) in the last few decades (popular music). What follows is - of course - an opinion. It's not objective....):
 
If you're here you likely know that Ms. Fältskog is the blonde, former front singer from 'super-group' ABBA. And perhaps also, that her singing voice is a crystal-clear wonder. As noted, that pure and sweet-sounding voice alone "earns" stars from me for any of her post-ABBA solo efforts.

I Stand Alone is 1980's easy listening; the type of album that you can have on your headphones while you go ahead and do something else. There's not much happening that you'd call riveting, but Agnetha's shiny voice is pleasant throughout; a nice back-track to almost anything. In truth, when Ms. Fältskog invokes her early idols (e.g., Connie Francis), packing her voice with plaintiveness, emotion - even angst; it's the artist at her most affecting. (Ref.: ABBA's "Hasta Manana", "SOS", "The Winner Takes It All".) There's relatively little of that to be found here. This is smoother, easy-listening Agnetha.

With Ms. Fältskog, co-producers Peter Cetera and Bruce Gaitsch chose songs/arrangements that settled the artist into nice, relaxed vocal channels. I Stand Alone also seems slickly produced and has better overall sound quality than Agnetha's first post-ABBA solo outing, Wrap Your Arms Around Me. A nice touch: The singer's lovely, fading-in background notes setting the mood to open the record. (Track 1,"The Last Time".) And Agnetha's charming (tinge of an) accent adds a bit of spice from the beginning and throughout. (Though I also seem to detect a slight lisp at times that I never heard before or since.) Like Agnetha's clear-but-nuanced, feminine voice (as perceived by some), this album effort earns greater appreciation upon closer listening.

No (worldwide) hits sprang from the sparely-promoted work, but the first several songs (especially) are eminently listenable: E.g., Both Ms. Faltskog and Peter Cetera (can) have dramatic voices, but their duet "I Wasn't the One" doesn't have much spark for some reason; though it's still very enjoyable. (Mr. Cetera somewhat dominates it.) Agnetha's best singing moment this time around occurs near the end of pensive "Maybe It Was Magic" (after the booming drum bit), when American country artist Juice Newton seems fleetingly invoked. (Much more about this song, here.) Last song, "If You Need Somebody Tonight", is done nicely also. (Crystal-clear, yet intimate. Update: The high-fidelity recording allows us to hear the professional singer's breathing at moments (in the song.) Intriguing.... She "sighs out" (of)/has breath left over for the (short) line ending with the word "strong". Her sweet, high-voice finish (second-to-last line) is enchanting. A feeling, "Agnetha song"....)

"Love In A World Gone Mad" is sweetly sung (a voice like honey,actually) and has some "catchy-ness" to it. "Little White Secrets" is similar, and features some appealing, longing lyrics; an interpretive sweet spot for the usually-expressive singer. (Update: The song (however) is gifted with a gorgeous and powerful "close-out" by the singer (starting with the "burning dreams" line) - an example of 1980's Agnetha at her best. ( Especially evident on better-fidelity recordings. A singer adept at (seemingly) "getting personal" with the listener via her voice, at moments. More here (link - future post).) Speaking of best, Ms. Fältskog is never more smooth than on "Let It Shine", a comparatively bright song for her. It's perfectly delivered. And though we learn that she's not Pat Benatar, I appreciate her nice attempt at a bit of a "rocker" with "We Got A Way". The world's clearest/sweetest-voiced rocker on this one, perhaps. (Updated note: As with a few of her other solo songs, the bright-voiced singer seems to 'warm-up" to this song as it moves along. A little tentative at its beginning...)  
It might again just be me but I (also) find the title track's execution a bit curious: The refrain's beginning, independent-woman lyrics are sung with conviction (possibly employing the backing vocalists?). But the "punch line" (i.e., "I stand alone") is (then) delivered by Ms. Fältskog in a girlish, almost meek-sounding voice at times. Perhaps a little quirk....

Wrap: Overall, I'm confident that your own favorites can be found here, if you enjoy a nice voice in a generally laid-back, easy listening format.

What is pleasant? Agnetha's almost serene outing on I Stand Alone. "

Updated blog note: The Agnetha.net website (Bio section) places sales of this album in the neighborhood of 2 million copies. (Unverified.)  Also: Here's a very good effort featuring insightful reviews of all of Ms. Fältskog's solo music (link): http://felpin80.tripod.com/ata/annasolo.html

Updated note: One song not mentioned above is "Are You Gonna Throw It All Away" (song no. 9 on the album). An example - for me - of how an Agnetha effort can "grow" upon a listener over time. For some reason this song doesn't really grab the listener, but Agnetha's sweet and feminine higher voice is appealing, upon further review. But perhaps her higher-voiced efforts are often better used as accent - or as a pleasant "surprise". (Pls. ref. the ending of the last song on this album.) It may be "sweetness overload" within this particular song. So much so that it becomes bland or too much of the same thing, as the singer spends much time using that area of her voice. However, to me it is still impressive how the singer alternates between her "higher voice" and "lower voice" on sections of "...Throw It All Away". 
As with all prolific artists not every effort is going to be a triumph. Still, for some reason it is easy to overlook nuances mentioned above upon the first couple of listens....
It is amazing what Agnetha could do with that rangy and super-sweet voice, when one considers it.

And a YT "find" for real fans: Go waaay behind the scenes of the making of I Stand Alone with Peter Cetera and Agnetha! Thanks to 'Ljus85' for posting this rare video, which may have been a WEA record company "thing". It's bad quality, but you can get the idea. Gotta love the basketball-playing Agnetha....Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kT4NssGwQY&feature=related 

And also: From the 'ABBA: The Articles' website, read a piece where Agnetha talks a bit about the I Stand Alone album. (Link to the article. I'd bet that Ms. Fältskog did not appreciate the (unfavorable) headline that was written for it... )

Bonus: Link (below) to a well-done interview on You Tube from 1987 (in Swedish, with subtitles). This beautiful singer definitely does have charisma as is noted at the end. But as usual, she was guarded (or modest) about examining personal qualities, even positive ones. A pleasant chat though, and a good inquiry from the engaging interviewer about Agnetha being on stage and her feelings toward connecting with her public. (Interesting re the (international) career though: She then proceeded to "shut it down" for nearly 17 years shortly after this album and her promo interviews....)
 
Excellent You Tube-er comment here: "...her voice is a cure...." Hope this video stays posted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3qWivlHBpE




Blog Note: This blog entry is backdated to better fit within the order of posts here. It's actual creation date is 8/15/09.Link to my full blog: http://star4abba.blogspot.com/

Agnetha's best, and not: 'Maybe It Was Magic'

Within just a few seconds in Agnetha Fältskog's 1987 song "Maybe It Was Magic", one may hear the very best of the expressive singer, and then - almost immediately -  a bit of the less-than-optimal. (Note: A link to one available version of the song is included, below.)
(A short, funny video with Agnetha's name pronounced is here.)  

The ex-ABBA singing star's special voice has been discussed in several posts in this blog, including this one that contains insightful comments from long-time listeners. (Sourced from the excellent 'abba4ever' forum.)

From Agnetha's 1987 I Stand Alone album, "Maybe It Was Magic" is a standout track for many. (My "retro"-review of the decent album is linked here.) The sweet-sounding singer is often best at sadder, yearning ballads such as this one. A genuine "ache" of regret...of longing... in her voice, at times.

The finest moment on the entire album (for this listener) commences after the oddly 'booming' drum bit at around the 3:12 mark (on the audio CD). The next fifteen seconds that follow the drums are exceptional. Agnetha's "There was something in your voice" line, sung around the 3:20-22 mark, is difficult to describe. It's a timeless moment. (Possibly an oxymoron.) The line stands out and grabs the listener. How her voice slightly breaks between "your" and "voice" is perfect interpretation. (Intentional or not.) Transcending standard "sweet, with feeling mode" for just a moment, Agnetha delivers it with a trace of hoarseness. (Perhaps the (occasional) "exposed surface" in her voice, noted by Brita Ahman in the "As I Am" biography.) The singer's strong emphasis here of the word 'your' is also....great.  And Agnetha's all-her-own sweet finish to the word "voice" adds uniqueness.

It's better to listen to the effort on a high-fidelity recording (with headphones). As a notch-or-two-under (audio) substitute, a link follows to an album version of "Maybe It Was Magic", currently on You Tube. (Thanks to YT user 'ji61m' for posting it.) The section referred to above also begins at around 3:12 in the YT vid.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJTDpojPQ5Y&fmt=18

Also, another YT link featuring an excellent tribute/production by '2Shaymcn'. E.g., the "cut" to a 'live' performance at this production's 3:13 mark (around the same moment (in the song) as described above): "Awesome"... (Beautiful Agnetha helps make it so.) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTMr6MALkGI

While listening, the line noted above and the deeper (self-harmonized) next one, "When you used to call my name", evoke an American country music feeling. I would have liked to hear much more of this form or 'style' of singing from the Swedish star. 'Maybe It Was Magic' would have been an interesting U.S. country song attempt, especially if more lines were interpreted/recorded like the ones above. (More is written below re this...) Agnetha's vocals here fleetingly recall American singer Juice Newton....

For this listener perhaps the "other side of the coin" occurs just seconds after the song section just described. Possibly the impending transition from the lower-voice line "When you used to call my name" is a difficult one. (3:24-3:26 in the video above.) At any rate the very next words, "There are moments in my life", sung much higher; tends to find the artist sounding a little like a young girl. (To this listeners ears, anyway. (3:27-3:30 in the video. Though oddly, this line sounds slightly better in the video than on the album.) As noted in a previous post here, the singer occasionally didn't sound her best in a few, higher-register moments. Sometimes her voice would "pinch", or sound slightly tense; constricted. But note also that in many efforts she's very pleasing to hear in the higher register (using her falsetto voice, at times).

Regardless: It's "trademark" Agnetha; a beautifully "sweet and sad" singer. A song of loss and regret, but the artist's inherently bright voice (also) helps smooth it. (Somehow sounds as if she had a smile at times while singing.....) The artist is critical of some of her past efforts but it is still surprising that (the) becoming "Maybe It Was Magic" is not included on her "best of" compilations.
(Updated insert: I did not examine the song's lyrics in this post, but for ABBA fans especially, it is easy to imagine that perhaps Agnetha was singing of her times with ex-husband Björn....)

Though not a voice or singing expert, it's still interesting how (recorded) Ms.Fältskog conjured these reactions from me within less than twenty seconds of her song performance....

It is of course, subjective. Others can and will hear it differently. And for this fan, Agnetha's few, lesser singing moments still compare with many others' usual ones. Her strengths far outweigh any perceived weaknesses. 

© 2009-2011 (original portions)

Addendum: As far as I know... this is a completely theoretical aside. I.e., I find no indication that the following ever actually occurred or existed:

Beautiful and talented Olivia Newton-John established herself worldwide (as a singer) starting with her 1973-4, American country crossover hits. (E.g., Let Me Be There, If You Love Me, Let Me Know, I Honestly Love You.)

Through much of the 1970's, Agnetha Fältskog - a similarly beautiful and talented female singer vis-a-vis Ms. Newton-John (both close in age also) - was almost entirely occupied with juggernaut ABBA plus her two small children. (Agnetha did manage a fine, solo Swedish album of her own though, co-producing  Elva Kvinnor I Ett Hus in 1975.) But ABBA and the children took precedence until the super-group dissolved in the early 1980s. As detailed throughout this blog, Ms. Fältskog then launched her relatively short, English solo music career segment.
 
Getting to the point: As ABBA the group climbed to the pinnacle of '70s pop music, did Agnetha ever "glance over" and contemplate the solo singing success (and more) of similarly-talented Olivia? (ABBA's 1974 Eurovision Song Contest competitor. (Vanquished, at the time.)) And could the thought have occurred at some point (back then)...."that could be or could have been me"...?? (Note: ABBA (incl. Agnetha) once even appeared on an Olivia network TV special (in America) at the time. Link to one YT video from that appearance...)

Who knows? From the perspective of this blog/'lens' about Ms. Fältskog's solo in-English music, it is an intriguing - and totally subjective - speculation. For once, I'm not going to 'riff' on it, ad nauseum.  Just will leave that (possible) question from long-ago out there, but still assert this:
Making it "large" as an English solo singer - or not: Agnetha sings in English beautifully, with an occasional "tinge" of Swedish; often charming- and/or sexy-sounding. (Something like the performer herself...) However, unlike Aussie-English-speaking Olivia, Agnetha would probably have contended with the perceived disadvantage of English as a second language. Family-focused Ms. Fältskog also would likely not have committed the time and travel (or relocation) necessary to succeed in large, English-speaking markets. (Ultimately, that's America.) Embarking upon her English solo work in the early '80s, Agnetha further might not have wanted to (appear to) directly follow the "trail blazed" by successful, "crossover Olivia", just a few years earlier.  Etc., etc.

But when I hear "Maybe It Was Magic" (in focus, above), it leaves this one experienced listener with very little doubt that versatile-voiced (vs. Olivia), emotion-conveying singer Agnetha could have crossed over beautifully to America's country music genre. (A good all-around performer and not as shy/reserved (on-stage), Olivia had her comparative strengths...and appeal.) (Continuing:) Mainly self-imposed limits (per above) probably prevented this - if the inclination existed at all. Otherwise, just being seen and heard by the "right people", performing the "right" kind of song....would have sealed the deal for gifted Agnetha.

Just one of several possible scenarios where all of America (perhaps all of the Americas...) would have gotten to know Agnetha Fältskog. If she had wanted it to happen... Being properly presented and heard -- all that was needed.

(P.S. If anyone knows more (factual information) about this particular subject, please leave a comment....)

Note: This entry is backdated to better fit within the order of posts here. Last edited: 2010-11.

Link to my full blog: http://star4abba.blogspot.com/