ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits Rankdown (Complete)

[bboat11]

Dang it, I knew I should have done this one! I just looked at the list again, and I know pretty much every song except one

[Who The Hell Is Leo?✔]

Did you receive my list? I sent one and Im not in the list of participants

[Ginger Spice]

Mar 17, 2018 15:37:12 GMT -5 Who The Hell Is Leo?✔ said:

Did you receive my list? I sent one and Im not in the list of participants

Yes, sorry, it was just an error in that post. Your scores are counted.

[Ginger Spice]

Mar 17, 2018 15:05:45 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Dang it, I knew I should have done this one! I just looked at the list again, and I know pretty much every song except one

Would you like to be tagged in the results?

Edit: Anyone who didn't vote and would like to be tagged, like this post.

[Who The Hell Is Leo?✔]

I don't know how much love will my #1 song receive but I'll be happy if it reach top 10!

[Ginger Spice]

WIth the first elimination...

-No one is losing a top 5.
-Six people are losing a top 10, but four of those are #10 placements.
-This song had the third lowest SD in the entire rate.
-Ten people (out of twenty-four) had this song in their bottom three.
-it's the only song with an average greater than 14.

[Troublemaker]

1. What song do you think will win (#1)? Dancing Queen
2. What song do you think will come in last place (#19)? Super Trouper
3. What do you think will make the top 5? Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, Mamma Mia, The Winner Takes it All, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
4. What is an "underrated" song that you're hoping does well? I Have a Dream
5. What is an "overrated" song that you hope does poorly? Waterloo
6. What will have the highest SD? Chiquitita
7. What will have the lowest SD? Dancing Queen

[Ginger Spice]

19. "The Name of the Game"
from ABBA: The Album (1977)
"I was an impossible case // no one ever could reach me." 




"The Name of the Game" was released as the lead single from ABBA's fifth studio album, ABBA: The Album, which was released in conjunction with ABBA: The Movie in 1977. The song spent four weeks at #1 on the UK singles charts, and reached the top 20 in every country it charted in. Inspired by Stevie Wonder, the track showcased a slightly more sophisticated side to the band. Lyrically, the song is about falling in love and all the insecurities that come with it, including not being sure if the other person feels the same.

I have to say, I was actually really surprised that this was the first one out. I expected this to be closer to the middle, but, starting with BackwoodsBarbie placing this at the bottom of her list, a slew of 18 and 19 votes kept coming in. singingrulebritannia caused the song to get bumped up to #18 for a short while, but it was soon knocked back down again. I personally ranked it at #13. It's always been very middle-of-the-pack for me when it came to their singles, so I can't say it's a huge loss. But, when not paired up against all their other hits, I absolutely love it. 


Average: 14.25
Standard Deviation: 3.992

6 - singingrulebritannia
9 - samo🦕
10 - Troublemaker
10 - Unhinged
10 - sergejdordij
10 - Glove Slap
11 - matteeeb
11 - bat1990
12 - newpower
13 - Ginger Spice
13 - Mirago
14 - born
15 - God
15 - .indulgecountry
17 - Who The Hell Is Leo?✔
18 - ★Disco★
18 - ry4n
18 - crazyb
18 - fearlessarrow
18 - Lux ◢ ◤
19 - mamooshka
19 - BackwoodsBarbie
19 - Daryl the Beryl
19 - Juanca


Cody Wants Out...
bboat11

[Glove Slap]

Ugh, I should have know the one that deviates from super direct pop was going to go first, but before even TYFTM?

I love the Stevie Wonder and Fleetwood Mac vibes here.

[born]

That was a filler to be honest. Still, not a bad song.

[Ginger Spice]

Someone's about to lose a #1.

[Ginger Spice]

18. "I Have a Dream"
from Voulez-Vous (1979)
"Pushing through the darkness // still another mile."




"I Have a Dream" was the fourth (or fifth, depending on region) and final single from ABBA's 1979 album, Voulez-Vous. Although the majority of the tracks on Voulez-Vous flirted heavily with the disco genre, "I Have a Dream" is a sitar-heavy ballad that features a children's choir. The song managed to peak at #2 on the week of Christmas 1979, and 20 years later, Westlife would take their cover of the song to #1 the week of Christmas 1999. ABBA also recorded a Spanish version of the song, Estoy Soñando, for their Spanish album, Gracias Por La Música.

The song is pure cheese, but I do like some of the lyrics. I usually enjoy this one around Christmas especially, and I think the Spanish version is gorgeous. Still, I ranked it #18 because it doesn't hold up to most of their other hits. This song was actually #17 most of the submission period, but a few really low scores towards the end caused the song to end up here. It has one of the highest deviations of the rate, with quite a few top 5 votes, including a #1 from Daryl the Beryl .


Average: 13.583
Standard Deviation: 5.725

1 - Daryl the Beryl
4 - BackwoodsBarbie
4 - matteeeb
5 - Troublemaker
7 - Juanca
8 - newpower
11 - Mirago
12 - mamooshka
12 - ry4n
15 - crazyb
15 - bat1990
16 - samo🦕
16 - Glove Slap
17 - ★Disco★
18 - Ginger Spice
18 - God
18 - singingrulebritannia
18 - Unhinged
18 - sergejdordij
18 - Who The Hell Is Leo?✔
18 - born
19 - fearlessarrow
19 - Lux ◢ ◤
19 - .indulgecountry

Cody Wants Out...
bboat11

[Who The Hell Is Leo?✔]

Perfect Ranking!

[singingrulebritannia]

From highest rater to Poifect

[Glove Slap]

This isn't bad, but it's one that I never seek out. I'm glad it's the first representative of its album to leave.

[born]

Goodbye tr*sh.

Okay, this isn't terrible. But it seems bad next to the rest of their songs.

[Ginger Spice]

17. "Does Your Mother Know"
from Voulez-Vous (1979)
"I can chat with you baby // flirt a little, maybe."




"Does Your Mother Know" was the second single released from the Voulez-Vous album. It was the last single by the group (and the only song on Gold) to feature lead vocals by Björn, rather than Agnetha and/or Frida. The song starts off with a thumping, disco-esque bassline, however, it turns into something of a tribute to late '50s/early '60s rock 'n' roll. Lyrically, the song is about a young girl who is trying to flirt with the singer. The girl is presumably underrage, and even though the guy admits that even though he finds her attractive, he rejects her advances.

Personally, I find the lyrics a tad creepy, and I'm not usually a fan of Bjorn-lead songs anyway, so this is my least favorite song on Gold. I think the bass intro is amazing and I wish it lead into a different song. For most of the submission period, this was placed at #18, and briefly landed in last place. However, it just managed to edge out "I Have a Dream" in the end. The song had the second lowest standard deviation in the rankdown, as most people agreed this was on the lower end of their hits.


Average: 13.333
Standard Deviation: 3.761

7 - samo🦕
8 - Troublemaker
9 - sergejdordij
9 - Lux ◢ ◤
10 - ★Disco★
10 - Who The Hell Is Leo?✔
10 - born
11 - God
11 - Unhinged
11 - .indulgecountry
13 - mamooshka
13 - newpower
13 - bat1990
14 - ry4n
14 - fearlessarrow
15 - Glove Slap
16 - Mirago
16 - singingrulebritannia
18 - BackwoodsBarbie
18 - Daryl the Beryl
18 - matteeeb
18 - Juanca
19 - Ginger Spice
19 - crazyb

Cody Wants Out...
bboat11

[Glove Slap]

I don't skip this when listening to the album, but don't visit it much otherwise. I agree that the intro is the best part.

[Ginger Spice]

I'm taking a break after I reveal #16. Someone's about to lose a top 3.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}It's me.

[Ginger Spice]

16. "Thank You for the Music"
from ABBA: The Album (1977)
"Without a song or a dance what are we?"



First debuted as part of The Girl with the Golden Hair mini-musical on ABBA's 1977 Australian Tour, "Thank You for the Music" then found itself on ABBA: The Album, and as the B-side to "Eagle". It was later released as an A-side in the UK in 1983 after the band split up, where it only reached #33. Despite this, over the years it has become one of ABBA's most well known songs, and is often used in tributes to the band. It's also become one of those songs that has been done a million times at high school choral concerts. ABBA performed part of the song during their final TV appearance in 1982 on The Late, Late Breakfast Show.

Like "I Have a Dream", this one is incredibly cheesy. But this is also one of those songs that totally tugs at my heartstrings. I think it really encapsulates the spirit of ABBA, and I adore Agnetha's voice here. I'm clearly in the minority with my love for this song, but even with my score removed, this would've still been #16 - although it would've had a much lower standard deviation.



Average: 12.625
Standard Deviation: 4.509

2 - Ginger Spice
6 - Daryl the Beryl
7 - Mirago
7 - born
8 - BackwoodsBarbie
9 - Troublemaker
10 - newpower
10 - .indulgecountry
10 - Juanca
11 - samo🦕
13 - ★Disco★
14 - mamooshka
14 - Who The Hell Is Leo?✔
15 - singingrulebritannia
15 - fearlessarrow
15 - Lux ◢ ◤
16 - Unhinged
16 - bat1990
17 - crazyb
17 - God
17 - sergejdordij
17 - matteeeb
18 - Glove Slap
19 - ry4n



Cody Wants Out...
bboat11

[born]

These two were cute

[samo🦕]

Kind of expected TNOTG and DYMK to be out, but they're both still great lol what are you guys doing

[BackwoodsBarbie]

I Have a Dream deserved better. I love lyrics and Frida sounds amazing. This is one of my all-time favourite songs.

I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me

The Name of the Game and Does Your Mother Know - I'm not surprised to see this two leaving early. They are both good songs but still not in the same class as some of the other songs on this cd.

[Ginger Spice]

15. "One of Us"
from The Visitors (1981)
"I saw myself as a concealed attraction // I felt you kept me away from the heat and the action."




Released as the lead single to their final album, The Visitors, "One of Us" is the final single of theirs to be included on Gold, and consequently, the sole representation of The Visitors. Initially, the band wanted to release the Frida-led "When All is Said and Done" as the lead single. They went so far as to shoot a video for it before Frida drastically cut her hair in late '81 - however, Björn and the record company then decided that "One of Us" had more hit potential. The last minute decision to change the lead single lead to "One of Us" not making it into the shops until the album had already come out in some countries. In the UK, the song reached #3 in December of '81, becoming their final top 3 hit in the UK. ("When All Is Said and Done" was released in the U.S. instead, where it was a modest top 40 hit). Musically, "One of Us" is a mid-tempo pop song, with a slight reggae groove. This was used to full effect in the A*Teens cover version, sounding as much like an Ace of Base song as an ABBA one. Lyrically, the song takes place post-breakup, with the singer (Agnetha) regretting her decision to leave.

This wasn't a song I was expecting to do super well here, but I was surprised that multiple people had this in last place. The Visitors is tied with Super Trouper as my favorite ABBA album, so while it just missed my top 10, I absolutely love it, and I wish it had made it above some of the next few eliminations. 


Average: 12.583
Standard Deviation: 4.451

1 - Glove Slap
5 - BackwoodsBarbie
7 - ry4n
9 - singingrulebritannia
9 - born
11 - Ginger Spice
11 - mamooshka
11 - Daryl the Beryl
11 - Troublemaker
11 - Who The Hell Is Leo?✔
12 - Mirago
12 - God
12 - .indulgecountry
14 - ★Disco★
14 - bat1990
15 - sergejdordij
15 - matteeeb
16 - crazyb
16 - fearlessarrow
16 - Juanca
17 - Lux ◢ ◤
19 - samo🦕
19 - newpower
19 - Unhinged


Cody Wants Out...
bboat11

[samo🦕]

This was the only song of theirs I never really liked.

[born]

The #11 rankings!!!

[Glove Slap]

This is their best song. Can't believe it ended up below something like Waterloo .

[Ginger Spice]

14. "Fernando"
from Greatest Hits (1976)
"I could see it in your eyes // How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land."




"Fernando" started off as a song for Frida's solo album, Ensam. The original lyrics were in Swedish, and told a love story. Björn and Benny felt like the song could be a big hit, so they had the entire group record it with new English lyrics. Frida also sings lead on the English version, but this time the lyrics tell a story about two soldiers during the Mexican revolution. My favorite description of this song is from an article called ABBA's 'Gold,' Ranked From Gleeful To Glum: 

Oh, you know, just a song in which a Swedish woman reminisces about the Mexican revolution. This would qualify as a jubilant tune if it weren’t so weird.

The song was a huge hit worldwide, reaching #1 in 13 countries (as well as the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart), and staying at the top spot for a record-breaking 14 weeks in Australia. In most territories it was included on their first Greatest Hits album, while in Australia and New Zealand, it was included on Arrival. Modern-day CD and digital reissues of Arrival include the song as a bonus track.



Average: 12.25
Standard Deviation: 4.225

2 - Mirago
7 - BackwoodsBarbie
7 - fearlessarrow
8 - samo🦕
8 - Unhinged
8 - Who The Hell Is Leo?✔
10 - mamooshka
10 - crazyb
10 - God
11 - Juanca
12 - ★Disco★
12 - singingrulebritannia
12 - Lux ◢ ◤
14 - Glove Slap
15 - Ginger Spice
15 - ry4n
15 - born
16 - newpower
16 - sergejdordij
16 - matteeeb
17 - Daryl the Beryl
17 - .indulgecountry
18 - Troublemaker
18 - bat1990


Cody Wants Out...
bboat11

[Glove Slap]

This is a good song, but I've never really been compelled to listen to it.

[Ginger Spice]

From one Spanish title to another...