When All Is Said And Done

 


3000 ABBA fans in one purpose built, eco friendly stadium all intent on a good time.
What’s not to love.
We had a late lunch/ Early supper at Dishoom, then caught the central line to Stafford then the DLR to the Olympic park. 
We had a bottle of wine before the concert.
And it was a concert. A large band, backing singers and light show par excellence supported the ABBA holograms just as they would have done to four “real” artists, so from the get go the audience was transported to the ABBA of yesteryear.



It was all rather magical and at times strangely moving, especially as each of the band in close up hologram form addressed the crowds with an aside or anecdote in their 70 something older voices.and when they cranked up a gear, complimented by some very expensive and lovely light effects,  the whole area erupted into one big best friend meeting hug.


My favourite part, well apart from watching Janet becoming her 11 year old self again, was listening to Anni-fred sing the most melancholy of ABBA songs When All Is Said And Done proving even a hologram can be emotional 





69 comments:

  1. Traveller10:08 am

    Glad it all worked out well. Amazing what can be done with technology

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  2. I can't even begin to tell you how much I'd have LOVED to have seen this show. I'm so happy for you. Now all these decades down the line there's been no group for me that has come anywhere near to touching the soul as closely as ABBA did, and this number perfectly encapsulates why. Just plain MAH-vellous!!!

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    Replies
    1. Book it Raymondo , just go xx

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    2. I only wish it were poss, JayGee, but circs prevent.

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    3. Overwhelmed by your incredible offer, JG, and much as I'd love to take you up on it, still can't do - though if it ever turns out that I'm able to (v. unlikely) will let you know. XXX

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  3. I had thought about going to the Van Gogh immersive experience for my birthday, but having read this...perhaps I'll go to ABBA instead. Glad you had a good time. x

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  4. Oh yaaay!! Glad you enjoyed!

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    Replies
    1. It was a lovely joyous night, with 3000 friends

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  5. As I said on your Facebook post, this sounds absolutely amazing. I'm glad you got to go with Janet, what a lovely outing to share.

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  6. I am so glad you and your sister had this moment.

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  7. I just read my blogger buddy's, Jon's recount of the concert. He went last weekend, and said it was bloody Brillant. I dare say he was probably in euphoria.

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    Replies
    1. Can you give me his link, I’d be interested in reading another review

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  8. Anonymous12:42 pm

    So glad you enjoyed the concert, and had a lovely day out with your sister. making lots of happy memories for you both.Mary from Scotland X

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    Replies
    1. We all should enjoy loved ones and celebrate the angels in our lives

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  9. Just amazing. I haven’t heard anything but good things about this concert.

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    Replies
    1. Yes….I understand why too
      So many of us are used to tribute bands with and wigs and clothes
      Now we have this!!!

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  10. Wish we were there

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  11. Anonymous1:26 pm

    John that song is just so beautiful. Glad you had a lovely time. x

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  12. What a great show! So many events from my youth can be set to ABBA music.

    Love,
    Janie

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    Replies
    1. It’s the soundtrack of 3/4 of the audience there last night ….that’s why it was so enjoyable

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  13. Sounds fabulous! The technology of today and the classic music of yesteryear!

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    Replies
    1. It was well done. Polished, classy, fun

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  14. Glad you had so much fun with your sister!

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    Replies
    1. We’ve got Les Miserables in London to go to in 12 weeks

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  15. Thanks for the review. I'm glad to hear it was a satisfying experience. As I said previously, I'm very curious about it and might take the plunge and go myself.

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    Replies
    1. Just go and don’t take it too seriously ..
      Dance the night away after a few drinks x

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  16. It sounds wonderful.

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  17. I feel emotional just reading about it x 🎤🎤

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  18. It all sounds fabulous. The light show really added something special to the music and singing.

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    Replies
    1. Have a look
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWNxGymi4U

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  19. Barbara Anne3:12 pm

    What glorious musical magic - and you and Janet were there! I find myself playing our Momma Mia CD and occasionally one of our ABBA albums from long ago. What's not to loke?

    Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Dancing Queen was beautiful, with flower like lights dropping from the ceiling like seaweed…quite beautiful

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  20. Abba sound better now than they did in the 70's, and they sounded brilliant then! Glad you enjoyed the whole experience. xx

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    Replies
    1. Three songs from the new album were featured too

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  21. A hologram rock concert--how surreal, so futuristic. I'm glad you and Janet had fun.

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    1. I think it could have gone disastrously wrong ( and some of the animated asides didn’t really work) but a great deal of money and effort has obviously been applied to the purpose built venue. The light show ( designed by the film star wars special effects team) was top notch , the use of a real band was a stroke of genius and the holograms worked

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  22. Anonymous3:41 pm

    have always loved them since their first appearance on Eurovision, fabulous. So glad you both enjoyed it.

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  23. Anonymous3:42 pm

    Fab-u-lous!!!! Especially the bit about their current voices being played. Bet the atmosphere was electric. Glad you had a great time! Louise

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    1. Yes, when they chatted with old voices but young faces , it was incredibly moving, especially Anni-Fred’s tribute to her grandmother

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  24. Ohhh
    I love me some ABBA. You just gave me Anne Marie nostalgia.

    XOXO

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    Replies
    1. I would recommend this to everyone , even if they don’t really remember the original songs , it’s a joyous romp

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  25. Massive ABBA fan here John. Wish I had been there. Dancing Queen is my favourite. Amanda is the young blonde girl spinning and dancing (not literally, but she dances like this, with complete abandon.

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    1. Gary Agnetha, danced just like I remember she did , like I said many of us in the audience were moved by the joyous reflection of their youth

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  26. This song is so poignant at the moment having just lost my husband Tom, we had a rough ride for the last 18 months and these words say it all. (Thanks for all your generous love and thanks for all the fun
    Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done)
    Thanks for the post.
    Briony
    x

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    Replies
    1. It’s a lovely song , and produced so movingly by a hologram …a hologram that I actually waved at when she “ finished” singing her song

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  27. Anonymous5:36 pm

    Good review and you were doing so well until the last sentence when you could not stop yourself from making comments about emotion and depression. For pitys sake I hope you are not like this with your patients it must be miserable enough for them without you channeling your pain and misery in to them. I think psychiatrists call this projecting. Really John I must be honest with you because nodoby else on here seems willing to be or is afraid to be because of the passive agression slap down you give to opinions you dont want to hear or believe about youself. You need to get a grip on your depression and knee jerk need to barf your pain all over other people all of the time. You are planning to be a counselor so it would seem important that you take this seriously if you are going to be permitted to help people mentally.

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    Replies
    1. Anon, you should have the courage of your opinions' validity and sign a name, give your contact info. Otherwise you are just an off topic troll.

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    2. Anonymous9:08 am

      Lol excellent reply

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  28. Ooo - are you the "nodoby" who corrects my spelling by any chance đź–Ą

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  29. Love this song and Slipping through my fingers. Both about the inevitable passage of time which affects us all in different ways xxx

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    Replies
    1. ABBA have produced several wonderful ballads , not all could be played last night, for obvious reasons

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  30. Eurovision's coming up. Excited?

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    Replies
    1. Very , my friend Colin lives in liverpool , we hope to go ! At least to one of the 10 events organised x

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  31. Sounds wonderful! I love ABBA.

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  32. I always loved Abba, so good to see that video!

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    1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWNxGymi4U

      Try this one x

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  33. I absolutely loved ABBA when I was a teenager they had the ability to make me cry at the drop of a hat... I put it down to their music not my teenage hormones btw! I haven't listened to anything from them for ages as I don't really listen to much music.... occasionally I will put something on Spotify but it isn't my normal. I am so pleased that you and your sister had a blast...what fun!

    Jo in Auckland

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  34. "When all is said and done" has the same effect on me too. I would absolutely love to go to this! Loved the film.

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