Consider this. A few months ago in this space we listed some of the songs we’ll happily never hear again. Perfect, by the English crooner Ed Sheeran, was top of the pile. This enraged at least one local Ed Sheeran fan we know for we copped a blistering rebuttal. Of course ABBA was there, from memory we selected I do, I do, I do, although really the choice was endless. 

We also mentioned Duran Duran, the English synthpop band (we have no idea what that means). The column was later published online and spotted by the Duran Duran appreciation group (or a name similar) based in England, whose members gave this correspondent a real pillorying on their fan forum.

“A nobody from the Manning River Times thinks his opinion is important,’’ was about the only post we can repeat in a family newspaper.  We don’t think our opinion is important at all. We just don’t particularly like Duran Duran’s music.

However, when we started penning this rubbish some 23 years ago our efforts would only draw comment from the two or three people who would read it in this newspaper. Never favourable comment, but at least it was comment. Now we can get abused from all four corners of the globe. As mentioned, an amazing world.

We recalled this last week when news filtered through concerning ABBA, the Swedish group who made it big in the 1970s and 80s with a string of lamentable songs, including the aforementioned I do, I do etc. Just about all of them made it to No 1, which somewhat diminishes our memories of the 1970s and 80s.

ABBA, it has been reported, will be releasing two new songs this year or next, or something. Apparently this will be the first time the Scandinavian quartet have sung together since 1982.

We’ve written negatively about ABBA many times over the years. As a consequence we’ve been lectured by ABBA followers on how ABBA changed their lives. ABBA, we've been told, were role models and sold millions of records around the world.

“Compare that to the six people –  not including your immediate family –  who read that crap you write in the paper,’’ an ABBA devotee snarled.

So to appease our many ABBA loving friends, we shan’t complain about the Super Group getting together to record two new songs.

Instead, we shall rejoice. Why, the ABBA members must be well into the 70s now, as are most of their followers, so the fact they have the energy to make two new songs is a credit to them. In an ageing society ABBA provides a beacon of hope.

Just two songs? Why not a new album. Just as long as we don’t have to listen. As Ed might warble, that’s a perfect compromise.