The Legacy of ABBA’s Greatest Pop Hit ‘Dancing Queen’
Chances are, you’ve probably heard of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” one way or another – from being the background song in your aunt’s 45th birthday party to your mom’s high school reunion, to the radio station that is all about retro music. Fans of the ‘70s Swedish pop group would know the song by heart, even with just the first sweep of the piano.
“Dancing Queen” used to be played repeatedly in every disco, after all, it’s a hit that can get people up on their feet and grooving to the beat. It was the track that proved to be effective in lightening the mood in whichever occasion, so there’s no doubt how massive it was during its heyday. Of course, now, it can still be heard in events that have the ‘70s or ‘80s theme.
Despite the massive success and the fact that it had gone viral during the time, it wasn’t inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame until 2015, or 40 years since “Dancing Queen” was penned. The song was written by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and was launched on Aug. 15, 1976 in Sweden, and was then immediately followed by a worldwide release.
Massive From The Start
As one can notice, “Dancing Queen” was written a year before it was released, meaning it was shelved for 12 months before it finally saw light. This was more like it was set aside to release “Fernando,” a ballad that followed “Mamma Mia.” Despite the setback, the composers admit this was one of, if not, the best songs they had written up to date.
Remaining ABBA members, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, meanwhile, were pretty sure that the song will be massive. But before it was even released, “Dancing Queen” had already made several “appearances,” but arguably the most remarkable was during the wedding celebration of Sweden’s monarchs, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath. In their 18th century outfit while performing for the royal couple, this was the event that may have catapulted the Swedish group into worldwide stardom.
This was more than big – “Dancing Queen” sat comfortably at No. 1 in their home country for two straight weeks and it became the only song that earned the top rank in the United States. Indeed, members of the group have predicted its success.
Agnetha even revealed that their hair stood up when they recorded “Dancing Queen,” which was said to be one of the best disco songs of all time. It was first demoed under the title “Boogaloo” and took on “Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae, a disco-fave hit as well.
ABBA’s Legacy
Meanwhile, the pop song’s legacy remains alive till the modern days. It has been borrowed and revisited many times, including in the film “Mamma Mia!” where Meryl Streep performed the song. Sharper, clearer iteration of “Dancing Queen” can also be observed in the 2018 version of “Mamma Mia!” Musical series “Glee” also gave in to the classic ABBA fever and performed the group’s songs in an episode.
There are many more that took on “Dancing Queen,” either releasing their cover or giving it their own mix, which totaled 50 recordings. There are also those that took inspiration from it, including Elvis Costello whose “Oliver’s Army” followed on the piano chords of the ABBA song.
“Dancing Queen” remained iconic and revisited, probably because it was beautifully created, euphoric, and head-popping. Or perhaps, it’s the explosive chorus right after the finger rolls on the piano that made people dance their hearts out.
ABBA
The Swedish group first came to existence in 1972 and immediately gained fame with their hits. ABBA, which is actually the acronym of the names of the members, was arguably one of the pride of the country as evident in 1974 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, United Kingdom, the first win for Sweden in the competition.
ABBA was made up of two couple, Faltskog and Ulvaeus and Andersson and Lyngstad, but as their band had gotten recognized, their marriages suffered, which ultimately showed in some of their songs that contained darker, sadder lyrics. The group finally went their separate ways in 1982.
More in Music
-
`
Tamagotchi: The Iconic 90’s Digital Pet that Has Everyone Excited
If you were born in the last millennium, you’ve probably heard about Tamagotchis – and maybe even owned one in your...
April 25, 2024 -
`
These Debut Albums Are Celebrating Their 10th Year Anniversary
What most people don’t realize is that it has been a decade now since 2008, and it seems just like yesterday....
April 25, 2024 -
`
Another David Bowie Boxed Compilation Is Coming Out This Year
There are so many iconic musicians the world has seen over the past couple of decades. Some of them have unfortunately...
April 25, 2024 -
`
Greatest Retro Batman Video Games of All Times
Batman is arguably one of the most iconic characters of the DC Comics world, which may explain the significant number of...
April 25, 2024 -
`
Feel the Vibrations with Mr. Excitement: Jackie Wilson’s Last Top Tenner Hits
A stalwart in the music genre of soul and R&B, Jack Leroy Wilson, more popularly known as Jackie Wilson, was an...
April 23, 2024 -
`
Things About Michael Jackson Only True Fans Know
Most Awarded Artist There are many people who don’t that Michael Jackson is the most awarded artist of all time. No...
April 23, 2024 -
`
Did You Know That Shrek is 20 Years Old? – How Time Flies!
It’s 2001 and the telly plays trailer after trailer of a new Disney animated movie. Now this movie isn’t anything like...
April 23, 2024 -
`
Balloonfest 1986, a Publicity Stunt That Turned into Cleveland’s Horror Story
Balloons are generally nice to look at – they are like colorful floating balls that easily attract everyone’s attention. But believe...
April 23, 2024 -
`
TV Series That You Didn’t Know Were Based on Comics
When we hear about comic book stories, the first thing that comes to mind is the image of a largely built...
April 23, 2024
You must be logged in to post a comment Login