Rowing on the Serpentine (English version of "Klinga mina klockor")

The new English version of Benny Andersson's song "Klinga mina klockor" ("Ring, My Bells"), from his 1987 solo album of the same name. The theme from the first movement resurfaced in the Kristina från Duvemåla song "Ljusa kvällar om våren" (or, in the English version of Kristina, "Twilight Images Calling").

Music: Benny Andersson
Words: Björn Ulvaeus ( http://bab.abba-world.net/rowingontheserpentine.htm )

Featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra (directed by Anders Eljas), the Capital Voices, and Orsa Spelmän ("the Orsa Fiddlers").

Taken from the BBC's recording of their "Thank You For the Music" ABBA tribute concert in Hyde Park on Sunday, September 13th, 2009. Song introduced by Sir Tim Rice, concert emceed by Chris Evans.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I OWN NEITHER THE RECORDING NOR THE EVENT LOGO NOR THE ALBUM ART. IF THE BBC EVER RELEASES THE RECORDING OF THIS EVENT, THIS VIDEO WILL BE TAKEN DOWN.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rowing
• on
• the
• serpentine
• klinga
• mina
• klockor
• abba
• benny
• andersson
• björn
• ulvaeus
• orsa
• spelmän
• bbc
• thank
• you
• for
• music
• hyde
• park
• ljusa
• kvällar
• om
• våren
• twilight
• images
• calling

[al7leaopt]

I must be severely missing some context but the English "special" lyrics are a shallow caricature of the original Swedish ones.

Someone kindly please explain me why an ode to thoughtful, self-healing nostalgia and a testimony to an emotion rich, sensory awakened, superior spirit - which was the original Klinga Mina Klockor - was transformed into a parody with annoying lyrics repetition...

[jvd897]

@al7leaopt I think the only context necessary is that this concert was at Hyde Park in London, which contains the Serpentine, a body of water where people (apparently) go rowing. So yeah, I would completely, completely agree with your analysis. I mean, it would be one thing if this were a totally original song, but the fact that the original "Klinga mina klockor" was so powerful makes it particularly unfortunate that Benny and Bjorn had no other use for it in an English-language context.

[AbbaChick]

I was wondering, does anyone know the lyrics between 'you have taken me aboard now' and 'I was dazzled by a stranger'

and the lyrics to the third verse.

Thank you so much!

[jvd897]

@AbbaChick Hi, you can find the lyrics on ABBA World's BAB mini-site. Since YouTube doesn't allow putting links in comments, I've put a link to it in the video's description. Hope this helps.

[DarkmareLaura]

this is such a beautiful piece of music, glad to see benny is still wrtiing!

thanks for posting =) x

[jvd897]

You're very welcome. No one had posted it yet, so I figured I should -- yes, it is an incredible piece of music.

[AbbaChick]

@jvd897 ahh! thank you so much!

[seaplane7]

The sheet music to this piece - I'm pretty sure can be bought from Mono Music (they do have a website - but in Swedish). I picked it up in a music store in Stockholm. Benny always plays an extract at his concerts - another highlight among so many.

[jacko10]

Fabulous thankyou!

[irkin75]

thank you very much for the music!

actually i'm lookin desperately for music sheets for benny andersson's songs, especially "klinga mina klockor" on the web, do you have an idea where to find it? as i am not swedish, cant help myself..