Abba - On And On And On

This video is for a very brave friend in Australia who has recently had a major operation. Abba songs have always been inspirational and they were clearly having fun here!
Abba performed this rocking version of On And On And On for Show Express, a well known West German tv show. It was recorded in Stockholm on November 27th 1980, and broadcast live by satellite link to West German tv. It was originally planned for Abba to record the show in Germany. This trip was cancelled after kidnap threats against the group were received in an anonymous letter 2 weeks earlier. Everyone in the group was immediately put under police protection and advised to stay in Sweden. Rather than missing out, Show Express came to Abba instead! Their producers hired the SVT studios in Stockholm and flew over the tv crew, technicians and even the Show Express set from Germany to Stockholm. The studio building entrances were watched by ten policemen during the recording, while guard dogs searched the premises. Guests had to pass through 3 control stations before they were let into the building and rehearsals began at 3pm. The live link to Show Express in Germany was kept secret until Abba's slot commenced at 8.40pm, when presenter Michael Schanze interviewed Bjorn in German. Twenty minutes later the show was over and the German audience went wild.
Songs performed to playback for the show were The Winner Takes It All, Super Trouper and On And On And On. The backing musicians were Mats Ronander (guitar), Ola Brunkert (drums) and Rutger Gunnarsson (bass). Producer Leif Gothlund said "It was great to produce a programme with Abba - they were really nice to work with. Despite the fact that they were under close protection, they took things very calmly. They were all very happy and relaxed." The James Last Orchestra and Irena Cara (Fame) were among other acts performing 12 numbers in Germany preceding Abba in the show. Three extra songs were planned if the group had travelled to West Germany, these being Me And I, Lay All Your Love On Me and The Piper. These songs were omitted from the Stockholm recording due to the security constraints. ABBA had also planned to visit England in December 1980 to record for the Mike Yarwood TV show, but sadly the BBC wouldn't go to the same trouble as the German TV producers did for "Show Express". Fortunately the threat to the group came to nothing, and their protection was gradually relaxed.
On And On And On was written in January 1980 when Bjorn and Benny took a song writing holiday to Barbados to find inspiration to compose 5 songs for the next Abba album Super Trouper. The others were Adante Adante, The Piper, Happy New Year and Elaine. On And On And On was recorded on April 24 1980 and released on the album Super Trouper in November 1980. It was also released as a single in France (#18), Australia (#9), Japan (#52), USA (#90) and Argentina with The Piper as the B-side. The song's chorus has a backing vocals arrangement clearly influenced by one of Benny Anderssons favorite bands The Beach Boys and in particular their 1968 hit Do It Again. In 1981 Beach Boys member Mike Love returned the compliment by covering "On and On and On" on his solo album Looking Back With Love.

Music/Lyrics: Benny Andersson/Bjorn Ulvaeus
Lead Vocals: Agnetha & Frida

I was at a party and this feller said to me
Something bad is happening I'm sure you do agree
People care for nothing, no respect for human rights
Evil times are coming, we are in for darker nights"
I said "Who are you to talk about impending doom"
He got kinda wary as he looked around the room
He said "I'm a minister, a big shot in the state"
I said "I just can't believe it, boy I think it's great
Brother can you tell me what is right and what is wrong"
He said, "Keep on rocking baby, 'til the night is gone"

On and on and on
Keep on rocking baby, 'til the night is gone
On and on and on,'til the night is gone
On and on and on
Keep on rocking baby, 'til the night is gone
On and on and on, 'til the night is gone

Over in the corner I could see this other guy
He was kinda flirty, he was giving me the eye
So I took advantage of the fact that I'm a star
Shook my hair and took a casual stroll up to the bar
And as sure as hell this guy was coming up to me
He said "Who am I and who are you and who are we
What's our situation, do we have some time for us"
I said I was not exactly waiting for the bus
He said If you're going somewhere can I come along
I said, "Keep on rocking baby, 'til the night is gone"

On and on and on,
Keep on rocking baby, til the night is gone
On and on and on, til the night is gone
On and on and on
Keep on rocking baby, 'til the night is gone
On and on and on, 'til the night is gone

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ABBA

[BrunoPedron1]

I laughed at Frida when she hit her head at 2:55. This is a very nice song, the rhythm is very good too.

[abbafanglosuk]

Yes its a rocking performance and they're detinitely having some fun!

[warwolf193]

2:40 - 2:43 luv the walk frida! ^^

[abbafanglosuk]

Yeah there's some very entertaining antics by Frida in this performance!

[POOKAYAZ]

NICE STAGE PERFORMANCE

[abbafanglosuk]

Yes Abba always did their best to give entertaining performances for the audience, rather than just play the song!

[popmusic1967]

I *love* this song!!!  I've been an ABBA fan since I was 8 years old ... i had such a crush on Benny Andersson at the time LOL

[nskid]

@JimColyer

Interesting inetrpretation. But the line is: "I'm a minister, a big shot in the state". In other words he's a cabinet minister in the government, not a religious man.

[JimColyer]

She talks to two men at a party. One is a pessimistic preacher. The other flirts with her. She wants to be picked up. Is this the party in Happy New Year? The displaced preacher foreshadows the Electronic Church. Human rights interest him more than the gospel.

[MARIVINGT]

je suis français est j adore abba

[Perle3456]

Now, even some headbanging here > 2:53

[Perle3456]

Definite, Killer song !!

[somesortanaughty]

Wooow..that just brought me back to my first bf...first kisses..first...hhhmmffrr..any­way.. GOD i LOVE Abba!!

[mikurukamui13]

@popmusic1967 omg i did too XDD

[nagee76]

it is awesome Just to see them thoroughly enjoy themselves out there ... having so much fun... there will never ever be any other band remotely close to their singing talents, song writing, true beauty, stage presence and such wonderful grace that seems to come so naturally and easily to them....

VIVA ABBA - Rock On Forever !!

[Sonya14091991]

Frida is driving in this video