It's an old saying but true; you have to give the people what they want. And one of the greatest groups in music history does it right: this is a collection on DVD of all their videos, front to back, uncut, without any silly stuff in the middle of them that cut the flow like interviews, etc. This a total no bull no fuss-no muss collection, which is just what ABBA fans like myself have always wanted. Of course ABBA have been releasing their videos on VHS since around 1980, when the format was still young. But to have all these classics on DVD is fantastic. The videos are pretty much non-eventful, as most were in those days, as the artists just kinda stand around and lipsync for the most part. But for an ABBA fan, that's just fine.One of their very best videos, "When I Kissed The Teacher," shows ABBA in class as Agnetha flirts with the teacher. She is probably looking her most beautiful!But my favorite video is "Knowing Me, Knowing You" (also my fave ABBA song). How cool to see ABBA in rather plain clothes, how gorgeous does Agnetha look in that blue shirt, and even Bjorn looks kinda cool in that Buick jacket. Frida looks great and Benny has a small smile on. Any ABBA fan can take apart all the videos all day! But it's a lot more fun to just watch them, this is probably the best musical DVD release of 2002. ABBA may have passed an offer of one billion dollars to reunite (yes, with a "B") but even now in 2004 they still rake it in, forever one of the biggest bands on the planet.

I have been an ABBA fan since I lived near them på Lidingö in the late 70's and early 80's. But I have always wondered why they were never the huge hit here in the USA as they were in the rest of the world. Perhaps it has been critical dismissal as mere "Scandinavian pop rock". Despite this, ABBA continues to sell well, even 20 years after they last performed together. Indeed, there is now a revival of their popularity: a Broadway play, movie soundtracks, more exposure on radio play-lists.There is much more to this group than the critics' had seen, as this DVD shows.The DVD is a simple compilation of their music videos in roughly chronological order with no added commentary. In those days, they were called "promo clips". The term "music video" had yet to be invented, and these clips show the early development of that genre by the additions of story line, more complicated camera work, special effects and other high-level production values.The DVD also shows the progression of ABBA's music from the infectious dance rhythms of their early work to the more introspective and darker later songs. This, I believe, parallels their personal lives; i.e. the breakup of their marriages, and ultimately of the group itself.But the music! The music is wonderful!Were two female voices ever more perfectly complementary? The one powerful and operatic, the other more subtle and melodic, yet with a certain power of its own. And the other instruments: masterful keyboard and guitar work -- but you have to listen carefully for the guitar.The overall production of the songs, redolent of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound", is perfect. As is the timing: never a note out of place, and voices in perfect synchrony. It's the timing that tells the tale of true professionalism, here as in good jazz or Bluegrass.Do you hear their accents? Probably not, because it's very subtle. English has been the mandatory second language in Sweden's schools for many years, so forget Sesame Street's Swedish Chef! Listen carefully to the ABBA recordings on this DVD, especially to the S-sounds. Like "Thank You for the Music". We say "myoo'-zic", with a voiced "S"; they say it unvoiced, "myoo'-sic". Very subtle, as I said. And charming.And, finally, the girls sure are mighty tasty! ;o)-R.

If you're an ABBA fan or just a fan of good music in general, this assortment of 35 music videos which spans ABBA's career from 1974's Waterloo to 1982's Under Attack is indeed definitive. Simply put, it's a fantastic collection of music and images that mostly focuses on the 1970's era of ABBA's career, because that's when they reigned supreme in their international pop music kingdom. Practically all the videos(except for a few of them) were directed by acclaimed Swedish director Lasse Hallström as he was still earning a name for himself as a director. He would later go on to direct movies such as What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, The Cider House Rules, Chocolat and The Shipping News. With ABBA, Hallström crafted mostly fun images of the group that reflected their music which presented them as friends, lovers, and of course superb entertainers.While some of the music videos or 'promo clips' as they were originally known(the term 'music video' wouldn't be known until MTV came along in 1981) are often straight performances of ABBA's music, eventually Hallström began to incorporate more storytelling devices that are very common these days with music videos. In that regard, ABBA and Hallström are pioneers in the creation of music videos. Sure The Beatles and many other popular groups prior to ABBA used music videos or film clips to promote themselves, but I think ABBA perfected the concept of videos as being a very viable form of entertainment and not just a promotional tool. And we're talking years before Michael Jackson, Madonna or any of those artists that bloomed during MTV's early heyday came along. It's interesting watching how ABBA evolves from one video to the other, whether through the sound of their music or the way they dress. The level of visual sophistication in presenting the music increases as the years progress with every ABBA album and video. And while the visual style does eventually hit a creative wall that echoes back to their first videos, they are still entertaining and the music remains as solid as ever.Besides that, their music and these videos can make you feel happy and that's important. The brilliance of ABBA can invoke feelings most people have forgotten existed with music.