Though it's linked to elsewhere here (in a sea of words), I had to pull this video clip out out for its own post. (The first one, below. Some text follows, but the embedded videos (below) are the 'stars' of this post. Also: If you'd prefer to read music-focused posts via this website (instead of this (early-in-the-process-of- re-discovery) one), please peruse its summary page.)
Not a huge fan of the too-sweet pop song itself, but -- like everyone else -- I love the video performance here (below) plus the incredible outfits. (Some from 1974 are sexist and perhaps demeaning...yeah, OK.)
Singing partner Frida is very attractive (Anni-Frid Lyngstad). But how can she possibly be noticed next to blonde "supergirl"? (Agnetha Fältskog...) As said previously: Hottest girl on the world stage for (quite) awhile in my book. (This generally unfavorable 2008 article labels her "pop's ultimate sex symbol". Agreed.)
Bjorn (ex-husband) seems like an OK dude in interviews, but how could he eventually walk away from HER?? (Or get himself kicked out. Insert: I'm hardly the first to ponder this...) But it almost always takes two to "tangle"....
Whatever: Agnetha (ahng-EH-tah) may have been hurt more by their split-up, I'd speculate, based upon subsequent interviews ,and also this particular (attributed) quotation:
"It has always felt like a failure that Bjorn and I couldn't keep our family together. You never get it back, but to this day I don't regret splitting up. The reason behind our separation is one of those things I definitely don't want to go into!"
Well....Agnetha obviously cared, but....for many in the audience; it's all secondary. Especially when you looked like this.... (sorry for the first frozen frame, though.)
(Link to video (no guarantees re such off-site links): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPCQA19pv7s&feature=related
Many videos happily remain from this '70s supergroup. Another "rare" one graciously posted on YouTube is linked below. It shows off Agnetha's alluring camera presence and her warm, flirtatious (lip-syncing) style. (And yeah; the 2 French dude "hosts" are 2 much....) She conveyed this repeatedly in their on-stage videos, and it seemed natural. Despite professed shyness, etc., the lady shone when the lights came on. She cared about her performance and image, as all ABBA members did. Especially with Agnetha, almost a symbiotic pairing (with the camera), though more benefit may have been on the receiving end.
Link to video: http://www.blogger.com/goog_167646122
2010 update: OK: This video (link) is long gone....Please proceed onward to the next vid., which also demonstrates what is being discussed....Thank you.
And also no doubt an intriguing person: Perhaps a generally introverted personality, but also capable of displaying warmth, passion, sexiness etc. when on stage; which could have also been part of her make-up (?). Only Agnetha could ever really tell us, and I'd like to ask her such a question (...EASY there...) about her stage persona. Not possible.
Even more sexy flirting from this underrated performer? Try the following from the same 1976 show. I think it's one of the best clips of all - both ladies. (Many to choose from....) Both women "work" the camera and good-looking Frida is nicely expressive. But check out Ms. Camera-Ready Agnetha. Starting off with "the thing" she does for us during at around the 11-12 second mark ...! (A kiss? Almost?) She was undeniably hot. (She herself may be the staunchest "denier" of this.) Whenever she cared to, Agnetha was a "'Camera One' darling"....
2011: OK...^^that nice video^^ has been taken from us by the "suits". Pls. try the following link: (new window) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cyqv02ZKOA&fmt=18
(P.S. Yes: Frida's a beauty here too. Maybe a little camera competition going on...?)
Bonus: This YT video (link); done to Ms. "If Tears Were Gold" Fältskog's "Golliwog"(Gulleplutt). ("Somethin's burnin'".... alright. The song's from 1974, and the cover story is that we were trying to break into the German market (and others).) Love the 'buh-bahs' in it at the end. (Seriously....I like it when Agnetha hums and buh-buhs in her songs. ) Older dudes: Make sure you've taken your medication prior to checking out the vid. And: More interesting background info. re the writing of this song (Golliwog) is linked here.
More from fantasyland?? A tiny farce re supergirl Agnetha is attempted here (link).
And....a few more glimpses of young Agnetha in performance (some blurry from the time) via YT producer 'qmebtcsamy's' 'Waterloo' mix (link): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGsg9OSUezk&NR=1&fmt=18
Finally (for brave readers -it's worth it), another underrated ABBA song (informative link) which features intricate harmonies from both fronting ladies, and a magnificent, velvet-voiced Frida. As noted it
(Here's that entire 1979 concert! Current YT link, new window opens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm6wG35yYKc&fmt=18 )
BTW, if you can tear your eyes away from Frida in this video performance, try watching expressive Agnetha in the closer camera shots. (Who wouldn't want to watch both magnetic women....great outfits for them.) As she was want to do at times, Ms. Fältskog literally acts out certain words/phrases in the song. (Pls. recall that ABBA were music video pioneers, several years before MTV, etc.) At other times you may see differing emotions or feelings on that revealing face. (And body/arm movements - some fitting, some distracting.) E.g.: The blonde performer really "hams up" (the pantomime of) her intro vocal, beginning at the 0:15 second mark of the video. (She's "into it"...) Later, a fittingly mournful/forlorn look is visible from Agnetha at around 2:11, on the "Oh what a shame, you really want that girl" line. Like her appropriate "...world is upside down" gesture at around 2:44.
Etc., etc. (This is a subjective view, of course; others may see the performance differently....)
At any rate, seemingly an expressive person (including non-verbally), fascinating to watch - for some - in-performance. She (often) 'displays' an
unusual ability to "get (come) through the (viewing) screen".
(Interesting side note: Per page 123 of her 1996 As I Am biography, Ms.Fältskog finds it "painful" to (subsequently) watch recorded or live ABBA performances...)
Link to my full blog: http://star4abba.blogspot.com/
