A while ago, on Facebook, I stumbled across this photograph of my old Swedish friend Agnetha Fältskog, taken from the first Abba Greatest Hits album of 1975. If you look closely, you will see that inserted into her hand is a copy of her last solo album, A, released in 2013. Both albums, both images, separated by thirty-eight years, stand, in a way, like chronological bookends of a linear journey. Of her linear journey, along that particular period of her life. In between, of course, much has changed. For better, or for worse. Such is life.
I like to think that the photoshopping artist, whoever he or she may be, has, like I, a penchant for both history and continuity, similarly casting an appreciative eye over the progressive journey, yet, also, being cut to the quick by the unstoppable, winnowing effect of time itself.
There is a song on Agnetha’s last album called I Was A Flower. I think some of the lines could also be addressed to Time itself:
I was a flower
Now look what you have done
You’ve made my colours fade
Too close to the sun
Once I was innocent
Beautiful, life had just begun
I was a flower
Now look what you have done
There are some other lines of this song that my daughter sings over and over, like kids do:
But now you walk right through me
Like I’m an empty ghost
Now, when I need you the most
My daughter: a young girl, blossoming and full of life, whiling away her time singing of empty ghosts.
Two chronological bookends of a linear journey, being winnowed along the way.
Damn you, Time. Damn you.
Reblogged this on Paul Karam Kassab 1.
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Thank you for sharing.
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Reblogged this on BETTER THAN SLEEP.
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Thank you for sharing.
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You really know Agneta or your a fan of her 😀 I didn’t notice the album cover at first haha mindblown ;D
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I thought you realised: Andy is short for Andersson. I’m Benny’s son.
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Oh my goodness!!! You are the long lost son: Greve Anton den tredje 😉
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And I helped to choreograph the moves of Agnetha and Frida. Couldn’t do it today, though, not in those heels.
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Aah so you are behind the Waterloo moves 😀 then you’re a true hero for Swede that made Sweden win Eurovision Song Contest :p
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I still await my medal. The post isn’t what it used to be 🙂
If you read the link ‘Teenage Denial….’ highlighted at the bottom of the post, all will be explained.
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Haha you will get it soon 😀 Must contact the King first! Oh I have to check out the link !
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It will tell you my real Agnetha connection.
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A beautiful post, Andy. Love the photo! Time is inexorable. It seemed to speed up the moment I turned 18.
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Thanks Linda. I tell my kids the same, but for me from around the time I got to twenty-two or so.
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Yes, our children grow up even though we wish them to remain little — with all their wonderment and discoveries and cuteness. (sigh) But on the flip side, that is replaced with pride in the young adults they have grown to be….
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Reblogged this on Dolphin and commented:
Yes, our children grow up even though we wish them to remain little — with all their wonderment and discoveries and cuteness. (sigh) But on the flip side, that is replaced with pride in the young adults they have grown to be….
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Indeed it is. As we weaken, we take pride as they go from strength to strength. Thanks for sharing.
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And I’m pleased to say that thanks to Ancestry.com I have learned that i have an infinitesimal amount of Scandinavian in me. So I am sure that ABBA are my relatives.
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I think I may have just found the person to personally introduce me to Agnetha. 🙂
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I’ll get right on it.
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I’m shaving right now 🙂
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Hi Magpie-since this conversation I have found that, on MyHeritage, I have discovered that I have Scandinavian ancestry too! 😀
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ABBA still send me over the edge almost every time.
Thanks for this post and the doctored pic.
https://connecthook.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/abba/
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Me too. Thank you for the link.
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Reblogged this on City Jackdaw and commented:
Speaking of Time: posted three years ago.
Time, please be gentle.
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