With ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ riding high in the cinemas, Steven Russell thought he’d list his top five ABBA songs. Has he got it all wrong?
1 Dancing Queen (1976): A wall of sound, lyrics that build to a crescendo, and the piano notes of Benny Andersson ringing out like bells. Can’t be bettered
2 Waterloo (1974): April in Brighton, and Sweden win the Eurovision Song Contest with this super-cheerful song that doesn’t let up. The glam rock touches (Agnetha’s high-heel silver boots and Björn’s starburst guitar) contrast with staid dress of sit-down crowd. Haven’t times changed?
3 SOS (1975): Getting a bit serious now (‘Where are those happy days, they seem so hard to find’) but jangly and rocky too. Perfect mix
SEE: Mamma Mia! - Magical or moronic?
4 Take a Chance on Me (1978): Constantly up-tempo and constantly changing gear. And, when you’re 15 years old, the lyrics are written for your life as you spend double-chemistry gazing at Sarah Anderton (or so a friend tells me)
5 Summer Night City (1978): Bet that surprised you. Boppy, disco-y, adulty, slightly mysterious(y). Apparently a tribute to Stockholm, but ‘Waiting for the sunrise, soul dancing in the dark’ fitted Beccles just as neatly 40 years ago
n We’d love to hear your choices. Email your list, including reasons, to steve.russell@archant.co.uk or write to him at Features Desk, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP1 1RS
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here