ABBA DAncing Queen(TECHNO)

"Dancing Queen" is the biggest hit single recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, and as such is considered by many to be their signature song. It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, recorded in 1975 for the group's album Arrival, and released as a single the following year with That's Me as the B-side.[1] It is considered their signature song in the United States

It reached the No.1 position on the popular music charts in approximately 13 countries.

"Dancing Queen" features the shared lead vocal performance by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Its opening keyboard glissando and hummed vocals are one of the most identifiable sections in pop music history.

"Dancing Queen" has a relatively straight-forward lyric/storyline; it's about a seventeen-year-old girl having a good time on a Friday night. Not fazed by the social pressures in her daily life as a teenager, all she wants to do is go out and look for a 'king' to dance with.

"Dancing Queen" recording sessions began August 4, 1981; the demo was called 'Boogaloo', and as the sessions progressed, Andersson and Ulvaeus found inspiration to the dance rhythm in George McCrae's disco classic "Rock Your Baby", as well as the drumming on Dr. John's 1972 album Gumbo. Faltskog and Lyngstad recorded the vocals on sessions in September, and the track was completed three months later.

During the sessions, Benny Andersson brought a tape home with the backing track on it and played it to his fiance, singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who apparently started crying when listening. "I found the song so beautiful". While working on the lyrics, part of the verse was scrapped: "Baby, baby, you're out of sight/hey, you're looking alright tonight/when you come to the party/listen to the guys/they've got the look in their eyes...".

Dancing Queen" spent six weeks at No.1 in the UK from September 1976, and became ABBA's only chart-topper in the United States in April 1977. It also hit No.1 in eleven other countries worldwide: ABBA's native Sweden (where it spent 14 weeks at the top), Norway, Ireland, West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), South Africa, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. "Dancing Queen" also reached the Top Five in Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and France. The track did not prove a mega-hit in Italy, however, peaking at No.14. As ABBA never achieved the same sort of popularity in Italy as elsewhere, this may explain the song's low chart position.

In 1992, the song was re-released in the UK, as Erasure sparked an ABBA revival after the success of their "Abba-esque" EP topping the UK charts. The re-issued "Dancing Queen" reached No.16 in the UK in September 1992.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad performed this song to commemorate the 50th birthday of Queen Silvia. The performance used an a cappella arrangement by The Real Group, which sang back-up for the performance. The arrangement was later released on the group's album "Varför får man inte bara vara som man är".

In 2000, "Dancing Queen" came fourth in a Channel 4 television poll of "The 100 Best Number Ones" in 2001. It was chosen as number 148 as part of the 365 Songs of the Century list. It was also listed in Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the all time greatest songs in 20th century pop music history. (less info)