Swedish group ABBA released this iconic song in 1976. Like pretty much every song that is still popular a long time after it was created, it has survived because it is a truly excellent piece of music. ABBA’s songwriters, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson, were brilliant songwriters, and their singers, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, were brilliant singers. Their songs were superbly orchestrated and produced.
This song is one of ABBA’s disco-style songs, with a lush, multi-layered approach reminiscent of Phil Spector’s ‘wall of sound‘. The song’s success rests on its killer combination of fabulous hooks and bittersweet twists.
To listen to a brilliant podcast which talks through exactly how this song is put together, go to Strong Songs.
Hayes Music blog 