They’re the Swedish quartet who shot to international fame after winning Eurovision 1974. And now a reunited ABBA are gifting the world with new music once again. The group have released the new single “Just A Notion”.
This new song comes from ABBA’s upcoming album Voyage, which will be their first new LP in 40 years.
“Just A Notion” itself is actually 43 years old. The song was first recorded in 1978 but it was subsequently shelved and never fully released by ABBA … until now.
ABBA – “Just A Notion”
A snippet of the “Just A Notion” demo was first featured on the box set Thank You for the Music in 1994. Then in 1999, ABBA-tribute band Arrival included a rendition of the full song on their own album First Flight.
But now fans finally have an official release with the original vocals from Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
Although the vocals remain the same from the original 1978 recording, the backing track has been re-recorded for the 2021 release. Nevertheless, the Voyage version of “Just A Notion” still has a wonderfully classic ABBA sound. It’s joyous, happy and cheerful, much like their Eurovision 1974 winning song “Waterloo”.
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Upon the release of “Just A Notion”, Björn spoke about the song and its original recording:
“‘Just a Notion’ is a ridiculously happy song and hopefully it will cheer you up in these dark times!”
“Wikipedia says this track was recorded in September 1978, which sounds about right. That puts it in between ABBA the Album and Voulez-Vous, and it would have been included in the latter had we not decided against it.”
And if you’re wondering why ABBA never released “Just A Notion” in the 1970s, well Björn doesn’t know either:
“Why did we decide against it? In hindsight, I don’t have a clue. It’s a good song with great vocals. I know that we played it to a publisher in France and a couple of other people we trusted, and as far as I can remember they liked it very much. So it’s a mystery and will remain a mystery.”
Voyage is set to be released on 5 November. The LP will include ten new ABBA songs, including “Just A Notion” as well as previous singles “I Still Have Faith in You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down”.
The new album comes as the group are set to unveil their ABBA Voyage digital concert series in 2022. Fans will be able to see Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid’s avatars come to life accompanied by a ten-piece live band, in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.
What do you make of “Just A Notion”? Are you glad ABBA have finally released the song after 43 years? Let us know in the comments below!
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Just LOVE that ABBA are back together !
Awful. Can’t bear it. So disappointing. Sounds like the Wombles. Absolute let down down to add this to the album and as a single. Really is bad. Puts me off the album. Sounds like a rough demo. Benny said it was shelved as it never worked when it was put together. To not be able to write 10 new songs after all this time for an important album is quite frankly poor. ..and a cop out. Not the lead up to the album I was expecting.
I also had hoped that we’d get 10 completely new songs but “Sounds like the Wombles” isn’t a bad thing in my house.
Just a Notion was probably not added to Voulez-Vous as it does not sound as “disco” as the other songs on the album. Just a Notion is more reminiscent of the earlier ABBA sound. It is happy, uplifting and I Iove it!!
As the Swedish tax payer like so much returning artists in MF, maybe it’s time that ABBA should also return to MF
Fantastic !
they are truly THE BEST !
There’s a reason this didn’t even make it into an album (or a B side – remember them) back in their imperial phase. I could understand them maybe including it as a filler track on the album but there’s no way this is remotely good enough to be a single. Not from ABBA.
What an amazing happy song. start a day with this song, and the sun will shine. such a great job by ABBA. love it so much.
Dated
Oh my God you’re so so so right… It’s like it was written in 1978! Their voices sound younger too! I wonder why…
Gee, you think? Lol
This web page would not exist without them
Just a notion The best song so far from ABBA voyage album 2021
Quit while you are ahead and all that?