ABBA - Why did it have to be me? (Official Audio AND Live in Australia 1977) | REACTION

[@nielsulriksrensen9818]

Frida's a wonderful live performer!

[@carlosgarjon8340]

I also prefer the live version, it's much better and full of energy. Frida was a master on stage, she really loved performing live, she had so much fun and always sang flawlessly. Amazing performer.

[@peterphillips4566]

The energy that night was electric from start to finish but it really hit a peak with Frida’s performance during that song, the crowd were going crazy. So lucky to to have seem them live in concert. The girls both had a couple of costume changed during the show, and did songs on their own with the boys.

[@kimmichael1399]

go Frida 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Next one 'TIGER"...There's an official video to this featuring the studio version ( from SVT 'Abba-fabbadoo" '76) but the live version from 1977 tour is ELECTRIC!It was the opener of the gig that took place under torental rain.People soaked but screamed their hearts out from the excitement.

[@vesnaforst]

Agnetha was getting ready to perform their mini musical 'The Girl with the Golden Hair'.

[@eduardooscar309]

hello dear GivenToe so happy to see you discovering more ABBA songs "Why did it have to be me" (1976) It is another very good song from the fantastic and iconic album "Arrival" it has a happy and danceable rhythm Björn is the voice in the opening verse and the ladies Frida and Agnetha sing the response as a duet It was premiered live for Swedish TV special 'ABBA DABA DO' and then performed on the TopPop show But the most memorable is for ABBA's 1977 tour of Europe and Australia. there towards the end ABBA performs a mini musical of four new songs (there of those will be on the next album: 'The Album', 1977) the girls change outfits, wearing the same with blonde wigs, to play the same character first Agnetha is going to change (because she is main voice in first song of the musical) then the other three perform this song and Frida has all the center stage, and she does a histrionic performance and Benny also excels on keyboards the video is unmissable, taken from the movie 'ABBA The Movie' that filmed that unforgettable tour Why did it have to be me It is also one of the numbers that many years later Benny Andersson himself included on his tours with his BAO orchestra. (Benny Andersson Orchestra) .and one more fact this song is actually a progression in the rhythm and other lyrics of another ABBA song, which was used only as a B-side: "Happy Hawaii" with the voices of Frida and Agnetha and that ABBA recorded it with cartoons of themselves Next song is "Tiger" it has an unofficial video in Sweden 1976 TV perfomances in Poland 1976 and Japan 1978 and a fantástic live perfomance in Australia 1977 tour too, because is the opening concert under the rain and wind Have a nice week My best regards from Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷 South America

[@richardsikkens5558]

Dear Giventoe, I am a ABBA fanatic and collector for over 50 years. I always watch your ABBA video,s and enjoy them very much. But for me The original studio version and the live version of Why did it have to be me are 2 different versions,the live version with the AMAZING voice of ANNIFRID is legendary, she can do an ABBA song solo hehehehehe. But the studio version with both the vocals of our Angels is also legendary. So no choice for me. But keep up your great ABBA video's........i love them. Richard ❤

[@HughJaxident67]

This is a banger! Love this track!

[@Nexando]

As for sure many have already commented here. This song is most probably one of the latest evolution of musical ideas that had several names along the composition and that actually became the marvelous "Happy Hawaii" song. I give thanks to Life that had permitted me listening it back at 1980 while on a exchange two months at USA. I couldn't buy it, but only listen to it once at a friends party there, of course I insisted but the single was a gift from a dear person, so no way. However, it showed me that ABBA had that full landscape sound, full melodic and still very interesting in sonics, with that addictive Piano + Bass intro (like very few heard elsewhere, anytime!). It fed my urge and future search for sounds as complete and emotional as such, but still playful and beautiful. The 80s and later decades have shown a distinctive struggle between advancement and timbre and rhythmic discovery and those cited qualities, many times falling into noisy, repetitive and minimalistic just to advance into new musical grounds, but forgetting those qualities (and understandbly so) along the way. Many things could be said about this second version or different song with some shared musical ideas. However only a few days discovered a demo "Memory Lane" by Benny & Bjorn with a few instrumentations also added, that is most probably an earlier stage of Happy Hawaii, but WHAT stage, so emotional, that those Benny's piano ideas almost from get go! got my tears coming out. Such Beauty!!! This is probably a very personal BIAS so I wouldn't put such expectations on anyone, but I have to admit it if I qualify this song as such. I just want to learn it on the piano and be able to experience and hopefully share this one with others... Words do not convey what I experience in such moments. Sometimes I have been similarly able (With 1991's Bjorn Again variations of piano, probably cued from Benny life performances) and at a few other occasions. Just sublime in a simple, little things, way of expression. Memory Lane kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIa9n6NmdpKleck

[@alejandrosantanaborquez917]

Agnetha🩷 was preparing for your next reaction.... 😅 (she was in a wardrobe change...) Take care, David ✌️ Love ❤️ from Chile 🇨🇱🤗👍

[@GivenToe]

Hahahah great comment 😂😂😂👌🏻🙏🏻❤️

[@garlen8]

Don’t apologize for your opinion GivenToe, thats why you have your channel. We all love you and NOTHING WILL CHANGE THAT!❤❤❤

[@alexioverdo5225]

For me, there are a couple of songs which work even better in their live performance than in the audio.Such as this one,"He is your brother","Rock Me",'Tiger" and maybe even 'Does Your Mother know".

[@brunoliddle]

Can't wait for you to get to Happy Hawaii (if you do the bonus track from the album). You'll be in for a fun surprise...

[@karinkrenn]

I thought the same 😆

[@alexioverdo5225]

yes,the cartoon video plz.Such fun.

[@mariaJ3105]

Thank you so much for listening to your little ABBA family ,😂 your the best 😅

[@Payne2view]

Frida always had fun on stage. There's a version with Tommy Körberg and Helen Sjöholm singing it with the Benny Anderson Orchestra, including the "Happy Hawaii" intro - buy you don't like dance bands do you.

[@darrenbertram7289]

Hej David, no you're not an idiot and I agree with everything you said 😁 This is a rare example of a live song being so much better than the recorded original. Frida really spices things up here and you realise how good they were live and wish that they'd done it more often. Have you forgotten about the saxophones in "I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do"? Or the sax in "Man in the Middle"? 😝 Anyhoo, wait till you get to Tiger, their vocals are INSANE!!! 🤯

[@christianoazzuro6711]

You see?!We were right suggesting this.And what stands for WDIHTBM also stands for the next one."TIGER".

[@luizalicaramos1247]

The live version is definitely a ten to zero compared to the studio version. It was so much fun, David! 😃. They sang really well live, which is rare these days. 🙄

[@DadgeCity]

Frida's voice is so good.

[@retrosilk]

I love both versions but some songs just rock live 😍

[@jullejanay]

Thank you so very much for this amazing reaction!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@jullejanay]

Hello from Brazil! I'm an ABBA lover since I was ten! ❤

[@pcch7831]

Agnetha was off stage changing clothes. I love both versions, no issues with the sound mix for me.

[@andrewperkin6614]

Great reaction David, brilliant, it's a really good song, and I agree live version is way better x😊

[@sarahberry4389]

I agree ..the live version I could hear them sing much better! What fun they were having on stage! I loved it...thanks so much for your reaction. Love the ABBA music you play😊

[@plai15203]

Hi from Ireland - i love your reactions to the live version

[@nicolap1342]

Brilliant. Loved your reaction and prefer the live. I believe Agnetha was changing outfit at this point. It is a pity you didn’t react to the live version of He is Your Brother but maybe you will do it at some point. 🙏 Can’t wait for the next one… and hope there is a live performance to go with it. Abba are even more amazing live!

[@sofiase7901]

Thanks David ❤ I wish you a good week.Take care and stay safe ❤

[@mrbigvanlife7130]

Toe gold ! There’s a cute ABBA video filmed in Denmark - Love isn’t Easy (but sure is hard enough) - one for a future review Mr T ?

[@eleonoragiacomazzi5775]

Hello David, You have given me a wonderful birthday gift! No need for apologies, l too always thought that the vocals sounded muffled..but, then again, people perceive sounds differently... The Live brought back soo many memories... The energy on stage of all 4 seemed inexhaustible ..Frida especially, a dynamo..loved hamming it up and made you love her even more. I was fortunate to be there.. Benny was like a jack in the box...😂 And yes, Frida was gorgeous 😂😂😂 Thanks again David ! Ciao bello! ❤❤❤

[@frankjoi6403]

A banger!

[@lydiabodrato1637]

Cc du sud de la france! J adore le groupe ABBA! Avec une préférence pour agnetha et benny... mais c est très sympa de pouvoir les réécouter avec toi. Merci et bravo❤

[@russelllmercer228]

I agree with w/ your "mix" issue. For me the Sax may contribute to the problem, it's overshadowing all other sound. Been awhile my friend, hope you and your family are doing well. Frieda ROCKS

[@geneWebb-uh5fg]

ABBAMAN..,. After listening to Abba for over 50 years I didn't realize like you that they used saxophone so much so I'm noticing it much more now and of course on voyage they used sax again. If you think it sounds a bit dance band well maybe but I think Benny elevated the sound and style. Yes I seen the live video many times I have no idea where agnetha was. Of course she was on tour with them bananas video she's Mia. Maybe bathroom break but how could she time it when this song came on? Only way to know is to ask her. She's probably in the background somewhere but I don't see her

[@The_Jupiter2_Mission]

Well, version 1 is Happy Hawaii, version 2 is the album track Why Did It have To Be Me, and version 3 is the live recording.

[@ianlyngstad1206]

i love ABBA, love this song, and kind of agree with your comment about words blending in with the music. I've always loved that myself and i noticed it more with the women then the gents. I think it speaks to ABBA's mastery in the srudio, and the ladies' vocal prowess that this was done, i don't know if it always by accident. Its an absolutlely magnificent song and should have been a single release. I think it speaks to how spoiled they were by the many riches on their albums that this song was not released.

[@jamesbachmann7376]

The critique about the studio version sounding like "dance band" music is apt. Benny's band, Benny Anderssons orkester, in later years would perform this song, and it fits in that style perfectly. There's a video of Helen Sjöholm & Tommy Körberg performing it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIW7ZGp8e5WUrrcsi=YSWwuTIg9wX8RYK1 I think it's a style Benny liked. Small note: the song was originally released as Happy Hawaii as a B-side, but they reworked the song and came up with Why Did It Have To Be Me, which was featured on Arrival.

[@valeriewalker9438]

I am 68nthry arebstill one of my fave groups of all time

[@helenesvanborg6234]

ABBA will always be my number one ❤ Thank you David 🙏🤩 And don't you love Ingemar Nordströms Saxparty or Thorleifs 😳😂

[@GivenToe]

Hahah Thorleifs 😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@helenesvanborg6234]

@@GivenToe ska önska något med dom på nästa live 😉😅

[@stevehulse4005]

By the time of the Arrival Album Bjorn was down to taking the lead on just one track on an album. Great song, but the live version has more energy and works well with Bjorn and Frida on vocals.

[@evahammarstrom-radberg5138]

Håller med om att live versionen är mycket bättre än den i studion. Tack för denna och ha en fin vecka 🤗

[@timothymorath3794]

Musically, it's Happy Hawaii reworked.

[@jameshaberkorn8728]

Glad you did them both. There is another video out there with all 4 on stage in a semi live performance. Also use to be a few other videos of this with just Frida out there but have since vanished. Enjoyed watching and listening to your reactions here.

[@TheFridaFan]

I think Frida sounds slightly "Agnetha-ish" when she sings here which is maybe why it works so well as a one-guy one-gal duet, because you almost feel like you're getting all of them! Frida had a lower pitched voice and had to sort of "strain" upward, but the result is that sort of shiny trumpet sound you hear in this number. A good non-ABBA example of this is Levi Stubbs, the lead singer of the American R&B group The Four Tops. He was a baritone who essentially forced himself to sing as a tenor, and the result is one of the most emotional male voices I've ever heard.

[@Elena_Oraevsky]

Thank you for this answer, it's great! You are absolutely right, live performances are much brighter and more interesting in all respects. And yes, on studio recordings the guys' voices sound muffled, which always irritated me a little, but live performances are simply brilliant! Please give the next review of "TIGER"?

[@Parallelepiped2]

Thanks for your reaction! I was introduced to this song from Mamma Mia 2! and I do enjoy it. It's really satisfying the call and response structure between the men and women . For the next song, Tiger there is an unofficial music video which I believe was in Abba: The Movie which I recommend.

[@catja6657]

They did sing Tiger in the movie, but maybe you're referring to the promo clip they made for ABBA-dabba-doo -documentary?

[@mcossota]

David, at times your eyes were shifty. Wonder why... 💃👀😂

[@GivenToe]

😂😂😅😅😅🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

[@chelseacharger]

The live version is performed slightly quicker which gives it more energy. I like 'Happy Hawaii' a lot too but don't think it would have worked so well in concert as this.

[@DadgeCity]

Early A+B+B+A was definitely a bit "danceband" but of course they matured and eschewed the corniness.

[@gusbarlo]

is the music of Happy Hawai

[@helenpeterson]

Love that you did both versions although the clarity of that live wasnt the greatest video.

[@Lisa-M]

He didn't take the video that we told him 😏😁 I think the quality of the video from the channel 'ABBA videos' is better.

[@helenpeterson]

@Lisa-M totally agree but we have the knowledge he doesnt when it comes to choosing the best one. Merry Christmas Lisa. 🌲

[@Lisa-M]

@@helenpeterson Merry Christmas for you, too ✨

[@nigelmurray9000]

No Mr GT you're not an idiot but I have to disagree as I love this song as well as the earlier version "Happy Hawaii" which was the b-side to "Knowing Me, Knowing You" in '77. 😘

[@Anna-Gunilla1792]

Ha ha, never been a fan of dance band-music either.

[@mirandabekkernens8265]

Hello David, thanks for your reaction. I totaly agree with you....live version is better.....An upgraden yes....so call Tommy,and then he can replace that saxophone with a guitar...what do you think about that? 😊 byebye ❤

[@GivenToe]

Agree!

[@Nexando]

Several ideas. Sorry didn´t read you guys before me so it all (doubt it) could be said already. First, the album mix is intended to sound like a 50s band song. Yeah, your Sweden Dance Band recording comes to mind. Just like "I Do x5" song. To me these songs draaag on too much plus the swing is typically lost in those recordings (customary of the times*1). I would assume feel loss was sought after and considered the proper or ordered way of doing such songs. something that the late 60s and 70s (as the sound of own's ABBA live 1977 experience proves) strived to break and open free. Sadly those condensed tracks stick in generations of people's memory and so carried on, despite many now, like you and us here much prefer the opened up way of performing the same music in this superb life performance. Further a new-old song was included at 2021 Voyage album, Just a Notion. Exactly the same dance retro 50's sound, but in a more festive, upbeat way. This song was loosened and benefited by more composition newly added, while retaining that vintage character. It strikes me each time I realize and discover that many, MANY people seem to not acknowledge the revival, old gold concept in those three cited songs and instead think that this was ABBA's odd way of doing songs... that sound melodic and driving but still "rare" to their ears. All this while decidedly retro-songs like Queen's Crazy little thing called love or Cheap Trick "Dont be Cruel" and others that came out from time to time, which on their favor are mostly more rockabilly-like and so more danceable, upbeat and with more swing. I'd say Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" suffers the same dragging effect, though this one despite that became quite successful, which makes it a rare case. Then the sound of the Saxophones is intended to mostly portray a thicker layer of music, similar to a many bath bubbles sound but with a tint of distortion added. Exactly the reason behind sax being an ensemble (or duplicated many times) and not a single one sax at the studio recording. In a very similar manner of recording, now it has been discovered that Waterloo has layers of Moog Synthesizer to thicken other sounds, much like adding bubbled + a pinch of distortion behind those. *1 It is my view that the same 'condensed' way of recording concept has deterred that fabulous ABBA song "Lovers (Live a Little Longer), which has had only recently being uploaded in its disassembles stems form, and Wow, what many interesting guitar and other instrumentation it has, only that became lost in those thick (and dragging) mixes with no space really to shine and touch people's groove. In fact many of those have pass unheard and unnoticed (until now, for a few of us, just yet). Many things to say to this song, I'll post another comment

[@terryolson1962]

Vocals have too much reverb or “larger spacial” setting than they should have, compared to the instruments. The live version is better because the vocals are more “raw” and not as processed.

[@gusbarlo]

cuando ella estaba embarazada no iba a los recitales y hasta pusieron otra chica, No se si es el caso

[@gusbarlo]

Yes, her son was born in december of 1977

[@Lisa-M]

That was in 1973 with the other singer, not during their concert tours. Here she was backstage to change clothes for the mini musical.

[@Lisa-M]

@@gusbarlo The Australian concerts were in February/March 1977, so her pregnancy had just begun. Maybe she didn't even know at that time that she was pregnant again.

[@peterphillips4566]

The energy that night was electric from start to finish but it really hit a peak with Frida’s performance during that song, the crowd were going crazy. So lucky to to have seem them live in concert. The girls both had a couple of costume changed during the show, and did songs on their own with the boys.