Abba - I Am The City

I Am The City was recorded on May 8 1982. It remained unreleased until it was included on the compilation album "More Abba Gold" in May 1993.
This was one of 7 songs Abba recorded during 1982 for their possible next album after The Visitors, believed likely to be called Opus 10.
The 7 songs were Should I Laugh Or Cry (Sep 1981), You Owe Me One, I Am The City, Just Like That (all May 1982), Cassandra, Under Attack and The Day Before You Came (all August 1982).
However the group unofficially retired at the end of 1982, and the unfinished album was never completed. The unreleased songs eventually appeared as bonus tracks on The Visitors album or on compilation albums.
There has been no definitive reason given for the group's retirement in December 1982. However there is no doubt that the two divorces had taken its toll on the group. Their hearts were no longer in it. During their career they had often said "Abba will carry on as long as we enjoy working together. The day that we are tired of it, we'll stop."
The group's break-up was further hastened by Benny and Bjorn's collaboration with Tim Rice in early 1983 to write songs for the new musical project Chess. The four Swedes were no longer looking in the same direction, it was time to go their seperate ways.
This is an unofficial promotional video made in 2007 for this song.

Lyrics:
Coming through a cloud, you're looking at me from above
And I'm a revelation, spreading out before your eyes
And you find me beautiful and irresistible
A giant creature that forever seems to grow in size,
And you feel a strange attraction,
Ooh, ooh the air is vibrant and electrified,
Welcome to me, here I am my arms are open wide

Somewhere in the middle of the never ending noise,
There is a pulse, a steady rhythm of a heart that beats
And a million voices blend into a single voice,
And you can hear it in the clamour of the crowded streets,
People come and take their chances,
Ooh, ooh, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose a lot
Come make your own contribution to this melting pot

I'm the street you walk, the language you talk
I am the city, the skyline is me and the energy
I am the city, the famous hotels
And the cocktail bars, and the funny smells
And the turmoil of cars, and the people
The air that you're breathing is me,
Yes I am the city, you let me be

People feed me with their lives, I am a hungry soul
And they all worship me, and pay their homage day and night
Everyday I hear a lot of tired, shuffling feet
But come tonight they will be dancing in the neon light,
Dazzled by the crazy magic,
Ooh, ooh, they're grabbing pieces of the fatted calf
And in the wind if you listen hard, you'll hear me laugh

I'm the street you walk, the language you talk
I am the city, the skyline is me and the energy
I am the city, the famous hotels
And the cocktail bars, and the funny smells
And the turmoil of cars, and the people
The parks and the squares that you see,
All the sounds that you hear,
And the air that you're breathing is me,
Yes I am the city, you let me be
I am the city, you let me be, I am the city

The famous hotels and the cocktail bars,
And the funny smells and the turmoil of cars,
And the people, the air that you're breathing is me
Coming through a cloud, you're looking at me from above
And I'm a revelation, spreading out before your eyes

I'm the street you walk, the language you talk
I am the city yes, I am the city, you let me be
And you find me beautiful and irresistible,
A giant creature that forever seems to grow in size,
The skyline is me and the energy,
I am the city you let me be

Somewhere in the middle of the never ending noise,
There is a pulse, a steady rhythm of a heart that beats
I'm the street you walk, the language you talk
I am the city, yes I am the city, you let me be
And a million voices blend into a single voice,
And you can hear it in the clamour of the crowded streets,
The skyline is me, and the energy
I am the city you let me be.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Abba

[chancetx]

I love this "extended" version and the video is fantastic! Is this longer version of the song available anywhere? Is this on the MORE ABBA GOLD remaster? I read they included longer versions of songs that were edited for the 1993 release.

[abbafanglosuk]

The 2008 remastered version was made to correct a fault and to correct the speed, and is the same length at 4:03 as the 1993 release on More Abba Gold. I don't think this extended version is available anywhere.

[EXthesweetlamb]

aren't these scenes from Madonna's "Get Together" music video?

[abbafanglosuk]

Just had a look at "Madonna Get Together [Official Music Video]" by MadonnaVideoHD, the answer is no - there's not much similarity. Happy New Year to you anyway!

[EXthesweetlamb]

@abbafanglosuk not the official one, the alternative version :D

[abbafanglosuk]

Yes you're right, these scenes are also in Get Together "Official Alternative Music Video". I didn't know that before - so well spotted!

[davidatcuwclubnet]

Bjorn really is the magical genius behind ABBA for arranging the lyrics to suit every song in it's own way. `I Am The City` really is a tongue twister but is awesome because it lets you know `I Am The City`. ALL HAIL BJORN ALVAEUS!!!

[serennieballerina]

thats it- now i will learn to sing this song as fast as i can and i wont stpo until i will do it perfectly like they. Such an inspiring and though ironic song...

[Gemini061882]

I miss you, New York City!

[Gemini061882]

@kzbxvz 1982? No! Way advanced for 1982!

[kzbxvz]

Does anyone here on YouTube relate this wonderful music to 1982?

[willemparrucchiere]

Abba, gewoon helemaal TOP.

Ik kende dit nummer eigenlijk niet, maar na één keer luisteren was ik al helemaal om; allemachtig wat zit dit knap in elkaar!

En wij in Nederland maar luisteren naar al die rotzooi die ons via alle zogenaamde "nieuwe idolen programma's op ons af wordt gestuurd; mensen die over het algemeen geen hebbelijke noot kunnen zingen en/of een gruwelijk gebrek aan talent hebben.

[JimColyer]

ABBA's identification with the city is complete. The city throbs, and so does the beat. They are singing of Stockholm. The island city extends its invitation.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

An ABBA gem.

Their music is great and timeless.

I am proud to be a ABBA fan.

I will always love them.

George Vreeland Hill

[folglorefestiwal]

such a fuckin good song -  i am the sound abba was sound never reached before or after

[kzbxvz]

@friend01sd ABBA's music is always timeless!

[friend01sd]

@kzbxvz In my opinion it sounds like the music of '90s :D

[kzbxvz]

In 1981 ABBA was way ahead of their time. It still sounds modern, not 1981.