# I'm afraid my wife must die **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153 "2008-11-17T19:03:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/21 "2008-11-17T22:07:29Z")
Nipick: It’s Mamma Mia! I have always always loved ABBA, and I’m glad their music has survived the 1970’s. How much else has? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/22 "2008-11-17T22:51:25Z")
Hey! Watch it! I _like_ ABBA! ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/23 "2008-11-17T23:08:41Z")
Maggenkid is getting the DVD for Christmas (damn you maggenmum!) - mourn for my lost sanity. Don’t get me wrong, I loved ABBA when I was eleven. I loved Muriel’s Wedding in part because of the ABBA songs. I adored Mamma Mia! and unashamedly sang along and cried and laughed and all that stuff. But the DVD, in my _home_, on high rotate? The DVD player may die. ---
**Author:** ![D.Fenestrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@D.Fenestrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.Fenestrator)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/24 "2008-11-17T23:11:22Z")
I was never a big ABBA fan, but their stuff certainly is catchy, and fun, and I am really surprised they are making a comeback. Excuse me while I join the “ABBA song stuck in my head” conga line… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/25 "2008-11-17T23:21:20Z")
I don’t have anything against ABBA’s music, but I absolutely REFUSE to see any musical that is based on somone’s or some group’s music… whether it be the music of ABBA, Billy Joel, or anyone else who put in hard work to make their songs what they are. I just don’t think its right to have some musical director wannabe hack the work of others to death and use them as the basis for a poorly written play. That’s my opinion… and I’m sticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/26 "2008-11-17T23:32:15Z")
There aren’t many pop sensations with this particular kind of longevity and with _so many_ consistently catchy songs. I admire and respect them for it. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/27 "2008-11-17T23:47:35Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Hey! Watch it! I _like_ ABBA! We kind of had you pegged. No offence. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/28 "2008-11-17T23:57:25Z")
I recognize fewer than half of the song titles bandied about in this thread. Do I win? A couple weeks ago I was driving with a bunch of guys on our way to [bathe together](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen), and we were listening to a bunch of 80s music. One my friends made a comment along the lines of “Ha ha people 20 years older than we are, we’re now listening to your music _ironically_!” ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/29 "2008-11-18T00:32:13Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > One my friends made a comment along the lines of “Ha ha people 20 years older than we are, we’re now listening to your music _ironically_!” But \*we \*were listening to Barry Manilow ironically back in '95. I do not know how to parse that sentence to make the distinction between listening in an ironic way and the choice being ironic - ah well, kinda works both ways. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/30 "2008-11-18T00:35:23Z")
> [@C3](#): > > My husband and I regularly use our kids on the musical battleground. This weekend, in an effort to bring our kids closer to their Australian roots, he introduced them to youtube videos of [Jimmy Barnes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZXpqhXSDrE&feature=related). [hijack] Has he got them listening to the Jimmy Barnes cover of _Dancing Queen_? Yes, I’m serious. It really does exist! ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/31 "2008-11-18T00:44:26Z")
Say what you like, ABBA is an amazing story. They were huge successes, worked hella hard, were popular around the globe, AND kept it together for the sake of the music for a couple years after their personal lives melted down. Now where are they? Well, Benny and Bjorn are doing well composing and consulting for musicals, Agnetha works steadily, and Anni-Frid(Frieda), well, these days she’s Princess Reuss von Plauen and active in environmental conservation efforts. All of them have recorded hit songs, both as part of ABBA and solo, in no less than three languages(meaning they’re all at least passable, if not fluent, in at least three languages). None of them, to the best of my meager knowledge, have ever been addicted to drugs, alcohol, or other substances. They’ve managed their money well and their brand, even after splitting up. They seemed to have unhappy marriages, but that’s common enough. Quite frankly, they’re pretty amazing people and they’ve done what very few musicians of their caliber and success level have managed to do, and that’s to keep their sanity(except for Agnetha’s breakdown in Australia, but that was mainly due to the pressures of non-stop touring). So I say, thank you for the music, for giving it to me. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/32 "2008-11-18T00:59:21Z")
> [@chacoguy420](#): > > Dude? That one there’s not feigning. Avoid the government bail-out! Play Domestic Schlock…! “Don’t stop…beLIEVing! Hold on to the feel-Lay-EE-YAY-in Streetlight people (Whoa-oh-oh-ah- OOOOOOHHHHH!!!)” :smack: :smack: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/33 "2008-11-18T01:20:00Z")
> [@Juliana](#): > > Don’t feel bad. You just beat me to it. 😃 That’s the worst thing about ABBA - I can’t stand them, but I know every word. Arrrrgh ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/34 "2008-11-18T01:24:19Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Let me explain. A couple of months ago, Mrs. Magill (a woman whom I love and adore) asked me whether I’d like to see Mama Mia. snip > but I afraid she’s going to have to die. …but you were young and full of love … ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/35 "2008-11-18T01:28:52Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > And he walks off singing, “Money, money, money..” I thought that was the O’Jays. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/36 "2008-11-18T01:54:58Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > [hijack] > Has he got them listening to the Jimmy Barnes cover of _Dancing Queen_? Yes, I’m serious. It really does exist! It doesn’t exist until you find a youtube link 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/37 "2008-11-18T02:10:16Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Damn you. > > {Ads **pbbth** to The List.} _Mamma mia, here I go again My my, how could I resist ya? Mamma mia, does it show again My my, Just how much I missed ya?_ BTW, I went and saw it more than once and sang along because I **love** ABBA. Between this and my recent admission to watching, liking, and remembering fondly _Xanadu_ . . . all I’m saying is now I just need to contribute to a Cher, Madonna, or Joan Crawford thread to win my personal McDonald’s Monopoly. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/38 "2008-11-18T02:42:51Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Today, I caught myself humming Dancing Queen, Mama Mia, and Honey Honey. I love my wife more than you could imagine, but I afraid she’s going to have to die. Just grit your teeth and put up with it. Your wife will love you even more for being a super trooper. \ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/39 "2008-11-18T03:58:02Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I love my wife more than you could imagine, but I afraid she’s going to have to die. _♫You are the dancing queen, ♫ young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing queen, feel the beat ♫from the tambourine You can dance, ♫ you can jive, having the time of your life♫♫ See that girl, watch that scene, ♫diggin’ the dancing queen_ ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153/40 "2008-11-18T04:18:08Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > I recognize fewer than half of the song titles bandied about in this thread. Do I win? Nope, you don’t win. I do, because of all of it I only recognize “Dancing Queen”… _and I’ve seen the movie_. Not only did I not know or recognize the songs before or during, but I don’t remember them afterward, either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-my-wife-must-die/473153.md?page=3)