11 Years Last year, on the tenth anniversary of ABBAMAIL coming into existence, there was a huge hoopla on our internet mailing list culminating in a surprise 10th Birthday party devised by Aussie ABBAMAILer Norma Parker. This year, I am embarrassed to admit, the day went past without Grant or myself even remembering. Isn't that terrible? One of our list members wrote in and woke us up to the fact that ABBAMAIL was celebrating 11 years otherwise we'd probably still be none the wiser! It has been a rough year with lots of drama and struggle to keep ABBAMAIL afloat and perhaps that's why neither Grant and I twigged that January 13 was the 11th birthday. Last year was all about celebrating the fact that we were still here and surviving - despite Universal Music Sweden's legal actions to try and close us down. This year the feeling is more like "oh god, can you believe we've been around and doing this stuff for 11 years? And about 20 before that!!" Makes you feel old. Or older, I should say. We already feel old!! It's been a funny year in the ABBA world. Nothing has felt quite right. It has all been a bit flat and boring but I think this is going to change big-time in 2008. For one reason - Mamma Mia! The Movie. I'm getting a bit of flack around here for being so excited about the movie but I can't help it - the trailers look really, really good. I think it is going to be huge and I also think the Soundtrack CD will be a huge seller. A movie reaches so many more people in more parts of the world than a stage show ever could. If Mamma Mia! The Movie turns out to be as good as it looks, I think we'll see a new revival in the ABBA world. One of the reasons I think this is because there are still (incredibly) a whole lot of people on planet earth that don't know much about ABBA. And this film might be the trigger that sparks their enthusiasm in all things ABBA. If they see the movie and love the soundtrack, they just might go out exploring - as many before them have - for other CDs / DVDs / books / history / information / memorabilia etc. No doubt Universal Music Sweden will have some ABBA related products ready to cash in on this new revival - I'm just hoping they don't turn out as tacky and awful as the "Number Ones" releases. In fact, wouldn't it be terrific if Björn and Benny allowed the release of more rarities from the ABBA vault to spice things up? Okay, so maybe I'm dreaming but I can't help thinking "it's now or never" as far as officially released rarities are concerned. The Mamma Mia! movie marks the end of a very long journey that began in 1999 and it is bound to be the last big thing that generates major commercial opportunities for the ABBA back-catalogue. It would be crazy if Universal Sweden missed the boat on this and just released yet another boring "hits" album. But then again, they aren't really known for innovation, quality and value when it comes to their handling of the ABBA catalogue, are they? It's been said more than once that this movie is the only really fun thing that's been worth getting excited about as an ABBA fan for a couple of years. Perhaps not since Agnetha's release of "My Colouring Book" in 2004 has there been such excitement and anticipation surrounding an ABBA-related project. Yes, there are still skeptics that say the movie will be crap and won't generate much interest in ABBA - but I'm of the opposite opinion. Something tells me it is going to be gi-normous. I want it to be gi-normous because something huge is needed to revitalise ABBA fandom. I'm not talking about the general public who have seen Mamma Mia! once, a Bjorn Again show and maybe have a copy of "ABBA GOLD" on CD. No, I'm talking about the hard-core ABBA fans that have been around for years and for whom, being an ABBA fan is a big part of their lives. As I wrote a couple of months ago, there's a kind of "anti-ABBA" feeling amongst some of the really long-term hard-core fans we know. We've seen this real turn-around in the attitude towards ABBA in some of our closest friends. It all started with the legal action against ABBAMAIL but it seems to have snowballed from there - a combination of anger / disappointment / boredom and even over-exposure to ABBA. There'll always be ABBA fans and there'll always be fan websites and newsletters and so on. But the really positive vibe that once filled the fan community just isn't there anymore. Being an ABBA fan should be a positive thing - it should be about fun and enjoyment and it should add value to your life. It can't always be "sunshine and lollipops" of course, but it should be something that, on the whole, you really enjoy. And it should be a living thing, too. Yes, ABBA might have broken up in 1982 but there's been more ABBA related activity in the last decade than ever before. So is Mamma Mia! the movie going to be the answer? Am I expecting too much from the film and all the hype surrounding it? I guess only time will tell. But the movie looks terrific, it has a terrific cast, the sound seems terrific - okay, so the poster looks like shit but that's only poster #1, there'll be lots more - and a lot of money will be spent to ensure that it is a success in cinemas around the world. Will the activity and excitement over next six months or so translate into a general revival in ABBA fandom? Fingers crossed! Send out the positive vibes, turn up the volume on your ABBA fandom and get excited, people! Let's get this party called "ABBA 2008" started....Mamma Mia! The Movie is coming!!!! Graeme Write to Graeme with your feedback and comments: graemer@zipworld.com.au PREVIOUS AT MY DESK | 
