CHENNAI : It wasn’t as fun as it sounds for those who shelled out a good deal for tickets at Phoenix Market City on Sunday. But as it turns out, ABBA fans both young and old who flocked to watch the European tribute band ABBA GOLD, weren’t about to let a little rain, dampen their spirits.
From Mama Mia to the evergreen Dancing Queen, 70-something thathas sang along and several kids and their parents took to leaving their seats and shaking a leg up front.
And the five-member group (including the drummer) from ABBA GOLD that just did their last show in Mumbai, certainly didn’t disappoint. With their hairstyles and retro costumes looking ditto to performances from back in the day, and even calling each other by name(s) from the original ABBA — Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid (Frida) — the act brought back memories, with some light humour thrown in as well.
Right before they sang I Do, there was if you would believe it, a wedding proposal on stage — with Bjorn (or rather his look alike) going down on one knee for as is well known in ABBA fan circles, his better half Agnetha.
Unfortunately, beautiful harmonies bringing back songs that so many of us grew up with like Super Trouper and Voulez Vous, were often disturbed by one side of the audience (not lucky enough to have a canopy over their heads) — having to dart for cover during intermittent showers. And the sound system also did not live up to the musical prowess of the group that’s performed across the world over the past 13 years.
In fact, had it not been an ABBA tribute concert with so many memories hinged on familiar tunes, we doubt that folks would have stayed till the very end. But they did.
Umbrellas were whipped out. Hands were clapped. Smiles were shared. Shoulders were swayed. And the showers, pouring down on some who decided: what the heck, and swaying to the romance of Fernando — didn’t seem to matter as much as the music.