ABBA's unique "The Day Before You Came"

[@mbrookes1669]

The production on this is something today's artists can only dream of.

[@iansmith587]

Go and watch Ulrika Rosen play this glorious song on the piano. Only then do you hear the magnificent melody that underlies this masterpiece.

[@kevinchester0533]

This song is a masterpiece, such a shame it wasn't appreciated as much as it should have been at the time!

[@alexioverdo5225]

Later decades it was given the justice it deserved.

[@Bandido894]

On the top Benny told Agnetha to sing like ordinary woman, luckily she can't sing just 'ordinary'. 😄

[@kyachdistent1301]

Well it would be this way, people have no taste. It was so clear their 1982 stuff was them at their best, people just want 'Dancing Queen' repeats. Losers.

[@ramonfioricompositor8462]

A Masterpiece. That's what it is. Greetings from Brazil.

[@ferencercseyravasz7301]

Have you noticed how none of that immeasurable sadness is in the lyrics? It never becomes cheesy, it doesn't wallow in self-pity, there's just the description of an ordinary day that is horribly painful in it's predictability. The sadness is all in the music and the arrangement. That is genius, it goes really deep into the soul.

[@PreethaPaul]

Excellent observation 👌 loved your comment!

[@kyachdistent1301]

ABBA stopped doing cheesy ages ago, if they ever did, and they'd been dark and desolately sad for a while, but hid it so well that the average dolt in the street didn't ever notice. Even though the like of 'SOS' AND 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' more than hinted at it.

[@ThomasBurnside-f4d]

And the voice !

[@TangoEliott]

Frida did magnificent backing vocals. Bjorn wrote a story. Benny wrote a beautiful melody. Agnetha gave us an enchanting lead.

[@Mingus8]

Oliver Keating in 2019: "People don't realise it but this is truly one of the greatest masterpieces in modern pop music. No chorus, a double-beat that comes at intervals that feel right but you cannot put your finger on, an extremely mundane story that actually is so powerful from what it doesn't say. The feeling of sadness in the song, a contradiction given the implication it is about finding a new lover. There is so much it leaves you thinking about - just wonderful!"

[@SimplyTim_UK]

Agnetha is a phenomenal story teller with her powerful yet delicate vocals. “I Can Be That Woman” off 2021’s Voyage album is an example of this and shows that she still has it!

[@christianoazzuro6711]

I would suggest you toTake a listen to this song's extended country remix version in Skye Brooks channel that's enchanced even with more enriched backing vocals added.It's an amazing mix!

[@alainbrunetti9012]

I think it s not only a Abba masterpiece ...it s just The masterpiece in music history !

[@ruslansmirnov9006]

i am not sure if i had loved this song so much (i saw the clip first time in approx. 2003) if it wasnt this clip filmed by professional movie makers... there is possibility it would have been camouflaged by such masterpieces as Head Over Heels and The Winner Takes It All 6:46 you dont see such foggy mornings anymore... this happens just once, only in late post-industrial era, and then it fades... and it goes... away... leaving ten minutes to six forever on the station clock, just as it was in your childhood... far, far away

[@ChrisT-O]

The best and most beautiful song ABBA ever made, still it give me goosebumps, when I listen to it.

[@martinhumble]

My number 1 favourite ABBA-track. Though I must admit I have a lot of those 😊. It was released with no campaign at all except one "live" TV appearance in Germany. One or two countries also released a 12", though the same edit. Though there were an excellent video made (by Lasse Hallström) for this and Under Attack. The main purpose for the release was to be a selling point for the 1982 hits album; The first ten years. Blancmange did a cover which made it, I think, somewhat good on the UK charts. Though, never liked it myself. Agnetha was instructed to speak the lyrics rather than fully sing them out, and if I remember correctly the operatic background was suggested by Anni-Frid (?) Thanks for your upload!!

[@Originaltom]

Thanks for your brillant analysis. That brought an old ABBA-fan nearly to tears because I lived this song right from its release in 1982.

[@helenpeterson]

It is such a hauntingly amazing song, one of Agnetha's best vocals with Frida's operatic layers to enhance the eerie mood the song projects. ABBAsolutely one of their finest. I love how you break down the key points of the instrumentals, spot on Luke.

[@Bandido894]

Though Benny asked her to sing it like 'ordinary' woman. She can't sing sounding ordinary! 😅

[@swifty8503]

This song is truly a masterpiece. Thanks for reacting to this!

[@alexioverdo5225]

Great review.A highly praised song by critics.'A song without a chorus'.Benny wanted Agnetha to sound 'flat' and ordinary to match the feeling of the song that also got some inspiration by a book titled 'The suffering bird'.Enginner M.Tretow said in an interview that by the time they were recording this they all felt around the sadness as if it was the end.Agnetha recorded her parts seperately with the lights dimmed in the studio.Then-as an imaginative UK journalist commented'- she hung her earphones and walked out the studio solemnly never to come back'..(except that she did).it was the very last ABBA Recording for almost 4 decades!

[@riaanbehr7976]

This song deserved way more love and attention. It's a masterpiece. Eerie and moody. Much darker than their 70's songs. One of us is another masterpiece. Move on will always be my ultimate Abba song ❤️

[@rdwulf6289]

Don't forget Frida's operatic vocals during the music breaks. 🤩

[@christianoazzuro6711]

No i don't.It's wonderful.

[@nirmalsuki]

Frida is just the best. No ego in any of the members of ABBA. Everyone Contributes something special to every song. No dead weight.

[@hahatoldyouso]

One of my favourite ABBA songs! The back vocal is Frida! I love all your reactions

[@alexioverdo5225]

ANNI-FRID did a fantastic job with her operatic backing vocals here!

[@nellies]

Lovely reaction as always! One of my favorite songs, definitely in my top 5 ABBA songs. It's so eerie and much darker than a lot of ABBA songs and I think that has a lot to do with it being close to the end of ABBA. Many people didn't like this sound from them at the time but I really love it. Honestly their darker songs are usually my favorite. The best part of the song is Frida's operatic vocals in the background, chills! And of course the emotion in Agnetha's voice. I love the video so much too!

[@tuijakarttunen9164]

Perfection. Every sound, every line, everything about this amazing song is absolutely brilliant. And with hardly any instruments: just Benny playing the synths, and some drums and Björn playing guitar. That`s it. Fantastic. Seemingly simple. Fantastic vocals by Agnetha and Frida singing those haunting operatic vocals in the back ground. Gorgeous.

[@jamescairns4051]

This is a masterpiece. I think I could’ve written my phd on this!

[@noonetime8478]

It may not be appreciated by all 8.1 billion people in the world today. But one thing is a hundred percent sure... People with sound minds will love this masterpiece. How can that songwriting, voices, arrangement, musical ideas, uniqueness be ignored?

[@rdwulf6289]

I'm not convinced that things got better the day after he came. So Abba bitter sweet

[@tinnnn1]

Frida's operatic backing vocals are awesome...listen to "I Let The Music Speak" ....

[@supastah68]

This is my favorite ABBA song and my favorite song of all time

[@ThomasBurnside-f4d]

Same here !

[@Codex7777]

My favourite Abba song! An absolute masterpiece! In every respect! :)

[@lenaengell8528]

A MASTERPIECE by iconic ABBA! Thank you for reacting to ABBA!

[@priscillalambert6526]

Fabulous re-action. One of my absolute favourite ABBA songs. Those synths sound like a train on the tracks. A haunting melody of lost relationships even before they had ended💙 Frida's haunting backing vocals give it that sense that all things must fade and change. Agnetha's vocals and story telling have always been her absolute strength. ♥️ An absolute master piece for sure! 🍒🥂🍒

[@DANIELOlsen-e8i]

That was the end of ABBA in 1982, everyone got divorced, nobody wanted to record music together anymore, nobody laughed, just darkness, isolation and sadness. Then they left us, for 40 years to appear in the sky once more and escape this world forever, shining brightly like a shooting star in the atmosphere, to leave this planet.

[@paulecrosby2006]

It's a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece ❤️

[@scomti7057]

This is one of my favorite ABBA songs. Love the beat! Agnetha is an amazing storyteller. Thank you for reacting to this song.

[@ABBADiego]

They said this song was far far ahead of its time in the future. Well, 40 years into that future, we have yet to hear anything from the last 40 years to even come close. Shall we wait another 40 years to see if anything comes close? I think we will wait an eternity, as this song has no equivalent.

[@frankly-he1kf]

One of the most beautiful, tragic songs ever produced.....the world will never witness the likes of this group again....

[@Lisa-M]

After this masterpiece sung by Agnetha you should react to a masterpiece sung by Frida called "I Let The Music Speak". 😍😍😍

[@mervinmannas7671]

this song was not appreciated at the time but these days is always up there in the top 3 of polls amongst ABBA fans. You got the story just right in that she recounts how every day was just like the last until he came along and turned her world upside down. But then when he leaves her theres no way she can go back to that life. Two things I find interesting about the video is the muted colours until it get to the part where they are intimate when she glows. Second that although she says The Day Before you Came at the end it shows him perhaps missing the train and maybe she's wondering would her life still be lke that if he had missed it.

[@m.menneke8513]

Agnetha said she sang it like Charles Aznavour would have done it. Half singing, half speaking. She inventing the semi chorus...IIIIIIIIII...must have have read a while.............listen to I can be that woman from last year...she still has it all

[@ingvarjensen1088]

Oh Luke, I had just turned 18 when this song came out. I instantly felt its melancholy and darkness. Of course I wondered if there will be a person I could tell this story of "the day before you came". But 40 years later I still didn't find this soulmate. Nontheless this song is one of my favourite ABBA songs, evertime I hear it I see myself listening to it in my parents' home for the first time. Thank you ❤️

[@stephanieallangarman5598]

ABBA the second album I purchased in 5th grade…I had limited choices as my grandmother was supportive but a little hesitant as they were somewhat unfamiliar and from SWEDEN. I immediately loved ABBA after watching them on American BANDSTAND. I still love ❤️ love ABBA and I return back to hearing them every now and then. Thank you 🙏🏽 for reviewing and analyzing this SONG 🎧🎼🎶💎 selection. CA- USA

[@KennethSorling]

This song still brings me shivers, thirty-plus years later.

[@micheleallen]

I love this song. Love ABBA.

[@tinnnn1]

This review is your best one so far...you really get into the different layers of the music, vocals and the video...bravo!

[@helenpeterson]

Totally agree

[@M55Mb]

Scandinavian music are so good, like ABBA and a-ha. The melodies, the singing, the instrumental. All perfect. They are so good with the emotions and hunting songs.

[@jannetkoolman5645]

This is one of the most analyzed pop songs ever. Speculation about the “you” range from a new lover, a lost lover to “you” being the personification of Death itself. Love your reaction, it really is spot on ❤

[@annesmith2259]

LOVE this track, my favourite. We can all relate to the feeling that life wasn’t anything special the day before that special person came into our lives. A band called Blancmange did a cover of this and it’s wonderful, please check it out ❤

[@anthonmessing3353]

This song is one of my favourite Abba songs, everything is soooo 80’s. Gloomy❤

[@marcelotto6825]

Excellent review of one of their best songs.

[@amespo13]

The last song recorded by ABBA before they split up in the early 80s. The last song on that last album too. I remember listening to it and feeling it was like a goodbye and that I wanted to stop that departing train…”Wait up! Don’t go!” So glad they finally came back❤

[@DarkAngel459]

So happy that you reacted to this Luke, and that you loved it so much. It's my favourite pop song of all time. The lyrics are so profound, talking about the impersonality of modern life, which can lead to melancholy, which the production expresses so brilliantly. The synths are hauntingly beautiful and the backing vocals add to the atmosphere.

[@mattigolx2532]

Epic song this. Love it! Thanks for another great ABBA-reaction. Looking forward to the next ones

[@birgittalagerstrom6264]

This is one of my favorites. It's haunting as you say.

[@joewhite6421]

Agnetha was asked to not have soaring vocals but sing flat like a everyday women in heart break ,and she nails it .

[@michaelacord228]

One of your best reviews! Love to listen to you give your impressions!

[@paulsparks7035]

Its Frida doing the operatic backing.

[@Lisa-M]

Her backing vocals always give me goosebumps 🥰

[@colinmackillop]

What a great review. I think you’re right about the Pet Shop Boys - this sounds like it influenced Left To My Own Devices. You should check out The Visitors by Abba. Another great track that tells a dark story but with upbeat synth music.

[@allowah6]

I never thought of relating this song to Left to my own Devices, but you’re right. They’re both my favourite songs from the respective artists.

[@colinmackillop]

@@allowah6 Yeah they both have operatic elements and the dark driving beat. Very different but with similarities.

[@wawa2]

If you like "DARK ABBA", I think you would love The Visitors from 1981, it was huge in the gay clubs and was the opening track to one of their best albums IMO. Dark yet danceable. Also, ABBA had an electronic edge to them that inspired many artists if you consider Gimme Gimme, Lay All Your Love on Me, The Visitors and others..

[@terohietamies9441]

I like this song and I love Frida's backing vocals.

[@proteusspp]

This is a song that hinted at paying attention to the words. But it's only years later that people understand it.

[@craignotgreg547]

Really love this song too. I was playing it in my car 2 days ago. I like to watch your Madonna reactions too, because you always seem to do them shirtless. I must say, you are very charming. May I make a few recommendations: Eagle (You will love it-guaranteed /from The Album). Angeleyes from Voulez-vous (upbeat, bubbly) Lay All your Love on Me from Super Trouper (A great uptempo dance blast). Then lastly, The Visitors (from The Visitors). This one is danceable, a little dark and a bit eerie, also). Just to name a few from their spectacular catalog. Love the way you Love Abba Luke. Keep it coming!

[@ianbower2967]

I love this song - one of ABBAs best. But I’ve always felt it was quite sinister and dark. She comes across (to me) as being depressed with that she can’t quite remember what she was doing throughout the day, as though she was walking through the day half asleep. I’ve also felt that she is singing about her last day before something tragic happened.

[@butterflymuseum2921]

In my personal opinion, I think that the protagonist died. Truly a masterpiece.

[@kevcall]

Interesting idea, I just thought it was her meeting a new lover or something like that..

[@karoly8738]

The Day Before You Came is one of the most beautiful song ever made. It's a haunting, beautiful Melody. The fact that doesn't have a chorus makes this a masterpiece. Such a simple song, with simple lyrics and yet one of the most sophisticated creation in music. I'm glad that young people like you are appreciating ABBA s work. Awesome 👍

[@davidwilliams8457]

Hi Luke, I have just discovered your reviews. I must say how much I enjoy your interpritations of these classic songs that I am so farmiiar with. I am a 70 year old and I have been blessed to have been brought up with such a wonderful catalogue of great music and songs. I look forward to seeing more.

[@edned5504]

You described it as ominous and ghostly. I think you're right. It is very dark. The singer's life was mundane and predictable, the day before he came. But after he comes, who knows? Is she happy now that he's in her life? The downbeat tone suggests not. Is she unhappy, worried or even dead? Has he entered her life and ruined it? Killed her?

[@Anna-Gunilla1792]

I totally agree and thanks for not getting all confused by the mening of the lyrics like many others do

[@DavidFardmar1]

I’ve never ever seen this music video. Thanx Luke!!! BEAtiful 🩷

[@joergen11111]

AGNETHA the best story teller with a unique voice.....THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL and this masterpiece

[@midday2706]

Luke, I love your interpretation of the videos, as well as the lyrics, voice/vocals and music. You’re by far my favorite person to do a reaction.

[@scousemouse9715]

I so agree. Haunting sadness and loss.

[@kristianmapage9742]

Thx, Strange song, the textsvery visual, pictorial , the phrasing, the unfolding make me think of some French songs, which tell the banality of everyday life that wear us down but keep a note of hope. Here the whole thing is even sadder, melencolic. This piece is a beautiful Orphan in their production.

[@christianoazzuro6711]

...'this piece is a beautiful Orphan in their production'...Kristian Mapage (!!!!)

[@Crlmrtn]

Starting at Tumba train station south of Stockholm. I actually pass it every day on my way to work right now. The bridge filmed from the helicopter is the Årsta bridge near central Stockholm. These days the commuter train, which Agnetha is going on, usually use the new bridge that is running parallel to the old one.

[@DavidFardmar1]

I’ve never ever seen this music video. Thanx Luke.

[@mickeefreeman2898]

Massive gamble for ABBA @ the time. But has become one of their Classic numbers. Awesome 🎉

[@lenaengell8528]

Stockholm is SO BEAUTIFUL!

[@craignotgreg547]

It's one of Abba"s best. Yest it was not a chart topper. Agnetha is amazing., as usual. I love you Abba. You are the best.

[@ZakhadWOW]

One of the great Urban Legend type stories grew up about this song: it is being sung by a woman murdered by the person she is talking about here. All of it must have happened the day before that person came.. and killed her.

[@OxfordRoad538]

This song was a big influence to Violator the 1989 album of Depeche Mode, same electronic sounds... beautiful ✨✨✨✨

[@stevehulse4005]

By this time ABBA had moved into that more dark synth pop era which was only appreciated years after it was released.

[@johnhickman2033]

When you've loved and lost this is the song for you ... the sun ain't gonna shine anymore!

[@The_Jupiter2_Mission]

Their last recording......until 40 years later.

[@eduardooscar309]

how are You? so glad to see you very well "The day before you came" It was the last ABBA song recorded (until the new album "Voyage") although it was not the last single (it was the next, "Under Attack") It was one of the last three that barely entered the Top 30 in the UK, a low expectation for what ABBA was used to. It is said to have been recorded in a dark and damp room, to make it more gloomy and to help Agnetha interpret It's a fiction story, a cryptic lyrics by the guitarist Björn and a dark music by Benny synths I will be honest of all Their singles this wich I like the least (for me is good, but not much more, 6/7pts) Agnetha's vocal performance is the best, but She is very lonely without a classic ABBA chorus and instrumentation The video is also strange, but it is well achieved, in relation to the story that the lyrics tell again Agnetha looks alone, now as an actress, the rest of the members of ABBA appear only at the end and disaggregated I understand that a lot of fans like it, it is even well ranked in the votes for the best ABBA song (it's #3 for British fans, only behind the #1 "The winner takes it all" and the #2 "Dancing Queen") I also know that is part of research and musical experimentation of the last years of ABBA But this song is not the style of music that I like, and Agnetha remains as a soloist That is why I prefer their other songs before, where the four members most involved are, in addition to other musical genres For example, I prefer the ABBA singles Ring Ring, So long, I do I do I do I do I do, Head over heels, Under attack (all 8pts) their others singles that wasn't Top10 in UK I think that, as now You react to the Last ABBA song recording in 1982, in the next You could react the First ABBA song recording in 1972, just ten years ago: "People need love" kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHfTY2yVYq1pqac (at these time They wasn't called ABBA, and now we are in the ABBA 50th anniversary) Thanks for your great reaction it was fantastic, one of your best, so clearly and with passion for ABBA songs I hope to see you soon in the next GOD bless you and stay safe best regards from Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷 South America

[@HughJaxident67]

I was beginning to think you may not have posted on this video yet here you are again with your 'war and peace' essay. What is wrong with you?

[@johanschonewille5675]

Luke,, so sad,, badd ABBA forever 🎉

[@josephthomas3912]

I think you would enjoy Abba's 1982 song "The Visitors". It's very different for them. It's dark, synthy, paranoid, and pumping. I don't think radio knew what to do with it, but it was huge in the dance clubs that year. I don't think there was a video for it - although you might find a lyric video useful. The band was really taking some chances in the 80s.

[@runecanberger913]

The name of the guy who plays bass is Rutger Gunnarsson. He played on most of ABBA's songs but sadly died this year!

[@Lisa-M]

He died 2015, not this year.

[@kimborgchristensen4866]

Next Super Troper by ABBA please 🥰🥰🥰

[@wordsmith52]

It had a touch of Baroque to it. Another similar bitter sweet song from around this time that was also not fully appreciated was recorded by Cliff Richard called "When Two Worlds Drift Apart". You should review that one too if possible.

[@carsonjones6479]

The lyrics themselves aren’t sad but the way agnetha sings and the haunting music and fridas operatic voice sets the mood for melancholy feeling of the song

[@superluvver3]

If you like this you have to listen to the winner takes it all. Warning don't listen to it if you are blue as she will make you cry ! Agnetha is that little bit extra that makes abba great.twtia is agnetha's favourite and such a powerful torch song,,you see agnetha at full soprano bore! And yes it must be said agnetha is the most beautiful woman both inside and out,saw her in 77 in Perth after we had to wait due to bomb scare from ac/dc fans! She is insanely beautiful in real life also.in my day it was really uncool to like abba, but I guess after selling over 400 million records someone else must like them !

[@carybenjaminportway]

One of my favourite ABBA songs for sure. (I also like the Blancmange cover.) One of the most intriguing parts is trying to work out what else she did on the way home besides picking Chinese food. An hour and fifteen minutes going in, but three hours going home!

[@brucedickinson12]

Blancmange did a cover in the UK charts

[@rogerramjet4761]

I love this song, but Benny and Bjorn were never really happy with it. They told Agnetha to sing it straight and to hold back with her vocals. In hindsight they thought this was a mistake and wished they had let Agnetha let rip a bit more. But I think it’s perfect as it is.

[@MrMousley]

The only thing that 'dates' this is the line .. ''I must have had my dinner watching something on TV There's not, I think, a single episode of Dallas that I didn't see'' and maybe the fact that the book she was reading was by Marylin French. Apart from that it's a masterpiece of storytelling in a song.

[@ThomasBurnside-f4d]

Nothing dates this song .

[@dav7444]

Actually one of my favourite ABBA songs

[@johnwilson5743]

Luke, I love this song from ABBA because it is so different. However, I'd like to mention another video that this song is attached to, that has an entirely different story line and it fits sooooo well. It's called: Mr Kalashnikov, The Day Before You Came. It is stunningly brilliant. Cheers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hanXqoFjeq2tp7s

[@cserranoweb]

Loved your reaction. Please react to more ABBA songs!

[@Flatwoodsdad]

You should check out their performance of this on "Show Express" ----> kzbin.info/www/bejne/jovUpKeuf9ZjiNk It's one of their last and Agnetha is mesmerizing.

[@sirjohnmara]

Yes. Very good comments. Thanks from Stockholm.

[@GeorgeT370]

That`s a very interesting analysis...

[@221b-Maker-Street]

This song also reminds me of Grace Jones' Libertango - the moody instrumental sections. 🖤

[@Lisa-M]

The "You" in the title of the song could be a lover or death. Nobody really knows, except Björn, I think.

[@JF-sh2sm]

It could also be a killer

[@Lisa-M]

@@JF-sh2sm Yes, death because of a murderer.

[@johanschonewille5675]

ABBA 🎉for ever😢

[@kyachdistent1301]

It was actually meant to be the 1st single from their 10th long player 'Opus 10', which couldn't be completed, but which anyone can if they add the 4 ABBA-sounding CHESS singles to it.

[@mikehigbee2320]

What man doesn't dream of a woman like her looking at him like that? It takes my breath away.

[@mondeo33]

You should listen to blancmange version of this song. Very similar but so very different. From a man's perspective. If you like Blancmange check out Living on the ceiling. Waves or even Blind Vision