Whether you like this kind of pop or not, the fact itself is significant: the famous Swedish ABBA made a live comeback – just like “back then”! – in London. A few months ago. Brand new, as if not a day had passed.
Of course they were avatars. Light likenesses. But does it matter? Does anyone touch the stars? They all videotape now.
They weren’t holograms – the relevant technology, which was tested with Maria Callas (! yes, she was resurrected for a while…), was deemed to still need work. Instead, the avatars (or, for the occasion, the abba-tars) were two-dimensional likenesses, projected on a huge screen, with various lighting and effects that created the illusion of three dimensions.
For this production (which started years ago) to take place, among other things, the elderly members of the ensemble had to move around for several hours each day for nearly 1.5 months wearing full-body suits with motion sensors inside a forest of 160 special cameras. Then the computers took over.
However, the interest in the subject is not only about production. It is also about consumption. According to the organizers, the audience enjoyed itself, had fun, was moved. One would not expect anything else from the organizers; but are illusions really entertaining, especially at this point, even more so if they are branded?
Don’t say bah, it’s impossible! Don’t say it…