Dancing Queen Introduction
In a Nutshell
At first listen, it might seem like "Dancing Queen" is everything that rock and roll isn't.It was dedicated to a Swedish queen on the day before her wedding. It was recorded by two happy couples (one of them married). John Denver's Swedish doppelganger and a guy born in a fishing sweater collaborated to write and produce it. And John McCain defended it as his fist-pumping favorite. Check and mate.
But the 1976 single climbed to #1 on the charts in 13 countries, Rolling Stone placed it on its list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (at #174, no less), and surveys show that it's a jukebox favorite.
And—don't be shy, you can admit it to us—you probably love it. You might be one of the millions who wouldn't be caught dead lining up for it at the theater, but who still put Mamma Mia! on their Netflix queue long before the film went to DVD. You might even be one of the millions upon millions who have contributed to the stage version of the musical making billions of dollars.
Billions. With a "B".
No one can live with a secret like this. It's time to come out of the ABBA garderob (that's Swedish for "closet") and figure out how to reconcile your serious hard-rocking self with this peppy 1970s tune.
About the Song
| Artist | ABBA | Musician(s) | Anni-Frid Lyngstad (vocals), Agnetha Fältskog (vocals), Björn Ulvaeus (guitar, background vocals), Benny Andersson (keyboard, background vocals), Rutger Gunnarsson (bass), Roger Palm (drums), Malando Gassama (percussion) |
| Album | Arrival | ||
| Year | 1976 | ||
| Label | Polar (Sweden), Atlantic (U.S.) | ||
| Writer(s) | Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson | ||
| Producer(s) | Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson | ||
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Music Video
Shmoop Connections
In 2010, ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Many rock and roll purists were shocked, complaining that the Swedish band could be called pop, disco, club music, or elevator music. Anything but rock and roll.Others argued that rock and roll is a more diverse genre with room for a band like ABBA.
Regardless of where one stood, it was obvious that their music had made a huge impact on the world. The super-group may have come from Sweden, but don't be surprised if you hear their music while traveling in London, Korea, or the setting of Mamma Mia!, Greece.
On the Charts
"Dancing Queen" reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.It also reached the top spot in Sweden, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, West Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
The song is #174 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.