Flirt a little, maybe

25. Does Your Mother Know | 7.236



Highest Scores: 11: (Simon), 10: (Viper, Liam.k), Lowest Scores: 2: (Hide&Seelk, Jade)


This may come as a suprise to many in at #25 is Does Your Mother Know, which started off strong during the first half of the rate & looked set finish in the top 20, but a couple of middling & low scores saw it drop to this position & allowed several others to rise above it. Released in April 1979 as the 2nd single from ABBA's 7th studio album Voulez-Vous. The song is notable for its emphasis on male vocals, performed by Björn Ulvaeus, with female backing vocals. The demo for this track featured Bjorn on guide vocal and it was decided to keep this during the recording process. Upon release it was another sizeable hit for the group by topping the charts in Belgium & reached top 5 peaks in Finland, Ireland, Netherlands & UK, as well as top 10 peaks in Switzerland, Australia & Germany. In the USA it reached #19, which not only made this the album's most successful hit, but was also the only one to reach the top 20 over there.

Honestly I feel that its #25 rank on here is very fitting, as I feel that most of the songs that's left in the running are far better & stronger (mostly), not saying that this is bad or anything, in-fact its a great little bop that mixes drums, guitar & disco together beautifully & further enhanced by a rockabilly-styled melody. Even though this track takes a bit of risk by having only Bjorn on lead vocals, but he sounds really strong on here, especially on the catchy choruses. However I do feel that some of the lyrics are quite controversial & haven't aged very well. But this is still an enoyable corker of a song that fits in well in ABBA's extensive discography,

How are you guys liking these results & commentaires so far?

 

The next to drop will be from the 80's decade, which will it be?

 

Stay tuned to find out :)

Edited November 29, 20213 yr by Nina West

The first time I heard Does Your Mother Know was a fair while after hearing the B*Witched cover version of it.

 

It was a surprise to hear a male lead vocal on hits after being so use to the B*Witched version.

How are you guys liking these results & commentaires so far?

Loving the commentaries and learning new stuff. Thanks very much!

 

Does Your Mother Know is great and unique. I guess it probably sounds a bit creepy if you listen to it for the first time in 2021 but with ABBA you know it’s all innocent fun.

I am shocked that Summer Night City is out already. And especially before Does Your Mother Know.

 

I thought it was pretty much universally adored as a bit of an overlooked classic? It's bloody brilliant - particularly the live version.

These results are BIZARRE- in what world is Summer Night City only their 28th best single! Not a world I want to be in for sure.

 

I understand The Visitors being so low, it’s such an un-ABBA song but it’s so claustrophobic and as with much of its parent album takes such simple lyrics and tells a complete story.

 

I Have A Dream isn’t a great loss.

At least Does Your Mother Know beat the simpering I Have A Dream but ugh, it's one of the most fun ABBA tracks.

 

We got most of their awful twee stuff out first, which is good, I'm happy so far.

Happy that 'Does Your Mother Know' is out, the lyrics have always made me cringe in places, I'm sure the intentions were harmless but meh, happy to leave that one in the past :P

 

'Summer Night City' on the other hand is great! Now we're getting to the stage where 'Thank You For The Music' is the only departure left that I'm strongly rooting for, legends

'Does Your Mother Know' being out that soon is quite shocking. :(

 

'The Visitors' is a total maserpiece, I assume it's that low due to people being unfamiliar with it.

The first time I heard Does Your Mother Know was a fair while after hearing the B*Witched cover version of it.

 

It was a surprise to hear a male lead vocal on hits after being so use to the B*Witched version.

 

100% on that. Loved the B*Witched version.

 

I also really liked Eton Roads version on X factor

Well I'm livid with Does Your Mother Know leaving us this early :(

About to crack, defences breaking

24. Under Attack | 7.294



Highest Scores: 11: (Qween, LM Fan), 10: (Iz 💀, King Rollo), Lowest Scores: 3: (Last Dreamer, Run For Cover)


At #24 is Under Attack, released in December 1982 as the 2nd and final single from ABBA's compilation, The Singles: The First Ten Years. The group had originally intended to release a new studio album, but instead decided to release a Greatest Hits album, while adding 2 new songs from the session. After the single's release ABBA went on a temporary hiatus that effectively lasted for almost 40 years. Upon release the song was not a commercial success, as ABBA's popularity was in decline & the 2 previous singles also struggled worldwide. Although it did manage top 5 peaks in Belgium & Netherlands, and top 20 in Ireland, however it did not become a major hit anywhere else with top 40 peaks in Germany & UK and a minor peak of #96 on the Australian charts, making this their lowest peaking single there.

ABBA's swan song & its a bit of an odd choice that doesn't really fit that occasion, which is why an older track from their back catalogue got released the following year. In a way this feels like an attempt to get back to the catchy pop of the mid-70's, but despite the components being there such as cleverly arranged backing vocals, catchy chorus, & trademark keyboard cominated production, it doesn't quite gel together like it should, although the post-disco synths does add a nice touch. But it was clearly evident that the group were running out of steam by this point & while I hate to say this, it was probably for the best that they called it a day.

Under Attack is glorious, for a long time it was my favourite ABBA song. That honour now lies with its spiritual twin, The Day Before You Came, but it remains the perfect example of how a continuing ABBA later into the 80s still had lots to give.

I quite like 'Under Attack', its sound is almost in-keeping with the new romantic era of the 80s.

Does Your Mother Know is a great fun little song.

100% on that. Loved the B*Witched version.

 

I also really liked Eton Roads version on X factor

 

I actually still prefer to listen to the B*Witched version.

Running the gauntlet in a whirl of lace

23. Head Over Heels | 7.328



Highest Scores: 10: (King Rollo, Eduardo), Lowest Scores: 5.5/5: (Jester, Dante77, Cameron)


At #23 is Head Over Heels, released in March 1982 as the 3rd single from ABBA's 8th studio album The Visitors. The song's working title was "Tango" & was written and composed by both Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Agnetha Fältskog sang the lead vocals. When the song was released the group's popularity was starting to decline & became ABBA's worst selling single in 7 years in the UK by peaking at #25 & breaking a run of 18 consecutive top 10 hits. Although it did fare better in some countries by topping the charts in Netherlands & top 10 peaks in Belgium, France & Austria. However by this time, ABBA's chart domination was all but over, and the group effectively disbanded a year later.

A rather quirky little number that's supposed to be upbeat, yet the instrumentation sounds so grim. Although I do like the synthesized pizzicato strings in the opening & as always Agentha delivers a fantastic vocal performance. But feel that the poppy verses feels at odds with the synths at times & the chorus feels a little weak, but do like the satrical tone of the lyrics & the music video is also fun. Not one of my fave ABBA numbers & don't think that this was a strong single choice, they should have went with 'When All Is Said and Done', but that's just my opinion.

I adore Head Over Heels, Frida is great in the video and Agnetha sounds really good on it. It's also a massive earworm, the chorus basically never leaves my head.

 

I was expecting it to leave about here, it's a fair position even if for me personally it would be quite a lot higher.

 

For some time, my blog review of the song was on its Wiki page! It's been edited out now but is still on here (see Richard of PopLoveDance):

 

https://culture.fandom.com/wiki/Head_over_Heels_(ABBA_song)

I actually love Head Over Heels and think it’s really catchy and quirky and badly underrated. I much prefer it to When All Is Said And Done which I find a bit twee.

Next page plz....