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Post by steve10086 on May 23, 2022 10:03:49 GMT
Really hadn’t expected it to involve body doubles. It does kinda sound disappointing when you first hear that, but I’ll wait to see exactly how it’s executed. The body doubles were necessary for movement simply because seventy year olds don't move like thirty year olds. The guy doubling for Bjorn plays guitar and Benny's is a pianist too,so all the moves look authentic, and all form part of the illusion. It's been providing a lot of work for young artists over the last few years it appears. But what’s the point of those motion capture suits if the motions are being made by body doubles? I am not doubting this will be great. I cannot wait to see it. I’m just trying to get my head around it… and perhaps I shouldn’t be doing that!  |
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Post by xanady on May 23, 2022 11:07:18 GMT
Saw the Whitney hologram concert thingy a few years ago as a reviewer and that was really emotional for a lot of fans and this sounds even better,technology-wise.
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Post by alece10 on May 23, 2022 11:26:28 GMT
I'm very confused (which isn't difficult) so are you saying there will be 4 "actual" people on the stage who will somehow appear to be ABBA?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 23, 2022 12:28:40 GMT
This is the peppers ghost theory dont click if you don’t want to know. ABBAtarsHonestly, click away. I assure you this is neither the method used in the show nor the effect they achieve. Can you tell us in spoiler tags so people can read if they want to know? |
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Post by harry on May 23, 2022 12:43:32 GMT
I'm very confused (which isn't difficult) so are you saying there will be 4 "actual" people on the stage who will somehow appear to be ABBA? Popping the answer in spoiler tags as I completely understand some people want to go knowing nothing, although I wouldn’t really consider this a spoiler myself. {Spoiler - click to view}No, I believe the body doubles were for the motion capture from official stuff I’ve read online. The real older ABBA did the mocap performances. Then the younger body doubles did the same moves to give the dancing a bit more youthful energy and then it was somehow amalgamated to give the digital ABBAtars that appear in the show. There is a real live band including some backing singers but they never pretend to be ABBA. |
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Post by harry on May 23, 2022 12:46:28 GMT
Honestly, click away. I assure you this is neither the method used in the show nor the effect they achieve. Can you tell us in spoiler tags so people can read if they want to know? I’d prefer to DM you than spoiler tag it if you really want to know. Personally I’d want to go not knowing. |
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Post by interval99 on May 23, 2022 13:52:09 GMT
Thank you Harry for your comments on the show but without giving spoilers. Very envious of the crowds who got a early preview it it's reassuring to see such positive feedback especially as most of the preview crowd are not full on fans but have been impressed and had a great time at the show.
Must have been very nerve racking for the production team as imagine there is little time to amend the programming if the response had been muted.
While limiting what I am reading about the show this close to seeing it most seem to be confirming it's an experience event which doesn't fit any current classification of a show, concert or film.
For me it's a way to see what otherwise is impossible an ABBA show they have put together in a specific designed arena.
With ABBA in their active period mainly playing arenas and theatres rather than stadiums there are too few who would have seen them live but know ABBA from their videos and TV shows and two generations only know them via indirect screening so this merge of the real and image creation is just right for ABBA.
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2022 13:55:01 GMT
Someone I know went yesterday and said it was incredible although they didn't give me full details so can't spoil it even if I wanted to.
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Post by Sam on May 23, 2022 18:05:25 GMT
Can you tell us in spoiler tags so people can read if they want to know? I’d prefer to DM you than spoiler tag it if you really want to know. Personally I’d want to go not knowing. Please pm me too as I went yesterday and I'm really interested to hear how it was done. We had to seal our phones in pouches and were told we are not allowed to discuss the set list. The phone policy will change when it's officially open. I wouldn't call my self an Abba fan but I do like all their big hits (ie the mamma Mia sound track). I was in awe at the technology and experience I wish all concerts went all out like that but their touring nature makes it impossible. Some elements worked better than others but overall it was a great show! I'd be tempted to return in a year or so. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 23, 2022 18:09:36 GMT
Can you tell us in spoiler tags so people can read if they want to know? I’d prefer to DM you than spoiler tag it if you really want to know. Personally I’d want to go not knowing. I’m not going 🙂. I do think some people, whether they’re going or not would like to read thoughts on how it’s done but no need to DM me. It will all come out in due course. |
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Post by interval99 on May 23, 2022 22:46:36 GMT
From Twitter feedback there was another "final" rehearsal preview tonight Monday 23rd and the tweets are hyper in praise for all aspects of the show. Ticketmaster should be getting ready for a busy weekend when the reviews come out.
Considering it's not that rare for standard shows and concerts to be delayed or cancel previews due to not being ready. It makes it even more impressive they build a complete new arena, installed new technology and lighting rigs and have the show up and running at full throttle ahead of opening night it seems to show everyone from the architects, construction team, designers, tech etc are all operating at the same high professional level as the ABBA group themselves.
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Post by Phantom of London on May 23, 2022 22:59:38 GMT
Is Judy Cranmer attached to this?
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Post by callum on May 23, 2022 23:02:41 GMT
I was lucky enough to be there tonight and absolutely unbelievable.
The nub of what makes this show astounding is that it feels like you’re 40 years in the past and 40 years in the future and exactly the same time.
I could go on and describe what the experience is like, but you truly have to be there to convey what it actually feels like. An absolutely shattering concert! It feels like when people saw dinosaurs for the first time in CGI in Jurassic Park.
The dance floor tonight was full of 20/30+ year olds and felt like any club on a Saturday at 2am… I hope it stays that way!
In terms of setlist, everything is there apart from one (maybe two) B-tier song that were omitted. The two penultimate songs are what you would guess, with a quasi-surprise for the encore. Will provide in spoiler tags if anyone wants to know!
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Post by karloscar on May 23, 2022 23:04:45 GMT
It's virtually unheard of for a new show with innovative technology to open without any glitches or tech failures. They've obviously learned over the years to find the best folk for the job and pay them appropriately.
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2022 23:11:28 GMT
I wonder if this could be licensed in some way to either groups and singer who are still alive or even the estates of dead singers like Elvis, Michael Jackson etc It would be a good for Gorillaz to use as well.
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Post by partytentdown on May 24, 2022 7:02:44 GMT
I echo what others have said, it is like nothing ever seen before. The technology is astounding not only in the way the band members appear but generally in the way the concert is designed in terms of light, sound, video etc, and half the fun is in staring at the stage trying to work out exactly how it's done (I still don't know)
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Post by steve10086 on May 24, 2022 7:23:03 GMT
I echo what others have said, it is like nothing ever seen before. The technology is astounding not only in the way the band members appear but generally in the way the concert is designed in terms of light, sound, video etc, and half the fun is in staring at the stage trying to work out exactly how it's done (I still don't know) So do you actually see a 3D representation of the band on stage?! Is the seating block a long way from the stage? Hard to get an idea of how deep the dance floor is between them. |
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Post by apwl on May 24, 2022 7:25:42 GMT
All these comments here have tempted me to book much earlier than expected. Dance floor tickets available for the evening show on Sunday (which also cheaper than the other evening tickets)
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Post by harry on May 24, 2022 7:46:42 GMT
I echo what others have said, it is like nothing ever seen before. The technology is astounding not only in the way the band members appear but generally in the way the concert is designed in terms of light, sound, video etc, and half the fun is in staring at the stage trying to work out exactly how it's done (I still don't know) So do you actually see a 3D representation of the band on stage?! Is the seating block a long way from the stage? Hard to get an idea of how deep the dance floor is between them. {Spoiler - click to view}Most truthful way to answer your first question is to say that your brain will absolutely tell you that you do. In terms of distance from the stage it’s hard to say. I would say the interactive seating plan is an accurate representation of the size, so if you imagine each dot is a seat and the dancefloor fills a sort of half-hexagon / curved-triangle void in the middle that’s exactly what it’s like. The show is designed to fill the space so I think you’d still feel part of it wherever you sit and I imagine it’s probably better to be more central and further back than right near the front all the way to one side, but that’s pure conjecture! Possibly worth saying that the back of the dancefloor is directly in front of the most expensive seats in the front rows (and hardly any lower - just enough not to block the front row view), so if you don’t mind standing you could get very much the same view for a fraction of the price. |
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Post by alece10 on May 24, 2022 8:09:12 GMT
So do you actually see a 3D representation of the band on stage?! Is the seating block a long way from the stage? Hard to get an idea of how deep the dance floor is between them. {Spoiler - click to view}Most truthful way to answer your first question is to say that your brain will absolutely tell you that you do. In terms of distance from the stage it’s hard to say. I would say the interactive seating plan is an accurate representation of the size, so if you imagine each dot is a seat and the dancefloor fills a sort of half-hexagon / curved-triangle void in the middle that’s exactly what it’s like. The show is designed to fill the space so I think you’d still feel part of it wherever you sit and I imagine it’s probably better to be more central and further back than right near the front all the way to one side, but that’s pure conjecture! Possibly worth saying that the back of the dancefloor is directly in front of the most expensive seats in the front rows (and hardly any lower - just enough not to block the front row view), so if you don’t mind standing you could get very much the same view for a fraction of the price. I'm sitting in one of those front row central seats and not really able to stand for long so from what you say I'll be OK as I will be able to see over the heads of the dancers? |
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Post by harry on May 24, 2022 9:38:51 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view}Most truthful way to answer your first question is to say that your brain will absolutely tell you that you do. In terms of distance from the stage it’s hard to say. I would say the interactive seating plan is an accurate representation of the size, so if you imagine each dot is a seat and the dancefloor fills a sort of half-hexagon / curved-triangle void in the middle that’s exactly what it’s like. The show is designed to fill the space so I think you’d still feel part of it wherever you sit and I imagine it’s probably better to be more central and further back than right near the front all the way to one side, but that’s pure conjecture! Possibly worth saying that the back of the dancefloor is directly in front of the most expensive seats in the front rows (and hardly any lower - just enough not to block the front row view), so if you don’t mind standing you could get very much the same view for a fraction of the price. I'm sitting in one of those front row central seats and not really able to stand for long so from what you say I'll be OK as I will be able to see over the heads of the dancers? I think you’ll have the perfect view and feel really immersed in the whole thing. |
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Post by partytentdown on May 24, 2022 9:56:37 GMT
I don't think there's really a bad seat/position, it's a big space but still feels fairly intimate and the lighting/video design is completely integrated to the building, it's not just on the stage.
Without giving away spoilers you will absolutely believe the four band members are standing on the stage in front of you.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 24, 2022 10:03:01 GMT
Are they a bit “transparent” like holographic projections we’ve seen before? Or do they look like solid flesh and blood?
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Post by richey on May 24, 2022 10:12:27 GMT
Apparently Abba themselves were in the VIP area there last night.
But more importantly so was Carrie Hope Fletcher and she's given it her seal of approval on Insta.
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Post by Sam on May 24, 2022 13:14:42 GMT
Are they a bit “transparent” like holographic projections we’ve seen before? Or do they look like solid flesh and blood? I genuinely could not tell that there were not actual people on the stage when looking at the stage itself. There even is a real band standing somewhat near the ABBAtars and I wouldn't say the difference showed in any way. The big screens show the CGI, but only because there are close ups of their faces- the girls singing in particular as CGI and teeth/mouth movements just doesn't work, but it's lightyears ahead of Ugly Sonic. |
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