Abba, from left, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson in the together days have released two new songs. Photo / Supplied
Abba, from left, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson in the together days have released two new songs. Photo / Supplied
Our brains are pretty amazing and complex organs.
They control, among other things, our emotions, thoughts, hunger and of course our memory.
It amazes me that while my memory fails me on trivial things I use every day such as my laptop password, it remembers something I hadn't listenedto for quite some time.
To be accurate it was my muscle memory that kicked in when I plugged my earphones in and listened to Abba's new songs, I still Have Faith in You and Don't Shut Me Down.
I listened to Don't Shut Me Down first and instantly the years slipped away, my body started swaying, my feet started tapping and I really wanted to get up and dance.
Bit difficult to do in the office although I'm sure my boss wouldn't have minded in the least. I've seen him have a wee boogie and he can strike a decent masked pose.
I have no idea how many times I have danced to Abba songs, singing at the top of my voice along with everyone else on the dance floor.
According to Google muscle memory is the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement. That fits.
It's different from procedural memory which Google describes as a type of long-term memory involving how to perform different actions and skills. "Essentially, it is the memory of how to do certain things. Riding a bike, tying your shoes, and cooking a omelet are all examples of procedural memories."
Anyway, back to Abba. The second song I still Have Faith in You was slower — and not as catchy but the video clip accompanying it of the Swedish pop group in their glory days, is awesome.
Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.
They band are set to release a brand new album called Voyage in November to be followed by a concert in London in 2022.
I was excited. Then I heard that the stars of Abba, Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus would be performing digitally via avatars.
I was hoping for a performance like we had from stars of a similar ages such as Elton John and Rod Stewart. Then again I guess Elton and Rod have never stopped strutting their stuff whereas Abba hasn't been seen on stage for nearly 40 years.
Such a shame.
The band were superstars, releasing hit after hit between 1972 and 1982. I asked everyone in the office to name an Abba song. Instant replies with one saying her 14-year-old daughter could sing all their songs.
Their songs are catchy, easy to sing along to and mostly upbeat.
