# 16. I'm A Marionette

 

 

 

"I'm a Marionette" was part of a mini-musical called "The Girl with the Golden Hair" that ABBA performed at several of their live concerts. Also it's the B-side of "Take a Chance on Me".

 

This song grew up for me very much after Dutch musical "ABBAcadabra" from 1985. "I'm A Marionette" was used as a main theme for a witch, played by Marga Scheide (mostly known as a member of girl pop group Luv').

 

Watch from 24.00.

 

Edited September 2, 20213 yr by Last Dreamer

Seven years ago "Knowing Me" was # 1 in my top 40 ABBA songs (compiled for the Ultimate chart on UKMIX forum). Now that old chart looks irrelevant, because it was mostly based on the singles and I didn't have "Ring Ring" LP in my collection.

 

Just for the history.

 

My old top 40 from July 2011.

1. Knowing Me, Knowing You

2. Honey, Honey

3. Name Of The Game

4. The Day Before You Came

5. When I Kissed The Teacher

6. The Winner Takes It All

7. When All Is Said And Done

8. That's Me

9. Ring Ring

10. Take A Chance On Me

11. Dancing Queen

12. Waterloo

13. Hasta Manana

14. Summer Night City

15. I Do, I Do, I Do...

16. S.O.S.

17. Angeleyes

18. On And On And On

19. Thank You For The Music

20. Eagle

21. Head Over Heels

22. One Of Us

23. I Have A Dream

24. Money Money Money

25. Super Trouper

26. Kisses On Fire

27. As Good As New

28. Voulez-Vous

29. Bang-A-Boomerang

30. Mamma Mia

31. Dum Dum Diddle

32. Slipping Through My Fingers

33. My Love, My Life

34. So Long

35. Rock Me

36. Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)

37. People Need Love

38. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

39. Under Attack

40. Suzy-Hang-Around

 

# 15. Thank You For The Music

 

 

Third and the highest song from "The Girl with the Golden Hair". In the most countries "Thank You For The Music" was a B-side on "Eagle" single. In UK this iconic ABBA track was released as single only in 1983 year and peaking only at painful number 33.

 

# 14. Nina, Pretty Ballerina

 

 

"Nina, Pretty Ballerina" was issued on 7" vinyl single in Austria and France to promote the band's debut album "Ring Ring".

 

# 13. Head Over Heels

 

 

"Head Over Heels" was not a successful chart hit; the release came as the group's popularity was declining, and became ABBA's worst selling single since "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", seven years earlier. It only managed to chart as high as #25 in the UK, breaking a run of 18 consecutive Top 10 hits (from "SOS" in October 1975 to "One of Us" in December 1981).

 

This 18-hit run had equaled that of The Beatles, who had consecutive Top 10 hits from 1964 (with "A Hard Day's Night") to 1976 (with "Yesterday"), broken by "Back in the U.S.S.R.".

 

 

# 12. Hasta Manana

 

 

Initially fearing that "Waterloo" might be too risky to enter for the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, the group considered performing the ballad "Hasta Manana" instead, as they thought that it was more in style with previous Eurovision winners.

 

Eventually, they decided on "Waterloo", primarily because it featured Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad sharing lead vocals, whereas "Hasta Manana" had Faltskog as the sole lead vocalist. ABBA believed that this would give the wrong impression of them to the world.

 

In their home country Sweden the single was peaked at # 1.

Edited January 13, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

 

# 11. Waterloo

 

 

The winner of my favourite year in all Eurovision history.

 

On 6 April 1974 the song was the winning entry for Sweden in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. The victory began ABBA's path to worldwide fame. The Swedish version of the single was a double A-side with "Honey, Honey" (Swedish version), while the English version usually featured "Watch Out" on the B-side.

 

The single became a No. 1 hit in several countries (include Ireland and United Kingdom).

 

# 10. Ring Ring

 

 

Back to back, with the victory song at # 11 we have another Eurovision related song. "Ring Ring" got only third place in Melodifestivalen, but became a big hit in Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Austria.

 

It was the group's first release in the UK in October 1973, but failed to chart, selling only five thousand copies. A remixed version of the song reached No. 32 in June 1974, after the No. 1 success of "Waterloo".

 

# 9. The Winner Takes It All

 

 

Iconic ABBA song, probably their second most popular track after "Dancing Queen". It's my favourite song from "Super Trouper" LP.

 

# 8. Knowing Me, Knowing You

 

 

"Knowing Me, Knowing You" proved to be one of ABBA's most successful singles, also it's the highest UK single in this ranking.

 

Only 7 songs still to come, but which one will takes it all.

 

# 7. Angeleyes

 

 

In the United Kingdom, "Angeleyes" was released as a double A-side with "Voulez-Vous", this being an unusual move for the group and peaked at No. 3 in the UK in August 1979.

 

Technically "Angeleyes" was on the second side of "Voulez-Vous" single and didn't have any promotional video. Based on this factor I can compare "Angeleyes" place with other successful B-sides ("I'm a Marionette", "You Owe Me One", "Kisses of Fire") in this ranking, which I prefer over the main side of those singles.

 

Also it's my favourite track from "Voulez-Vous" album.

Edited January 13, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

 

# 6. Disillusion

 

 

Possibly only hardcore fans of group heard this song before. This hidden gem and very underrated lovely ballad from "Ring Ring" became only the one ABBA song with writing contributions by Agnetha.

 

# 5. When I Kissed The Teacher

 

 

The song's light-hearted lyrics tell the story of a student who has a crush on her teacher, one day cannot restrain herself and kisses him. The lyrics are set to spirited music. Benny Andersson considered this one of his favorite ABBA songs.

 

"When I Kissed The Teacher" even have the official video. Do ABBA have any plans to release it as the single ?

 

I hate a cover version from Mamma Mia : Here We Go Again, how they can to ruin the one from my favourite ABBA tracks ? :(

Edited January 13, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

 

# 4. I Am Just A Girl

 

 

The highest track from "Ring Ring" is criminally underrated ballad "I Am Just A Girl". In 1973 year this song was released as single ("Ring Ring was a B-side) in Japan.

Edited September 5, 20186 yr by Good Old Days

 

# 3. When All Is Said And Done

 

 

Bronze medal was taken by my favourite track from "The Visitors". Although most countries released the track "One of Us" in December 1981, ABBA's American record label, Atlantic Records, instead opted for "When All Is Said and Done". For ABBA it was 14th and final US Top 40 hit.

 

I love very much every song in top 20, but top 2 songs are in the different league.

 

# 2. Honey Honey

 

 

Now that what I call good cheesy pop song. ;)

 

In very close battle between two leaders "Honey Honey" was finished only at # 2. Obviously it's the most stable (2nd in 2011, 1st in 2014 and now 2nd again) in my rankings and aged very well.

 

"Honey, Honey" spent 4 months in the top 5 in West Germany and also reached top 5 in Austria and Switzerland. ABBA's British record label, Epic Records, decided to release a remixed version of "Ring Ring". But this single only reached No.32, so, instead, a cover version of "Honey, Honey" was recorded by Sweet Dreams (don't mix up them with British ESC band from 1983, it's another group ;) ), promptly hitting the UK top 10.

 

In 2008 year a cover version of "Honey Honey" being sung by actress Amanda Seyfried for "Mamma Mia" spent 5 weeks at # 1 in my chart.

Edited January 13, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

 

# 1. That's Me

 

 

Are you sure you want to hear more

What if I ain't worth the while

Not the style you'd be looking for

If I'm sweet tonight

Things look different in the morning light

I'm jealous and I'm proud

If you hurt my feelings I'll cry out loud

I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry

That's me

 

Are you sure you want to hear more

Would I be the one you seek

Mild and meek like the girl next door

Don't you realize

I may be an angel in disguise

It's lonely to be free

But I'm not a man's toy, I'll never be

I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry

That's me

 

I don't believe in fairy-tales

Sweet nothings in my ear

But I do believe in sympathy

That's me, you see

 

Are you sure you want to hear more

Won't you have a drink with me

Just to see you're not really sore

I can't help my ways

I'm just not the girl to hide my face

I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry

That's me

 

There's a special love

Like an eagle flying with a dove

I'll find it in the end

If I keep on searching, but until then

I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry

That's me

 

"That's Me" was released as single in Japan. So based on the special rules it's legal track for my yearly charts and I can declare "That's Me" as my favourite song from 1977.

 

In the most countries "That's Me" was a B-side of "Dancing Queen".

 

 

 

Full Top 100 :

1. That's Me

2. Honey Honey

3. When All Is Said And Done

4. I Am Just A Girl

5. When I Kissed The Teacher

6. Dissilusion

7. Angeleyes

8. Knowing Me, Knowing You

9. The Winner Takes It All

10. Ring Ring

11. Waterloo

12. Hasta Manana

13. Head Over Heels

14. Nina, Pretty Ballerina

15. Thank You For The Music

16. I'm A Marionette

17. Dream World

18. I Have A Dream

19. Two For The Price Of One

20. Kisses Of Fire

 

21. Slipping Through My Fingers

22. Happy New Year

23. Me and I

24. You Owe Me One

25. One Of Us

26. Me & Bobby & Bobby's Brother

27. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do

28. Dancing Queen

29. Another Town, Another Train

30. I Wonder (Departure)

31. I Let The Music Speak

32. Andante, Andante

33. Money, Money, Money

34. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room

35. I've Been Waiting For You

36. My Love, My Life

37. Super Trouper

38. Elaine

39. Dum Dum Diddle

40. Gonna Sing You My Love Song

 

41. If It Wasn't For The Nights

42. As Good As New

43. Should I Laugh Or Cry

44. Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)

45. I Am The City

46. Why Did It Have To Be Me ?

47. Tiger

48. Bang-A-Boomerang

49. Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)

50. On And On And On

51. Medley (Pick a Bale of Cotton / On Top of Old Smokey / Midnight Special)

52. Summer Night City

53. Crazy World

54. Lovelight

55. Take A Chance On Me

56. One Man, One Woman

57. S.O.S.

58. Our Last Summer

59. Suzy-Hang-Around

60. Mamma Mia

 

61. Rock 'N' Roll Band

62. Merry-Go-Round

63. She's My Kind Of Girl

64. The King Has Lost His Crown

65. What About Livingstone

66. The Name Of The Game

67. So Long

68. Rock Me

69. The Day Before You Came

70. Happy Hawaii

71. Under Attack

72. Does Your Mother Know

73. Hey, Hey Helen

74. He Is Your Brother

75. Tropical Loveland

76. Voulez-Vous

77. I Saw It In The Mirror

78. People Need Love

79. Sitting In The Palmtree

80. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

 

81. The Piper

82. Cassandra

83. The Way Old Friends Do

84. Lovers (Live A Little Longer)

85. Soldiers

86. The Visitors

87. Santa Rosa

88. My Mama Said

89. Lay All Your Love On Me

90. Hole In Your Soul

91. Move On

92. Man In The Middle

93. Eagle

94. Chiquitita

95. Put On Your White Sombrero

96. Watch Out

97. King Kong Song

98. Intermezzo No.1

99. Arrival

100. Fernando