Top 10 ABBA Songs

Despite a somewhat corny reputation ABBA's music has proved to be truly timeless. Many dismiss this group as a 70's fad without much musical credibility. This could not be further from the truth. In fact; ABBA's continued success and relevance is based on exceptional songwriting.

In the early 70's, the European music landscape was thoroughly dominated by British and American music. The international market was virtually devoid of acts from great nations as France and Germany. For a group coming out of Sweden the chances of reaching an international audience were virtually non existent.

The only international venue that offered a minimum of exposure was the Eurovision Song Contest. A pan-European talent show where each member nation in the European Broadcasting Union compete for glory and a few months of fame. The problem with this venue is that it was deservingly thought of as second rate quality. Most serious musicians did would not dream of entering the competition.

The masterminds behind ABBA, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, has their eyes on the world stage from the get go. Their ambitions lay far beyond the domestic Swedish market, but they were also all too aware of the insurmountable hurdles facing a Swedish band looking for a recording contract in London. They decided that their best shot at international fame would be to enter the Song Contest. They knew they had to win the competition to have a shot at their dreams, and with their typical confidence they were sure they would. And they did. Their 1974 entry Waterloo swept the competition and went on to be a major hit all over Europe.

This provided the break the band was hoping for, and they immediately followed their win with a European Tour. The band was not able to generate the kind of interest they had hoped for, but they had cracked the door open and continued releasing albums and singles.

In 1976, their popularity blew up as they released their Greatest Hits album. The record featured the new single 'Fernado' that went on to become a world wide breakout success. ABBA soon became the biggest name in music. Not only did they effortlessly conquer Europe. They also scored smash hits across the Atlantic and in Australia making them a global phenomenon.

The unprecedented success of ABBA soon had the recording industry scrambling to find other ignored talents. The sequence loving quartet open the floodgates for Swedish music exports and eventually for artist from all over Europe. While ABBA's rein in the sun would be short lived, their impact on the European music industry was profound.

ABBA was formed by two married couples, Anni-Frid Lyngstad to Benny Andersson and Ulvaeus to Agnetha Fältskog. The band name was created from the members first initials. Towards the end of the 70's, the pressure of constant touring and recording started wearing on the members. In 1979, Fältskog and Ulvaeus announced their divorce. The band non the less kept together for years afterwards, but the internal tensions in the band were obvious and would eventually tear ABBA apart. In 1981, Andersson and Lyngstad also split and the band was in effect defunct.

ABBA was mostly a European and Australian phenomenon. In the US they are primarily known for their biggest single 'Dancing Queen'. Limiting ones ABBA exposure to just this track however ensures that you will miss out on their best work and some of the best disco songs ever created. This list includes 10 must hear songs from this Swedish supergroup.

Super Trouper

As usual, the melody is upbeat and catchy, but the lyrics explore the bands reluctance to perform at large stadium venues. This track would prove to be ABBA's last number one single.

Thank You for the Music

ABBA's swan song fittingly turned out to be their last single released in the UK. The song is a tribute to the power of music and song, but the timing and the title made it seem like a farewell song. The songs was actually recorded 6 years earlier.

Dancing Queen

ABBA's best known single, was one of the most successful singles of the 70's. It reached the number 1 spot all over the world, including the United States. Dancing Queen is the only ABBA song to claim the top spot in the American charts.

Money Money Money

The follow up single to Dancing Queen was also a huge hit single for ABBA. The single is an early sign of ABBA's progression towards more complex arrangements. It also is a good example of how the

vocalist evolved their style in step with the more complex music.

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Another example of ABBA's preference for upbeat catchy tunes, with moody darker lyrics. The song portraits a woman desperately looking for a romantic relationship. While the lyrics are meant as a metaphor, they can also be interpreted as the narrator looking for a one night stand.

Fernando

Originally written and recorded in Swedish for Lyngstad's solo album, the song was a huge hit in Sweden and Scandinavia. This prompted the band to record an English language version. The song appeared as a new single on their first Greatest Hits album. It was a huge success world wide and is ABBA's best selling single.

Does Your Mother Know?

A curiosity in the ABBA catalog, Does Your Mother Know is the only song with male vocals. Björn Ulvaeus lends his voice to the story of a man responding to a much younger girls flirtatious advances. Apart from the novel vocalist, the song mixes dance rhythms with rock 'n roll elements.

The Winner Takes it All

A deeply personal and emotional song about the end of a relationship. This song was released shortly after Ulvaeus and Fältskog had announced their divorce. While Ulvaeus claims the song is not related to his own personal relationships at the time, it is hard not to see the song as a story of their widely publicized and bitter divorce.

Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia was ABBA's first major commercial success. The single was a runaway hit in Australia. This proved to be crucial as ABBA had been struggling to break through in the European market. The huge success in Australia prompted their British label to promote their singles heavily.

Waterloo

The first single released under the name ABBA. This song won the Eurovison Song Contest in 1974 and paved the way for the phenomenon that ABBA would become. The Song broke with almost all convention from the Song Contest and is easily the most successful winner to date. It is the only Eurovision winner to crack the US top 40.

Sources:

http://www.abba-intermezzo.de/estory.htm