Ratty Reacts to ABBA - I Am The City (I love the production!)

[@RattyReacts]

• Hey, everyone! I hope you enjoy this reaction! • All ABBA reactions!: kzbin.info/aero/PLDYJIGSuxqEln7B06Oflr3pmuhUFAowEm • ⬇Want to support me for future content?⬇ • Merch!: streamlabs.com/rattyreacts/merch • Leave a tip here :) : streamlabs.com/rattyreacts/tip • Join the Discord server here: discord.gg/FxwYpK26Rg • Check the community tab on my channel to see any updates for videos, livestreams, etc. :) • As always, thank you for watching!

[@MrSandstorm1960]

high there.. I recently began to watch your channel, and I like it, like follow the songs especially ABBA which is one of my top favourite groups would you please react to the song *"Fernando"* by ABBA one of the best of their songs!!

[@supastah68]

Love how Frida and Agnetha take turns on lead

[@sheriffdollard694]

A fantastic song that was recorded in 1982 and officially released in 1993 on the compilation album 'More ABBA Gold" A real masterpiece of a song with intricate vocals and music arrangement! Absolutely love it!!!

[@ingoboll]

One of my favourite Abba Songs.❤

[@walterw9829]

One of my favorite underrated ABBA songs. This feels like an Erasure song.

[@kyachdistent1301]

How? Erasure didn't exist back then. How on earth would a supergroup like them at their heartbreakingly sad and angry best-a group at the top of the plateau when they prematurely let it fade away when they abruptly stopped, achieve to sound like something that didn't exist. Now if you'd said Soft Cell, OMD, Blancmange or Dollar, that'd make no sense either, but at least they were around then. Erasure are too flamboyantly chirpy, camp, showy and carefree to ever come across ABBA-like, though they at least love them as we knew from 1992! In fact, they seemed to wake up half the stupid world to remember just what ABBA were-indeed-are! Now that IS a bit embarrassing.

[@terohietamies9441]

This and Angeleyes are my Abba songs. This is a happy mood and Angeleyes is my sad mood. I think that I am the city are cities like Las Vegas/Los Angeles/New York.

[@chrisp2071]

Finally released a decade after they drifted apart, this was a real thrill to hear back in 1993. It is a bit repetitive but overall it has that "sparkle" that their producer (Michael Tretow) always aimed for. I love the layered vocals and towards the end, lines from the verses overlap with lines from the chorus - I can't think of many songs where that happens - another bit of alchemy from ABBA's box of tricks!

[@kyachdistent1301]

If it's repetitive, so's 'Mamma Mia', 'Lay All Your Love On Me' and 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' What crap. It has sparkle, all right, as it's the only one that sounds positive and determined for 1982, all the others were far more steeped in misery, alienation, uncertainty and disregard-still all good things. Happy pop music makes one sick very quickly.

[@jeyoung65]

I love this song and the ending especially. So many vocals, so much - just like the overwhelming input coming at you in the city in the midst of a night-time rush hour.

[@petterhansson7312]

It's about 'any' city as a melting pot, in Europe primarily the capital of any given country. You could say it is about 'the City' as a concept.

[@rasvanniekerk6297]

Maybe my favourite ABBA song ...

[@alexioverdo5225]

I love the way both ladies have some lead parts in the song each now and then before joining together again.Those were recordings left from Abba's 'last' days.So very sad at the time but at least we had a glorious 'happy ending"' 4 decades later and that was a grateful relief for some millions of Abba fans.

[@kyachdistent1301]

Don't forget the 21songs under the Gemini heading, missing out the vile and utterly non-ABBA like 'Wild About That Girl'-most of these are ABBA songs, the material they'd gone through the 80s with, and the extras from CHESS, you just have to put up with differing, but still professional voices singing them. 'Nobody's Side', 'Slowly', 'Live On The Love', 'When I Close My Eyes', 'Copy Love', 'Ghost Town', 'Nearly There', 'I Am The Universe' and 'I'm A Bitch When I See Red' are all top drawer, and 'Just Like That'. The Gemini one even beats the ABBA one, but then I find them 2 different songs, as the lyrics keep back only a few lines of the ABBA one, which I why I name them different.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@kyachdistent1301Well a number of them were quite good but as one of the guys had kinda said lately,....'take away Agnetha and Frida there's no Abba,it's not the same"... From the later catalogue my personal top 5 One Night in Bangkok,I know him so well,Just like that,Have Mercy (both Gemini's)and Slowly(Frida's version produced and instrumentated by Steve Lilywhite with backing vocals by Kristy his wife.The arrangement of the harmonies to this one was- to my ears- as close to Abba sound as could get..

[@kyachdistent1301]

@@alexioverdo5225 I used to care about that for too long, but all I know is that if you live by the 'take away Agnetha and Frida there's no ABBA' you get a severely limited back catalogue, whereas if you do the sensible thing and finish "Opus 10" with the four CHESS songs, take both Gemini albums, adding 'When I Close My Eyes' to the 1st where it was supposed to be anyway, and kick off the awful 'Wild About That Girl' and substitute 'The Arbiter' single from CHESS, you get two more 'Abba' full albums, and if the 2 Swedish songs added to the Gemini songs, Frida's version of 'Slowly' to it, plus the Gemini 'Copy Love' and the final decent song off CHESS-'The Deal/No Deal' you get an 11 track album (admittedly adding Frida's 'Time (Belle)' to it as it's basically 'Arrival' with words, with these offcuts and bits you do get 4 extra ABBA albums, 5 as you've got to put all the 70s non-album stuff together (from 'Merry-Go-Round' to Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!). Yes, while being aware of the Frida 'Slowly' and its rather unnerving backing from Kirsty, this version does not have the power nor the dual twin vocal the song was meant to have, so Gemini version is the best one, but I just add her one to an ABBA album, so I have both of them. I do the same with 'Just Like That' as both the A one and the G are almost different songs. This we have to do. At least this gives us some extra songs. Remember, ABBA were prolific until they weren't, but they still kept too many things back barely used, or just dumped them. Even those extra songs recorded around their last album they're not about to give us in typical B&B tw@t style, as they've always done. Why even bother recording them?

[@helenpeterson]

This was a gem to me when I discovered it years after its release.

[@andyjenkinson5070]

What an imagination to write a song about being a city! It is clever how the backing sounds reflect actual city sounds. I especially like the occasional sounds which are unlike but evoke police car sirens. One of my top favourites. Listen again with the lyrics in front of you.

[@viktorthefirst]

In 1982 they recorded 6 new songs: Just Like That, I am the City, Under Attack, You owe me one, The day before you came and Cassandra. They were not really happy with the outcomes, so they shelved the song, thinking that they would release their 9th studio album in 1983 or so.. Well, plans changed quickly as they eventually released 4 of the above mentioned songs in 1982 and took a break in late 1982. In 1993 they released I am the City and in 1994 a snippet of Just Like That was released as well. However, in 1983 Björn's car was broken into and the studio recordings of Just Like That has been stolen. For more then 20 years, the pirated copies of the 3 version of Just Like That was circulating among fans untill KZbin became a thing. I really love the Na Na Na's version of the song and it is one of my favourites .

[@kyachdistent1301]

It wasn't the songs they weren't happy with (how can anyone not love these gems?) they just, especially Agnetha, felt that the end of the road was swiftly in sight, and it was just too much trouble to record 4 MORE songs to complete another album, and the further they got from it, the more they didn't want to. Both girls were moving forward to make their own solo records, Agnetha stating she was looking to make some happier, chirpier music in 1983, and CHESS was soon looming, and B&B realised they'd rather commit to that. All of them expected to return with another album maybe in 1986, as the rumours had it, even an apparent press release, but when we know the story. It couldn't happen and DIDN'T happen. And when ABBA finally deigned to be a unit a million years later, the ABBA they are now was not the ABBA they were then. But there are 2 Gemini entitled albums done in the 80s, both of which are almost full of material that would have been sung by Agnetha and Frida had they still been a group. I'm glad Bjorn's car was broken in to-he deserves it for not allowing us to EVER have that final song. I mean, they won't even put the missing verses back in 'Dancing Queen', 'I Do', 'When All Is Said And Done' and 'On And On And On'. Pitiful.

[@stevebrown661]

One of my favs. Then again I love anything with Frida and Agnetha in full flow. Nice reaction. But 'Is this about New York? Yes, you're definitely from the US😄

[@kyachdistent1301]

Americans always think everything is about them. And ABBA likely knew that most record buyers would think that. It was more likely used as a metaphor for their REAL meaning-about taking control again and maybe just realising how much influence they did have over the world, having proved to everyone that great music is NOT the sole preserve of just 2 nations as was previously thought! I guess it's also a wish to find confidence again-"the air that you're breathing is me, yes I Am The City, you let me be". They sound brilliantly in control and bossy-I think they needed that kind of thing to be sung then. All their other 5 1982 songs run from detached, angry, frightened to depressingly dead.

[@Lisa-M]

Now as you have done 'Summer Night City' and 'I Am The City' you should react to the third city-related song called 'Tiger'. 😊

[@kyachdistent1301]

'I Am The Universe' and 'One Night In Bangkok' are city-related too. Just cos their not Agnetha-Frida sung, doesn't mean they're not ABBA songs. If they hadn't split, this is what they'd have carried on with. That's a good thing.

[@eduardooscar309]

"I am the city" released in the recopilation album "More ABBA Gold" (1995) 13 years after the unofficial ABBA breakup I honestly think that "I am the city" is an excellent song, that deserved to be taken into account in its time to be an A-side single, what Agnetha and Frida do vocally is absolutely fascinating and the synths are amazing Another great song, in the style of the lasts I think that in addition to the personal circumstances that the members of ABBA were going through, it is probable that the low ranking of "Head over heals" as a single in the UK affected and disappointed Them, and this was later confirmed with the successive last two singles "The day before you came" & "Under attack" It is that, despite their humility, ABBA was not used to positions 32 or 25 on the charts, good numbers for any artist or group, but low for ABBA's level of self-demand. But that's how it was, unfortunately at that time They couldn't get out of that situation, and those songs were relegated And they are all very good, also there's another song, "Just like that" is still in high demand by fans, Thank GOD, for Themselves, life brought them together in the studio after 35 years, and with Voyage (album and concerts) They gave us the Golden Brooch to their extraordinary career Now we hope for your Voyage reactions take your time, please, relax, Have a nice weekend My best regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina South America

[@terrykemp1876]

It was due for what would have been the follow up to the Visitors but it is one of a few finished or close to finished tracks, that never got released at the time. A few bits and pieces have trickled out over the years but unlike some groups, ABBA never really had much in the can that never got used.

[@kyachdistent1301]

Yes, only a few minor shocks like a complete song called 'I Believe In You'-recorded in 1977 for "The Album" sessions, but no information about it abounds in the slightest, nor why they even bothered to record it in the 1st place. They do have a terrible knack of not putting out things they won't use properly, or have just no use for, having used bits of it for something else, like 'Rikky Rock'N'Roller', 'Hamlet III', 'Get On The Carousel' and 'Givin' A Little More'.

[@Vates104]

A great song.

[@MrRobwave]

One of my favourite Abba songs, Really glad you covered it 😁👍

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Ratty! 🏙 The part that you said you liked so much was reminiscent to Electric Light Orchestra's stuff. You should react to a few of those... like "Evil Woman", "Livin' Thing", "Turn to Stone", "Telephone Line", "Strange Magic", "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Showdown".

[@ingvarjensen1088]

Oh yes, these are great songs!

[@auntvesuvi3872]

@@ingvarjensen1088 Thank you, Ingvar! 😊

[@martinhumble]

ABBA are incredible.

[@Bjorn9284]

What a thumbnail !!!! WoW! NICE! So original!!! This is one of my favorite ABBA songs. It goes with Under Attack, and You Owe Me One. :)

[@RattyReacts]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked the thumbnail! :)

[@dirkstander4058]

Take a listen to ABBA, Hole in your soul. I highly recommend you do

[@helenpeterson]

He has already kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiTapxsepeoe5Ysi=7Ni4z5fi9_pxec6h

[@alexandresousa338]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@ABBALAURAFAN]

Yay your heads boppin’

[@tuijakarttunen9164]

Please react to I`m a marionette and Hole in your soul. Again, very different, amazing songs.

[@helenpeterson]

Hole In Your Soul already done kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiTapxsepeoe5Ysi=7Ni4z5fi9_pxec6h

[@ABBALAURAFAN]

I’m so nervous watching this.. it’s a very 80s song.. I like it but is very different to the A8BA you have heard so far!

[@ekerowillow1610]

A clever and inventive pop song but nothing earth-shattering. I like the imagery it conjures up of 'the city' as a living, breathing entity. I'm sure you'd like to believe it as being about New York but it isn't about any specific city. I'm shocked that you prefer this over Eagle! I know taste is subjective but seriously.

[@kyachdistent1301]

Seriously...YOU think 'Eagle' is better than this. Of course this is earth shattering, especially for 1982 when the world was expecting another 'One Of Us'. In fact it's the only 1982 that shows a spirited return to want to find confidence and own their destiny. If you ask me, THEY are the city WE'RE breathing, but probably felt it was the opposite sometimes with the enormous pressure to keep producing top-class albums every year, especially when most of the unit was feeling to continue was becoming too much. It's OK for the like of Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and the like, they just deliver an album whenever they like. Don't be surprised he said what he said-America always thinks everything's about them, but ABBA don't give a toss about America, they've more important things on their mind than watering their brand down to appeal to a bunch of limited taste losers who only understand country and awful power ballads and c/rap and old disco. ABBA hated touring too, so were never going to own the stats in a fair way they did everywhere else, as US always expects tours. As far as taste is subjective, why everyone has to universally applaud 'Thank You For The Music' for being a last 80s single when it's, for a later album, almost a syrupy embarrassment, when it shouldn't exist outside the album's 'mini-musical' is nauseating in the extreme, and to find it on "Gold" over loads of proper, deserving hits just cos the title was patronisingly re-interpreted to a belated generational all-round thank you to them for giving people what they didn't ask for in the first place, cos when ABBA started, they were defined as Eurotrash and ridiculed for believing they could make a career in music outside their own 'tiny' country. And once they made it, STILL ridiculed. Maybe it's apt that an almost ridiculous song should then be used for a widespread thank you. Next to that, 'Eagle' is platinum. So don't even get me started on measuring 'Thank You For The Music' to the genius that is 'I Am The City'.

[@ekerowillow1610]

​@@kyachdistent1301tl/dr

[@MrSandstorm1960]

would you please react to the song (Fernando) by ABBA thank you..

[@ingoboll]

Please react to Amanda Lear...Queen of Chinatown.

[@nagi.selgri]

React to Bee Gees songs 🎉

[@ursgeiser6570]

If ABBA had continued (even privately) after a finally well-deserved break and reorientation, this would have been a style of music for the 80s. I don't like the song that much; the singing is too Disney-like; the magic of the ladies is a bit gone. The Visitors, Me And I, The Day Before You Came, Shoud I Laugh Or Cry would be more musical precursors to the 80s. It remains to be seen whether Mamma Mia fans would have followed this development. Addendum: your 3 least favs are among my top ten!!! The tastes are so different.

[@kyachdistent1301]

A bit weird that you don't know about this song if you're a fan, but then, as an American, you probably wouldn't, as it's all about only a few songs over there if you're not a native act. This is a song all primed for their 1982 album, often called "Opus 10" whether it was or not, but they couldn't bring to finish it, sadly, as things were so bad for them that year. It only saw the light of day in 1993 as B&B had a moment of decency to give it to us. This is an awesome song, it is the 6th perfect song they made in 1982, it's super-intelligent driving techno-sound is awesome. And what about the way both girls never sing together, with the lines cleverly touching near but without ever going into each other, until the end with the deliberate merged layering of the voices. Bet you can't even tell what girls' singing what! A real pity this was never made a belated single after they split, as too many of their great songs in their last few years, like 'Cassandra', 'You Owe Me One', 'Should I Laugh Or Cry', 'Nobody's Side' etc. are kept away from too many people. This song also has another meaning-don't get too excited, ABBA never spent that much time in America. It's mainly about them taking back control and being the owner of their own destiny. The clue's in the lines like "you let me be". I tell you it probably would be rudely regaled to a B-side, just like with 'Cassandra' and 'You Owe Me One' and 'Should I Laugh Or Cry'. You're right, this is drastic, but it was where they were in 1982. If you love this song, I tell you listen to the other 5 1982 songs for the album-the 2 singles 'The Day Before You Came' and 'Under Attack' (their 2 final singles as a unit before their million years in the future comeback), 'Cassandra' and 'You Owe Me One' (which got stuck as their B-sides) and 'Just Like That' 9there are finished versions of it on KZbin, as B&B refuse to release it to fans the way it was. Also check out the CHESS play songs that B&B wrote: 'Nobody's Side', 'Heaven Help My Heart', 'One Night In Bangkok' and 'I Know Him So Well' all lend themselves to ABBA's sound, written by B&B and not hard to imagine Agnetha and Frida doing them instead of Paige and Dickson. Also ABBA kind of carried on throughout 1985-1987 as the excellent singing duo of Karin and Anders Glenmark, who did backing singer for CHESS album and on their tours were given 2 albums full of the stuff ABBA would have continued with. These albums are called: "Gemini" by Gemini (1985) and "Geminism" by Gemini (1987) and hearing songs from there like 'Slowly', 'Another You, Another Me', 'Nearly There', 'I Am The Universe', along with surprises like 'Ghost Town' and 'I'm A Bitch When I See Red' tell you exactly what ABBA would be doing in the 80s had they stayed together. The vast majority of these songs are B&B written and produced, and sung so close to the way the ABBA girls would do. Check them out, both albums are here on KZbin, and don't forget the 2 B-sides never making the albums-'When I Close My Eyes' and 'Copy Love' (original version, not the awful 2005 update). Best, though, to ignore horro song 'Wild About That Girl' from the 2nd album and substitute CHESS's 'The Arbiter' and 'The Deal: No Deal' instead!

[@RattyReacts]

I use 'fan' lightly since I've only heard their songs that I've reacted to and just a few outside of that.

[@ABBALAURAFAN]

I have often said how is this a b-side? .. granted there a few songs by A8BA that could be but overall they never really made a b-side, and how can you not like Eagle? Im shocked. But glad you liked this 1 def a bit different. And a great review.