Double Disco Feature: ABBA And Diana Ross Released Albums On The Same Day And It Was 70s Heaven
Samantha Colleran, November 2021
If you know me, you know I love all things 70s. When I found out ABBA was releasing music in my lifetime, I was ecstatic! Diana Ross is another beloved icon of the 60s who continued on into the 70s and beyond, who just so happened to release an album on the same day as ABBA. Both albums are incredible, and I’m so happy to talk about both of them! Voyage and Thank You discussion in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
Here we are! Last Friday I had the absolute honor of listening to these albums back to back. It felt like a completely surreal moment to be listening to new music by such incredible musicians. Both bodies of work are incredibly uplifting, you’ll feel a breath of fresh air while listening to these albums. ABBA and Diana still have the sound that made them stand out in their prime, and it’s so incredible to see them sticking to their roots and not changing their style just for the sake of fitting in with the times.
Thank You is an open love letter to fans of Diana, and it reminds listeners that the most important thing to get through times of tragedy is love. With a world still haunted by lingering side effects of a global pandemic, Diana offers an escape with her dreams of a peaceful world full of harmony and love. It’s a bright light in the world of music that is most definitely needed, and it reminds you to take a step back and think of the most important things in life, like surviving tough times and having people you love to help you get through the darkness. A little cheesy, sure, but sometimes music doesn’t need to be super lyrically complicated or deep to be enjoyable, and this is certainly an enjoyable album! Diana’s voice still sounds so wonderful even after taking an extended break from music.
ABBA shocked the world with two new singles a couple of months ago, and the fact they still sound the exact same way they did in the 70s shows how timeless they are as musicians. You can feel the positive energy and attention to detail in every aspect of the album, from the production all the way to the typical ABBA lyrical content. Voyage, in my opinion, is actually a very strong album for the group; we have all the familiarity and comfort that comes with Benny and Björn’s lyrical content, as well as Anna-Frid and Agnetha’s voices that sound as though they haven’t aged a day. Although it feels long overdue, the reunion of the foursome feels natural, almost as if they never left us. Everything about this album feels authentically ABBA, and I fell in love immediately.
If you listened to both of these albums, let me know your thoughts in the comments! If you haven’t listened yet, go listen and come back here to share your opinions!