FIRST TIME HEARING Abba- "The Day Before You Came" (Reaction)

[@retroreactions....]

A haunting blend of dark tones, dancy beats and pristine sounds like only Abba can deliver!! Thanks for watching! 🥰

[@casualagent7250]

Darn tootin’ 🎵

[@retroreactions....]

😁

[@chrislewis-n3v]

i would not class myself as an abba fan but acknowledge they made some brilliant pop singles but this record is unbelievably good - one of the best pop songs of all time, no doubt when she sings "and turning out the light" with the crack in her voice, great stuff- agnetha is a very underrated singer

[@supastah68]

This is my favorite song of all time by the best band of all time.

[@retroreactions....]

Perfect! I think my faves are still Fernando and Voulez Vous, but this one and The Visitors are up on top now! Thanks for watching.

[@morningsky8045]

Couldn't agree more about them being the best band of all time (and I lived through The Beatles era which was also pretty special). As good as this song is though, there are just too many great songs to choose from for me to name just one. Generally, it comes down to which song I'm listening to at the time.

[@casualagent7250]

Almost my favourite song of all time 🤔

[@dominiquevanhaecke6995]

Frida did the operatic part at the end of the song

[@retroreactions....]

Nice, thanks!

[@tuijakarttunen9164]

One of the best songs ever written. Perfection at every level. Absolutely gorgeous everything. And it doesn`t get old, no matter how many times I listen it, it`s always fresh, decade after decade. Thank you for the reaction.

[@retroreactions....]

Hello. Nice review there! You're very welcome and thanks so much for watching!!

[@alexioverdo5225]

Video to this is one of their best since it's dark,quite artistic ,cinematic and sensual so a must seen.

[@retroreactions....]

OK, thanks!

[@paulecrosby2006]

This is a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece ❤

[@christianoazzuro6711]

This song received acknowledgement sometime far later on by the public.Was even voted in UK pioll 3rd best Abba song ever.There's a mass of critics of lots music genres and especially rockers do love this one,some consider it as their best release ever. .

[@retroreactions....]

Nice! Thanks for watching and for that crucial info!

[@helenpeterson]

This is a masterpiece.

[@retroreactions....]

Yes, and they have many of those!

[@helenpeterson]

@@retroreactions.... they sure do, I have been an ABBA fan since 1975.

[@retroreactions....]

Perfect!

[@79BlackRose]

I enjoyed your reaction to this. It is one of my favourite ABBA songs. There is something classy and enigmatic about this track. It has an unsettled vibe to it. You didn't mention it, but I love Björn's lyrics. He is a good story-teller. It amazes me people can write so well in what is not their mother tongue.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks. Yea, never really pondered English being their 2nd? language. I don't think I've heard any of their Swedish or other language songs yet, oh except Happy New Year in Spanish...

[@beninua]

@@retroreactions.... they very rarely produced songs whose primarily lyrics were Swedish. One exception was Waterloo, because it was what they won the Eurovision Song Contest with, and back in those days it was mandatory for all countries contestants to sing in their native tongue. But later they made an English version of Waterloo and that is more or less the only one heard world wide. They were not only amazing musicians, song writers, singers, but also expert business and marketing experts. And they know they had to write in English to reach a world wide audience. Thank you for a very interesting reaction video.

[@alexioverdo5225]

People were not prepaired for this 'non-so .Abba sounding" song at the time of releaseDespite not a big hit in UK back in '82 and top 5 /10 in many European countries,this is propably the most praised Abba song even by some 'sceptic' rock critics who consider this as a solid masterpiece and Abba's glorious swansong.

[@retroreactions....]

Nice..great to know all this!

[@edlogtenberg9988]

Listen to that bass play. A perfect piece of music .

[@Kuesel68]

My fav ABBA song, best and most touching lyrics ever written - take that, Bob Dylan! I can't listen to it without crying - even after the 1000th time.

[@casualagent7250]

I kind of agree….then I would listen to Take a Chance on Me & I fall apart again 😭

[@ramonfioricompositor8462]

Wow! A f...g Masterpiece

[@drmagic60]

This was another first listen for me. Never was much into ABBA, but am familiar with their hits. My favorites aren’t necessarily someone else’s favorites, again why we have so much musical diversity.

[@retroreactions....]

Great! Hope you liked...

[@birgittalagerstrom6264]

This is so beautiful and haunting. It gives me goosebumps ❤❤ Thank you!

[@retroreactions....]

Hi! Musical goosebumps are the best! You're welcome and thanks for watching!!

[@Bandido894]

Not dark, but sad! Their swan song, one of their last songs 1982. Also beautiful synth back in 3.verse and the end. Remember was emotional first time heard 1982, since the song has kind mood 'Good bye!' in it.

[@Technolen]

This is the way how ABBA should sounds in the 80´s... This album infuenced Vince Clarke of Erasure for example, he and Andy Bell is huge fans. My favourite track - melancholic but IMHO optimistic song and in the end - this lonely, sad and ordinary life end today, the day when you came :-D ;-)

[@eddiecriglington400]

My favourite ABBA track. Love it. 🎶❤️🎶

[@retroreactions....]

Perfect!!

[@reneelyons6836]

Abba are truly one of a kind. Glad to have enjoyed listening with you Brandon. And all the rest. ♥🎼🎤🎹🎶🎶

[@retroreactions....]

For sure! Thanks for always being here! 🙏

[@hahatoldyouso]

Actually my favourite ABBA song! If you'd like to hear another darker & more theatrical ABBA song, try 'I'm A Marionnette'

[@retroreactions....]

Oh perfect! Thanks, I will add that one to my list. Really appreciate you watching!!

[@alejandrosantanaborquez917]

If you like the creepy ones😅... try 'Like an angel passing through my room'. That song always gives me chills and goosebumps... ❤️🇨🇱👍

[@retroreactions....]

OK, added to list, thanks!

[@gary.h.turner]

If you want "dark Abba", try listening to "The Visitors"! 😱

[@retroreactions....]

I did!! Here's the link if you're interested in watching, thanks kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYjHlJJomt6onJI

[@dominiquevanhaecke6995]

One of the saddest songs ever made in music history. It was the very last song they made together in 1982 before they split.

[@retroreactions....]

Yes, so sad on several levels....thanks for watching!

[@BarrySlisk]

I think it's sort of a happy song because she thinks back on the sad time BEFORE her new love arrived.

[@casualagent7250]

Very sad yes…but hauntingly beautiful at the same time 🎼🎵🎼

[@sUi5Udos]

It is dark and funereal, a requiem for the band which, like the train, was about to fade into history.

[@alexioverdo5225]

A song that many rockers do love,Lyrics are cryptic and may refer to a murder but Bjorn didn't want to say more about it.

[@retroreactions....]

Hi, thanks so much for tuning in to this one!!

[@christofferlahrin5149]

This was their last recorded song (well, up to recent years when they came back after almost 40 years), and, in my opinion, they ended on top (although it wasn’t really evident on any charts)! Of course I also love classic, happy-sad ABBA, but this is a masterpiece in its own right; it’s like their graduation in the old and- I think- very classical, European tradition of music and lyrics saying different things, and therefor in this case the music sets the tone and ”dominates” our interpretation of the lyrics. Also it may reflect the feeling of the group; both couples were divorced, they weren’t as succesful anymore (although it had been a success few people ever have experienced) and most of all it wasn’t that fun. But it turned into this very honorable goodbye, great even without any chorus! Love your carefully done - and still not to long or at all boring- reactions! You really seem to absorb the music! Greetings from a musician in/from ABBAs Sweden

[@retroreactions....]

Hello there! Yes, I see this song is special on multiple levels. Thank you so much for the compliment! I'm trying hard here to make good reactions, so those words mean a lot. So wonderful that you're a musician. I hope to release some of my songs here on the channel eventually. Thanks again for watching way over in beautiful Sweden 🙂

[@alexioverdo5225]

'The singles the first 10 years' was their last official album release as an active band in late 1982.Double vynil timeline collection that peaked at no1 in UK.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks!

[@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 official 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 their others singles that wasn't Top10 in UK in their time between 1973/1982 Thanks for your great reaction I hope to see you soon in the next GOD bless you and stay safe best regards from Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷 South América

[@retroreactions....]

Hello there! I'm well, hope you are too. Thank you so much for being first here today! 🥇 Thanks for sharing your take on this one...we all experience the music differently! Much peace and blessings to you in beautiful Argentina!!

[@eduardooscar309]

@@retroreactions.... I'm glad to stsy here in your ABBA Journey... and I was thinking that, as these is Their last song recorded, you could react Their first song recorded: "People need love" (1972)

[@retroreactions....]

That's a good idea. I will put it on my list, thanks!

[@brucedickinson12]

I'm a metal fan but love abba since I was a child

[@Orsetti]

Always my favourite ABBA song... and it flopped badly at the time of release. It even was their last released song before their breakup. I always thought this song in a certain way as the first "modern" song. Structure, synth sounds and the melancholic feeling is that one of a modern song. When ABBA did always sound as a 70`s group with excellent tunes to me... this song stands out for me. Okay, we now got Voyage, and there we can hear them grown up in any way. But I think, this song flopped so badly, because it was at least almost 10 years ahead of its time and was no typical ABBA song.

[@Muckylittleme]

"The visitors" is their darkest song.

[@retroreactions....]

I figured. Dark but still wonderful! Thanks for watching!

[@tuijakarttunen9164]

@@retroreactions.... I`m a marionette is also very dark. Please do react to that one, as well. Fantastic song, very different from anything else they`ve done. They are so versatile.

[@willem-janageling3907]

I found this one uplifting. Because the anticipation is that the next day her life gets meaning because it's the day he came into her life. This is her looking back and thinking Wow how did you change my life!

[@retroreactions....]

Cool, thank for your interpretation. Always great to have you here!!

[@terrykemp1876]

Or is she waiting for the grim reaper? Just a thought?

[@retroreactions....]

Many possible takes for this one..I still think unwanted pregnancy is a tiny possibility haha...Thanks for watching.

[@BarrySlisk]

@@terrykemp1876 Grim reaper!`?? :) Why?

[@Fergal283]

One of my three favourite ABBA songs, along with Eagle and Chiquititta

[@retroreactions....]

Great! Thank you for watching!!

[@what-uc]

The rule of three, ABBA's secret weapon

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks for watching!

[@musicaficionado2974]

The darkest, if you count out the Visitors.

[@retroreactions....]

Yea, and I love both songs, no surprise haha! Thank you.

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

There is a fab cover of this by a band "Blancmange" that Agneta liked so much, she appears in it. It's odd and nothing like their usual style but I love it. Both versions.

[@supastah68]

Meh, it’s not that great

[@retroreactions....]

Yea I saw that, will have to check it out! Thanks

[@gary.h.turner]

🎼 I must have listened to this song a hundred times or so, And yet I never saw the hints within the video. 🎶I must have analysed the lyrics here a dozen times or more, So how is it that I could not see what other people saw? 🎵The fact I never understood - it really is a shame. It's so much harder than their song "The Name of the Game." I found there's really no-one else to blame - The day before you came. 🕶️🌑

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks for watching!

[@supastah68]

You should do Agnetha’s new song Where do we go from here.

[@Lisa-M]

It's not a flute, it's Frida 😃🤩 Another song that is called 'dark' is 'I'm A Marionette' (not sure if you did this song already because you have no ABBA playlist) but before you listen to that you should do 'Thank You For The Music' and 'I Wonder' in that order because these three songs are telling a story. 😀

[@alexioverdo5225]

Frida's operatic echo is unique here.A fab job put into this song's arrangements right at the outro's part.Adds an impactful dark sense.

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Operative part is Frida's vocals.The main riff line that sounds like a mourning bird is Benny's 'flute-ish' keyboard sound.

[@Lisa-M]

@@alexioverdo5225 Yes, it causes goosebumps.

[@retroreactions....]

Ha nice! Yes, sorry I ran out of spots, KZbin only allows 12 playlists to be added on my home page. FYI, I have only reacted to this song, The Visitors, Does Your Mother Know, The Piper and Happy New Year. I do know "Thank You" fairly well... so the order is Thank You, I Wonder then I'm a Marionette?

[@Lisa-M]

@@retroreactions.... No need to excuse. 🙂 But thanks for the list. Yes, the order is: 1. Thank You For The Music, 2. I Wonder, 3. I'm A Marionette.

[@bigjapi1]

Big change from Genesis, Pink Floyd, Camel, and Serú... to ABBA LOL, I liked this 2 couples quarteto when I was a kid, I only know their hits, I never listened this ¨Modern Talking¨ way song, my fave from them is ¨Fernando¨... its so beautiful

[@retroreactions....]

What? Abba sounds just like those bands, and especially ELP! 🤣🤣 Nah, definitely their own unique sound. Oh nice, my 2 favorites are Fernando and Voulez Vous....

[@bigjapi1]

No te enojes 😂, I was only referring to this specific song. Sunday has arrived, I have many too many things to do but I'll stay at home waiting 4 for a beautiful and very special song for me.

[@retroreactions....]

Oh no! Sorry, since I'm halfway through the album, I took a break this week to do an older Genesis song. It's been a while. My apologies if you're disappointed...✌️

[@bigjapi1]

@@retroreactions.... Anything from old Genesis is welcome, including 1969 - From Genesis To Revelation album

[@retroreactions....]

Video up! Hope you like it 🙂

[@deanmacreavy2135]

This has just reminded me I had an ABBA poster on my bedroom wall as a kid, next to my Six Million Dollar Man and Starsky & Hutch posters 😆 Definiely check out their track 'Hole in Your Soul' too if you get chance Brandon 👌

[@retroreactions....]

Haha, the good old days of room posters in the 70s/80s! Adding your vote for HIYS..

[@deanmacreavy2135]

@@retroreactions.... Cheers Brandon. Ha, yeah, then as I got older, I progressed to hand painted band logos on the wall like Rush, Genesis, Yes etc 😆

[@opicatchu2164]

Oddly the cover by "blancmange", the same year, runs better in UK single chart than the ABBA original !!

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

The Blancmange one is sung by an English guy and it's got a video, as has this one. Highly recommend, It is less dark and lighter of heart. Both versions have official videos. Def hear Blancmange version.

[@retroreactions....]

Just watched, wow, I liked....much closer to the original than I expected! Never really explored Blancmange...

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

What am I missing? I honestly don’t see this as that dark. She’s describing an average life…..getting up, going work, meeting friends for lunch , going to bed and reading. A normal routine for millions of people. I was thinking that the next day, she met someone who rocked her world and completely changed her life. The instrumentation didn’t strike me as dark, so much as mysterious. In parts, it reminded me very much of a soundtrack to a mystery movie from, say, the 50’s or 60’s….with Cary Grant in it! 😏. Is everyone assuming that her life is horrible? Or that something horrible is about to happen? Or is is considered a dark song because people know the circumstances and the backstory of the actual band members at that time? The song doesn’t feel innately dark taken at face value, for me.

[@retroreactions....]

I think it all depends on the interpretation/conclusion that the listener makes. I think I read that the band said she finds love, which changes her life, but then she loses him, and realizes she's back to a depressing square one. That's more of a sad thing, but I think the song is really dark if you interpret the "you" as a killer as many have said, death itself, or maybe something like an unwanted pregnancy.....I believe it's the last song they ever recorded, so the sadness was palpable. I heard they even made the studio dark and cold, and told Agnetha to sing it coldly without her usual "umph"...

[@alexioverdo5225]

Lyrics are cryptic with lots of perceptions.Some revealed the story hints a murder.Original title was 'The suffering bird'.

[@malcolmbrown7683]

I agree, don't see it as dark. Also how could she sing about it if she had been murdered which some think!

[@klausolekristiansen2960]

She remembers nothing of the day, yet she can describe it in detail. She mentions that she did not even realise that she was sad. A very dull and sad life. The story that the official video tells is that she meets a man, who becomes her lover. But the relationship is short lived. He moves away. So now she is back in her rutine, but now she knows that she is living without aim.

[@retroreactions....]

Probably the best explanation, since I think the video and Bjorn confirm that...

[@robertschatz7781]

Regarding who "You" refers to, I am increasingly inclined to think it's Death.

[@retroreactions....]

Definitely makes sense with that interpretation...thanks

[@nogisweb]

I agree, there are a few interpretations of the song that have that theory, which makes it an even darker masterpiece.

[@patriciakupiec993]

To me it’s a picture of a functional depressed woman

[@retroreactions....]

Interesting take. Thanks for watching!

[@frankly-he1kf]

Some say it's referring to the day before death came....

[@retroreactions....]

I can totally buy into that interpretation... thanks so much for watching!