ABBA's music always makes me smile. We have a friend down the road that is a first-generation German immigrate. It came up during a conversation that when her parents moved her to Texas as a young girl, she practiced learning American English by listening to ABBA albums. There you have it, a Swedish band singing in English helped a skinny German girl ultimately speak with a Texas drawl.
Dancing Queen was one of my mom's favorite songs. It made her sooo happy, and every time I hear it, I see her smiling face as she took my hands and tried to get me, her too-cool 16 year-old surfer son, to dance around the living room with her. She passed on Mother's Day 2020. Though annoying then, the song brings me pure joy now, over 47 years later. I like the new "Back-To-Back" show topic.
I know ABBA isn't everyone's taste, but I've been in love with their sound since the '70s when I was a kid. Dancing Queen is one of my favorite songs of all time. No idea why. It just makes me feel so damn good every time I hear it.
@@italoblu - While ABBA's U.S. success may have been middling compared to the UK, they did have a leg up in this country in two cases. Their "Honey Honey" charted here at #27 but never made it in the UK (where a cover by Sweet Dreams charted instead). The "I Do" song was a bigger hit here (#15) than there (#32, I believe - if I'm mistaken on that, let me know which position, it was within that range). And as noted, their charting in relation to their releases in "the States" was much higher than, say, Cliff Richard. On "Mamma Mia," it sounded in spots like it provided inspiration for parts of the arrangement of The Cars' "You Might Think."
I grew up with Abba and never paid much attention to Dancing Queen until I watched “Muriel’s Wedding” in the early 90s. I left the theater a true believer in that song’s greatness!
I went to a tribute band concert. Every Abba song that was sung had the audience singing along. The group reminded me of Abba, as they should, but what really got me was how everyone was smiling, singing and dancing. I left that concert extremely happy. That is what ABBA always was for me, pure joy.
I didn't know Fernando was about two male war veterans. I suppose the girls taking the lead vocals, I always assumed it was a love song. Which, in a way, it is.
I'm an ABBA fan. They were one of the bands that I was able to share with my parents (which were few and far in between). I loved having bands and artists that were my own, but I also loved bands like ABBA that my parents liked as well as me. Enjoyed your vid! :)
Not exactly the sort of endorsement likely to gain the approval of Christian Slaters character in "Pump Up The Volume", but you know who would approve? Tipper Gore and the PMRC😂🤣🤣😂
I'm home today from teaching because of a snow day, and Dancing Queen reminds me of a preteen sleepover where we were listening to the radio waiting to hear if we had a snow day the next day...and we did! Dancing wildly around a bedroom to this song was a given. Thanks for the deep nostalgic memories.
The tribute to Fernando Valenzuela at Dodger stadium featuring ABBA's song and drones creating images of the pitcher was powerful, amazing and a tear-jerker.
I have loved ABBA's music for decades (scary to be able to say!). I remember going to see Mamma Mia at a theatre in Boston just a few weeks after 9/11 with my sister. We had debated about going as people were afraid to go out in large groups of people, but we knew that we needed to go. It was the only time that I have seen large blocks of empty seats for a popular play. But due to Benny and Bjorn's incredible songwriting and Agnetha and Frida's wonderful voices, the whole audience had to join in singing along to the infectious songs. We walked out of that theatre feeling so much better than when we walked in, for a little bit of time forgetting the horror that we had just seen a couple of weeks before! A prime example of their songs' ability to uplift you!
when i was 19 I was into the roller skating scene in 77 When that song (dancing queen)came on everybody grooved, and the pretty girls came and skated.The song was fantastic and created a great atmosphere !!!
As a Punk, New Wave , Alternative, Pop, and Rock fan back then (and now), I used to love when my friends and I early in grad, school had late night parties dancing to ABBA. We had to put the music on at a very low volume to not disturb the neighbors in the apartment building, but we loved our ABBA dance parties to just let loose and release pressure. It does not hurt that my father was of Swedish origin. Go "Dancing Queen"!
ABBA is still one of my all-time favorite bands. When I was in 6th grade, my school held a talent show, where a friend and I did a dance routine, that I choreographed, to Dancing Queen and ours was the only performance to receive a standing ovation! Such a great memory😊.
Have you seen the UA-cam video about Yoda getting drunk and talking to his girlfriend? It has Mr Blue Sky in the background. Makes me laugh just thinking about it.
I was stationed in Germany when Fernando was released and believe me, when my friend and I were in the club having some brews, that song was played relentlessly! Dancing Queen was right behind it. It seemed like ABBA was the only songs in the jukebox! lol. Not that I mined because I loved their songs. Sorry, Adam, but ABBA was a great band! You missed the boat on this one. ;-)
I lived in an isolated community with bad radio reception and was unaware of ABBA until my mom needed surgery in a larger centre. I was 11 so was sent to stay with a family we knew there. The daughters were at school, the mom wanted to get dinner ready so she plunked me in the rec room with a record she knew her daughters liked. It was ABBA's "Greatest Hits Vol. 1". I was intrigued by the songs - female lead singers in a group was relatively unusual, but to this day I remember when Fernando played. I went from "I like these songs" to "I must have this album" in a few seconds. My first, and still my favourite of their songs, it just hits me some place inside like no other, especially when their voices come together. Not long after that, their next studio album came out. This of course was "Arrival" and it of course had "Dancing Queen". It was also the first album I ever owned that had all they lyrics printed on the sleeve - so no misheard lyrics for me. So "Fernando" got me hooked and everything else kept me going along, right up to "I Still have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down". The first time I heard the expression "the soundtrack of my life" I knew that it described this group for me. As for happiest song, I'm not much of a Beatles fan, but since I was a child I have always enjoyed, in a "happy" way the song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da".
Professor, thank you for another ABBA episode. As a kid in the 1970's, I always enjoyed ABBA's music. Dancing Queen has always been my favorite song of theirs. I consider it the perfect pop/disco song. I love Disco and it was one of many songs that defined the era. I didn't know that the song was inspired by Geotge McRae's "Rock Your Baby". That's why I come here. I always learn new information about my favorite songs.
Gotta say, I have been a hardcore ABBA fan since the early 1970s, and despite all the books, interviews, and magazine articles I have collected over the years, even I learned something new from this episode of Professor of Rock, so my hat’s off to you, Adam. I love both “Fernando” and “Dancing Queen”, but although it isn’t my favourite ABBA song, I have to say that “Dancing Queen” is a masterpiece. The music and recording process is brilliantly flawless, but you only have to listen to Agnetha’s and Frida’s combined vocal range and you will understand what makes this song a stand out. The highest notes. The lowest notes. There’s nothing these ladies couldn’t sing when they were given a challenge.
I have always loved Abba, even when they were uncool. As you stated, Fernando was on top of the charts in Australia for such a long time, that I grew to dislike it. It's the only song of Abba I don't enjoy listening to. I was crushed when they broke up, as I believed they could have gone on making beautiful music for many years.
Don't sweat it, Prof, everybody gets dragged into ABBA fandom sooner or later. It's inevitable with a band so good that something they did will appeal to you, and that's it: you've crossed the event horizon and there's no way back. They had me at 14 with 'Voulez Vous'. I had no chance with those two ladies being so suggestive!
I was 9 years old when I "found" ABBA in my parent's record collection. It was 1977 and I was hooked. Yes, I bought 70s punk records with my allowance at that age, but I loved ABBA regardless of my main music collection. I still love ABBA to this day.
Same here! In the mid-late-1980's it lead to me recording some mashups on cassette tapes that had my friends not just shaking their heads but questioning my musical taste and my sanity! :D But as others have said here, good music is good music! I'm not a big fan of best of and especially worst of lists and I won't question or poke fun at anyone's taste in music, not until they question mine anyway! :D
I was 8 years old when my older brother bought the Waterloo ‘45. Getting a European History lesson along with amazing harmonies- The ‘70’s, what a time to be a kid!
I was living in England back in the '70s. I went to a nighttime carnival in East Grinstead and blaring from the speakers was Dancing Queen. I had never heard the song nor heard of the group, but the experience was magical. I became a fan right there and then. There was a weekly tv show called Top of the Pops and they were featured almost every week. I am still a fan.
It's nice to see Adam making up for lost time over his previous blind spot on ABBA! Here in the UK, everybody liked ABBA, whether we were into prog, punk, metal or anything else. They were the band that everybody could agree to like, not least because the girls were very easy on the eye while the tunes were so catchy. Coming from Sweden, they were very smart about the way they set about becoming popular right across the European continent, starting with winning the Eurovision song contest.* They chose "Waterloo" as their theme, reasoning that although they'd get no votes from the French but lots of votes from everyone else because nobody likes the French and The Battle Of Waterloo was a colossal humiliation for France. It worked and "Waterloo" won the contest. *(Each nation in the Eurovision had a panel a judges who placed all the songs in order of preference and the song which got the most votes won. Eurovision Song Contest winning singles were invariably big hits all over Europe.) To follow up their success, they cunningly crafted a series of catchy songs with titles in various European languages - "Voulez-Vous", "Mamma Mia", "Fernando" - or universally known expressions such as "S.O.S."
Even if I don't like an artist or band, there is always an exception in their work and the exceptions are usually some of my favorite songs. Dancing Queen is one of my favorites.
When my band was playing in the early 2000's, we played Dancing Queen because it was our guitarist wife's (and one of my best friends) favorite songs. She ended up passing away in 2003 and the first night my band played out (after her passing) right before we played the song, our guitarist looked up and said "This one's dedicated to you" and there was not a dry eye in the house. That song will always remind me of my friend
Not at all an Abba fan, but I still feel compelled to let you know: this has been and remains my absolute go to favorite UA-cam channel. 2 years on now. It’s well researched. Plus, in the days of lazy quick cut editing just to churn out content (and views and $), yours is well produced. You and your team do an outstanding job.
I didn't become a fan of ABBA officially until my 30's though I definitely remembered Dancing Queen and Fernando and liking them. Since then, i have come to really respect Benny's musicianship and Bjorn's lyricism. I think they were pioneers for their time and knew how to arrange and engineer sonically beautiful audio back in the 70's til the early 80's. I can enjoy ABBA as much as Def Leppard, The Cars, or Rush. I refuse to be pigeonholed.
Great memories of my childhood. My bestie and I, dancing and singing into a hairbrush microphone to Dancing Queen and the other songs on the Arrival album. Simpler times. Love the memory. Thank you.
ABBA always reminds me of Summer and the last year of Primary school. The early bus to school. The bus driver, Mr Fairchild putting on the girls ABBA tapes on request as they sang to it down the back of the bus. They liked "Rock Me", because us boys would join in on that one, but mostly we guys were chaffing to get to school so we could play half an hour of cricket before the bell rang. The girls would be eager to get to the music room so they could dance as well as sing their own "compositions" of the chorus lines..... I didn't know it then. But I really loved ABBA. Fantastic memories. Mr Fairchild was always smiling. He had a happy bus. Best bus driver ever. For me, I like ABBA's 'Name of the Game'. Great song. The girls would sing the last part of that song. With one group singing "What's the Name of the Game" and the rest harmonizing the next lines. Then the first group would sing "Does it mean, any' Thing, to you" and the others would sing the next lines that finished. ".... and it means a lot". They'd do it over and over until they had it down pat. It was a good last summer. ABBA songs and Aussie kids just seemed to go together.
I was about 5 when I heard ABBA playing on the radio. As a Kindergartener, we couldn't get away from them. They were everywhere. They really stuck with me, and whenever I hear "Dancing Queen", it gives me core memories of Kindergarten and a wonderful childhood.
All the guys in my class liked Kiss. I ended up liking Kiss later on into the 80s when they took off the make up, but I was a steadfast Abba fan and took the ribbing. The guys in the class did admit the girls were pretty good looking.
We can count on you Professor of Rock, to tell the complete inner background story behind the great popular songs. Awesome to listen to, you fully deserve your name, Professor of Rock👍🙂
"Fernando" was released in March 1976 only months after the passing of the dictator General Franco. The song may have been set in the days of Poncho Villa but it came out when many ghosts of the Spanish Civil War were at last laid to rest..a cathartic release for many of the old graying veterans no doubt
I don't think so, it's about the band had a fateful met by a hotel employee by the name of Fernando Ganguro after an earthquake got struck in Acapulco, Mexico as what he said to this video.
My parents had it on 8 track and it was fun music when I was a kid. As a teen, I moved to New Wave, metal, and college indie rock, but as a father, my daughter fell in love with them from the movies. Full circle
The first song played at the first high school dance I went to in ‘76 or ‘77 was “Dancing Queen”. I still picture my girl friend from that year dancing to that song, her long blond hair swaying. It IS the happiest song ever.
The first girl i started to go out with steady absolutely LOVED "Dancing Queen" We were both 17. I actually admit to this day how much i fell in love with the song myself and would even play the song when my daughter was growing up and would dance in the front room. 🤣. Like most Americans of course we loved it. 🤣 It TRULY TRULY is a timeless classic ! 👍
I’ve known this song since I was a kid. It’s my ringtone when my daughter phones me. Best time of my life was singing it with her when she was 17. I want it played at my funeral 😊
I’m glad you gave them a chance, some great songs. Don’t worry if you don’t like some bands, our ears like what our ears like. Not every band is meant for us.
Growing up in the 70s, ABBA was one of my favorite euro pop groups, and I still love their music today. I have their entire discography in MP3 form and enjoy the amazing sonic vibes of joy and happiness, as well as sadness later, mixed into their wonderful tunes. Granted, people like to lump their songs into the disco category, and yes, it was played in those kinds of clubs due to popularity, they will always be classic "euro pop". The best of its kind and still can not be beaten. Their songs bring joy to the heart and soul, even bringing tears of happiness a lot of time. There is literally no way someone can listen to the amazing "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room" from their 1981 final album, "Visitors", and not cry at how sad, but at the same time joyous, it is. I've never understood the dislike for ABBA. Their music only brought positivity, which can be seen by all the fans in documentaries, and those of us the fell in love with their timeless music. The emotional resonance is felt strongly in how you feel the joy high with "Fernando".
I love Abba they were always a wonderful band. For me Dancing Queen then Fernando and everything else comes after that's how I would rate my favorite songs of theirs. Cool video. ^_^
Professor, thanks so much for this video as I discovered ABBA late in life and they have taken over my mind in the music I enjoy and especially these 2 songs~!!! It's a case of ''MY CUP RUNETH OVER'' trying to pin a favorite of the two as I'm unable to pick one. I'm amazed at how you manage to compile all the History that you teach us~!!
I was 16 in 1976 and even though I was a certified "rocker", ABBA always held a place in my heart. I remember doing the roller disco thing with my then girlfriend and later 1st wife dancing to this and other disco songs of the era. Great times with great music. Oh, and I always thought Frida was hotter than Agnetha. Just my opinion. Keep it up, prof. Doing a bang up job.
When they got their major break through in 1974 when winning the Eurovison Song Contest instead of saying congratulations Swedish media asked "do you know how manny who died during the battle of Waterloo?" Music in Sweden in 1974 wasn't supposed to be commercial but rather political. ABBA broke every unspoken taboo they wanted to become huge and famous and make money! There's an urban legend that not many bought their albums in Sweden but not true. All of their albums sold gold or platinum here. For a long time i was like Adam didn't care much for them but as i grew older i began appreciating them.
ABBA were very much one of the sounds of the seventies, here in the UK. They were absolutely massive here and across Europe. Many of their songs had the most beautiful melodies. Not ashamed at all to say i really liked them and AC/ DC at the same time ! Rock Your Baby..one of my favourite songs ever. 1974 nostagia at its best when i was 12/13
So many Americans always said that they disliked ABBA and Air Supply yet they sold a ton of albums here. Somebody was buying their songs besides me. I'm not that rich.
I would love to see a story about Paul Revere and the Raiders. Read a great story in The Rolling Stone Mag. in "73". Yea I'm fucking old. Your show and yes, it's an old R&R lover. Please keep it up!!!!😊✌️
Fernando is the first song I have a conscious memory of. As a three year old, I heard it on the radio and asked my mom what it was. I still remember that moment clearly to this day. I have been an ABBA fan ever since. And Dancing Queen is the go-to song at lack-luster parties. Wanna get people on the dance floor? Whatever the party may be, play Dancing Queen, and people start dancing and filling the dance floor. In every generation to date, trust me! I also like this format a lot. Looking at two consecutive pivotal tracks of artists and bands. Keep it up, Professor!
Wow talking about memories, Dancing Queen was the first song by ABBA, I ever heard. it led me to Fernando, and many others I wasn't a HUGE fan but I did buy their albums. One of favorites is "Does Your Mother Know?"
I’m so happy that you featured Dancing Queen and ABBA!!!!! My favorite song for years when I was a kid!!! (Finally replaced by “Dance With Me” Orleans, which is, to this day, my favorite song ever…) I am always grateful that your show is the epitome of eclectic!!! Thanks for the memories, for the many times watching your show has brought back long buried memories of my youth!!! Your show is priceless!!! ❤😊
One of the best bands ever!! There's not a bad song and SOS was a member of the Beatles top favorites! I love they had a reunion! They have the most beautiful harmonious sound! Thanks Professor!
Great Job! I love ABBA, and this is a nice deep dive into their biggest hit! Please keep doing Back To Back stories. Maybe do a video on The Mamas and the Papas songs, California Dreaming and Monday Monday.
Abba greatest hits volume 2 and voulez vou are childhood favorites of mine my parents would play it for me when i was a kid to cheer me.up and its still feel good music at its finest
Fernando was one of those songs everyone was afraid to admit they liked it!! It was voted one of the most hated songs by my 6th grade class!! I've always loved itt!! Dancing Queen was the first Pop record I ever bought!! Hello! I'm Cindy Snow and along with Tanya Tucker Eagles Vince Gill ABBA will always be one of my favorites!!
A true story of irony to add to yours about associating Fernando with an earthquake: While driving to work in Hollywood back in 1987, I had my radio set on KFI Los Angeles listening to Al Lohman and Gary Owens. While they played Fernando, the 5.9 Whittier Narrows quake hit 13 miles to my south and knocked the station completely off the air with the most freaky, electronic sci-fi sounding noise blasting through my speakers. It was a brand new Honda Civic but it felt like someone had lifted the right back end of the car up like a wheel barrow.
HAPPY MONDAY EVERYBODY! Running late again. Hate doctors. But always loved ABBA as a guilty pleasure. Everyone have a great day. (Even if you're running late).
Love that you are doing Abba, on a different note I have had Una Paloma Blanca stuck in my head for two days, and its the same line as its been years since I last heard it, in fact iam gonna go play it now.
Dancing Queen came out when I was a senior in high school. You can't imagine what it was like back then, when you were entering a disco and it was playing... ...it or Rock Me Baby. lol
ABBA RULES. I am a huge fan of their lush tones and harmonies, also the way they fuse classical music, Spanish music/ guitar sounds and Greek tunes, too. Will never be a group like them
I always liked many styles of music. I really liked abbas sound. You always have great videos and information.. Much success, health, happiness, and blessings to all.
I prefer Fernando but like them both. I was a closet ABBA fan until 1979 when I saw them in concert in Boston. An amazing show and I was openly a fan after that! 😁
I remember the disco era very well. I don’t ever remember people then “hating” disco. Seemed that rockers and disco kids simply coexisted and simply stayed out of each other’s way or actually delved into both genres! During this late 70s time period, kids simply didn’t want to dance to rock music…Kids wanted to dance to R & B / disco! I remember many rockers would get up and dance to disco music. The hate against 70s disco came toward the very end of the 70s…The hatred was tied in with touches of racism / homophobia by what was really a small group of people. Later generations would bring 70s disco music back into popularity.
I think the dislike of disco came from those who appreciated the lyrics of singer songwriters who took on issues of the times. Disco represented something inane by comparison. Disco went with an era of denial. Denial of a powerful conservative backlash of movements gaining inroads. It had broader significance than just a sound. That said, Abba could certainly harmonize.
I never was a big fan of ABBA but I did like a few of their songs over the years and with AM radio i have heard most of their songs many times but my favorite songs of ABBA is Does Your Mother Know and the Name of the Game Thanks for more rock music history Professor.🎶🎤🎸🎸🎹🥁🎶
Poll: What is your pick for the HAPPIEST SONG of ALL TIME?
Tiny Dancer Elton
California Girls.
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
@@ProfessorofRock To answer your question ProRo🤓 Blinded by the Light Manfred Mann Earth Band 🌎
Here Comes The Sun ....
When I was younger and a true rocker I always found myself tapping my foot to ABBA songs, a good song is a good song .🤷😃
Concur to the MAX
Great opinion and practically a proven fact! I listen to just about every genre and if a song blows me away yes I’ll repeat it all day
I always appreciate a song with melodies with vocal harmonies I can sing!!
ABBA's music always makes me smile.
We have a friend down the road that is a first-generation German immigrate. It came up during a conversation that when her parents moved her to Texas as a young girl, she practiced learning American English by listening to ABBA albums.
There you have it, a Swedish band singing in English helped a skinny German girl ultimately speak with a Texas drawl.
Dancing Queen was one of my mom's favorite songs. It made her sooo happy, and every time I hear it, I see her smiling face as she took my hands and tried to get me, her too-cool 16 year-old surfer son, to dance around the living room with her. She passed on Mother's Day 2020. Though annoying then, the song brings me pure joy now, over 47 years later. I like the new "Back-To-Back" show topic.
God bless your mom jesus
I know ABBA isn't everyone's taste, but I've been in love with their sound since the '70s when I was a kid. Dancing Queen is one of my favorite songs of all time. No idea why. It just makes me feel so damn good every time I hear it.
Same here 100%
ABBA IS everyone’s taste, that’s the point.
@@italoblu idiot! I have many friends who aren't ABBA fans FFS!
@@italoblu knobhead, no they ain't idiot 🙄
@@italoblu - While ABBA's U.S. success may have been middling compared to the UK, they did have a leg up in this country in two cases. Their "Honey Honey" charted here at #27 but never made it in the UK (where a cover by Sweet Dreams charted instead). The "I Do" song was a bigger hit here (#15) than there (#32, I believe - if I'm mistaken on that, let me know which position, it was within that range). And as noted, their charting in relation to their releases in "the States" was much higher than, say, Cliff Richard.
On "Mamma Mia," it sounded in spots like it provided inspiration for parts of the arrangement of The Cars' "You Might Think."
Thanks for being open to all music. Never mind haters!!! ABBA and others contributed to the soundtrack of our lives
I am 63 now. I love ABBA. Take A Chance on Me is one of my favorites. It came out during high school and I had two girls sing it to me in harmony.
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, West Africa in the early 80's. You"d hear ABBA playing from the houses non-stop.
I grew up with Abba and never paid much attention to Dancing Queen until I watched “Muriel’s Wedding” in the early 90s. I left the theater a true believer in that song’s greatness!
I went to a tribute band concert. Every Abba song that was sung had the audience singing along. The group reminded me of Abba, as they should, but what really got me was how everyone was smiling, singing and dancing. I left that concert extremely happy. That is what ABBA always was for me, pure joy.
Yes! ABBA was the sweetest and happiest! 💃😊
I dig the new show prof
Yup. Such a bad mood killer!
I didn't know Fernando was about two male war veterans. I suppose the girls taking the lead vocals, I always assumed it was a love song. Which, in a way, it is.
Was the band Bjorn Again?
I'm an ABBA fan. They were one of the bands that I was able to share with my parents (which were few and far in between). I loved having bands and artists that were my own, but I also loved bands like ABBA that my parents liked as well as me. Enjoyed your vid! :)
THanks Bart! Have a great Monday!
Yes so right! My mom and I listened to ABBA together too! 🙌😊
Not exactly the sort of endorsement likely to gain the approval of Christian Slaters character in "Pump Up The Volume", but you know who would approve? Tipper Gore and the PMRC😂🤣🤣😂
Aww. I loved it when my mom liked the same songs I liked too!❤
@@stevenfunderburg1623 - when it comes to music, don't really care who endorses it. I like what I like. :)
I'm home today from teaching because of a snow day, and Dancing Queen reminds me of a preteen sleepover where we were listening to the radio waiting to hear if we had a snow day the next day...and we did! Dancing wildly around a bedroom to this song was a given. Thanks for the deep nostalgic memories.
Great memory!
The tribute to Fernando Valenzuela at Dodger stadium featuring ABBA's song and drones creating images of the pitcher was powerful, amazing and a tear-jerker.
I have loved ABBA's music for decades (scary to be able to say!). I remember going to see Mamma Mia at a theatre in Boston just a few weeks after 9/11 with my sister. We had debated about going as people were afraid to go out in large groups of people, but we knew that we needed to go. It was the only time that I have seen large blocks of empty seats for a popular play. But due to Benny and Bjorn's incredible songwriting and Agnetha and Frida's wonderful voices, the whole audience had to join in singing along to the infectious songs. We walked out of that theatre feeling so much better than when we walked in, for a little bit of time forgetting the horror that we had just seen a couple of weeks before! A prime example of their songs' ability to uplift you!
when i was 19 I was into the roller skating scene in 77 When that song (dancing queen)came on everybody grooved, and the pretty girls came and skated.The song was fantastic and created a great atmosphere !!!
Thanks Professor, I will now have Dancing Queen as an earworm in my head for the rest of the day! It really does kinda make me happy though...
Rock on!
The ingenious rhythm section of the late, great Rutger Gunnarsson & Roger Palm is an earworm worth being infected with!
As a Punk, New Wave , Alternative, Pop, and Rock fan back then (and now), I used to love when my friends and I early in grad, school had late night parties dancing to ABBA. We had to put the music on at a very low volume to not disturb the neighbors in the apartment building, but we loved our ABBA dance parties to just let loose and release pressure. It does not hurt that my father was of Swedish origin. Go "Dancing Queen"!
ABBA is still one of my all-time favorite bands. When I was in 6th grade, my school held a talent show, where a friend and I did a dance routine, that I choreographed, to Dancing Queen and ours was the only performance to receive a standing ovation! Such a great memory😊.
I was never threatened to lose my Black Card knowing ABBA and their music. It took Air Supply to do it.
Ha ha!
@@constipatedinsincity4424 Love it 😝
That right there is funny 😂😂😂
Too funny
I'm still closeted about my slight affection for a few Air Supply songs, but I'm completely out in the open about ABBA 😃
My grandmother loved ABBA. We called her the dancing queen. I’d like to nominate ELOs Mr Blue Sky as one of the happiest songs ever
Have you seen the UA-cam video about Yoda getting drunk and talking to his girlfriend? It has Mr Blue Sky in the background. Makes me laugh just thinking about it.
“Wasted I am not. Wasted you are.”
Mr Blue Sky would be an excellent choice as well.
Nah, too depressing
I'm a solid Rock and Roll lover, but I've always liked ABBA. They broke out when I was a Junior in high school. I really enjoyed their music.
I was stationed in Germany when Fernando was released and believe me, when my friend and I were in the club having some brews, that song was played relentlessly! Dancing Queen was right behind it. It seemed like ABBA was the only songs in the jukebox! lol. Not that I mined because I loved their songs. Sorry, Adam, but ABBA was a great band! You missed the boat on this one. ;-)
I lived in an isolated community with bad radio reception and was unaware of ABBA until my mom needed surgery in a larger centre. I was 11 so was sent to stay with a family we knew there. The daughters were at school, the mom wanted to get dinner ready so she plunked me in the rec room with a record she knew her daughters liked. It was ABBA's "Greatest Hits Vol. 1". I was intrigued by the songs - female lead singers in a group was relatively unusual, but to this day I remember when Fernando played. I went from "I like these songs" to "I must have this album" in a few seconds. My first, and still my favourite of their songs, it just hits me some place inside like no other, especially when their voices come together. Not long after that, their next studio album came out. This of course was "Arrival" and it of course had "Dancing Queen". It was also the first album I ever owned that had all they lyrics printed on the sleeve - so no misheard lyrics for me. So "Fernando" got me hooked and everything else kept me going along, right up to "I Still have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down". The first time I heard the expression "the soundtrack of my life" I knew that it described this group for me. As for happiest song, I'm not much of a Beatles fan, but since I was a child I have always enjoyed, in a "happy" way the song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da".
Love, Love, Love ABBA. Thank you for featuring them!
Professor, thank you for another ABBA episode. As a kid in the 1970's, I always enjoyed ABBA's music. Dancing Queen has always been my favorite song of theirs. I consider it the perfect pop/disco song. I love Disco and it was one of many songs that defined the era. I didn't know that the song was inspired by Geotge McRae's "Rock Your Baby". That's why I come here. I always learn new information about my favorite songs.
I am and always have been a hard rock & roll guy. I have played all kinda of music. BUT...I really like ABBA .
It's great that you've turned around to see their greatness, a fantastic episode.
Gotta say, I have been a hardcore ABBA fan since the early 1970s, and despite all the books, interviews, and magazine articles I have collected over the years, even I learned something new from this episode of Professor of Rock, so my hat’s off to you, Adam.
I love both “Fernando” and “Dancing Queen”, but although it isn’t my favourite ABBA song, I have to say that “Dancing Queen” is a masterpiece. The music and recording process is brilliantly flawless, but you only have to listen to Agnetha’s and Frida’s combined vocal range and you will understand what makes this song a stand out. The highest notes. The lowest notes. There’s nothing these ladies couldn’t sing when they were given a challenge.
I have always loved Abba, even when they were uncool. As you stated, Fernando was on top of the charts in Australia for such a long time, that I grew to dislike it. It's the only song of Abba I don't enjoy listening to. I was crushed when they broke up, as I believed they could have gone on making beautiful music for many years.
🤣 “See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen”. That's hilarious!
Ha ha!
My ability to decipher lyrics has always sucked, but even I didn't make this gross of a mistranslation 😆
I KNOW ITS SO FUNNY.
Very funny, amazingly stupid misinterpretation of the lyrics.
Ooh! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! 😮
Don't sweat it, Prof, everybody gets dragged into ABBA fandom sooner or later.
It's inevitable with a band so good that something they did will appeal to you, and that's it: you've crossed the event horizon and there's no way back.
They had me at 14 with 'Voulez Vous'. I had no chance with those two ladies being so suggestive!
I was 9 years old when I "found" ABBA in my parent's record collection. It was 1977 and I was hooked. Yes, I bought 70s punk records with my allowance at that age, but I loved ABBA regardless of my main music collection.
I still love ABBA to this day.
I have been proud to say i like everything from ABBA to ZZ Top. 😎
Same here! In the mid-late-1980's it lead to me recording some mashups on cassette tapes that had my friends not just shaking their heads but questioning my musical taste and my sanity! :D But as others have said here, good music is good music! I'm not a big fan of best of and especially worst of lists and I won't question or poke fun at anyone's taste in music, not until they question mine anyway! :D
I was 8 years old when my older brother bought the Waterloo ‘45. Getting a European History lesson along with amazing harmonies- The ‘70’s, what a time to be a kid!
Ive been waiting for an ABBA episode. Happy Monday y'all!
It's a Manic Monday. Love ABBA and long live The Bangles.
hey Robert
@@TerrickTerranhey Terrick!
I remember when “Waterloo “ first hit the charts and the blend of the girls voices was absolutely amazing!!
I was living in England back in the '70s. I went to a nighttime carnival in East Grinstead and blaring from the speakers was Dancing Queen. I had never heard the song nor heard of the group, but the experience was magical. I became a fan right there and then. There was a weekly tv show called Top of the Pops and they were featured almost every week. I am still a fan.
Many old Top of The Pops videos here in UA-cam.
@@sureshmukhi2316 Thank you for that - I look forward to checking them all out - it was a great time!
It's nice to see Adam making up for lost time over his previous blind spot on ABBA!
Here in the UK, everybody liked ABBA, whether we were into prog, punk, metal or anything else. They were the band that everybody could agree to like, not least because the girls were very easy on the eye while the tunes were so catchy.
Coming from Sweden, they were very smart about the way they set about becoming popular right across the European continent, starting with winning the Eurovision song contest.*
They chose "Waterloo" as their theme, reasoning that although they'd get no votes from the French but lots of votes from everyone else because nobody likes the French and The Battle Of Waterloo was a colossal humiliation for France.
It worked and "Waterloo" won the contest.
*(Each nation in the Eurovision had a panel a judges who placed all the songs in order of preference and the song which got the most votes won. Eurovision Song Contest winning singles were invariably big hits all over Europe.)
To follow up their success, they cunningly crafted a series of catchy songs with titles in various European languages - "Voulez-Vous", "Mamma Mia", "Fernando" - or universally known expressions such as "S.O.S."
everyone in the Uk loved ABBA, from metalheads to punks? That might be one of the more contestable assertions I've read today! ;-)
Even if I don't like an artist or band, there is always an exception in their work and the exceptions are usually some of my favorite songs. Dancing Queen is one of my favorites.
Both these songs are awesome. Never tire of the beautiful melodies. ABBA the true genius of excellent pop music.
When my band was playing in the early 2000's, we played Dancing Queen because it was our guitarist wife's (and one of my best friends) favorite songs. She ended up passing away in 2003 and the first night my band played out (after her passing) right before we played the song, our guitarist looked up and said "This one's dedicated to you" and there was not a dry eye in the house. That song will always remind me of my friend
Not at all an Abba fan, but I still feel compelled to let you know: this has been and remains my absolute go to favorite UA-cam channel. 2 years on now. It’s well researched. Plus, in the days of lazy quick cut editing just to churn out content (and views and $), yours is well produced. You and your team do an outstanding job.
I didn't become a fan of ABBA officially until my 30's though I definitely remembered Dancing Queen and Fernando and liking them. Since then, i have come to really respect Benny's musicianship and Bjorn's lyricism. I think they were pioneers for their time and knew how to arrange and engineer sonically beautiful audio back in the 70's til the early 80's. I can enjoy ABBA as much as Def Leppard, The Cars, or Rush. I refuse to be pigeonholed.
Agree. I like batman AND iron man. I refuse to be robinholed.
😂😂😂😂😂@@hejimony
I was in 4th grade when this huge album came out and we little 9 year olds danced our hineys off to this song! Always have loved this group.
Great memories of my childhood. My bestie and I, dancing and singing into a hairbrush microphone to Dancing Queen and the other songs on the Arrival album. Simpler times. Love the memory. Thank you.
I love anyone who loves ABBA!
ABBA always reminds me of Summer and the last year of Primary school. The early bus to school. The bus driver, Mr Fairchild putting on the girls ABBA tapes on request as they sang to it down the back of the bus. They liked "Rock Me", because us boys would join in on that one, but mostly we guys were chaffing to get to school so we could play half an hour of cricket before the bell rang. The girls would be eager to get to the music room so they could dance as well as sing their own "compositions" of the chorus lines..... I didn't know it then. But I really loved ABBA. Fantastic memories. Mr Fairchild was always smiling. He had a happy bus. Best bus driver ever.
For me, I like ABBA's 'Name of the Game'. Great song. The girls would sing the last part of that song. With one group singing "What's the Name of the Game" and the rest harmonizing the next lines. Then the first group would sing "Does it mean, any' Thing, to you" and the others would sing the next lines that finished. ".... and it means a lot". They'd do it over and over until they had it down pat. It was a good last summer. ABBA songs and Aussie kids just seemed to go together.
ABBA and ELO inspired me to become a musician. I never cared what anyone thought about my musical tastes.
I was about 5 when I heard ABBA playing on the radio. As a Kindergartener, we couldn't get away from them. They were everywhere. They really stuck with me, and whenever I hear "Dancing Queen", it gives me core memories of Kindergarten and a wonderful childhood.
I got laughed at in middle school for liking ABBA. Who's laughing now? ME, that's who.
All the guys in my class liked Kiss. I ended up liking Kiss later on into the 80s when they took off the make up, but I was a steadfast Abba fan and took the ribbing. The guys in the class did admit the girls were pretty good looking.
Nah.. they’re still laughing at you. ;)
j/k wear their laughter with pride.
My aunt still hates ABBA.
You weren’t alone. My friends and I adored ABBA!!
We can count on you Professor of Rock, to tell the complete inner background story behind the great popular songs. Awesome to listen to, you fully deserve your name, Professor of Rock👍🙂
At one point Abba were Sweden's biggest export,even beating Volvo.
They also made a state of the art recording studio that brought in acts from around the world.
ABBA sales also beat SAAB auto sales. SAAB autos were once a thing.
Omg. Don’t forget “”Chiquita “. My dad made me listen to it once during a tough time. Love it!!!
"Fernando" was released in March 1976 only months after the passing of the dictator General Franco. The song may have been set in the days of Poncho Villa but it came out when many ghosts of the Spanish Civil War were at last laid to rest..a cathartic release for many of the old graying veterans no doubt
I don't think so, it's about the band had a fateful met by a hotel employee by the name of Fernando Ganguro after an earthquake got struck in Acapulco, Mexico as what he said to this video.
My parents had it on 8 track and it was fun music when I was a kid. As a teen, I moved to New Wave, metal, and college indie rock, but as a father, my daughter fell in love with them from the movies. Full circle
The first song played at the first high school dance I went to in ‘76 or ‘77 was “Dancing Queen”. I still picture my girl friend from that year dancing to that song, her long blond hair swaying. It IS the happiest song ever.
The first girl i started to go out with steady absolutely LOVED "Dancing Queen"
We were both 17. I actually admit to this day how much i fell in love with the song myself and would even play the song when my daughter was growing up and would dance in the front room. 🤣. Like most Americans of course we loved it. 🤣
It TRULY TRULY is a timeless classic !
👍
I'm liking your "back-to-back" concept. Lotta fun and good behind-the-scenes info. Do more of these, please!
Very cool!
@ProfessorofRock "Make it so, Number One" 😀
I’ve known this song since I was a kid. It’s my ringtone when my daughter phones me. Best time of my life was singing it with her when she was 17. I want it played at my funeral 😊
I’m glad you gave them a chance, some great songs. Don’t worry if you don’t like some bands, our ears like what our ears like. Not every band is meant for us.
Growing up in the 70s, ABBA was one of my favorite euro pop groups, and I still love their music today. I have their entire discography in MP3 form and enjoy the amazing sonic vibes of joy and happiness, as well as sadness later, mixed into their wonderful tunes. Granted, people like to lump their songs into the disco category, and yes, it was played in those kinds of clubs due to popularity, they will always be classic "euro pop". The best of its kind and still can not be beaten. Their songs bring joy to the heart and soul, even bringing tears of happiness a lot of time. There is literally no way someone can listen to the amazing "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room" from their 1981 final album, "Visitors", and not cry at how sad, but at the same time joyous, it is. I've never understood the dislike for ABBA. Their music only brought positivity, which can be seen by all the fans in documentaries, and those of us the fell in love with their timeless music. The emotional resonance is felt strongly in how you feel the joy high with "Fernando".
I love Abba they were always a wonderful band. For me Dancing Queen then Fernando and everything else comes after that's how I would rate my favorite songs of theirs. Cool video. ^_^
Professor, thanks so much for this video as I discovered ABBA late in life and they have taken over my mind in the music I enjoy and especially these 2 songs~!!! It's a case of ''MY CUP RUNETH OVER'' trying to pin a favorite of the two as I'm unable to pick one. I'm amazed at how you manage to compile all the History that you teach us~!!
I was 16 in 1976 and even though I was a certified "rocker", ABBA always held a place in my heart. I remember doing the roller disco thing with my then girlfriend and later 1st wife dancing to this and other disco songs of the era. Great times with great music. Oh, and I always thought Frida was hotter than Agnetha. Just my opinion. Keep it up, prof. Doing a bang up job.
All thru the 1970s I dug glitter to punk - Stones, Kinks, TREX, Dolls, Velvets etc. But ABBA was my guilty pleasure. Everybodies got one.
Should never be guilty when they were that great. The Wurzels would make you feel guilty however.
Wow....we had the exact same listening habits. Well, except for the ABBA part, I mean.
ABBA was the band that everyone hated, until they get home, close the shades, and put them on replay.
I, hate to say, was one of those people!
Ha ha!
@Bobbyo60 - you are not alone Bobby. Myself with 1B people around the world are the same way.
It was the beauty of the women's voices I think
There are ABBA fans and those who don't admit to it.
When they got their major break through in 1974 when winning the Eurovison Song Contest instead of saying congratulations Swedish media asked "do you know how manny who died during the battle of Waterloo?" Music in Sweden in 1974 wasn't supposed to be commercial but rather political. ABBA broke every unspoken taboo they wanted to become huge and famous and make money! There's an urban legend that not many bought their albums in Sweden but not true. All of their albums sold gold or platinum here. For a long time i was like Adam didn't care much for them but as i grew older i began appreciating them.
Abba's most emotional and thought provoking song is The Winner Takes It All.
I lived in Australia during '76-'77 and the ABBA craze was huge! I think Arrival was the first album I bought on my own.
ABBA were very much one of the sounds of the seventies, here in the UK. They were absolutely massive here and across Europe. Many of their songs had the most beautiful melodies. Not ashamed at all to say i really liked them and AC/ DC at the same time ! Rock Your Baby..one of my favourite songs ever. 1974 nostagia at its best when i was 12/13
Thanks!
So many Americans always said that they disliked ABBA and Air Supply yet they sold a ton of albums here. Somebody was buying their songs besides me. I'm not that rich.
I would love to see a story about Paul Revere and the Raiders. Read a great story in The Rolling Stone Mag. in "73". Yea I'm fucking old. Your show and yes, it's an old R&R lover. Please keep it up!!!!😊✌️
Fernando is the first song I have a conscious memory of. As a three year old, I heard it on the radio and asked my mom what it was. I still remember that moment clearly to this day. I have been an ABBA fan ever since. And Dancing Queen is the go-to song at lack-luster parties. Wanna get people on the dance floor? Whatever the party may be, play Dancing Queen, and people start dancing and filling the dance floor. In every generation to date, trust me!
I also like this format a lot. Looking at two consecutive pivotal tracks of artists and bands. Keep it up, Professor!
SOS is a phenomenal song, probably their most underrated single and definitely my favorite. Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia my second and third.
Their best song
@@marklane61- agree 👍
Wow talking about memories, Dancing Queen was the first song by ABBA, I ever heard. it led me to Fernando, and many others I wasn't a HUGE fan but I did buy their albums. One of favorites is "Does Your Mother Know?"
Great shirt! My favorite group of all-time!
I’m so happy that you featured Dancing Queen and ABBA!!!!! My favorite song for years when I was a kid!!! (Finally replaced by “Dance With Me” Orleans, which is, to this day, my favorite song ever…) I am always grateful that your show is the epitome of eclectic!!! Thanks for the memories, for the many times watching your show has brought back long buried memories of my youth!!! Your show is priceless!!! ❤😊
One of the best bands ever!! There's not a bad song and SOS was a member of the Beatles top favorites! I love they had a reunion! They have the most beautiful harmonious sound! Thanks Professor!
I thought I knew everything about the Beatles but I hadn't heard they were fond of ABBA. I can see why though, it's immaculate pop music.
@ponzo1967 John Lennon said SOS was one of the best written songs!
Thanks Cheryl!
@@ponzo1967 JOhn Lennon said that!
@@cherylreichardt That's right!
Great Job! I love ABBA, and this is a nice deep dive into their biggest hit! Please keep doing Back To Back stories.
Maybe do a video on The Mamas and the Papas songs, California Dreaming and Monday Monday.
Fernando has always been my favorite Abba song. Looking forward to Back to Back!
Incredible story about Fernando and Dancing queen , details details , now I am officially hooked on this guys channel .
I used to hate disco,but changed my mind years ago,I love the way disco bands use all instruments
Lots of horns even violins. Today's music seems so barren by comparison
Needs more cow bell! 🤣
Abba greatest hits volume 2 and voulez vou are childhood favorites of mine my parents would play it for me when i was a kid to cheer me.up and its still feel good music at its finest
Fernando was one of those songs everyone was afraid to admit they liked it!! It was voted one of the most hated songs by my 6th grade class!! I've always loved itt!! Dancing Queen was the first Pop record I ever bought!! Hello! I'm Cindy Snow and along with Tanya Tucker Eagles Vince Gill ABBA will always be one of my favorites!!
Just discovered you here on UA-cam, and you're covering one of my favourite bands! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You Rock, Professor of Rock!
ABBA was the winner of a talent competition! That's how they were first found .
Eurovision.
@ProfessorofRock That's it I think 🤔
@@constipatedinsincity4424 it was, but after two prior US singles (under Benny & Björn) for the Playboy Records label.
Two of the greatest songs in the planet. Never fails to uplift your spirits. Never that easy to forget.❤❤❤
A true story of irony to add to yours about associating Fernando with an earthquake: While driving to work in Hollywood back in 1987, I had my radio set on KFI Los Angeles listening to Al Lohman and Gary Owens. While they played Fernando, the 5.9 Whittier Narrows quake hit 13 miles to my south and knocked the station completely off the air with the most freaky, electronic sci-fi sounding noise blasting through my speakers. It was a brand new Honda Civic but it felt like someone had lifted the right back end of the car up like a wheel barrow.
The radio was our social media. It was wonderful!
HAPPY MONDAY EVERYBODY!
Running late again. Hate doctors. But always loved ABBA as a guilty pleasure.
Everyone have a great day. (Even if you're running late).
@@rogerdeahl9629 better late than never
HEY ROGER!
Hope your health is good roger!
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980
No, but manageable.
I'm too stubborn to be sick. 🤣🤣
Love that you are doing Abba, on a different note I have had Una Paloma Blanca stuck in my head for two days, and its the same line as its been years since I last heard it, in fact iam gonna go play it now.
Used to have ABBA afternoons at work
Dancing Queen came out when I was a senior in high school. You can't imagine what it was like back then, when you were entering a disco and it was playing...
...it or Rock Me Baby. lol
ABBA RULES. I am a huge fan of their lush tones and harmonies, also the way they fuse classical music, Spanish music/ guitar sounds and Greek tunes, too. Will never be a group like them
.....you a fan of Demis Roussos, Chuck? LOVE "When I Am A Kid"......ua-cam.com/video/6SKM7rICWu4/v-deo.html
I always liked many styles of music. I really liked abbas sound.
You always have great videos and information..
Much success, health, happiness, and blessings to all.
I prefer Fernando but like them both. I was a closet ABBA fan until 1979 when I saw them in concert in Boston. An amazing show and I was openly a fan after that! 😁
I remember the disco era very well. I don’t ever remember people then “hating” disco. Seemed that rockers and disco kids simply coexisted and simply stayed out of each other’s way or actually delved into both genres! During this late 70s time period, kids simply didn’t want to dance to rock music…Kids wanted to dance to R & B / disco! I remember many rockers would get up and dance to disco music. The hate against 70s disco came toward the very end of the 70s…The hatred was tied in with touches of racism / homophobia by what was really a small group of people. Later generations would bring 70s disco music back into popularity.
I think the dislike of disco came from those who appreciated the lyrics of singer songwriters who took on issues of the times. Disco represented something inane by comparison. Disco went with an era of denial. Denial of a powerful conservative backlash of movements gaining inroads. It had broader significance than just a sound. That said, Abba could certainly harmonize.
Love the Back to Back idea. Maybe even do back to back to back to how ever many you can!
Love this format. More please! Love both these songs, love ABBA.
I first heard "Fernando" as a kid, always liked the song because it sounded happy. Never paid much attention to lyrics as a young 'un.
It's a complex song!
Me neither. Sad songs with happy melodies are prevalent unfortunately.
Yes! I love the back/back study and more ABBA, please! This was very interesting!!
I never was a big fan of ABBA but I did like a few of their songs over the years
and with AM radio i have heard most of their songs many times but my favorite
songs of ABBA is Does Your Mother Know and the Name of the Game Thanks
for more rock music history Professor.🎶🎤🎸🎸🎹🥁🎶
The Name Of The Game & Dancing Queen are the two big ones for me, with a side of The Winner Takes It All. 😎
Thanks ROger!
Love that song.
Oh, and "Take A Chance On Me." 😃