I was 12 when this came out and it made me cry. I was 12, what the hell did i know of life, and it made me cry. Still does. Agnetha does plaintive but Frida's vocal here is heavy, final, resigned, and there's no coming back from the situation her character finds herself in. Knowing Me, Knowing You is SO bleak, and i love it. 5 weeks as U.K. No.1, 2nd only to Dancing Queen's 6 weeks.
Ha, there were Depeche Mode songs that moved me to tears as a kid in the '80s, and I had never been through anything like what Martin was talking about. Just goes to show the power of music to tap into the potential of human emotion and feeling.
My take on this song has evolved over the years. When I was a kid I thought this song paled in comparison to ABBA's other, bouncier hits from the era; it was a little too straightforward "melodic rock" to my ears. As I've gotten older, the layers of this song have peeled and become more apparent, plus I've listened to some vocal track isolations, and this song.. I mean, it's almost unbearably textured and layered, almost like a heavy tapestry. It's ABBA as sonic funk cocoon. Frida sounds simultaneously sultry, numb, and maternal. The emotional intelligence of this track is astounding. It's of the highest stature in their catalog.
Still such a glorious production and high levelled creation for a song that was recorded 47 years ago.Video is an iconic Abba trademark and massively loved.
One of Benny's biggest favourites that he is very proud of."this is a good song and a good recording' was what he once commented some decades later on while reviewing his band's discography.That was the 3rd single and went to no1 for 5 weeks.I think that this is the song that made people even more emotionally connected and tightly 'bonded' with Abba.After the ARRIVAL lp every one of the 5 studio albums that followed peaked straight to no1 from the first week of release.That means there was already in existence a solid built up affair of love and trust between the band and the public...that lasts up to now and possibly for many ages to come.
One of their very best productions. Lyrically, this is whilst they were still all happy and together. Imagine the heartbreak that’s still to come when they had real life events to inspire them.
This one is truly one of their finest. Not sure if you realized but the bass line on this is fucking amazing.... It's not just a straight melody, there's some interesting turns to it. The ladies harmonizing on the chorus on this one is also mind blowing! This one is in my top 5 ABBA tracks for sure!
One of My top 3 favourite ABBA songs! Love it! Fridas lead vocal- the unison chorus - the production! Everything is perfect in this song! And it was also a big hit worldwide!
A classic and one of their finest. I love the vocal arrangement, with Frida on lead, Agnetha on backing and Bjorn interjecting a few lines during the chorus. I suppose you could call that section you like a pre-chorus? This is something they get extremely good at: blending multiple melodies (in this case the verses, pre-chorus, chorus, and the instrumental post-chorus) seamlessly into a coherent pop song. They do it so well that you don't even notice it until you start analyzing the structure. I rank Bjorn & Benny among the best melody writers of all time, rivaling Lennon & McCartney (and Tears For Fears deserve a mention as well).
I'm so glad to see you again, with more reaction to ABBA songs "Knowing me knowing you" (1976) is one of ABBA's most famous heartthrob songs The lyrics are strong and raw (some say there is a preview of the couple conflicts between the blonde singer Agnetha & guitarist Björn) And it has a powerful chorus on Agnetha & Frida, and a nice melody There is an excellent official video, it shows the four of them in separation situations, and plays with the images of the trios The part that stands out the most is the appearance of the image of Agnetha almost whispering as a reflection of Frida's main voice "Knowing me knowing you" was five weeks in a row at #1 in the UK, and one of them coincided with the #1 of "Dancing Queen" on the Billboard. (Just in April 9, 1977, almost 46 years ago, ABBA was #1 in the U.S. and U.K. with two different songs from the same album Knowing me knowing you" is one of their hits that ABBA recorded in spanish at 1980, with the tittle: "Conociéndome, Conociéndote", part of their album in spanish language "Gracias por la música" (1980) ABBA recorded in spanish after the colossal success of "Chiquitita" (1979) in Latin American countries Benny said about it that it Is on the five best recording of all ABBA songs In my opinion Is in my Top3 of "Arrival" album, with the most underrated "My love My life" (another heartbroken song) and the masterpiece Dancing Queen I hope to see you in next reaction to ABBA My best regards to You from Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷 South América
Love the subtle but dramatic synth flourish beneath "in these old familiar rooms" and the heart-stopping break just before the chorus. Phenomenal production and a chorus that goes up another notch in "breaking up is never easy". This, "SOS" and "Move On" are my favourite ABBA tracks.
I wouldn't worry about calling Dum Dum Diddle "silly" - Frida did! Bjorn later said it should be called Dumb Dumb Diddle. And it pales in comparison to this monster tune anyway. This is adult Abba. It has a hazy, echoey quality to it, reflecting the lyrics of looking back and walking through an empty house that was a home. Frida sings lead, Agnetha provides the echoing voice. The vocals and sonics get harder in the choruses as they firmly state this is goodbye, it's for the best. The guitar rends through the track, comparatively harsh next to the shimmering sounds in the verses. It's melodic enough for the kids to sing along to but lyrically pulls the parents in too. It's one of their most loved tunes and has an iconic video which has inspired several spoofs, my favourite being French and Saunders "C'Est La Vie, C'Est la Vie". My Dad didn't like Abba at first - he wouldn't allow us to play this album in the car as kids, though that all changed with the next album ! The only thing that irks me slightly is the tracklisting of these CD versions is different to the cassette I had as a child. My brain is so attuned to hearing the tracks in a certain order that I get a bit thrown when it's the wrong song! It happens too from having made so many mixtapes in the past that you listen to endlessly - you hear a song and your brain is expecting the song from the old mixtape.
Great song, iconic video, great reaction. This is when both couples were together and supposedly happy and yet they consistently came up with these heart breaking masterpieces. Later after the breakups and divorces these songs must have been so hard for them to sing. Thanks Matt, looking forward to the 2nd half of this iconic album. 👍
This breakup song is before either couple broke-up. But Frida had a break-up with Ragnar. Frida and Ragnar (musician) met when both part of big band orchestra, 1960/61. Married 1964. Two children. Hans, 1963, Lisa-Lotte, 1967. Separated 1968. Div. 1970.
I am a huge ABBA fan, and I love watching reaction videos to their music. My favorite part is just watching the expression on the listeners face as they start to feel the music. Their music really gets into your soul.
One of my ABBA faves. I think you might have missed a particular lyric - "Knowing me, knowing you - A-HA - there is nothing we can do" 😅 Scandinavians certainly have great voices.
The Arrival album/Fernando era sent ABBA went into orbit. 1. Fernando (single/incorporated into Arrival era/promo) 2. Dancing Queen 3. Money Money Money 4. Knowing Me, Knowing You
A great way to think of much of ABBA's music is a smiling through tears effect. A upbeat tempo with minor chords and sad lyrics. They use lots of unique chords. Think about Sweden's winter and summer... They live in the melancholy belt (vodka belt). Hence, the smiling through tears effect.
The Ah-ahh portion: during Mama Mia Musical first staging the "ah-ahh" portion was not part on the song. So when the cast members did not sing the "ah-ahh" portion, but the audience did. It was promptly put in. All those non-lyric vocals are part what makes ABBA different. Vocalizing is very important in music. ABBA did lots of vocalizing in thier songs. "The most beautiful instrument is the human voice, but it is the most difficult to play." - Richard Strauss Benny, in a recent interview mentioned the amount of work the girls put in on the humming/vocalizing parts.
Hye Matt, Abba tend to have *pre*-choruses - I think that's the term - just to keep the song interesting and, well, because they can. As for what follows, I don't know if there's ever been a number one hit song with a chorus that has such complicated harmonies (and countermelodies on top of that). There used to be a video on RUclips where someone had managed to isolate the vocals, and some of them just sound baffling, bordering on avant-garde. But put them together with the instrumentation...everything sounds as natural and inevitable as water flowing. If that's not genius, I don't what is. In my household, it's Benny, Björn and Brian (Wilson). As *composers*, nobody else gets even within shouting distance of the three B's*, however great they might otherwise be. *Some of you might nominate the double B, namely Burt Bacharach (RIP). And yes, he's up there somewhere as well.
This is not only a breakup song about a couple, but a family, even sadder. The line: "These old familiar rooms, children would play". What could be sadder?
A new ABBA brand on your channel today (April 7) your video of "Knowing me knowing you" I exceed 1000 visits (the second to achieve it) and it did it just two weeks so probably very soon it will be the most viewed ABBA on your channel (still, as I said before, everything is dynamic, and as you discover more albums, important songs will be added in the future, which may continue to change these trends) So far, with four ABBA albums (and one single) the Top 10 of your 45 reactions is: 1088 S.O.S. 1003 Knowing me knowing you 949 Ring ring 767 When I kissed the teacher 749 I've been waiting for you 728 Fernando 723 Money money money 704 That's me 659 Dancing Queen 654 Dance (while the music still goes on)
A memory I have of Knowing Me Knowing you is when I was in the Ricks College bookstore, fall 1977, I was near the record section and I was looking at the piano sheet music for KMKY when two coeds were looking at the 45 rpm records. One gal says to the other, "Hey, here's ABBA (meaning KMKY)" to which her friend/roommate replies, "Not really. They sound too much like a choir!" LOL!
Yeah, I'm going to do them all, for sure. I just have to catch up on some other deep-dives that get less attention. But there will be an ABBA reaction in the next batch, which should be up by Wednesday morning. Cheers
![Shnootz - Reaction Video (ABBA - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! [A Man After Midnight])](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dfW1e6jgnJ4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Shnootz - Reaction Video (ABBA - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! [A Man After Midnight])](/img/tr.png)
![KSI - Dirty [Official Visualiser]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VoDh1h1dPUE/mqdefault.jpg)
![ABBA | Knowing Me Knowing You [ First Time Reaction ]](/img/1.gif)
This song is definitely in my top 10. The production is amazing.
Bass player Rutger Gunnarson's exquisite melodic playing shines through this song.
A masterpiece
I was 12 when this came out and it made me cry. I was 12, what the hell did i know of life, and it made me cry. Still does. Agnetha does plaintive but Frida's vocal here is heavy, final, resigned, and there's no coming back from the situation her character finds herself in. Knowing Me, Knowing You is SO bleak, and i love it.
5 weeks as U.K. No.1, 2nd only to Dancing Queen's 6 weeks.
Ha, there were Depeche Mode songs that moved me to tears as a kid in the '80s, and I had never been through anything like what Martin was talking about. Just goes to show the power of music to tap into the potential of human emotion and feeling.
Perfection. 5 weeks at number 1 in UK in 1977. Frida, Frida, Frida.
Brilliant brilliant record .
Pure Perfectionists.
pop perfection.
My take on this song has evolved over the years. When I was a kid I thought this song paled in comparison to ABBA's other, bouncier hits from the era; it was a little too straightforward "melodic rock" to my ears. As I've gotten older, the layers of this song have peeled and become more apparent, plus I've listened to some vocal track isolations, and this song.. I mean, it's almost unbearably textured and layered, almost like a heavy tapestry. It's ABBA as sonic funk cocoon. Frida sounds simultaneously sultry, numb, and maternal. The emotional intelligence of this track is astounding. It's of the highest stature in their catalog.
What a great review!
Here ABBA nailed their unique sound, 1976, with the Arrival album. Forever a classic.
World class song.
Sad lyrics...upbeat tempo...thats Abba in a nutshell. Great song
Still such a glorious production and high levelled creation for a song that was recorded 47 years ago.Video is an iconic Abba trademark and massively loved.
One of Benny's biggest favourites that he is very proud of."this is a good song and a good recording' was what he once commented some decades later on while reviewing his band's discography.That was the 3rd single and went to no1 for 5 weeks.I think that this is the song that made people even more emotionally connected and tightly 'bonded' with Abba.After the ARRIVAL lp every one of the 5 studio albums that followed peaked straight to no1 from the first week of release.That means there was already in existence a solid built up affair of love and trust between the band and the public...that lasts up to now and possibly for many ages to come.
One of their very best productions. Lyrically, this is whilst they were still all happy and together. Imagine the heartbreak that’s still to come when they had real life events to inspire them.
This is TIMELESS.
This one is truly one of their finest. Not sure if you realized but the bass line on this is fucking amazing.... It's not just a straight melody, there's some interesting turns to it. The ladies harmonizing on the chorus on this one is also mind blowing! This one is in my top 5 ABBA tracks for sure!
Great song. ABBA playing to their strengths : strong songwriting, harmonies, heartfelt lyrics and pure unapologetic pop.
One of their best songs written and when released it introduced the group to an even wider audience. Great guitar work on this too.
One of My top 3 favourite ABBA songs! Love it! Fridas lead vocal- the unison chorus - the production! Everything is perfect in this song! And it was also a big hit worldwide!
This is one of my favorites. Pop perfection!
A classic and one of their finest. I love the vocal arrangement, with Frida on lead, Agnetha on backing and Bjorn interjecting a few lines during the chorus. I suppose you could call that section you like a pre-chorus? This is something they get extremely good at: blending multiple melodies (in this case the verses, pre-chorus, chorus, and the instrumental post-chorus) seamlessly into a coherent pop song. They do it so well that you don't even notice it until you start analyzing the structure. I rank Bjorn & Benny among the best melody writers of all time, rivaling Lennon & McCartney (and Tears For Fears deserve a mention as well).
"The production of this one is insane.." yeah.. haha I really agree. There wasnt any autotune then either.
My number 1 favorite song off this album. I love the guitar and bass on this song. Great singing by Frida.
Fantastic dramatic production, always one of my top fav ABBA hits !
Just listen to the bass player... phenominal!
I'm so glad to see you again, with more reaction to ABBA songs
"Knowing me knowing you" (1976)
is one of ABBA's most famous heartthrob songs
The lyrics are strong and raw (some say there is a preview of the couple conflicts between the blonde singer Agnetha & guitarist Björn)
And it has a powerful chorus on Agnetha & Frida, and a nice melody
There is an excellent official video, it shows the four of them in separation situations, and plays with the images of the trios
The part that stands out the most is the appearance of the image of Agnetha almost whispering as a reflection of Frida's main voice
"Knowing me knowing you"
was five weeks in a row at #1 in the UK, and one of them coincided with the #1 of "Dancing Queen" on the Billboard.
(Just in April 9, 1977, almost 46 years ago, ABBA was #1 in the U.S. and U.K. with two different songs from the same album
Knowing me knowing you"
is one of their hits that ABBA recorded in spanish at 1980, with the tittle: "Conociéndome, Conociéndote",
part of their album in spanish language
"Gracias por la música" (1980)
ABBA recorded in spanish after the colossal success of "Chiquitita" (1979) in Latin American countries
Benny said about it that it Is on the five best recording of all ABBA songs
In my opinion Is in my Top3 of "Arrival" album, with the most underrated
"My love My life" (another heartbroken song) and the masterpiece Dancing Queen
I hope to see you in next reaction to ABBA
My best regards to You from
Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷
South América
Love the subtle but dramatic synth flourish beneath "in these old familiar rooms" and the heart-stopping break just before the chorus. Phenomenal production and a chorus that goes up another notch in "breaking up is never easy". This, "SOS" and "Move On" are my favourite ABBA tracks.
I wouldn't worry about calling Dum Dum Diddle "silly" - Frida did! Bjorn later said it should be called Dumb Dumb Diddle. And it pales in comparison to this monster tune anyway.
This is adult Abba. It has a hazy, echoey quality to it, reflecting the lyrics of looking back and walking through an empty house that was a home. Frida sings lead, Agnetha provides the echoing voice. The vocals and sonics get harder in the choruses as they firmly state this is goodbye, it's for the best. The guitar rends through the track, comparatively harsh next to the shimmering sounds in the verses. It's melodic enough for the kids to sing along to but lyrically pulls the parents in too. It's one of their most loved tunes and has an iconic video which has inspired several spoofs, my favourite being French and Saunders "C'Est La Vie, C'Est la Vie". My Dad didn't like Abba at first - he wouldn't allow us to play this album in the car as kids, though that all changed with the next album !
The only thing that irks me slightly is the tracklisting of these CD versions is different to the cassette I had as a child. My brain is so attuned to hearing the tracks in a certain order that I get a bit thrown when it's the wrong song! It happens too from having made so many mixtapes in the past that you listen to endlessly - you hear a song and your brain is expecting the song from the old mixtape.
'hazy,echoey,quality'...fine discription.
Great song, iconic video, great reaction. This is when both couples were together and supposedly happy and yet they consistently came up with these heart breaking masterpieces. Later after the breakups and divorces these songs must have been so hard for them to sing. Thanks Matt, looking forward to the 2nd half of this iconic album. 👍
This breakup song is before either couple broke-up. But Frida had a break-up with Ragnar.
Frida and Ragnar (musician) met when both part of big band orchestra, 1960/61.
Married 1964.
Two children. Hans, 1963, Lisa-Lotte, 1967.
Separated 1968.
Div. 1970.
I loooove ❤ this...
It's my favorite ABBA's song🥺😍
See ya, Matt & Lucca
❤️🇨🇱👍
I am a huge ABBA fan, and I love watching reaction videos to their music. My favorite part is just watching the expression on the listeners face as they start to feel the music. Their music really gets into your soul.
One of my ABBA faves. I think you might have missed a particular lyric - "Knowing me, knowing you - A-HA - there is nothing we can do" 😅 Scandinavians certainly have great voices.
The Arrival album/Fernando era sent ABBA went into orbit.
1. Fernando (single/incorporated into Arrival era/promo)
2. Dancing Queen
3. Money Money Money
4. Knowing Me, Knowing You
A great way to think of much of ABBA's music is a smiling through tears effect.
A upbeat tempo with minor chords and sad lyrics.
They use lots of unique chords.
Think about Sweden's winter and summer... They live in the melancholy belt (vodka belt).
Hence, the smiling through tears effect.
The Ah-ahh portion: during Mama Mia Musical first staging the "ah-ahh" portion was not part on the song. So when the cast members did not sing the "ah-ahh" portion, but the audience did. It was promptly put in.
All those non-lyric vocals are part what makes ABBA different. Vocalizing is very important in music. ABBA did lots of vocalizing in thier songs.
"The most beautiful instrument is the human voice, but it is the most difficult to play."
- Richard Strauss
Benny, in a recent interview mentioned the amount of work the girls put in on the humming/vocalizing parts.
Hye Matt, Abba tend to have *pre*-choruses - I think that's the term - just to keep the song interesting and, well, because they can.
As for what follows, I don't know if there's ever been a number one hit song with a chorus that has such complicated harmonies (and countermelodies on top of that). There used to be a video on RUclips where someone had managed to isolate the vocals, and some of them just sound baffling, bordering on avant-garde. But put them together with the instrumentation...everything sounds as natural and inevitable as water flowing. If that's not genius, I don't what is.
In my household, it's Benny, Björn and Brian (Wilson). As *composers*, nobody else gets even within shouting distance of the three B's*, however great they might otherwise be.
*Some of you might nominate the double B, namely Burt Bacharach (RIP). And yes, he's up there somewhere as well.
Hey, even. (For some reason, RUclips didn't allow me to edit. That's very tough for a pedant.)
This is not only a breakup song about a couple, but a family, even sadder. The line: "These old familiar rooms, children would play". What could be sadder?
I feel like that line is the pinnacle of the song. I don't know. Children would play. It's almost an accusation.
Superbly sung and poignant. Abba's compositions are far more complex than they first seem.
Great reaction again! Check out the video if you have time. One of the best videos there is and very ABBAish!
A new ABBA brand on your channel
today (April 7) your video of "Knowing me knowing you"
I exceed 1000 visits (the second to achieve it)
and it did it just two weeks
so probably very soon it will be the most viewed ABBA on your channel
(still, as I said before, everything is dynamic, and as you discover more albums, important songs will be added in the future, which may continue to change these trends)
So far, with four ABBA albums (and one single) the Top 10 of your 45 reactions is:
1088 S.O.S.
1003 Knowing me knowing you
949 Ring ring
767 When I kissed the teacher
749 I've been waiting for you
728 Fernando
723 Money money money
704 That's me
659 Dancing Queen
654 Dance (while the music still goes on)
Wow, crazy to think we've already gone through 45 ABBA songs! Thanks for guiding the journey, Eduardo, I massively appreciate it.
The verses kind of have a bridge leading into the chorus.
BTW, they are called Pre-choruses 😅
A memory I have of Knowing Me Knowing you is when I was in the Ricks College bookstore, fall 1977, I was near the record section and I was looking at the piano sheet music for KMKY when two coeds were looking at the 45 rpm records. One gal says to the other, "Hey, here's ABBA (meaning KMKY)" to which her friend/roommate replies, "Not really. They sound too much like a choir!" LOL!
Frida has the best voice in recorded music history
Amen to that.
You’re gonna do the rest of their albums, right? Up to Voyage? Waiting…
Yeah, I'm going to do them all, for sure. I just have to catch up on some other deep-dives that get less attention. But there will be an ABBA reaction in the next batch, which should be up by Wednesday morning. Cheers