Dancing Queen
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| "Dancing Queen" | ||
| Image:Dancing Queen That's Me.jpg | ||
| Single by ABBA | ||
| From the album Arrival | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single Released | August 16, 1976 (Sweden) August 21, 1976 (UK) November 12, 1976 (US) | |
| Single Format | 7" Single | |
| Genre | Pop/Europop/Disco | |
| Song Length | 3:50 | |
| Record Label | Polar (Sweden) Epic (UK) Atlantic (US) | |
| Writers | Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson | |
| Producers | Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson | |
| Video Director | Lasse Hallström | |
| Certification | Platinum (US) | |
| Chart Positions | #1 (Sweden) #1 (UK) #1 (USA) #1 (Australia) #6 (Canada) #1 (Germany) | |
| ABBA single chronology | ||
| "Fernando" 1976 | "Dancing Queen" 1976 | "Money, Money, Money" 1976 |
"Dancing Queen" was one of the biggest hit singles recorded by Swedish group ABBA. The song was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, recorded in 1975 for the group's album Arrival, and released as a single in 1976.
Although it does not contain many of the most common key characteristics of disco music, it has come to be considered as one of the best examples of this genre. This is somewhat ironic as its relatively slow tempo and syncopated rhythm makes it quite difficult to dance to. It features a shared lead vocal performance by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and its introduction of piano and hummed vocals is one of the most identifiable sections of ABBA's music.
Contents |
Chart Success
ABBA donned traditional 18th Century costumes when they first performed this song for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden the night before he was married to Silvia Sommerlath before it spent six weeks at number one in the United Kingdom from August 1976, and it became the group's only American number one in April 1977, as well as reaching number one in numerous countries including Sweden, Norway, West Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. It also made the national Top 20 in Austria, Canada, France, Finland, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Switzerland.
Miscellaneous
In recent years it has been covered by such diverse artists as U2 and Kylie Minogue who performed it at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Featured in the 1994 film Muriel's Wedding, the song was used as the theme for idealised dreaming with the character Muriel saying early in the film that she wished her life was perfect. She always wished her life was Dancing Queen.
It is also featured in the ABBA musical Mamma Mia!. The Irish folk singer Luka Bloom includes a rendition of "Dancing Queen" in most of his live performances.
Dancing Queen was also featured in a couple of episodes of Winter Sonata, an immensely popular Korean drama series.
Late night talk show host Art Bell occasionally uses Dancing Queen as bumper music on his show. Because of this, Phil Hendrie (on his own show) always uses Dancing Queen as his bumper music for bits in which he plays Bell.
In 2001, the song was chosen as #148 as part of the 365 Songs of the Century list.
The song is popular at sporting events, and has been adopted as a gay anthem.
Artists who have covered the song
- A*Teens
- Milo Binder
- Luka Bloom
- Diablo (band)
- CoCo Lee
- Jennifer Love Hewitt
- Jimmy Barnes
- Kylie Minogue
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
- Franck Pourcel
- S Club 7
- Steps
- Sixpence None The Richer
- U2
- Van Halen
- Wing (singer)
- TSZX
- The Real Group
See also
scn:Dancing Queen nl:Dancing Queen pl:Dancing Queen sv:Dancing Queen