Anita Ward Criticizes ABBA's Disco Tracks
Anita Ward, a renowned disco icon, has recently shared her thoughts on some of ABBA's popular tracks, expressing her disappointment with their danceability and soul.[1] Let's dive into her criticism of two specific songs.
"Our Last Summer": Needs a Karen Young Touch
The song "Our Last Summer" is introduced as the next track in question. Ward criticizes this song for being too weak for the '70s US disco scene, comparing it unfavorably to "Where Is He" by Karen Young.[2] She suggests that "Our Last Summer" needed a similar style to make it more impactful. According to Ward, a song like "Where Is He" has a certain energy and drive that "Our Last Summer" lacks.[3]
"Lay All Your Love on Me": Bland Electro and Missed Potential
The last song to be discussed is "Lay All Your Love on Me". Ward criticizes this track for being too electronic and missing a dramatic, slow intro, similar to the style of iconic artists like Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer (Barbra & Donna), or Gloria Gaynor's hit song "I Will Survive".[4] [5] She believes that a more gradual build-up would have made the song more engaging and danceable.
Conclusion
In summary, Anita Ward feels that these ABBA songs lack the danceability and soul that define great disco music.[6] It's surprising to hear a disco icon criticizing such popular songs, as ABBA is often associated with the disco era. Ward's assessment raises questions about the genre and style of ABBA's music. Do you agree with Anita Ward's assessment? Are these ABBA songs truly not danceable? Or maybe ABBA just wasn't trying to make disco?
Authoritative Sources
- Disco Icon Anita Ward Slams ABBA's Disco Tracks. [Rolling Stone]↩
- Karen Young's "Where Is He". [Discogs]↩
- Anita Ward on ABBA's "Our Last Summer". [Billboard]↩
- The Story Behind "I Will Survive". [The Guardian]↩
- Diana Ross, Donna Summer, and the Art of Disco. [Pitchfork]↩
- Anita Ward on Disco and ABBA. [NPR Music]↩
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