Shnootz - Reaction Video (ABBA - If It Wasn't for the Nights)

What's shaking, folks! I'm back with another ABBA reaction from their 1979 album Voulez-Vous, and this time we listen to the thematically complex and sonically engaging "If It Wasn't for the Nights" (though apologies, I say it wrong a couple times before listening, though I correct myself both times). In any case, join me for another great and multifaceted track from this album. Cheers!
Also I recently set up a Patreon, so anyone interested in supporting what we do on this channel through donation can go here. Cheers! / shnootz
#ShnootzReactions #ABBA #VoulezVous #VocalPop #ABBAReactions #Pop #VocalPopReactions #Shnootz

[@adamlewis3729]

How was this not a major single for them? I think it's even better then "Dancing Queen". It's pure late 70s disco at it's best.

[@politivonsyt7010]

This song was supposed to be the lead single but they choosed "Chiquitita" instead. An odd choice for this funky groovy soul album. But since its ABBA, not so odd for this "UFO" group in the pantheon of Music. I advise you to listen to the live version from the Live at Wembley album but my personal pick would be the bootleg from their Milwaukee concert.(it's on YT) A far better concert IMO compare to the official album, more vivid (music and audience), the girls are at their top and a quite excellent recording if you consider it was made in 1979. My favorite ABBA concert recording Excellent reactions and analyses.

[@flemmingkristoffersen1896]

@@politivonsyt7010 The main reason why ABBA chose Chiquitita as the first single from VV, was that they were invited to perform at the UNICEF charity concert in the UN building i N.Y:C. in 1979. It was a concert with ABBA, Andy Gibb, Donna Summer, Earth Wind and Fire, John Denver - among others - and due to the fact that the benefits of their song would go to children in need, they decided that Chiquitita was a more suitable song for that purpose. And it became one of their biggest hits!

[@politivonsyt7010]

@@flemmingkristoffersen1896 that's right.

[@jasonbutt7199]

One of their Very Best Songs.

[@alexioverdo5225]

This is like Abba meeting '70s Bee Gees and Nile Rodger's Chic.Vocals to this are both complicated and sound heavenly.10 outa 10, plus!

[@lo_souza]

"If It Wasn't for the Nights" (working title: "Pandemonium") is one of my faves of the album - it's the brilliance of 70s disco. The next song is one of the songs that really defined ABBA as something different - something special. ✌

[@italoblu]

One of the fan favorites.

[@eduardooscar309]

hello again Matt good start to the week for you, and thanks for this new reaction from ABBA "If it wasn't for the night" (1979) is an excellent disco-style ABBA song that combines the contrast of dense lyrics (at this time Björn and Agnetha were in the middle of their separation) with a catchy melody and impeccable singing by the duo Agnetha & Frida has a particularity: in the first part there is a phrase by Frida: 'It's bad' answered by Agnetha 'Ahhh, so bad!' that in the second part the voices are inverted is another track with a disco sound influenced by the Bee Gees and the movie 'Saturday Night Fever' "If it wasn't for the nights" also has a story ABBA had been invited to participate in the Concert for UNICEF and was going to go with this song, which was going to be the new single. and they were presenting it, ABBA interpreted it in the TV special in Japan and in the Christmas program for the BBC, at the end of 1978 But weeks before, ABBA composed a new song, a masterpiece that changed its history: "Chiquitita" This last one was the song chosen by ABBA to perform at that World Concert, they premiered it there and it was their new single, and its worldwide success was colossal (especially in Latin America). and "If it wasn't for the nights" was finally not a single, it was relegated to being one more track on the album "Voulez Vous" (a pity, because for me it is the second best song from the album "Voulez Vous") Coincidentally in the order of the album, in the next track we will have "Chiquitita" (my favorite from the album), finally the lead single, andthe song with which the romance of the Latin American public towards ABBA is installed we will see you there May your day continue well Best regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina South America

[@rodney9409]

I'm so glad that you've been listening to Abba, and for me this is not a disco album, the dancy stuff is a mixture of pop and then other elements like folksy in I Have A Dream and the beginning of a funky sound in the title track. I am very impressed with both ladies' vocals, whether they sing lead or joint vocals, each of them brings that uniqueness that makes them special.

[@mongooz24]

You must check out their performance of this on a Japanese variety show - wholly entertaining- the outfits, dancing. Such fun! Frida really rocks out. Oh and Benny bouncing on piano is hysterical- reminds me of muppets!

[@mattsnider2667]

Oh wow, I definitely need to see this. Cheers for the tip!

[@RLucas3000]

@@mattsnider2667 I hope you got to see this recommended version. It’s one of the cheeriest performance vids I’ve ever seen, a real spirit boost! I never understood why this wasn’t a single! And 3 greatest hits/B side albums and it’s not on any of them! To me, this (VV) is the best ABBA album. Also, the Japanese performance is shorter (3:00+) than the album version you just listened to here (5:00+) which is just another clue it was intended as a single originally. You probably won’t ever see this on an 11 month old video, but Subbed!

[@addersdewinter7495]

At the time it looked like this should have been a single but it was dropped in favour of Chiquitita. Which proved to be a good move, but another time and place this would have made a great single.

[@imntojj]

Good tune and should have been much bigger hit for them. The next track Chiquitita is a powerhouse of vocals - a masterclass of harmonization and I can’t wait to hear your reaction.👍

[@mickeefreeman2898]

Agnetha & Frida's Harmonies = Juggernauts of Vocals ! 🎶🎵.

[@martinbatallan3734]

The best sing and the best video

[@67lionsoflisbon37]

ABBA!!! Did they ever write a bad song? Bloomin perfect song after song after song. Great music musicianship, lyrics and heavenly vocals. Heavenly Singers. I only found this last Friday. Brilliant.

[@stevehulse4005]

Great dance track and the second one on the album that had a section where the title is just sung with an instrumental break. Should have also done an extended dance version like Voulez Vous.

[@bjorkeskog]

My favourite from this album..so smooth and groovy

[@madjackster66]

Get yourself to London and go see ABBA Voyage….one of the best damn nights I’ve ever had!!

[@flemmingkristoffersen1896]

I'm going to see the Voyage concert in London in november - and I can't wait! ❤️ ABBA

[@alnaale6923]

I saw it one month ago and till now I can't pack my impressions to the head - too huge)

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@alnaale6923 Oh ma god i'm tearfully jealous.I'm still preparing this trip.I'm afraid i have to watch this twice.First time alone cause i wouldn't be able to hold up my tears and i don't want the others to find out and 2nd with all family and friends 'playing it cool" ha!ha!

[@pascal-Z]

The Abba Voyage concert was amazing. Such an awesome experience. Been twice now and can’t wait for a third time.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@pascal-Z third eh?This is true that it's kind of addictive,i have read this very often that people go again.

[@richardkane4869]

Testimony to ABBA's sheer genius that even on an album where five of the ten tracks were A sides in the UK (counting double AA sided Angeleyes/Voulez Vous), there are at least another two tracks (As good as new and this one) that could have been huge hits, not to mention two stonking B sides (Kisses of fire and Lovelight, the latter omitted in the end from the album) that could have been too. There were hints at the time this song might be a single, but they went with Chiquitita. By no means a bad decision, but this should be so much better known. Classic disco period, slinky, ABBA with hook upon hook. You don't find much filler on ABBA albums, and Voulez Vous is no exception. Funny, as a kid used to pop ABBA back in the day, I didn't appreciate this period of ABBA as much as I do. Interestingly, this is ABBA's most American album, with some tracks recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami - perhaps a drive to really crack America, in tandem with the then upcoming tour. Great job, loving your reactions.

[@jodysmith8048]

The piano style on this song is undoubtedly sounds like it was inspired by Elton john style of piano playing.Had ABBA let Elton John sing this son theres no question it would have been a big hit.

[@The_Jupiter2_Mission]

If It Wasn't....went through about 3 remixes. Not a lot to say about the track in the studio recording side of things. Lyric wise, Abba tracks usually followed the usual pop song tropes of boy meets girl, girl loses boy, romantic relationship situations etc. Occasionally you would get something different, but mostly the usual pop song lover lorn stuff. Nothing was ever really that deep that required a lot of analysis. I think that began to change a bit with the next album where Bjorn gained more confidence in his lyric writing and things began to become more meaningful and varied. Next one up is arguably the biggie of the album in terms of popularity.

[@kimborgchristensen4866]

One of Abbas best song ever 👍👍👍

[@annelieviberg3018]

Yessss🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰❣️

[@RLucas3000]

Vouslez Vous is their best album and If It Wasn’t For The Nights is their Best Song Ever

[@alejandrosantanaborquez917]

Great track... (maybe too much Bee - Gees style) It's a fantastic album, anyway. See ya, Matt & Lucca ❤️🇨🇱👍

[@petterhansson7312]

In real life it was Björn that had problems night time when Agnetha was not there anymore. So he wrote the lyrics about that feeling, and let the girls sing this time around.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Yes that's the real story!Quite desperate but hidden unsuspiciously under a groovy shiny tune though it's not the only time he did this.

[@mickeefreeman2898]

ABBA ARE ART ?. 🎨. TEE-HEE.

[@mickeefreeman2898]

Abbasolutly ⭐

[@Sweep_The_Leg_Johnny]

I finally did something with a sample from this song, its up on my page. its called A Long Night. Not sure how I feel about how it ended up, but its interesting, hah!

[@mattsnider2667]

Oh nice! I'll check that out.

[@mongooz24]

Love the Vandelay Ind shirt. Need a Kramerica Ind one? 😂. Let’s put an end to maritime oil spills!!

[@mattsnider2667]

Haha, yes! I love when people recognize that reference. "And you want to be my Latex salesman...." So good, those episodes are forever classic.

[@discogareth]

I like the song but it goes on forever! Should have been verse, chorus, verse, chorus, fade. It’s a minute and half too long.

[@italoblu]

Said no one ever.

[@discogareth]

@@italoblu depends who you talk to! 😜

[@DadgeCity]

A bit too conventional. A good movie song maybe. Also, the way it starts high, goes higher and then goes higher still... doesn't make for comfortable listening.

[@richardmccarley281]

Very much a Dancing Queen clone

[@supastah68]

This is a great example of ABBA’s “third voice” when Frida and Agnetha sing together.

[@geordieboy8945]

Got to say I know I'm in the minority with this, but it's not one of my favourites [Sorry!😀]. I find the speeded up sound of the girls voices spoils it for me. I know it was meant to be a single, but it's a track I tend to skip most times.

[@mattsnider2667]

Ha, I enjoy hearing all opinions from fans, even critical ones. So never hesitate to call it how you hear it. :)

[@rdwulf6289]

Doesn't sound speeded up to me (don't know if you meant it literally) but I can see how the pitch might be a bit too much, so I might be splitting hairs here. A and F's voices together though is just lov-e-ly. I enjoy the lower pitched, less frantic songs more, generally speaking.

[@Pulsar77]

It doesn't do much for me either, I find it rather bland and it reminds me of the Love Boat 🙂

[@gerby17]

I'm really looking forward to your reaction to the last track on the Voulez Vous album called Kisses of Fire. It's a shorter song, but it packs a punch between Agnetha's lyrics and the various musical changes.