*maniacal chuckle* *ominous organ fugue playing*

October 25, 2021 9:33 AM

Many years ago, Brian David Gilbert made a shocking realization about a famous Swedish pop group. Their melodies were impeccable. Their lyrics remarkable. Their style? Divine. And yet, just below the surface, a sinister truth lay hiding. With very little alteration, nearly all of their hits could be performed by Halloween villains. Frightened of what he learned, Brian buried his discovery in the dark recesses of his mind and swore to never share it with the world. Until now.

Full cover album "AAAH!BBA" comes out Oct 26.

posted by simmering octagon (16 comments total)

A BDG post on a Monday, you just made my freakin day and probably week

THANK YOU
posted by elkevelvet at 10:05 AM on October 25, 2021

It's probably a consequence of my age/upbringing that I was reading the FPP with growing excitement that it'd be Roxette, but Abba is good too.
posted by cendawanita at 10:10 AM on October 25, 2021 [6 favorites]

I approve of things like this.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:43 AM on October 25, 2021

BDG truly is the moment.

I've been watching What We Do In The Shadows and various Dracula movies almost constantly this week so this feels especially relevant.
posted by fight or flight at 10:43 AM on October 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

ABBA Avis shockingly dark, lyrically. Truly adult songs despite their pop music veneer. I can't wait to get this album, as it will go nicely with the new ABBA album coming next month.

(Personally I thought this post was going to be about Ace Of Base at first.)
posted by hippybear at 11:00 AM on October 25, 2021 [3 favorites]

(Personally I thought this post was going to be about Ace Of Base at first.)

I saw no indications of this, but I guess you thought you saw the sign?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:13 PM on October 25, 2021 [23 favorites]

Their melodies were impeccable. Their lyrics remarkable. Their style? Divine

I was reading this and thought uh huh yup I've listened to this song in my youths.
posted by alex_skazat at 1:39 PM on October 25, 2021

Is this the reason for our decline? For our directionless melancholy, our endless rising to battles that never end? Wasn’t it declared, “Unto Every Generation, A Swedish Pop Band Shall Be Given?”

Where is *our* ABBA? Whither the Roxette for these times? We can have no signs without an Ace of Base, and yesteryear’s Cardigans can no longer keep away the encroaching chill of the void. Oh, Sweden, why hast though forsaken us? Have pity, and send forth the new prophets to guide us, to bring us back from this unending miasma.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:48 PM on October 25, 2021 [19 favorites]

Oh Ghidorah, when there are just one set of footsteps in the pop desert, that is when Max Martin is carrying you.
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 3:49 PM on October 25, 2021 [6 favorites]

It looks like the album's up as a YouTube playlist!
posted by Pronoiac at 12:15 AM on October 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

A while ago, he made a castle chase playlist, "the perfect music for being chased through a castle", and it's got a somewhat spooky vibe too, though not as covers with puns
posted by Pronoiac at 12:35 AM on October 26, 2021

There's a reference to Tim Curry's Anything Can Happen On Halloween, from The Worst Witch, in the Mummy Mummy Mummy video; it's a very 80's video
posted by Pronoiac at 12:56 AM on October 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

This is part of the magic of Abba, isn't it? Peppy mind-worm melodies that are also somehow densely baroque.
posted by jabah at 6:13 AM on October 26, 2021

I can't decide if I like Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! or Under Attack more.
posted by simmering octagon at 8:37 AM on October 26, 2021

The album is up on Spotify.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:24 AM on October 27, 2021

I juuuust realized that this is the Perfect Pokerap guy. It all comes together.
posted by kaibutsu at 5:09 PM on October 27, 2021