This article was published in Swedens yellow-press newspaper EXPRESSEN on April 21st 2004
(Translation by Johnny)
Where´s the fire, Agnetha?
Agnetha Fältskog: My Colouring Book (Warner)
By Anders Nunstedt
A big disappointment. There’s no other way to describe ABBA-Agnethas comeback to the music scene after her long 17-year absence. And it wasn’t even that my expectations were skyrocketing. We had heard her former solo albums. We knew that they hardly were any “Arrivals” or “Super Troupers”. Anyone who remembers “The heat is on” without experiencing uncomfortable feelings? “My Colouring Book” now is a completely different issue. 13 covers originating from Agnetha Fältskogs years of youth which are arranged in an oldfashioned manner, fine tuned if you want to call it that way, but also quite outdated, and sorry, a little bit frumpy.
What seems adequate is a comparison to Art Garfunkel. When Simon & Garfunkel broke up Art
published a half-felicitous record where he sang as fine as a solist in the church chorus accompanied by a soft orchestra production. In Garfunkels repertoire there was a song called “Sometimes when I’m dreaming, and this one
even Agnetha chose to sing on “My Colouring Book”. The song belongs to the better part of the album, as well as the single extraction “If I thought you’d ever change your mind”. But they dissappear in the anaemic easy-listening
of the record. Her almost worn out “Fly me to the moon” is the most hair-raising example of meaningless music. Concerning her singing she still does pretty well, but after the excitement of hearing the well known voice again
has cooled down the listener is left in an oily vacuum.
Where’s the fire? Severity? Sorrow? Attestation? Intensity?
Although Agnetha has chosen her absolute favourites of the past the result seems kind of
lacking any feeling. As if the songs don’t have any special meaning to her anymore.
http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=127492
My goodness. There’s no doubt this guy is completely insane. Never before in my life have I read such a crappy bullshit.
Agnetha! Don’t allow pea brains like this Nunstedt to spoil just one of your days! You’re not singing for them. You’re singing for us.
Oh, yes, and Mr. Nunstedt, Sir: Would you please take notice that the lady isn’t “ABBA-Agnetha”. For people like you she isn’t even “Agnetha”. For people like you she’s “Ms. Fältskog”. Thank you for respecting this in the future. And now I hope I’ll never again have to read anything you ever penned.
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