Abba for years. Just fantastic songs, particularly on their later albums.

I have a CD-R in the car containing some of their lesser known album tracks, all of which are wonderful. Other acts would have put them out as A-sides.

What's all the middle class/middle England thing?

the oeuvre of Anal C**t, perchance?

Those Beatles

Sir Frederick of Mercury and Queen

Bee Gees

Madonna

Supertramp (heads for exit sharpish)

all the boxes being ticked

The music of Tom Jones for a musical could work; though I think a more darker tone towards the end where he takes his revenge on Delila and then gets executed but before singing the green green grass of home.

Or better still a metal musical based on the works of Iron Maiden. I'd have it set during the 19th century, victorian or regency.

Starting with a battle (with a montage of songs like the trooper, aces high and run to the hills) it sets the scene for our hero, a captain in the army who does something heroic in the battle. He then returns home, things happen and he has to stop a cult from sacrificing a heroine (Bring your daughter to the slaughter, 2 minutes to midnight). There could be scenes involving some mystic (the clairvoyant, can I play with madness), monsters (fear of the dark), cultists (the evil that men do) and a giant wicker man (the wicker man).

I'd hate it.

to think about watching it. Each to they're own but I just can't. And its not the Abba part that doesn't work for me.

I thought I wouldn't like Mamma Mia, not for Abba but for other reasons, though was not as vehemently against it as some men I know who would rather chew broken glass than sit through such a thing, possibly fearful their male friends would then question their sexuality if they found out. But if you hand in your cynicism and prejudices at the door and give it a chance you might just find yourself enjoying the experience. I was struck by how strong those songs are that even when Piers Brosnan, who has a terrible singing voice it has to be said, has a crack at SOS the quality of the tune shines through, and the words of all the songs (not in band's first language of course) say so much that is truthful that a meaningful story can be told with them. I wondered who else's songs this could be done with so succesfully, using amateur singers. The Beatles probably, but not many others I can think of. Queen? Don't think songs are good enough myself.

could work, possibly.

but do Abba's songs really 'all say so much about our lives'?

Having just taken a trip to Sydney via Seoul, where flights into Seoul had Mamma Mia running on a loop on one video channel, and the bugger across the aisle from me fell asleep for 6 hours and LEFT HIS TV SWITCHED ON ON THAT BLOODY CHANNEL I have now seen bits of this blasted film (sans soundtrack) about four times. Then, dang me, the same happened on the way back.

I would rather eat my own feet than see this thing again.

Here's Mark reviewing Mamma Mia in his highly entertaining manner, explaining the strange appeal the film has inspite of it's lack of qualities one would normally look for in a movie that is any good. He also makes reference to the indestructible aspect of Abba songs - their brilliance coming through whatever you do to them. He think it's terrible but he's going to see it again. I've told you most of what he says but here it is anyway:

My GLW is (I suspect) exactly the middle-English, middle-class wife who you seem to think is worthy of your contempt.

SOME of us would say that such women are the rock upon which much of society stands - but hey, ain't Class War fun?

My problem with mamma mia and halelujah etc is that our culture has no sense of proportion. Abba are great and I love hearing there songs every now and then but the muiscal/film comes along and with the help of amazon, tescos and cinema chains we all kick their songs to death. people who usually got to the flicks once a year go 3 times in a week, going on about the film totally disproportionately their passion being the sole justification. This collective stompimg will successful boot out any other context/understanding/enjoyment of the songs.
It's why I've come to loathe coldplay and keane who would be ok in small doses but enough already can't we share the obsession around a bit.

A pirate and the kosher version. And been subjected to the singalonga "bonus disc". And had my wife taken to a theatre singalonga version, something I cannot thank my lucky stars that I was not mercilessly assumed to have wanted to have been included in. Q: how do I tell my wifes best friend, instigator of all this torture, that I cannot feckin stand the swinging swedes and that dreadful dreadful dreadful film?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!
Someone please take it or me away from all this

Given that the lyricists did not speak english as a first language, I find The Day Before You Came particularly impressive as a set of lyrics. You are left unsure as to whether things are better now that "he" has come. Easy to build a dramatic scene around that.

Also, the break-up songs like One of Us and The Winner Takes it All are made more poignant by the perception that the lyrics are directly about their own relationships. I believe this elevated those songs and makes ABBA songs perfect fodder for emotion-driven storytelling.

Their genius also lies in the coolness of delivery. For the heart-wrenching subject matter, the sublime melodies and angelic vocals - the songs are delivered in a sterile,emotionless way by Agnetha and Frida. Their poise was also a good reason to like ABBA. Yes there were jumpsuits and the odd silly song but they never once looked ridiculous. The gurning and goofing around was done by the chaps.

As for another band that would be good for a musical - what about Squeeze? They always had good stories.

Been done - Chris and Glenn did it many years ago. Can't remember any details, unfortunately, but I think it was only performed at one small theatre in London.

and Mamma Mia is probably my all time favourite song. However I'm not a fan of the film/musical. I went to see it, welled up at the great music but thought the ballads were just murdered. I'm not that bothered about it and happy that their machine keeps rolling.
Great songs sung by great singers - its what makes them fantastic along with The fabs and Bob Dylan etc etc

We were in Vegas in August on holiday in the Mandalay Bay hotel and the Mama Mia musical was on - so everytime you got in the lift you were blasted by adverts for the wretched event.

The number of strangers in the lifts with you who were on the same wavelength as you and just wanted to smash up those tv screens......

I posted my experience of this here http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/mamma-mia-rarely-have-felt-so-alon...

The only problem is Mrs Diz is agitating for the DVD now...