(no subject)

[shapinglight]

All right, you disappointing Bohemian Rhapsody lovers, here's another one for you.

According to my daughters, I am the only woman in the western hemisphere who hasn't seen/has no desire to see Mamma Mia. This is because I don't like Abba. Okay, I get that they're better than almost everyone who has ever won Eurovision. I get that their songs are musically complicated, even if they don't sound it. I also get that if you grew up with Abba, you're more likely to retain a fondness for them, and since I wasn't (it was early Beatles for me, and yes I do prefer early Beatles to later, surprise, surprise), it's less likely I would (especially as, IMO, they're almost impossible to dance to).

So Abba -love or hate? Mamma Mia - a guilty pleasure or so boring you fall asleep just thinking about it?

Still don't have a 70s icon, but I think Father Ted goes with pretty much everything.

Comments

[swsa.livejournal.com]

I love, love, love ABBA. But...Mamma Mia is a TERRIBLE movie. I mean, well, I liked watching it? But more as a series of cheesy music videos than anything resembling a film. I've also seen the stage musical, and while better than the film, yeah, in general it's a beyond thin premise attempting to tie these songs into a real story.

[elisi]

What swsa said. It's *awful*! And the fashion police should come after Meryl Streep and the dungarees. ::shudders:: That said, I enjoyed watching it, since it is PURE fluff, and there is one scene that is just completely fabulous! If you have to watch it though, make sure you're not sober!

(If you can get your hands on the French & Saunders rip-off, watch that instead. It's genius and very faithful!)

[piksa.livejournal.com]

I do like listening ABBA. Okay, not all their songs but some are pretty good.

Went to see Mamma Mia with my sister and mother. It suited that situation very well since we were having a girls' night out. The film was entertaining but nothing special. It was about what I expected it to be. Noticed that Pierce Brosnan really can't sing...

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

Can't hate something so bland as Abba. Some of their songs resonate because of the memories of those tinmes but, watching Mamma Mia? Think I'll hold out for my copy of Star Trek.

I'm a Beatles Girl, especially Revolver and Rubber Soul. It's a kind of magic :D

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

I love Abba, but hell I hate Mamma mia. Looks awful. :0

[powerofthebook.livejournal.com]

I hate it, but it's not ABBA's fault. Seriously, I had to cover a teen pageant about the time the movie musical came out. Their theme was "Mamma Mia" for some reason, though the only reference to it during the entire three-and-a-half hour pageant was putting the title song on repeat. Ever since then, when it comes on, I've got the strange impulse to stab myself in the ears with a pen.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

I'm not fond of Abba.

I was dragged to Mamma Mia against my will, but it really was great fun. Meryl Street, C Baranski and Julie Walters just charmed the pants off me.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Ah. Abba. I'd be against 'em, in theory, except for I have all these pleasant connotations with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Murielle's Wedding and (for some reason) Absolutely Fabulous. So, for camp purposes I have come to appreciate them (sort of) along with Donna Summer.

However, I did see Mamma Mia thinking it couldn't possibly be as bad as I suspected, but it lived down to my low expectations just fine. Although the closing credits, with all those guys (Firth, Skaarsgard, Brosnan) in metallic spandex jumpsuits and platform boots, was almost worth the ticket price. And, it does fit in with my whole over-40-romance-is-on-the-rise-in-media theory. But that's doesn't mean it's any good. Hold your ground.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I've not seen it either. I can take or leave Abba one song at a time - but definitely 'leave' when it is Abba songs en mass. The story line sounds too cheesy to be true, as well.

[shapinglight]

But...Mamma Mia is a TERRIBLE movie.

So not even a guilty pleasure, then? What is it about Abba? I just don't get it. Never have, and I suppose never will now.

[shapinglight]

That said, I enjoyed watching it, since it is PURE fluff, and there is one scene that is just completely fabulous! If you have to watch it though, make sure you're not sober!

I think it's extremely unlikely I'll ever watch it, unless K and M hold me at gunpoint. If they do, though, I'll demand they let me get drunk first.

[shapinglight]

Noticed that Pierce Brosnan really can't sing...

:Shudder: He sings?

[shapinglight]

I'm a Beatles Girl, especially Revolver and Rubber Soul. It's a kind of magic

Hoorah! Me too. :Hums Norwiegan Wood.

[shapinglight]

You love Abba? Bu-but why? Can you explain?

[shapinglight]

Ever since then, when it comes on, I've got the strange impulse to stab myself in the ears with a pen.

Heh! Weirdly, that's how I feel whenever I hear any Abba song. Especially Fernando. God, I hate that song!

[shapinglight]

Ah, now that's different. So far you're the only one who enjoyed the movie but doesn't like the band.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Ok, not a huge fan of Abba. And thinking about watching the film would definitely cause snoring - lots of snoring.

[shapinglight]

And, it does fit in with my whole over-40-romance-is-on-the-rise-in-media theory. But that's doesn't mean it's any good. Hold your ground.

Oh, I will! And it is of course true that Abba have great camp value. Maybe if I hadn't had to sit through them the first time I'd feel differently about them?

[shapinglight]

Sensible woman. :) My nieces (in their later 30s now - :shudder:) adore Abba, but then they were little kids in the 70s.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

I know. I was rather embarrassed after reading the other comments :)

[shapinglight]

Hoorah! At least a few more like-minded people in this post.

[kidcyclone.livejournal.com]

I don't think I really count here, since I more or less think of myself as a 10 or 12 yr old boy who somehow got stuck in a female body, but...

I have never seen, and never will see, Mamma Mia.

The Who's Tommy is as close to a musical based off a group's ouvre as I think I'd ever get. Unless they made a Ramones or Sex Pistols based musical! Yes, musical tastes of a perpetual adolescent boy, too... you can see why I like Spike...

[piksa.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, yes. Not the most pleasant experiences...

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

I love Abba and even saw them in concert in the 70s as well. But even being a fan, I was unimpressed with 'Mamma Mia' when I saw it in the theatre and so have had no interest in ever seeing the film - rave reviews not withstanding.

Where does that put me in your league of cool vs naffness? :)

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen it an have no intention of doing so.
Abba - well, I find them inoffensive and will sing along if they come on, but I wouldn't intentionally play an Abba song, or buy any of their LPs.