January 2006:
Agnetha-Forever celebrates 1st anniversary
Don't ask me why I did it,
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
There were no other amusements or games to play
To pass the night away.
Don’t ask me why I did it,
I must have been lonely stupid or blind,
But I know that it seemed like a good idea at the time.
(Mike Batt: “It seemed like a good idea at the time”. Album: “Shizophonia”, 1977)
On January 18th, 2006, this website has been online for one year. During that year a lot of things happened which I didn’t have the slightest idea that they ever could happen. On its birthday the logfiles of agnetha-forever witnessed more than 56.000 visits with almost 300.000 page impressions. This is an average of approximately 150 visits per day.
When I started out with the part of the website which is called the “main part”, the one which is present in three languages, I felt kind of unsure what was supposed to happen. What would people think? An approach which hadn’t been there before, a fan-tribute not merely talking about facts, discographies and bios, but talking about emotions and feelings. A very personal confession. Too personal to share it with a worldwide fan community?
Therefore my first intention clearly was to beam it up and leave it there as is. A small but heartfelt tribute, may people like it or not. Go back to other businesses and hobbies. This intention lasted not longer than for perhaps four weeks. Why?
Something happened that I didn’t expect and that made me speechless. So many of you, my fellow fans, who emailed me and told me “So wonderful! You take the words out of my mouth!” So many who confirmed how the lady the site is dedicated to had so deeply touched their hearts and souls. So many, men and women of all ages.
During the last year I talked to a lot of them and some of them I meanwhile am proud to call friends. First of all to be mentioned are the Knights and Ladies of the “Truest Hundred”, of course, but there are others as well. These conversations with people from all over the world have been a source of inspiration and motivation to move on and to continue the work on this “very special love declaration to a very special artist.” And if I say “from all over the world” I mean it! The only continent which has been silent until now is Antarctica. But I’m waiting for the penguines to fall in love with Agnetha. It wouldn’t surprise me, after all.
Though the main part with the past-present-future trilogy still is the backbone and “heart” of the site, the “addendum” meanwhile exceeds it by volume. During the past year I have neglected a number of other hobbies I maintain to be able to keep up that pace, especially the translation project has demanded quite a lot of efforts and time commitment. But you, my visitors and readers, proved to me it is a worthwhile effort and that the site’s message is something you wholeheartedly share and support. It is not only something which makes me a little proud but makes me feel a responsibility as well. Thank you all for your feedback and participation. With your comments and your contributions you have made this fan-site being a part of you as well, turning it into something which now is more than I ever could have contributed alone.
Now, one more thing, so important, of course. What would all the positive feedback from the fans be worth, if the person whom the site is dedicated to wouldn’t like it? I admit that this was an issue which caused a sleepless night once in a while. Fortunately there has been a happy end to that. I will tell you a little secret. The Lady has found a way to let me know. I would have been the first to send everything to nirvana but she decided to let me know I don’t have to do that. And this is something that REALLY makes me happy. In a certain way she made a dream come true which a young teenager still living in the heart of an old bloke secretly had been dreaming for almost three decades.
With this in mind, the first year of agnetha-forever has been a wonderful success. Where will the future lead us? I don’t know but I’m full of anticipation. It’s not that I don’t have any dreams left, you know. One fulfilled dream gives birth to the next. An exclusive interview to be published on agnetha-forever? Or perhaps an annual column from Agnetha to the fans? But before I run into the danger of losing my reputation of being a reasonable and generally well-adjusted mid-age gentleman, first of all I still foster a tiny hope for another album, of course.
So if you ever read this, Agnetha, you know we all will love you forever whatever you do, but we dare to foster a tiny hope. That’s how we are, your fans, we can do no otherwise. And therefore the last and biggest “thank you” goes to you, for sharing the charming magic of your wonderful voice with all of us. My goodness, didn’t I say this before? Many times, I’m afraid. But although I guess you know it by now, I surely will keep on telling you. In 2006 and beyond.
Johnny
January 2006
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