Customer Reviews

Ensam

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I have a taste for the downright weird--my favorite Christmas album is Kiki and Herb's DO YOU HEAR WHAT WE HEAR, love the Stones version of "As Tears Go By" in Italian, and Abba somehow fit into the mix. There's something about it when they sing that they're "feeling like a number one" that makes me happy, shudder, and smirk at the same time. Abba recordings in Swedish are even better--one is not distracted by the lyrics, and I can listen to the music for what it is--well crafted, light, and meaningless. This cd answers my taste for the bizarre and the musical needs that call out to me in the middle of the night. Frida's voice is just fine on her own. While nothing is on the level of su-pa-pa-trou-pa-pa, I never thought I'd hear Bowie's "Life on Mars" with new years. It was made for this Swedish lyric. There's a no frills version of Brian Wilson's "Wouldn't it be Nice"; if only Brian had moved to Scandinavia during his darkest hours to deprive himself of sunlight, perhaps he could have written the Swedish lyrics sung here. Oh yea, Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" deserves lyrics that only Swedes can understand but the rest of us can enjoy. I never liked Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, but listen to "Young Girl" a few times in Swedish, and you'll have visions of Frida in a 7th Cavalry uniform. Great for driving by yourself or sharing with neighbors who play their music too loud. If you love Frida, it's a must; if you just revel in the balance between unbelievable and likeable, this is just for you. It's like The Shaggs learned to play and moved to Sweden.

After the worldwide success of their Eurovision winner Waterloo in 1974, it took a while for Abba to firmly establish themselves as consistent performers. Meanwhile, the individual members sometimes did projects outside the ambit of the group. Frida recorded her classic Ensam album in 1975. It apparently did well in Scandinavia but wasn't marketed elsewhere. Now re-issued with two bonus tracks (the A and B sides of a single that gave Frida a Swedish number one in 1972), the album is available more widely. I'll concede that I don't know whether Frida is singing in Norwegian or Swedish, but I don't mind. I've never heard Frida sound better than she does here.

Fernando is one of my favorite Abba songs and is surely the best song that Frida ever recorded as lead singer of Abba, especially as many of Abba's greatest hits featured Agnetha as lead singer. That song, here as a Frida solo, opens this wonderful album. This version topped the Swedish charts for nine weeks despite the fact that Frida was not allowed to promote the single. Maybe it was the success of this version that inspired Abba to record a group version, which topped the UK charts in 1976.

The remainder of the original album mainly comprises covers of songs that Frida particularly wanted to record. These songs came from a variety of European sources including Britain, as well as some American songs. Frida and her production team adapted them superbly and they all sound fresh and exciting. The covers include Young girl (Gary Puckett), The most beautiful girl (Charlie Rich), Life on Mars (David Bowie), Wall Street shuffle (10cc), Wouldn't it be nice (Beach Boys) and the oft-recorded Send in the clowns, most commonly associated with Judy Collins, whose version was also a cover. I'm guessing that the lyrics of Young girl and The most beautiful girl were gender-adapted, but in any case Frida is in top form on these songs as she is throughout the album.

Now although I knew that both women in Abba were outstanding singers, I tended to think that Agnetha was slightly better. Hearing this album throws doubt on that theory. If you are only interested in English language songs, you won't be able to appreciate this album. Otherwise, if you're a committed Abba fan, this is an essential album.

Frida(or Annifrid)Lyngstad, recorded this album in 1975, just before the onset of ABBAmania (which really first ignited in Australia in late 1975 and then spread like wildfire throughout the rest of the world.

A smooth choice of mostly covers, this album features the diversity and versatility of Frida's 'wondrous' voice.

Many of us have heard the ABBA version of 'Fernando', but there's something very moving about Frida's solo version in Swedish. Listening to this, one can easily picture her standing on some hill alone, crying out to Fernando.

Her funky, black roots, dance version of Gary Pucket and the Union Gap's 'Young Girl' would fit in any party background music. Other stand out tracks include "Liv Pa Mars"/David Bowie's 'Life on Mars'(listen for the dramatic stringed orchestra ending - mind blowing), Skulle Di Va Skont'/Beach Boys' 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'(more fun)and "Var Ar Min Clown"/Sondheim's 'Send In The Clowns'). Her performance of 10CC's "Wall Street Shuffle" (Guld Och Grona Angar) once again displays Frida's mischevious side. Perhaps the most surprising track on this album, which showcases the voice that is 'Frida Alone' is the cover, 'Ett Liv i Solen'/'Anima Mia'. Full of passion and longing, this performance without a doubt, outdoes its Italian counterpart with all it's highs, lows and range of dynamics. If not, she certainly does the song justice. Enjoy!

Para los fans de Frida es toda una pieza de colección. Es un disco para personas con tolerancia musical es decir, personas que esten abiertas a escuchar cualquier estilo porque el Cd esta en el idioma sueco pero es grato para los fans escuchar este album, es uno de sus mejores trabajos. La version remasterizada es mucho mejor en su diseño y aparte que trae dos tracks adicionales.