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Strollerderby
The Real Reason Abba is Still Making Money
I thought it was just my kid on the weird Swedish pop band-wagon until soccer practice a few weeks ago, when my friend’s daughter burst out in a tune from Mamma Mia. OK, the girls have weekly playdates – it could be her influence rubbing off.
Then this: SF Gate’s Amy Graff reported on a Mamma Mia sing-along for families. “Your daughter,” she warns, “might want to be Sophie . . . after seeing this movie.”
Is there a secret Abba fan club strictly for people under four-feet tall? Because I “can resist ya,” but the kids apparently take one look and forget everything.
The Mamma Mia musical and accompanying film version don’t hurt – they’re uniquely clean with zero sex or violence. At its worst, there’s the use of the word “slut.” That’s it. Shrek is worse than that. Throw in singing and dancing, and a storyline that’s all about mishaps not far off a cartoon’s, and it’s obvious someone was thinking about kids when they were making this flick.
Raised on Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals by my parents because we were TV-free and they were deemed the cleanest options for both my brother and I, I can dig it. Even in my Abba apathy.
But I confess I’m surprised by the fervor a so-so flick has generated among the four-year-olds in my neighborhood. Is Mamma Mia one your kids will “never let” go?
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Leila commented on Oct 13 09 at 11:47 amMy five-year old son got hooked on Mamma Mia after I played it in my car a few times, then he kept asking me to play it over and over, and now at home the CD sits in his collection along with the kids’ titles.
Leila commented on Oct 13 09 at 11:50 amOh, and my explanation for the phenomenon is that ABBA melodies and harmonies are very catchy. Just like I loved the band when I was a kid in the 70s, the children today will also enjoy those tunes. It has nothing to do with “clean” lyrics, actually most of them are about adult relationships. I don’t mind when my boy sings “Give me a man after midnight”, because he has no idea what he’s talking about.
feefifoto commented on Oct 13 09 at 12:33 pmComments I like the music but good grief! When I saw the play I thought I might have to hit myself in the head repeatedly with a hammer to cope with how stupidly plotless it was. I don’t know what I expected but it was every bit as bad as any episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I suspect that’s why kids like it: their standards are so low.
Marj commented on Oct 14 09 at 12:50 amAbba is fun and dance-able and that means it will always appeal.
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