View Full Version : Someone enlighten me--what the heck are "ABBA" and "muzak"?
Bryan
11-12-2002, 05:37 PM
Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but it seems like every post I read about Jenny Kirk's LP makes some sort of reference to either "ABBA" or "muzak" and I can't for the life of me figure out what those are supposed to mean. What am I missing here?
Alexeiskate
11-12-2002, 05:51 PM
Well Jenny's long program music is from the broadway musical "Mama Mia" which is constructed around a bunch of songs written and sung by the Swedish pop group ABBA. They were big in the 70s.
I don't know the exact definition of "muzak", but it's not a flattering word. If a person compare a song to "muzak", it means that he can't stand the song. I think the orchestration version of the ABBA music that Jenny chose for her long program sounds bland. So some people are using the term "muzak" to criticize it.
Hi Bryan,
Like Alexeiskate said, ABBA is a Swedish pop group from the 70's. Do you know the song Dancing Queen? They sing that (as well as many others, but it's one of their more famous ones I think).
As for muzak, I think it usually refers to music where the words are taken out and it's just the background music. "Elevator music" would be another way to describe it.
Artemis
11-12-2002, 06:06 PM
Oh, I feel sooooo oooooold that someone has to ask who ABBA is/were! :??
Originally posted by Artemis
Oh, I feel sooooo oooooold that someone has to ask who ABBA is/were! :??
LOL! Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm 21 and I've heard of them. In fact, I actually like some of their music (it's fun!). So there are some people who weren't alive in the 70's but still know who they are!
Lulia
11-12-2002, 07:03 PM
In fact, Muzac is a trademark. The Muzak company produces (produced?) instrumental music for department stores, subway stations, and other public places. It is very corny, instrumental versions of popular songs.
Aussie Willy
11-13-2002, 05:01 AM
Well I am showing my age when I tell you that someone who I went to Primary School saw ABBA live when they toured Australia and all us kids were sooooo jealous.
For ABBA I suggest hire out on video Muriel's Wedding or Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
I have not seen the program in question but I agree that ABBA does not translate well to Muzak. Beche & Petrov used ABBA for an SP back in 91.
Yazmeen
11-13-2002, 09:27 AM
The name ABBA came from the first letters of each member of the group's formal first names: Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frida Lingstad. (I've probably annihilated the spellings of the last names, but they're at least close). It was interesting, because they were actually known as Bjorn, Benny, Anna and Frida!!!!
speedy
11-13-2002, 12:35 PM
Wow, I all of a sudden feel old myself...I was the guilty party that combined the terms "muzak" and "ABBA" (although some ABBA detractors might say the terms are interchangeable LOL) in the Jenny Kirk thread. Never dreamed somebody might not know who ABBA was...amazing how a group that was that internationally popular up until the early 80's could these days be that unknown. For all their sugary poppiness, I still love their songs...Bjorn and Benny were masters of the pop song and hook. Personally I'm glad Jenny is using their music, albeit not the original songs, which would have been much cooler. ;)
I wrote a short story for teenagers that was translated into French a few years ago. In it, I used the word "musac." This is the French footnoted explanation:
Muzac: Bourgade situee a 150 km au sud-ouest de Moscou.
I'd like to see Jenny Kirk skate to that!
:D
Sing_Alto
11-13-2002, 07:24 PM
Originally posted by Artemis
Oh, I feel sooooo oooooold that someone has to ask who ABBA is/were! :??
LOL! I was thinking the same thing. I think I'll go sit alone in a dark room and have a good cry now. ;)
I suppose I am in total and complete shock that there is anyone who does not know who ABBA was, or even what muzak is (no offence to the poster intended, there are just clearly generational or cultural gaps at play...)
For fun, how about we name our a)favorite ABBA song and b) most despised example of musak?
My votes:
A) Waterloo... how anyone can not jump up and dance to that is beyond me...
B) The pan flute version of Fur Elise. The phrase rolling over in his grave never seemed more appropriate for poor Mr.Beethoven.
Next?
Twizzler
11-13-2002, 10:35 PM
ABBA has vicariously made a comeback in the form of a bubble gum rock group named A*Teen. This group of young musicians is inspired by ABBA. My 12-yr old daughter bought 1 or 2 of their CDs about a year ago.
Kruss
11-14-2002, 12:24 AM
Originally posted by Doug
I suppose I am in total and complete shock that there is anyone who does not know who ABBA was, or even what muzak is (no offence to the poster intended, there are just clearly generational or cultural gaps at play...)
For fun, how about we name our a)favorite ABBA song and b) most despised example of musak?
My votes:
A) Waterloo... how anyone can not jump up and dance to that is beyond me...
B) The pan flute version of Fur Elise. The phrase rolling over in his grave never seemed more appropriate for poor Mr.Beethoven.
Next?
My favorite ABBA songs:
The Winner Takes It All
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Dancing Queen
Fernando
Chiquitita
Super Trouper
Unfortunately, I do not like Waterloo - never did. (ducking)
Worst muzak? How about all of it? Or the rock classics, like Rolling Stones set to muzak?
speedy
11-14-2002, 09:00 AM
"Fernando" -- one of my all-time favorite songs, it's got a gorgeous melody. I'd love to see a dance team or lady use it for an exhibition number. I also love "S.O.S."(great video too!), "Mama Mia," "Chiquitita"(somebody should have skated to this already dang it) and "The Winner Takes It All." These songs are really timeless, as is "Dancing Queen"...as much as I've heard it I still am not really tired of it LOL. I've also heard the A-Teens' stuff, it's actually quite good...much better than a lot of the other "teen" music out there right now.
Artemis
11-14-2002, 11:30 AM
Definitely "Fernando" for me too: I can still remember seeing them perform this on "Top of the Pops" in 75 or 76 when I was living in the UK.
But my favourite ABBA reference has to be from Muriel's Wedding. "My life is as good as an ABBA song! It's as good as ... Dancing Queen!"
melanieuk
11-14-2002, 12:20 PM
Originally posted by Artemis
Oh, I feel sooooo oooooold that someone has to ask who ABBA is/were! :??
Oh me too. But ABBA were still around in the 80s!!!
My favourite is "Take a Chance on Me"
I have vivid memories of being on the ice at the time that song was in the UK charts.
Artemis
11-14-2002, 12:48 PM
I think the worst muzak has to be the Beattles. And unfortunately it's also some of the most common.
But thankfully not all rock/pop translated to instrumental = muzak. Queen is one example that springs to mind of really decent symphonic pops.
Aussie Willy
11-14-2002, 05:44 PM
Okay - showing my age again but when you were kids did you used to pretend you were ABBA? Some of my friends at school and I used to and I was always Freida!!!8-)
We also had 3 albums at home when were kids and my sisters and I loved singing along with their songs. Those albums got really worn out.
BTW - what was your favourite ABBA costume? I always loved the ones with the big cats on the front which when they took away the long skirts they were wearing minis and white boots. Very 70s.
I remember being about 12 or 13 with my "girlfriend" and another "couple" (we were still very naive at that age in my day, and I'm only 32), pretending we were the 2 couples on the park bench on the cover of their greatest hits album. Remember, you opened up the album cover and there was that picture of them inside with one couple kissing... That album seemed to be on our record player for most of my childhood/adolecence...
Artemis
11-15-2002, 04:03 PM
So I went out for lunch today ... and what were they playing at the restaurant as we sat down but "Take a Chance on Me." LOL
Ergh, I was getting my teeth cleaned the other day and discovered that my dentist apparently has an entire CD of Beach Boys musak. Beach Boys musak. You don't understand how tragic it is to hear a pan flute rendition of "My Little Deuce Coup." http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/really.gif
But I actually sometimes get certain Musak in my head. :oops: Am I supposed to like it?
Arsenette
11-16-2002, 02:08 PM
Hey.. if you want to get sick about this.. Menudo (yes.. that boy group of 5 that started wayyyy back in the late 1970's and later on included Ricky Martin) started singing the spanish versions of the ABBA songs!!! THAT made them famous!! (no.. they didn't sing Fernando).. Chiquitita was one of their famous hits!!
blades
11-18-2002, 10:56 AM
8-)
just as for starbucks, microsquish and the term "skid road", you can thank seattle for muzak...it is a seattle company that has assaulted our ears for decades (in restaurants, grocery stores and elevators everywhere)...
a local radio station used to have a daily contest called: "elevator musak from hell" which would play a truely awful and often intelligible verson of a song and you had to guess what it was...occasionally no one could...
btw...sorry to say that, though i wasn't that impressed with jenny kirk, i did like the music...
kayskate
11-19-2002, 07:09 AM
I feel old as well. Not only do I remember ABBA, I have had plenty of time to forget all of their songs except Dancing Queen.
I take an aerobics class and Dancing Queen was used by the instructor for one of the weight routines. I got a kick out of hearing it again. The instructor made a joke out of it by wearing a plastic tiara during the routine.
Kay
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