My Favourite Three ABBA Songs

Just been watching "Mamma Mia" and I thought maybe I could share my Favourite Three ABBA Songs. A lot of these list run to a hell of a lot of songs , and maybe only three songs may smack of laziness on my part , and there will be many great songs that don't make the cut , but I hope when you comment you tell me your favourite three ABBA songs and maybe even why they are your favourite.

I first heard ABBA when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Waterloo” which was written specifically to be entered into the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, after the group finished third with "Ring Ring" the previous year in the Swedish pre-selection contest, Melodifestivalen 1973. It was originally written with simultaneous rock music and jazz beats. Although this was voted as the greatest Eurovision Song Contest winner and is a great song it is nowhere near my personal top three ABBA songs.

ABBA have produced some amazing music and you have to remember that English is their second language, how many English artists could easily slip into a second language (the Beatles and Bowie sang some of their songs in German)

Often ABBA’s songs are about lost love or difficult situations but are done in an absolutely stunning musica fashion. My friend Tom Tierney said he hated every ABBA song , I referred him to the heavy metal riff that opens “Voulez Vous” and he begrudgingly accepted that it was a great song. I also love the instrumental title track that closes “Arrival” and was covered by Mike Oldfield. But as usual in my writing I digress.

So here are my three favourite ABBA songs in reverse order , of course.

Number Three : SOS

SOS was released in June 1975 as the fifth single from their self-titled 1975 album.. Agnetha Fältskog, who sang lead, recorded the song in Swedish on her 1975 solo album “Elva kvinnor i ett hus”.It was ABBA's first major worldwide hit since "Waterloo".

I loved the synthesiser led main musical motif,of the song and as a teenage rock fan was not the sort of thing you admitted to your peers but I bought the single and played it a lot in my bedroom.

It marked a significant turnaround in ABBA's fortunes and returned them to the Top 10 in many countries. "SOS" started a run of 18 consecutive Top 10 hits for ABBA in the UK and Ireland.

Number Two : Super Trooper

I love this , an excellent song about being away from home and the one you love, with a gorgeous chorus , but the whole song is wonderful to dive into . Some of the lyrics may be a little contrived , but you don’t notice that ,just that it is a wonderful song.

It is the title track from their 1980 eponymous studio album, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The song – with lead vocals by Anni-Frid Lyngstad – was the last track to be written and recorded for the album. It was released in November 1980 as the album's third single.

The song's name refers to the Super Trouper, a make of followspot (a powerful stage spotlight) used in large venues.

Number One - The Visitors

This is an amazing claustrophobic piece of dynamic paranoia and was a favourite of my mums, and is definitely my favourite ABBA song. I play this song constantly , often very loud.

The Visitors is the title track ofABBA’s eighth studio album released on 30 November 1981, probably exactly forty years ago from the day this will be published.

With “The Visitors”, ABBA took several steps away from the "lighter" pop music they had recorded previously and the album is often regarded as a more complex and mature effort. The title track, with its ominous synthesizer sounds and the distinctive lead vocal by Frida, announced a change in musical style. With Benny and Frida going their separate ways

So that is my favourite three ABBA songs , I know you will disagree with me. Tell me yours.