I've always argued that Abba would have gone on to be massively successful even if they had never entered the Eurovision. After Waterloo did well in the UK charts, it was almost two years before their next big UK hit, ""SOS" , which was released towards the end of 1975. Indeed, the Abba song, "Honey, Honey" was actually a hit for another group called "Sweet Dreams" during the summer of 1974.
Abba's own second release, which was "Ring, Ring", only reached 32 in the UK charts.
Ps : I quote a comment by a mate on here about this overrated ordinary schlager : " I hate this song . Like Donald Duck had composed a new song " which explains exactly my feelings .-)
Waterloo is not one of Abba's best songs , they made much better music than this flat ordinary fake rock and honestly this song is never mentioned or recalled by people when asked of ABBA , they remember the schlager of Mamma mia , SOS, The winner takes it all,
Take a chance on me but almost never Waterloo .
To be fair Gigliola Cinquetti's song was much better than Waterloo by many aspects, music, lyrics , performance ....and only a clueless chatter can tell the utter nonsense that ABBA
went on to be ABBA because of this mediocre , schlager little song , to tell such a bizarre idiocy you've got to be a blind fan of ABBA or a total ignorant of music .
The truth is that ABBA won someway a contest that they didn't deserve since many of us know Gigliola Cinquetti and her sublime song is the true winner of 1974 ESC !!
@zimbozombo :Zim,to answer your question,Eurovision from the 50s thru to the year before this one was sing in your own language and promote your countries culture.The organizes got lax between 74 and the early 80s and the Abba guys jumped at the opportunity to sing in English,afterall only 7 mill swedes in the world at this time.They brought back the your own language for a while,then said English is ok if you want so now we get German girls buying new undahhwear far yew,daye blleww.Is not gutt
@SuperJohnnykay La grande majorité des Européens ne comprennent pas l'anglais chanté dans une chanson inédite (ça va trop vite), ces Suédois auraient aussi bien pu chanter en suédois.
Mais bon, je suis d'accord il y a un snobisme de l'anglais (chez les chanteurs et dans les jurys).
Everybody think it's easy to sing Abba songs but that is not so the way it's composed make it not that easy to get it right. About 200 years it's played in consert halls by Philharmonic orchestra's
No doubt about that ABBA was one of the biggest pop groups during mid - end of 70's. They had created the chemical reaction that other pop groups didn't have by that time.
I've always loved and respected ABBA but now, for the 1st time ever, I am analyzing this 1st international performance by them and am wondering if they were cheating by singing ON TOP OF multi-tracked vocals of themselves. That 'wall of sound' effect, perfected by Spector was multi-vocaled layers, an eerily similar effect I hear here, combined with the unseen horn section,modulated EXACTLY like the single of Waterloo, it seems all too perfect for it to be an amateur song, IMHO, here only 4 1st X
No man =)), they just can sing ;). Have you ever heard the Beatles, live? The same effect. But at the tame of the beatles there were defenitly no backing tracks live :). Also as I know all backing tracks are forbiden on Eurovision, and all vocals shoud be performed live). Most of the singers today just poorly quolified thats why they do not sound as perfect as them live).
@MrJazzeman Well, horns are not vocals =)). And yeah instrumental backing tracks are allowed on eurovision. By the way now a days instrumental backing track is required for every band (even Lordi played with instrumental backing track). But on this wideo you missed the hole orchestra below the scene ;)), so I think everything here is live :).
@yandrsupreme: Only the last chords and the saxophones are life: There was a rule back then: They were allowed to use backing tracks, if the instruments on the tape were shown on stage.Because of that, they had to use two additional "musicians" here (bass and drums).
Btw: The girls' singing is way out of tune, I think. Not the best performance of ABBA.
I was shocked when I learned that they had entered Eurovision...but it wasn't a surprise that they won. B3 These guys are flipping amazing! Their music was (is) so awe-inspiring and fun and just makes you want to dance the night away. It sucks so badly that they broke up before I was even born. ; n ;
Its almost a declaration by Annifrid to say I WAS DEFEATED YOU WON THE WAR (twice) this was then when hostilities finallly ended between Nazi Germany and England after the crushing defeat of 1966
Haha, I know exactly where I was at the time! The blue trousers and silver platform shoes were just mad, and made by a famous designer. (I forget the name.)
Today pop music just sucks.Look Lady GaGa,Rihanna,Beyonce,Justin Bieber.I'm sure that for a few years they will be nowhere,but WATERLOO is still one of the best pop songs,after 36 years.I like 70's rock,but I also like 70's pop and disco music.I love Deep Purple,Pink Floyd but I also like ABBA,Boney M . . . .This is the real pop music not Telephone,or Bad Romance,or Alejandro,or Baby,or I kissed a girl . . . .
It seems they are singing live to the recorded backing track. I think all songs should have been on equal footing with live vocals to the live orchestra. Seems the orchestra only comes in on the final 5 seconds.
I´ve read that their first idea was to include "Hasta Manana" in the contest, instead of Waterloo. And pointed out that nothing might have happened if they hadn´t changed their minds. I´m sure Hasta would´ve won it, too, and personally, I like it even more. But Waterloo has more appeal, they made the right decision, and thank God they blessed us with their music for years.
Wonderful performance and a well deserved victory for Abba!
Check out Doctor & The Medics cover version and a very funny parody video of this performance. Needless to say, their cover is not nearly as good as the original (but it's fun).
I think this argument is quite amusing.. ABBA went on to be one of the biggest pop groups of all time BECAUSE OF THIS SONG... their music is still popular today (movies, book etc.) and Waterloo makes everyone get up and dance at Mamma Mia (The Musical) hmmmm i think they did something right here!
btw id never even heard of that italian girl until now... thats how 'amazing' it was...
mediocrity instead may be old fashioned , unless someone wants to adfirm Mozart to be "old fashioned " , then he can argue whatever idiocy he likes more to justify Sweden's gifted victory in ESC 1974 ....! D
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Obviously they must be blind one way Abba's fans ( and what's worst many of them are blind fans who have no knowledge of music ) to spell out such a bizarre joke : critics and experts stated so many times Waterloo not to be among Abba's best songs and ironically
their next great songs suited a classic Italian melodic style and got inspired by Italy's music !
That's only to clarify true facts that some ignorant child brains trust they can change by their ridiculous nonsenses !
" Si " performed by Gigliola Cinquetti is a better song , better in music, lyrics and performance . I can't see in what Waterloo is " more exciting " out of a poor and messy rhytm .
Time made justice and just classified this ordinary poor rhytm song as
SCHLAGER, 'cos it's nothing more than this : I can't believe there are still people who after 35 years dream on this schlager stuff deserving a gifted victory ahead of Italy's more beautiful, classier
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Though I like ABBA like Arrival and The Album I hate this song. Like Donald Duck had composed a new song. I remember when this was new our neighbour played this all the time and LOUD. ARRRRGGH.
I will never forget the first time I saw this fantastic performance. It was like love at first sight!
I still listen to Abba almost everyday!
I can't believe there are still people who argue (after 35 years) that Italy should have won. I love the song "Si" performed by Gigliola Cinquetti but "Waterloo" was so much better and more exciting! Ironically, some of the most recent music from Agnetha and Frida sounds a bit like the Italian entry - beautiful perhaps but a bit old-fashioned.
This is the first ESC I can remember watching. I was 12 years. I think it was somekind of fuzz around the voting. Italy almost won but got beated by ABBA, with a few points...
I've always argued that Abba would have gone on to be massively successful even if they had never entered the Eurovision. After Waterloo did well in the UK charts, it was almost two years before their next big UK hit, ""SOS" , which was released towards the end of 1975. Indeed, the Abba song, "Honey, Honey" was actually a hit for another group called "Sweet Dreams" during the summer of 1974.
Abba's own second release, which was "Ring, Ring", only reached 32 in the UK charts.
EricIrl 2 days ago
This is live and excellent.
krumov001 2 days ago
Ps : I quote a comment by a mate on here about this overrated ordinary schlager : " I hate this song . Like Donald Duck had composed a new song " which explains exactly my feelings .-)
Trulyloyale 3 weeks ago
Waterloo is not one of Abba's best songs , they made much better music than this flat ordinary fake rock and honestly this song is never mentioned or recalled by people when asked of ABBA , they remember the schlager of Mamma mia , SOS, The winner takes it all,
Take a chance on me but almost never Waterloo .
To be fair Gigliola Cinquetti's song was much better than Waterloo by many aspects, music, lyrics , performance ....and only a clueless chatter can tell the utter nonsense that ABBA
Trulyloyale 3 weeks ago
went on to be ABBA because of this mediocre , schlager little song , to tell such a bizarre idiocy you've got to be a blind fan of ABBA or a total ignorant of music .
The truth is that ABBA won someway a contest that they didn't deserve since many of us know Gigliola Cinquetti and her sublime song is the true winner of 1974 ESC !!
Trulyloyale 3 weeks ago
Agneta is so beautiful <3
kisalitlaa 1 month ago
THE BIGGEST THEY INPACT SO MANY PEOPLE"s LIFE
100vegasnites 2 months ago
@100vegasnites
Agree with you but, the song is not a masterpiece (exately like nel blu dipinto di blu )
rubbermodel 1 month ago
NOT AT ALL U CAN SING AT ANY LANGUAGES ..
100vegasnites 2 months ago
Question? Is English a national language of Sweden? I know in those days you had to sing in a national language of your country.
zimbozombo 2 months ago
@zimbozombo :Zim,to answer your question,Eurovision from the 50s thru to the year before this one was sing in your own language and promote your countries culture.The organizes got lax between 74 and the early 80s and the Abba guys jumped at the opportunity to sing in English,afterall only 7 mill swedes in the world at this time.They brought back the your own language for a while,then said English is ok if you want so now we get German girls buying new undahhwear far yew,daye blleww.Is not gutt
SuperJohnnykay 1 month ago
@SuperJohnnykay La grande majorité des Européens ne comprennent pas l'anglais chanté dans une chanson inédite (ça va trop vite), ces Suédois auraient aussi bien pu chanter en suédois.
Mais bon, je suis d'accord il y a un snobisme de l'anglais (chez les chanteurs et dans les jurys).
EcoleLibre 3 days ago
@EcoleLibre :Ah oui,c est vrai,jann.
SuperJohnnykay 3 days ago
Everybody think it's easy to sing Abba songs but that is not so the way it's composed make it not that easy to get it right. About 200 years it's played in consert halls by Philharmonic orchestra's
Maasdam1993 3 months ago
Forever greatest....Abba
doanminhtuan 4 months ago
What a through back to my childhood.......Love it
Rickyscul 4 months ago
Correction, ABBA went on to be one of the biggest pop groups of all time BECAUSE OF ALL their songs, not just this one.
Timeless quality music
johnnyfrenchman 4 months ago
I like tihs group. I think they could do very well.
AjrimmerMr 5 months ago
I'm french, i don't understand the words, but the song is great !!!
titicz1 5 months ago
Das ABBA beim GRAND PRIX d'Eurovision gewann das fande ich ganz schön für ABBA .ABBA is ja ne weltberümte Gruppe
Clemente0209 6 months ago
No doubt about that ABBA was one of the biggest pop groups during mid - end of 70's. They had created the chemical reaction that other pop groups didn't have by that time.
ngaitom09 6 months ago
OHYEAH!!!!! ABBA Rocks!!!!!! Waterloo Rocks!!!!!! Best song in Eurovision history! Ever! Agnetha's hat is so lovely and Frida's hair is beautiful!!!!
Tanskuspyro98 7 months ago
I've always loved and respected ABBA but now, for the 1st time ever, I am analyzing this 1st international performance by them and am wondering if they were cheating by singing ON TOP OF multi-tracked vocals of themselves. That 'wall of sound' effect, perfected by Spector was multi-vocaled layers, an eerily similar effect I hear here, combined with the unseen horn section,modulated EXACTLY like the single of Waterloo, it seems all too perfect for it to be an amateur song, IMHO, here only 4 1st X
ANATOLIACHTZEIN 7 months ago 2
@ANATOLIACHTZEIN
No man =)), they just can sing ;). Have you ever heard the Beatles, live? The same effect. But at the tame of the beatles there were defenitly no backing tracks live :). Also as I know all backing tracks are forbiden on Eurovision, and all vocals shoud be performed live). Most of the singers today just poorly quolified thats why they do not sound as perfect as them live).
SiniyCHEL 6 months ago
@SiniyCHEL Well where's the horn section if there's no backing tracks? Did I miss something?
MrJazzeman 5 months ago
@MrJazzeman Well, horns are not vocals =)). And yeah instrumental backing tracks are allowed on eurovision. By the way now a days instrumental backing track is required for every band (even Lordi played with instrumental backing track). But on this wideo you missed the hole orchestra below the scene ;)), so I think everything here is live :).
SiniyCHEL 5 months ago
@MrJazzeman Like Siniychel mentioned, at the beginning of the performance there's a whole orchestra, so there are your horns.
narcisolon 5 months ago
its shame that song like this have only 130k views,and biber fag have a millions.... its not fair!! die biber!!
prikljucak 8 months ago
@prikljucak
Biber make still music... The Show must go on...Also, we don`t like the new stuff
FireballHikari 8 months ago
how many points did they take from france with this song..:)
spooky78 9 months ago
Great!
undinaful 9 months ago
FAB!!
2010DarkDevilUK 10 months ago
this was at brighton :)
Twilight19922008 1 year ago
@yandrsupreme: Only the last chords and the saxophones are life: There was a rule back then: They were allowed to use backing tracks, if the instruments on the tape were shown on stage.Because of that, they had to use two additional "musicians" here (bass and drums).
Btw: The girls' singing is way out of tune, I think. Not the best performance of ABBA.
klausgeorg01 1 year ago
I was shocked when I learned that they had entered Eurovision...but it wasn't a surprise that they won. B3 These guys are flipping amazing! Their music was (is) so awe-inspiring and fun and just makes you want to dance the night away. It sucks so badly that they broke up before I was even born. ; n ;
smellslikedeath 1 year ago
Its almost a declaration by Annifrid to say I WAS DEFEATED YOU WON THE WAR (twice) this was then when hostilities finallly ended between Nazi Germany and England after the crushing defeat of 1966
edgebet 1 year ago
Haha, I know exactly where I was at the time! The blue trousers and silver platform shoes were just mad, and made by a famous designer. (I forget the name.)
MowgliX 1 year ago
Comment removed
MowgliX 1 year ago
We won!
ZLUGGO 1 year ago
Der beste Eurovisionsong aller Zeiten so finde ich zumindest.
Tolles Lied tolle Gruppe schade dass die nichts mehr machen. Aber so ist dass nun manchmal. LEIDER. LG Rainer
tremmlo 1 year ago
NOT WALDORF MOTHERFICKER!
marsoska 1 year ago
Too bad the soundtrack's playback... ;P
miguelmf 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hab ich 1975 in tiefsten Russland (erdgastrasse) auf einen gc Kasettenrecorder gehört einfach toll
opaborste 1 year ago
hab ich 1975 in tiefsten Russland (erdgastrasse) auf einen gc Kasettenrechrder gehört einfach toll
opaborste 1 year ago
the best eurovision song ever :D
jbenjamin94 1 year ago
ahhh!Agnetha that lovely hair,my schoolboy fantasy
blade0954 1 year ago
How could a song that has an association with war, win the Eurovision song contest?
phil1958uk 1 year ago
Today pop music just sucks.Look Lady GaGa,Rihanna,Beyonce,Justin Bieber.I'm sure that for a few years they will be nowhere,but WATERLOO is still one of the best pop songs,after 36 years.I like 70's rock,but I also like 70's pop and disco music.I love Deep Purple,Pink Floyd but I also like ABBA,Boney M . . . .This is the real pop music not Telephone,or Bad Romance,or Alejandro,or Baby,or I kissed a girl . . . .
aleksandarfloyd94 1 year ago
It seems they are singing live to the recorded backing track. I think all songs should have been on equal footing with live vocals to the live orchestra. Seems the orchestra only comes in on the final 5 seconds.
yandrsupreme 1 year ago
Overrated
Maahniac 1 year ago
This Group is made forever!
krissto71 1 year ago
ABBA are the best winner ever !!! Thank you for the music ;D
Musicad09 1 year ago 2
love abba! hey aussies did ya know our olivia newton john performed at eurovision the same year as abba won?
jewelrox 1 year ago
wonderful
schweinchenism 1 year ago
Everything was there already. Their first performance at the world's stage. Legendary!
adamdan41 1 year ago
I'm way to young to have seen this live, but this is clearly a time when they made MUSIC on the eurovision
seppie1203 1 year ago
I´ve read that their first idea was to include "Hasta Manana" in the contest, instead of Waterloo. And pointed out that nothing might have happened if they hadn´t changed their minds. I´m sure Hasta would´ve won it, too, and personally, I like it even more. But Waterloo has more appeal, they made the right decision, and thank God they blessed us with their music for years.
betwes 1 year ago
...I clearly remember: My life`s very first tv minutes that I was allowed to see at 3 years of age!!! Love, Chris!
OlivierDomilescu 1 year ago
12 points for me!from Italy
siggester 2 years ago 4
Wonderful performance and a well deserved victory for Abba!
Check out Doctor & The Medics cover version and a very funny parody video of this performance. Needless to say, their cover is not nearly as good as the original (but it's fun).
Bearanoid 2 years ago 2
simplement, love and my favorite for eurovision!
jsra54 2 years ago 2
Love this performance :)
I think this argument is quite amusing.. ABBA went on to be one of the biggest pop groups of all time BECAUSE OF THIS SONG... their music is still popular today (movies, book etc.) and Waterloo makes everyone get up and dance at Mamma Mia (The Musical) hmmmm i think they did something right here!
btw id never even heard of that italian girl until now... thats how 'amazing' it was...
bexy123uk 2 years ago 21
@bexy123uk
Cinquetti was a STAR.
And still is.
Not toknow her disqualifies you from being a real music lover.
schusterlehrling 1 year ago
@bexy123uk who's the italian girl?
ASuperGa 11 months ago
@bexy123uk what italian girl?
hulihuliba 3 months ago
wooooooooo waterloo for sweden in esc 10 abba please cam back thynk you
svs1919merkstein 2 years ago
wow, its the best!1
jsra54 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
By the way I find dude ur definition of
Waterloo : like Donald Duck had composed a new song ;-) That's fiunny
ahahah
Kokka985 2 years ago
Ps great music is timeless , schlager
mediocrity instead may be old fashioned , unless someone wants to adfirm Mozart to be "old fashioned " , then he can argue whatever idiocy he likes more to justify Sweden's gifted victory in ESC 1974 ....! D
Trulyloyale 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Obviously they must be blind one way Abba's fans ( and what's worst many of them are blind fans who have no knowledge of music ) to spell out such a bizarre joke : critics and experts stated so many times Waterloo not to be among Abba's best songs and ironically
their next great songs suited a classic Italian melodic style and got inspired by Italy's music !
That's only to clarify true facts that some ignorant child brains trust they can change by their ridiculous nonsenses !
Trulyloyale 2 years ago
" Si " performed by Gigliola Cinquetti is a better song , better in music, lyrics and performance . I can't see in what Waterloo is " more exciting " out of a poor and messy rhytm .
Time made justice and just classified this ordinary poor rhytm song as
SCHLAGER, 'cos it's nothing more than this : I can't believe there are still people who after 35 years dream on this schlager stuff deserving a gifted victory ahead of Italy's more beautiful, classier
and more sophisticated song !
Trulyloyale 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Though I like ABBA like Arrival and The Album I hate this song. Like Donald Duck had composed a new song. I remember when this was new our neighbour played this all the time and LOUD. ARRRRGGH.
FinnMove 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I agree with you FinnMove , I hate this
silly - texted & poor song too .
Waterloo sounds to me like a
no - pretentious jingle for kids but nothing more ;-( Definitely one of the bad songs by ABBA
a group I sometimes like to listen to
but when the cd comes to Waterloo
I press the ff button .
I still wonder how they could make this little song win the Eurovision that year .
Kokka985 2 years ago
I will never forget the first time I saw this fantastic performance. It was like love at first sight!
I still listen to Abba almost everyday!
I can't believe there are still people who argue (after 35 years) that Italy should have won. I love the song "Si" performed by Gigliola Cinquetti but "Waterloo" was so much better and more exciting! Ironically, some of the most recent music from Agnetha and Frida sounds a bit like the Italian entry - beautiful perhaps but a bit old-fashioned.
IIxxxIxxxII 2 years ago 2
Is this the original commentary from 1974?
koksy 2 years ago
ABBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Woooooooohooooooooooo
woffeatm 2 years ago 2
This is the first ESC I can remember watching. I was 12 years. I think it was somekind of fuzz around the voting. Italy almost won but got beated by ABBA, with a few points...
Whateva'...
strixq 2 years ago
@strixq hahah nah italy only got 3 points that year abba got 12 :D
EspanaDevil666 1 year ago
ahh, yes is a fabulouse song!!!
jsra54 2 years ago
I was born in 1974 :-)
Love this song!!!
uwechen071974 3 years ago 3
Simply way above Eurovision standards!
lwsmackie4 3 years ago 54
Comment removed
phil1958uk 1 year ago
@lwsmackie4 (The band that is, not the song).
phil1958uk 1 year ago