iamanabba (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The quality of the Abba songs given to Agnetha to lead were much more demanding vocally and she was stretched where Frida wasnt because she didnt have the range or height, Agnetha was far superior vocally x.

caribbeanbeachbum (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

A pointless discussion going on here in my opinion. Both singers have amazing voices but are very different. Agnetha's fans will stick up for her and Frida's fans will come to her defence. Why not just love and respect both their qualities without the endless comparing? Peace! ; -)

EnzFab73 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

CONT: But to portray Frida's live vocals as flawless (as many of her fans do) is inaccurate considering the proof is in the many bootlegs some live recordings where she sounds "flat" or instead of belting the notes, does a quick flip into her head voice leaving Ags belting the blood out of her vocal chords (Listen to the chorus of any live version of THANK U FOR THE MUSIC). Frida's vocal forte differed from Ags. Both woman had different vocal ranges, timbre style.

EnzFab73 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

It's rather pointless bringing critics into this considering their opinions are just that, opinions they also have their faves. How about the critic who wrote Frida's voice was "limited" it was plainfully obvious on her record "There is Something Going On"? I guess when critics critique Ags it's the gospel, with Frida, they don't know any better? LOL. Anyhow even VH1 couldn't decide between the 2 when both Ags Frida tied in ranking in the "Best Female Voices in Rock".

juggluver69 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

listen to agnetha sing 'thankyou for the music' live from switzerland and then you will hear the true voice. i feel her and whitney houston have the two best female voices !!

jazzbobrown (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hehe -Ags reached higher on the register, but Frida did have a wider range. Do we have to bitch about this? Ags voice is clear, but she is best at singing sweet. Fridas chooling in jazz impro showed off in her tv debut and first recording session (done in one take). Fridas vocals on 'Real Group's acapella version of "Dancing Queen" was reportedly done in one take too, as was her vocals in the 'Barcarolle' duet with opera singer Filippa Giordani!

jazzbobrown (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hehe -wow- touchy, are we? I'm an Agnetha fan too, honey :) No, Frida did not compose (only four songs), but she did sing lead on "Fernando", which is ABBAs largest single success in Australia (where they were huge), and their 2nd largest single in Europe -and a bigger hit in Swedish (the swedish version credited to Frida solo-) than any of the other three members ever had. Fridas "Something's Going On" album and single sold more than any of Agnethas post-ABBA records.

jazzbobrown (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

No doubt Agnethas voice is fantastic: her vocals are splendid on all her recordings -and she's a terrific songwriter. But she did sing flat: most of the reviews from her early years repeatedly mentions this (read the many swedish newspaper reviews in "ABBA The Book"); listen to her off pitch in "Hej Gamle Man" -listen to the live version of "Slipping Through My Fingers" or her singing on tv in 1985 ("Gäst Hos Hägge"). No offence, I'm her fan -but Frida is more a diverse singer.

EnzFab73 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

And as an FYI, there is a HUGE difference between singing "out of tune" and being "flat". "Out of tune" is what you'd call William Hung. The only source I have read that Ags sang out of tune is from that awful book Dark Shadows but even Michael Tretow has called Ags voice "fantastic" was awe struck at how she sang how many voices she was able to sing in. There are far too many live versions of even the earliest ABBA hits, SOS, WATERLOO, RING RING Ags voice is solid in all of them.

EnzFab73 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I have yet to hear a live version or a studio recording where Ags has sang out of tune. Sometimes her vocals fell flat but never out of tune it happens to all singers live including Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler (sometimes too often) even Frida. There is a live performance of Money Money Money where Frida's sounds incredibly flat not to mention several bootlegs where her voice sounds less than perfect.