'Dancing Queen'
ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' is quite possibly one of their most famous
and anthem-like songs! 'Dancing Queen' is dance-pop music at its best
- with its funky, '70s style disco theme and sing-along lyrics. Even
now, 'Dancing Queen' is as evergreen as it was when the band released
the single, and the song remains a staple favourite on the dance floor
or a '70s themed party or just sitting around at home and singing
into your hairbrush. 'Feel the beat of the tambourine' guarantees
that this infectious song will be stuck in your head for days! 'Dancing
Queen' is considered 33rd on the list of the most successful songs
of all time, has been covered by several bands including U2 and Black
Sabbath - and is apparently one of the US Republican presidential
candidate John McCain's favourite songs! 'Mamma
Mia'
'Mamma Mia' is yet another gem off the many brilliant pop songs
ABBA produced - 'Mamma Mia' is more of melodic pop number as opposed
to the disco songs that became such a rage, and talks about falling
in and out of love (or lust!) with someone who's broken your heart
before. The words - 'I've been cheated by you since I don't know
when / So I made up my mind, it must come to an end / Look at me
now, will I ever learn? / I don't know how but I suddenly lose control
/ There's a fire within my soul / Just one look and I can hear a
bell ring / One more look and I forget everything, o-o-o-oh'
But combine those lyrics with the catchy synthesized beat and jumpy
chorus, and it was yet another hit for the band, which reached the
#1 spot in several countries, including Australia, where it stayed
at the No.1 position for 10 weeks. At the time, it was rumoured
that every third citizen of Australia owned an ABBA record.
'Take
a Chance On Me'
'If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me'
ABBA's 'Take a chance on me' is yet another call-out to someone
you have a 'fire in your soul' for (as ABBA would put it) and is
also one of their most successful songs in terms of reaching the
top charts worldwide. 'Take a chance on me' could be possibly used
in any context of the words, but its simplicity and melody makes
it another must-have ABBA song to download.
'I Have a Dream'
'I have a dream' by ABBA is quite possibly one of their rarer slower
numbers and is yet still as timeless as disco gems like 'Dancing
Queen'. 'I have a dream' was featured on ABBA's album Voulez-Vouz
and features the voices of the band and a large choir of children.
The folksy song, albeit the somewhat nauseatingly optimistic lyrics,
is still a delight to listen to because of the vocal arrangement.
The lines that really jumps out at listeners is 'If you see the
wonder of a fairy tale / You can take the future even if you fail
/ I believe in angels / Something good in everything I see.' Even
the most jaded of souls would agree with believeing in the wonder
of fairy tales and happily-ever-afters, and this sweet number is
just what you need when you're feeling low.
'Money
Money Money'
ABBA's 'Money money money' is tailor-made for a musical (or one
of those times you're asking your parents for money) with its dramatic
overtones and arrangement, and its slightly less pop-ish lyrics,
'I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay
/ Ain't it sad / And still there never seems to be a single penny
left for me / That's too bad'. With 'Money money money', ABBA proved
that they could make songs that were about something other than
love and longing. When ABBA first performed this song on TV, the
band members dressed in clothes reminiscent of the 1972 film Cabaret
(the women clad in 'Cabaret' style tasselled dresses and feathered
head bands while the men dressed as oldtime barmen). 'Money money
money' is a must-add to your list of downloads (but don't sing this
aloud while asking your parents for money, unless they're ABBA fans)
– Saba
Imtiaz
ABBA:
The Movie
Made in 1977, ABBA: The Movie is a gem that any fan of ABBA should
get their hands on, or anyone who's ever had to badger a musician/band
for an interview! Filmed during ABBA's tour of Australia, the story
is based on a radio jockey who's been ordered to get an interview
with the band while they're touring Down Under, but a series of
mishaps happen to him along the way. He forgets his press pass,
has a dream about ABBA, oversleeps and misses his interview slot,
and ABBA's bodyguard is determined to not let him near the band.
It's a brilliant film to relive the magic of ABBA and to watch them
perform in their '70s stage regalia, as well as get a glimpse of
how much star power they evoked. ABBA: The Movie is available online
to download on YouTube and AOL's video section. And does the beleaguered
DJ get an interview at the end? Watch the film to find out! |
