It would have been an ideal opportunity to release it as a holiday double-sided single with Little Things on A side and a re-released version of Happy New Year with a slight variation by tweaking - " what lies waiting at the end of 89" so that it isn't outdated and could be used on a yearly basis.
I did like it from the first listen, but was also dissapointed because I was expecting a smash-hit kind of a song like Last Christmas or All I Want For Christmas Is You. But once that dissapointment was over I found that I absolutely love it. As you mention it has so many layers and I thing it is strange that the radio christmaschannels don’t seem to play it at all. It is a nice, sweet, fun and naughty song all in one.
My first thought was, it's too sweet, it doesn't fit in with the album. But then I realized how much I liked the song. I was excited, too: we finally have a Christmas song from ABBA! That made it so much more precious.
So there's a lot to unpack here - like it's already Christmas.:) I actually like the video quite a bit, the kids are so fun to watch and the story reflects the things that made ABBA stand out - the creativity, the fun, but also the dedication and the entrepeneurship. They always wanted to entertain and to be seen and heard and always worked so hard to create the best music and shows they possibly could do. I think it's a great addition to the very emotional reunion clip for "I still have faith in you", it expresses the hope that young people will follow their path and never stop to create like ABBA did in their days.
Agree with your comments BB, I think the song could’ve been much more. It sounded odd to me being track 3 on the album. Maybe a track to finish the album with but then would’ve been odd straight after ‘Ode To Freedom’. I bought the physical single of ‘Little Things’ but thought the video version would’ve also been better to include, even adding ‘Happy New Year’ to the single release. It doesn’t appear in the UK charts now with all the Christmas songs there every year, which is a shame. Great video BB, wish you & yours a very happy Christmas… ABBA good Christmas everyone!
I'll never understand the negative reception Little Things received from the fandom. While I will admit that I don't play it that much, I never hate whenever I get to do so. It's such an atmospheric lullaby with a most intimate and warm sound, almost cinematically so. And you are so right, the instrumentation is so lush and elegant, so classical and dignified, it really is a special _little_ piece. Agnetha and Frida sound quite strange here, but in a good way. They sound completely relaxed, and like they're playfully smiling throughout the whole song. Their vocalisation is the softest it's ever been, with not a single inch of intensity, and it really makes the song stand out in terms of pure sound. And ironically, while not really trying to sing at the top of their game, they still hit a purely ABBA-style harmony when they sing the "Things" word at the end of the choruses.
Happy 2nd Sunday in Advent, BB and everyone in our wonderful community!❤ Honestly speaking, when I first heard "Little Things", it almost was a bit "too" simple for me. However, the more I listened to it, its simplicity grew on me more and more with its Christmas beauty and peaceful vibe. And of course, Björn's masterful lyrics - as he said himself: "I love to have hidden layers in the lyrics" - he does, doesn't he?😉 I think it's wonderful that the mature joy and pleasure of the parents is put on the same level of importance as the innocent joy of their children, showing love and joy in its many forms! As Björn said when Benny asked: "I just wonder what couple actually has the time to sleep in on Christmas morning?" - "Well, this couple does"😅
BB, I think you're quite right to highlight this magical song, with hindsight it really does have so much depth and as yo u say it clearly is a tune that Benny seems to have a lot of affection for. Personally I think it got a bit lost for me with the overwhelming excitement being presented with the whole Voyage album coming as such a gift. I hope it will gain popularity in the festive seasons to come and I thank you again BB for your thoughts on this to, as usual informative and heartfelt. Best wishes to you for the Christmas season and many thanks for your hard work and dedication entertaining us all.
merry Christmas to you Bobby from Australia when I heard little things I thought it was the most beautiful number from ABBA Australia fans of ABBA loved it we loved their new album but this being their last album we will never hear or see another record again from abba or another solo record from Agnetha Faltskog this was ABBA and Agnetha's way to say thank you to all their fans that have loved them since 1972 but Bobby thankyou for your fantastic channel About ABBA you have made the world happy for being on You Tube for sharing every thing ABBA .
Hi and special thanks Bobby's B ~ as usual your commentary is spot-on i.m.o - the melody and recording is filled with intriguing layers and almost fragile nuances that causes one to listen with your Soul. The promo video was indeed silly and disappointing: I'd much rather have seen a moving collage of the ABBA members, made up of recent photos and appearances, interspersed with warm bokeh type lighting effects, the Northern Lights and snowy mountains. ❤👋🏻
I’ve always wanted a Christmas song from ABBA, I’ll admit I was underwhelmed when we finally and surprisingly got one. The vocals are incredible in it tho the childrens choir wasn’t needed, but at the end of the day I am grateful to hear new material from them considering they were dormant for decades. 👍
I love it and so do the members of my elderly choir who perform it for their Christmas concerts. As you perfectly explained, it sounds simple on the surface but it is surprisingly complex.
It's one more example of Abba making complexity seemingly simple.It's a policy proving their talent.I get a warm impact and comfort listening to it and i still recall the dolby atmos analysis(you did a couple of years ago) that brief part featuring the glorious strings that were kinda hidden underneath.Like a little lift up to the sky and back down to earth again.I don't mind it being in the album but i also think it might have done more impact if released in a special edition dualed with HNY plus a video featuring Abba themselves or their Abbatars and possibly some other story matching the song's lyrics.Video is not bad though,i do like it too but as an alternative choice.
I agree wholeheartedly with your views and thoughts on Little Things yes it may be simplistic to some but the extent of complexity is still worthy of consideration ❤
I know some fans were expecting a typical joyous Xmas song but Abba were always diverse.Some consider it a weak song (together with 'Bumblebee") and non apropriate for the album but for me it's an emotional beautiful touching moment in VOYAGE.I love it very much.Period.Hoping for a new video in time with AI technology this time featuring the Abba members.
To me, if I were to write a list of my 100 favourite ABBA songs, 'Little Things' would be way down at the bottom amongst the Man In The Middle, Disillusions, and What About Livingstones of ABBA world. I find the only joy here in Agnetha and Frida singing together. I have an allergy to childrens singing and to me, 'Little Things' (and indeed Just A Notion) are both blotts on the end of ABBA's amazing singles discography
Actually when it was released two years ago I didn't like it that much as it wasn't that attracted for me with the other tracks of the album. But few months later when I was listening to the same album again and again for such a long time I gradually realised what an amazing song it was with such a simplicity blended with the ladies beautiful voices combined with childrens part.
It took me a while, but now I really, really love this song! The video didn't do it justice though; it was more a distraction than anything else! I wish they would bring it out again with a more suitable video!
A very nice song, and lyrics so good and to hear Agnetha and Frida sing together👍 but as a christmas gift i wanted a full release versions of ABBAs - From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel, that would be lovely gift in this time of darkness🎄❤🙏
I think the video is very bad. It is a charming video, but it is a really bad music video. It does not illustrate the song at all. It steal the listener's attention from the song. If you ask someone who have just seen the video once and not heard the song by itself what the song is about, they are likely to say that it is about some children staging a show.
The decisions to release this weak song and later on "No Doubt About It" as singles is mindblowing. The wiser choices would be "When You Danced With Me" and "I Can Be That Woman" along with lavish videos which woulde brought a much needed second life to the album.
I have to agree on you about the underwhelming video. Whereas most ABBA videos complement the music, here it's just the opposite. And that is probably because the music is too honest and that creates a conflict. Sometimes it's just not done to use a beautiful piece of music for a commercial purpose.
So much more could have been made of the songs release. Having an extended version on the video and not as the single would have helped. My choice would’ve been to not include it on Voyage and only release it as a single. It would have sold massively for UNICEF.
Love the song itself but still feel it would have been better if released as a special single and not on the Voyage album (would have loved instead "Just Like That" on the album) and yes that music video for Little Things makes me cringe also, just like the video for Agnetha's 2013 Dance Your Pain Away made me cringe. Perplexed how these things happen and get approved.
my sentiments exactly. things could have been left off that weren't that great and yet much better songs they ignored. Strange decisions all around. Voyage could have been a much better album -some great songs as ever but some of them they definitely could have left off. . what pity they didn't include Just Like That and a reworked Story of a heart...
Oh JLT would have been a Gr8 gift for Voyage!Tracklist-wise i would have placed it right after BB and before NDAI.And if i was Benny i would have kept the original vocals with a bit more, also adding a newly recorded part of Gemini's version "in a way i was the one who deceived/always accepting the fact he would leave".Just my silly thinking ha!ha!
@@alexioverdo5225 you right JLT would be great for Voyage. Again why did Abba include HIYS and omit TACOM and MMM ? I would imagine they could have done something awesome with a song like MMM in Voyage but yet they leave it out in favour of a sub- par effort.
@@stevenleroux7033 I'm sure TACOM and ST are on the "hidden list".We are already informed from B+B interviews that they did more songs for this show that are now kept well in the closet .Ludvig also said there will be a change list in future times and i also recall infos that there's enough motion material to be assempled and proccessed so to be used in even more songs without needing Abba members being used again.So don't you worry.We gotta expect surprises.
Not sure what the problem with the video is. It seems to have gone over many people's heads. It's actually ABBA'S BRILLIANCE shining through again. The message is for kids to put away all their tech toys, put their creativity in motion, and they can aspire to be as GREAT as ABBA. THAT is the message of the video.
Agree. Furthermore, in this context, the last line of the song, “If you sing along, it can be a song that my grandma sings,” made me think that the “it” these children’s grandmothers sang refer to ABBA SONGS.
Yes that's the message really and it's great.It's just that people (me too incl.)expected something more "obvious" , Holy-jolly and 'pompous' kinda thing like so many other Xmas clips have.I don't reject the video,it's a more 'sophisticated' aproach if ''translated".But i also would have liked the other typical one excpected.And I love the song very much twas a fine grower for me,so beautiful and so tender.
Little Things is a nice enough song, quite sweet - but I noticed it scored very low in the recent ABBA Top 100 so it's not looking like anyone's favourite! Here's a rare Agnetha and Frida Xmas offering, in fact two Xmas songs from ABBATalk: ruclips.net/video/u401cLAcdlI/видео.html
Hello, I am enjoying every video you make on this channel. You are like THE ABBA encyclopedy!! Every time I sit down behind my laptop for reading the news etc. once a day, I also always check: is there something new from Bobby's Brother? It is always full with information. I normally don't react on your video's, I think I did once when you mentioned that the November 1982 Saarbrücken TV performance was their last TV performance, and I commented that after that they had a TV performance in Sweden (with also I have a dream performed). Little Things is wonderfull. On some forums (like Abbachat) I read that many fans don't like that song, and they wished it was not on the album Voyage. I don't agree with that. I like it in the same way as you described it in this video. Bobby, an honest notification: always and always you are only positive about everything considdering the group, but now, and I noticed it before when you mention that video of Little Things, you are not. Am I correct? But: since you are the best ABBA analist around in this moment, I completely accept your ideas on that video, not mentioning wether I agree or not! That doesn't matter. Finally: 11th of February I fly to London and see the Voyage Concert!!! It was 24th of October 1979 in Rotterdam that I saw them for the last time!
I think little things should have been released as a bonus Christmas single only and not included on the album for me it’s to weak and kind of stops the album mid flow . I don’t dislike it but it’s certainly my least favourite would much rather have had a completed version of dream world or giving it all I’ve got that had such a great ABBA melody instead
It's not a favourite of mine but I like the lyrics which create a picture of a happy content family in the mind. Forget about the worries and woes this is Christmas morning and everything is calm and good. The video is not a favourite either, it does not fit in the picture of the lyrics in my mind. I think it was right to include it in the album but where to put it Not the last song of all as that fits perfectly to me and not track 3 where it seems out of place Perhaps as track 8 or 9 would would be better next to Bumblebee
Watching the Little Things music video I also feel disappointed - for exactly the reasons mentioned. In itself it is brilliantly done, but it feels more like a Voyage promotion video than a Christmas song video, and as such this feels off and disjointed to me. Yet I find that the extended music, about 25 seconds more, really improves the song compared to the original version. It has this lovely musical bridge added before introducing the children's choir, and ends with a very festive trumpet coda. 🎺 It feels almost as if Benny ran out of time on the album version and released "what he had" at the time to meet the deadline - while he only later came up with better musical ideas... I really hope too that they will release this version at some point, as it is the much better version, I think. 🧡 At least I like it much better.
Did they really had a deadline?Don't think so It' has been said that the album had a 'take your time" sense,(no pressure) as it was 4-5 years in the making.As for the video's music outro i do agree.It's a good point adding it in a possible future edition of a Voyage dlx release.NDA/WYDWM too.
@@alexioverdo5225 I am sure they in theory had all the time in the world, but there is a certain point that becomes a cutoff point in practice. Be it because advertisement space was rented in advance for a certain date. Be it that vinyl pressings needed to be booked in advance (I hear currently there is a 9-12 month waiting period). Be it that Benny had other interests that he did not want to postpone like touring with his BAO, or focussing on a new record for them. I can think of dozens of ways where they initially had all the time in the world, but eventually had to put a date down, to release it in X months. And I can imagine that at that point the album was still not fully done yet, and Björn and Benny kept polishing it literally until the last day. And in the case of Little Things, perhaps even better ideas came to Benny only after the deadline had passed. Which were then used in the music video.
@@andreasbauer7285Yes or No,doesn't matter anyway.Many of us enjoyed this.I personally tend to suppose that outro was a last minute idea and was added to the clip but who knows?I gotta ask him,lol!Btw Benny was discribed as 'Impulsive" falshing new ideas each now and then but can't remember well if this story was about the V album sessions or the Voyage gig jamming sessions with the concert band.
@@alexioverdo5225 It does not really matter, as you say. But it is fun to speculate, no? I think it is natural for a composer to constantly polish ones own songs. They are never really "finished" from their point of view. If one comes up with a new idea, one wants to improve things. So Benny being "impulsive" in that regard seems rather normal behavior for a composer to me. Good on him! That's how creativity works. It never ends.
@@andreasbauer7285 i had spotted Bjorn in a recent interview on utube about it.He commented that there are times spotting things here and there on their past recordings kinda thinking under a more observing eye 'oh here it's not right','there we should have done this in another way' etc.but that was the way those songs were 'accepted' and got known ,being recorded the best possible way they thought it was at the time of creating them,so now it's history.Time can't roll back.As for speculations...well yeah it's a kinda 'gossip-iish spicy dish' (he!he!)who doesn't like this imaginative lil game?It's more fun than harm when it's not prejudiced and 'twisted',i 'blushy' admit i like it...
I wonder what you meant by saying Naughty Christmas Song, because, there is nothing naughty neither in the lyrics nor music. It's a simple and straight forward. Personally, I felt I Have A Dream & Super Trouper (surprisingly) more Christmasy than Little Things. It's just a good song nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, it will always be seen as a forgettable song when compared to Chiquitita (also released around Christmas), Money Money Money (also released in December), I have a Dream (would had been a Number 1 in Uk had it not been for the Christmas block in the charts) and Super Trouper that went to Number 1 and during Christmas was No 5.
IHAD missed the no1 spot cause of Pink Floyd's 'Another brick in the wall" a song that also had 'children's' choir.I guess you mean getting to No1 regarding that ''dead" week on which UK charts cease /ommit Uk chart sales anouncements or smth?
I must admit that I hated this song. I didn't understand a Christmas melody in an adult album but lately "Little things" comes into my mind from time to time as a good song. Nevertheless I am not too much into the kids choir part for now.
I didn’t like it at the first listen. After getting better acquainted to it, i was impressed by the beautiful melody. It also has some real ABBA moments in terms of complexity. On the other hand i remember i almost wanted to force myself to love the song when i really didn’t. And mabey that’s the problem: it feels forced… I think making it a Christmas song that is supposed to be standout track on Voyage, was simply a big mistake.
It's dreadful. Unfortunately, it's not the only dreadful song on Voyage. I do wish they'd just left it in the 80's! Without Mickie B Tretow, ABBA do not have that have that sound. I've spoken to so many people who say this is just ABBA singing. With Mickie he played around that much, it wasn't just them singing. Mickie really created the ABBA sound!
Never understood why Abba included this on their album-it could have been released as a stand alone and another song used for the LP. I have always loved Abba but Little Things just isn't that great. When I heard they were doing an Xmas song I thought they were going to pull out all the stops for an Xmas Classic and then they came up with this... a very rare lapse of judgement on their side. It is very pedestrian and sounds like they wrote it in their sleep. They could have had a song that gets taken out every Xmas like Marian Carey or Wham but they chose to go with this. Strange decision-I fail to see how B & B thought this would be a hit especially when we know what they are capable of doing (Super Trouper always has very Xmas sounding vibe for me. Consider how much more memorable Super Trouper is then Little Things.) Really wished they had re-done Story of a Heart for the album with the Abba woman also- that would have been sublime. Listening to Voyage again I just cannot shake the sense that there was a great missed opportunity.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
It would have been an ideal opportunity to release it as a holiday double-sided single with Little Things on A side and a re-released version of Happy New Year with a slight variation by tweaking - " what lies waiting at the end of 89" so that it isn't outdated and could be used on a yearly basis.
Great idea!
Such a beautiful Christmas song.
Loved it right away, a real Christmas song. Such a good addition to the classic songs of ABBA.
I did like it from the first listen, but was also dissapointed because I was expecting a smash-hit kind of a song like Last Christmas or All I Want For Christmas Is You. But once that dissapointment was over I found that I absolutely love it. As you mention it has so many layers and I thing it is strange that the radio christmaschannels don’t seem to play it at all. It is a nice, sweet, fun and naughty song all in one.
One of the best Christmas songs ever! Brilliant melody and lyrics!
My first thought was, it's too sweet, it doesn't fit in with the album. But then I realized how much I liked the song. I was excited, too: we finally have a Christmas song from ABBA! That made it so much more precious.
So there's a lot to unpack here - like it's already Christmas.:) I actually like the video quite a bit, the kids are so fun to watch and the story reflects the things that made ABBA stand out - the creativity, the fun, but also the dedication and the entrepeneurship. They always wanted to entertain and to be seen and heard and always worked so hard to create the best music and shows they possibly could do. I think it's a great addition to the very emotional reunion clip for "I still have faith in you", it expresses the hope that young people will follow their path and never stop to create like ABBA did in their days.
Agree with your comments BB, I think the song could’ve been much more. It sounded odd to me being track 3 on the album. Maybe a track to finish the album with but then would’ve been odd straight after ‘Ode To Freedom’. I bought the physical single of ‘Little Things’ but thought the video version would’ve also been better to include, even adding ‘Happy New Year’ to the single release. It doesn’t appear in the UK charts now with all the Christmas songs there every year, which is a shame. Great video BB, wish you & yours a very happy Christmas… ABBA good Christmas everyone!
I'll never understand the negative reception Little Things received from the fandom.
While I will admit that I don't play it that much, I never hate whenever I get to do so. It's such an atmospheric lullaby with a most intimate and warm sound, almost cinematically so.
And you are so right, the instrumentation is so lush and elegant, so classical and dignified, it really is a special _little_ piece.
Agnetha and Frida sound quite strange here, but in a good way. They sound completely relaxed, and like they're playfully smiling throughout the whole song. Their vocalisation is the softest it's ever been, with not a single inch of intensity, and it really makes the song stand out in terms of pure sound. And ironically, while not really trying to sing at the top of their game, they still hit a purely ABBA-style harmony when they sing the "Things" word at the end of the choruses.
I like your take on this.
@LudiusQuassas...Great commentary!
ABBA ”Little Things” is for me a very special song. It’s the most beautiful song in the world. I Adore It 🙌 💛💙❤️❤️
Happy 2nd Sunday in Advent, BB and everyone in our wonderful community!❤ Honestly speaking, when I first heard "Little Things", it almost was a bit "too" simple for me. However, the more I listened to it, its simplicity grew on me more and more with its Christmas beauty and peaceful vibe. And of course, Björn's masterful lyrics - as he said himself: "I love to have hidden layers in the lyrics" - he does, doesn't he?😉 I think it's wonderful that the mature joy and pleasure of the parents is put on the same level of importance as the innocent joy of their children, showing love and joy in its many forms! As Björn said when Benny asked: "I just wonder what couple actually has the time to sleep in on Christmas morning?" - "Well, this couple does"😅
❤
"Little Things" is a wonderful Christmas song. It deserves more airplay and higher chart positions.
BB, I think you're quite right to highlight this magical song, with hindsight it really does have so much depth and as yo u say it clearly is a tune that Benny seems to have a lot of affection for. Personally I think it got a bit lost for me with the overwhelming excitement being presented with the whole Voyage album coming as such a gift. I hope it will gain popularity in the festive seasons to come and I thank you again BB for your thoughts on this to, as usual informative and heartfelt. Best wishes to you for the Christmas season and many thanks for your hard work and dedication entertaining us all.
merry Christmas to you Bobby from Australia when I heard little things I thought it was the most beautiful number from ABBA Australia fans of ABBA loved it we loved their new album but this being their last album we will never hear or see another record again from abba or another solo record from Agnetha Faltskog this was ABBA and Agnetha's way to say thank you to all their fans that have loved them since 1972 but Bobby thankyou for your fantastic channel About ABBA you have made the world happy for being on You Tube for sharing every thing ABBA .
Hi and special thanks Bobby's B ~ as usual your commentary is spot-on i.m.o - the melody and recording is filled with intriguing layers and almost fragile nuances that causes one to listen with your Soul. The promo video was indeed silly and disappointing: I'd much rather have seen a moving collage of the ABBA members, made up of recent photos and appearances, interspersed with warm bokeh type lighting effects, the Northern Lights and snowy mountains. ❤👋🏻
I’ve always wanted a Christmas song from ABBA, I’ll admit I was underwhelmed when we finally and surprisingly got one. The vocals are incredible in it tho the childrens choir wasn’t needed, but at the end of the day I am grateful to hear new material from them considering they were dormant for decades. 👍
I love it and so do the members of my elderly choir who perform it for their Christmas concerts. As you perfectly explained, it sounds simple on the surface but it is surprisingly complex.
It's one more example of Abba making complexity seemingly simple.It's a policy proving their talent.I get a warm impact and comfort listening to it and i still recall the dolby atmos analysis(you did a couple of years ago) that brief part featuring the glorious strings that were kinda hidden underneath.Like a little lift up to the sky and back down to earth again.I don't mind it being in the album but i also think it might have done more impact if released in a special edition dualed with HNY plus a video featuring Abba themselves or their Abbatars and possibly some other story matching the song's lyrics.Video is not bad though,i do like it too but as an alternative choice.
“ Juxtaposing the seemingly simple and complex elegantly “ pretty much sums up ABBA’s entire catalogue!
TAK ❤
Beautiful Christmas song❤
Ein wunderschönes Lied, alles stimmt bei diesem Lied. ❤❤❤❤
Little Things is the only Christmas song I can hear all year round. I really like that about the song.
This is something I completely agree on. I listen to it in summertime, and it just feels so good and right.
Me too!Even on early summer mornings.Same way ifeel for HNY.
I love the Song so much from the First Time I hear it and I must Cry. 🎄🕯️👼🌟❤️
I agree wholeheartedly with your views and thoughts on Little Things yes it may be simplistic to some but the extent of complexity is still worthy of consideration ❤
I know some fans were expecting a typical joyous Xmas song but Abba were always diverse.Some consider it a weak song (together with 'Bumblebee") and non apropriate for the album but for me it's an emotional beautiful touching moment in VOYAGE.I love it very much.Period.Hoping for a new video in time with AI technology this time featuring the Abba members.
Bumblebee is in my top 3 of the album. 😊
@@rdwulf6289I like it too,ndai!As for her delivery.... ' I sing this with my heart" Frida November '21 Zoe Ball interview....
To me, if I were to write a list of my 100 favourite ABBA songs, 'Little Things' would be way down at the bottom amongst the Man In The Middle, Disillusions, and What About Livingstones of ABBA world. I find the only joy here in Agnetha and Frida singing together. I have an allergy to childrens singing and to me, 'Little Things' (and indeed Just A Notion) are both blotts on the end of ABBA's amazing singles discography
Actually when it was released two years ago I didn't like it that much as it wasn't that attracted for me with the other tracks of the album. But few months later when I was listening to the same album again and again for such a long time I gradually realised what an amazing song it was with such a simplicity blended with the ladies beautiful voices combined with childrens part.
It took me a while, but now I really, really love this song! The video didn't do it justice though; it was more a distraction than anything else! I wish they would bring it out again with a more suitable video!
A very nice song, and lyrics so good and to hear Agnetha and Frida sing together👍 but as a christmas gift i wanted a full release versions of ABBAs - From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel, that would be lovely gift in this time of darkness🎄❤🙏
Now I'm curious about the song again.
Listen to it again but from the perspective that grandma is actually a ghost. It adds another extraordinary layer to the lyrics.
Though I would say Happy new year is a AMAZING christmas/new year
I think the video is very bad. It is a charming video, but it is a really bad music video. It does not illustrate the song at all. It steal the listener's attention from the song. If you ask someone who have just seen the video once and not heard the song by itself what the song is about, they are likely to say that it is about some children staging a show.
The decisions to release this weak song and later on "No Doubt About It" as singles is mindblowing. The wiser choices would be "When You Danced With Me" and "I Can Be That Woman" along with lavish videos which woulde brought a much needed second life to the album.
I love it!!!!!!!
I have to agree on you about the underwhelming video. Whereas most ABBA videos complement the music, here it's just the opposite. And that is probably because the music is too honest and that creates a conflict. Sometimes it's just not done to use a beautiful piece of music for a commercial purpose.
I wish abba did a full Christmas album
Hi BB,
What i find extraordinary is that even though the melody was done
by Benny. Bjorn is an atheist that did the lyrics. Anthony UK.
So much more could have been made of the songs release. Having an extended version on the video and not as the single would have helped.
My choice would’ve been to not include it on Voyage and only release it as a single. It would have sold massively for UNICEF.
Love the song itself but still feel it would have been better if released as a special single and not on the Voyage album (would have loved instead "Just Like That" on the album) and yes that music video for Little Things makes me cringe also, just like the video for Agnetha's 2013 Dance Your Pain Away made me cringe. Perplexed how these things happen and get approved.
my sentiments exactly. things could have been left off that weren't that great and yet much better songs they ignored. Strange decisions all around. Voyage could have been a much better album -some great songs as ever but some of them they definitely could have left off. . what pity they didn't include Just Like That and a reworked Story of a heart...
Oh JLT would have been a Gr8 gift for Voyage!Tracklist-wise i would have placed it right after BB and before NDAI.And if i was Benny i would have kept the original vocals with a bit more, also adding a newly recorded part of Gemini's version "in a way i was the one who deceived/always accepting the fact he would leave".Just my silly thinking ha!ha!
@@alexioverdo5225 you right JLT would be great for Voyage. Again why did Abba include HIYS and omit TACOM and MMM ? I would imagine they could have done something awesome with a song like MMM in Voyage but yet they leave it out in favour of a sub- par effort.
@@stevenleroux7033 I'm sure TACOM and ST are on the "hidden list".We are already informed from B+B interviews that they did more songs for this show that are now kept well in the closet .Ludvig also said there will be a change list in future times and i also recall infos that there's enough motion material to be assempled and proccessed so to be used in even more songs without needing Abba members being used again.So don't you worry.We gotta expect surprises.
Yeah,THIS thumbnail.''81 Atmospheric Dark Winter Visitors Xmas" vibed.
Hej Alexio. Always checking and lurking. I love it!!
Red Christmas brought me here
“Little Things” is “Andante, Andante” a few kids and a dozen years later ;)
As Frida sang… they’re not too old for sex ;)
Apparently, Björn is a bit of a goer. 😂
It's a little twee, but so are a lot of Christnas songs. Maybe it was just a tad out of place on the Voyage album.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Not sure what the problem with the video is. It seems to have gone over many people's heads.
It's actually ABBA'S BRILLIANCE shining through again. The message is for kids to put away all their tech toys, put their creativity in motion, and they can aspire to be as GREAT as ABBA. THAT is the message of the video.
Agree. Furthermore, in this context, the last line of the song, “If you sing along, it can be a song that my grandma sings,” made me think that the “it” these children’s grandmothers sang refer to ABBA SONGS.
Yes that's the message really and it's great.It's just that people (me too incl.)expected something more "obvious" , Holy-jolly and 'pompous' kinda thing like so many other Xmas clips have.I don't reject the video,it's a more 'sophisticated' aproach if ''translated".But i also would have liked the other typical one excpected.And I love the song very much twas a fine grower for me,so beautiful and so tender.
Fajnie ,że rozumiem co mówisz😢😢
Little Things is a nice enough song, quite sweet - but I noticed it scored very low in the recent ABBA Top 100 so it's not looking like anyone's favourite! Here's a rare Agnetha and Frida Xmas offering, in fact two Xmas songs from ABBATalk: ruclips.net/video/u401cLAcdlI/видео.html
Hello, I am enjoying every video you make on this channel. You are like THE ABBA encyclopedy!! Every time I sit down behind my laptop for reading the news etc. once a day, I also always check: is there something new from Bobby's Brother? It is always full with information. I normally don't react on your video's, I think I did once when you mentioned that the November 1982 Saarbrücken TV performance was their last TV performance, and I commented that after that they had a TV performance in Sweden (with also I have a dream performed).
Little Things is wonderfull. On some forums (like Abbachat) I read that many fans don't like that song, and they wished it was not on the album Voyage. I don't agree with that. I like it in the same way as you described it in this video.
Bobby, an honest notification: always and always you are only positive about everything considdering the group, but now, and I noticed it before when you mention that video of Little Things, you are not. Am I correct? But: since you are the best ABBA analist around in this moment, I completely accept your ideas on that video, not mentioning wether I agree or not! That doesn't matter.
Finally: 11th of February I fly to London and see the Voyage Concert!!! It was 24th of October 1979 in Rotterdam that I saw them for the last time!
Get ready for the show and good luck.I'm sure you'll have the time of your life for once more.
Analist?😳
Analyst means someone who looks over data and comes to a conclusion regarding its meaning,
I think little things should have been released as a bonus Christmas single only and not included on the album for me it’s to weak and kind of stops the album mid flow . I don’t dislike it but it’s certainly my least favourite would much rather have had a completed version of dream world or giving it all I’ve got that had such a great ABBA melody instead
It's not a favourite of mine but I like the lyrics which create a picture of a happy content family in the mind. Forget about the worries and woes this is Christmas morning and everything is calm and good. The video is not a favourite either, it does not fit in the picture of the lyrics in my mind. I think it was right to include it in the album but where to put it Not the last song of all as that fits perfectly to me and not track 3 where it seems out of place Perhaps as track 8 or 9 would would be better next to Bumblebee
Очень красивая рождественская песня Агнета и её дочь Лида пели в 1980 году, просто завораживает.
Watching the Little Things music video I also feel disappointed - for exactly the reasons mentioned. In itself it is brilliantly done, but it feels more like a Voyage promotion video than a Christmas song video, and as such this feels off and disjointed to me. Yet I find that the extended music, about 25 seconds more, really improves the song compared to the original version. It has this lovely musical bridge added before introducing the children's choir, and ends with a very festive trumpet coda. 🎺
It feels almost as if Benny ran out of time on the album version and released "what he had" at the time to meet the deadline - while he only later came up with better musical ideas...
I really hope too that they will release this version at some point, as it is the much better version, I think. 🧡 At least I like it much better.
Did they really had a deadline?Don't think so It' has been said that the album had a 'take your time" sense,(no pressure) as it was 4-5 years in the making.As for the video's music outro i do agree.It's a good point adding it in a possible future edition of a Voyage dlx release.NDA/WYDWM too.
@@alexioverdo5225 I am sure they in theory had all the time in the world, but there is a certain point that becomes a cutoff point in practice.
Be it because advertisement space was rented in advance for a certain date.
Be it that vinyl pressings needed to be booked in advance (I hear currently there is a 9-12 month waiting period).
Be it that Benny had other interests that he did not want to postpone like touring with his BAO, or focussing on a new record for them.
I can think of dozens of ways where they initially had all the time in the world, but eventually had to put a date down, to release it in X months.
And I can imagine that at that point the album was still not fully done yet, and Björn and Benny kept polishing it literally until the last day. And in the case of Little Things, perhaps even better ideas came to Benny only after the deadline had passed. Which were then used in the music video.
@@andreasbauer7285Yes or No,doesn't matter anyway.Many of us enjoyed this.I personally tend to suppose that outro was a last minute idea and was added to the clip but who knows?I gotta ask him,lol!Btw Benny was discribed as 'Impulsive" falshing new ideas each now and then but can't remember well if this story was about the V album sessions or the Voyage gig jamming sessions with the concert band.
@@alexioverdo5225 It does not really matter, as you say. But it is fun to speculate, no?
I think it is natural for a composer to constantly polish ones own songs. They are never really "finished" from their point of view. If one comes up with a new idea, one wants to improve things. So Benny being "impulsive" in that regard seems rather normal behavior for a composer to me. Good on him! That's how creativity works. It never ends.
@@andreasbauer7285 i had spotted Bjorn in a recent interview on utube about it.He commented that there are times spotting things here and there on their past recordings kinda thinking under a more observing eye 'oh here it's not right','there we should have done this in another way' etc.but that was the way those songs were 'accepted' and got known ,being recorded the best possible way they thought it was at the time of creating them,so now it's history.Time can't roll back.As for speculations...well yeah it's a kinda 'gossip-iish spicy dish' (he!he!)who doesn't like this imaginative lil game?It's more fun than harm when it's not prejudiced and 'twisted',i 'blushy' admit i like it...
It`s a good tune no doubt about it, but perhaps it could have been a bit longer, it`s over too soon when you start playing it.
I would have extented it by adding a prolonged part of the strings through a key change in an orchestral form.That would have been a greater portion.
The song is sweet but it doesn’t fit on the album and should’ve been released as a standalone single. The video is very average.
I wonder what you meant by saying Naughty Christmas Song, because, there is nothing naughty neither in the lyrics nor music. It's a simple and straight forward. Personally, I felt I Have A Dream & Super Trouper (surprisingly) more Christmasy than Little Things. It's just a good song nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, it will always be seen as a forgettable song when compared to Chiquitita (also released around Christmas), Money Money Money (also released in December), I have a Dream (would had been a Number 1 in Uk had it not been for the Christmas block in the charts) and Super Trouper that went to Number 1 and during Christmas was No 5.
IHAD missed the no1 spot cause of Pink Floyd's 'Another brick in the wall" a song that also had 'children's' choir.I guess you mean getting to No1 regarding that ''dead" week on which UK charts cease /ommit Uk chart sales anouncements or smth?
yes. I read it somewhere long time back.@@alexioverdo5225
I must admit that I hated this song. I didn't understand a Christmas melody in an adult album but lately "Little things" comes into my mind from time to time as a good song. Nevertheless I am not too much into the kids choir part for now.
I didn’t like it at the first listen. After getting better acquainted to it, i was impressed by the beautiful melody. It also has some real ABBA moments in terms of complexity. On the other hand i remember i almost wanted to force myself to love the song when i really didn’t. And mabey that’s the problem: it feels forced… I think making it a Christmas song that is supposed to be standout track on Voyage, was simply a big mistake.
It's dreadful. Unfortunately, it's not the only dreadful song on Voyage. I do wish they'd just left it in the 80's! Without Mickie B Tretow, ABBA do not have that have that sound. I've spoken to so many people who say this is just ABBA singing. With Mickie he played around that much, it wasn't just them singing. Mickie really created the ABBA sound!
Never understood why Abba included this on their album-it could have been released as a stand alone and another song used for the LP. I have always loved Abba but Little Things just isn't that great. When I heard they were doing an Xmas song I thought they were going to pull out all the stops for an Xmas Classic and then they came up with this... a very rare lapse of judgement on their side. It is very pedestrian and sounds like they wrote it in their sleep. They could have had a song that gets taken out every Xmas like Marian Carey or Wham but they chose to go with this. Strange decision-I fail to see how B & B thought this would be a hit especially when we know what they are capable of doing (Super Trouper always has very Xmas sounding vibe for me. Consider how much more memorable Super Trouper is then Little Things.)
Really wished they had re-done Story of a Heart for the album with the Abba woman also- that would have been sublime. Listening to Voyage again I just cannot shake the sense that there was a great missed opportunity.