Nothing from before 1977 left then. I think that’s fair as although some of their earlier output was very catchy and commercial, they definitely became better artists over time.

Mamma Mia was number 1 when I was born :P

Happy with that placement for Mama Mia. I think they have plenty better.

Wishing every show was the last show

8. Super Trouper | 8.666



Highest Scores: 11: (Eduardo), 10: (spiceboy, Nina West, Tawdry Hepburn, LM Fan, Simon, Herbs, cider man, Hide&Seek, Liam.k), Lowest Scores: 3: (King Rollo)


At #8 is Super Trouper, released in November 1980 as the 3rd single from ABBA's 7th studio album also titled Super Trouper, and was written by Benny & Bjorn with Frida on lead vocals. The song's working title was "Blinka Lilla Stjärna" (i.e. Twinkle Little Star, in Swedish), and was the last track recorded for the album, ultimately replacing "Put On Your White Sombrero", which in turn remained unreleased until 1994. The song's name refers to the Super Trouper, a make of followspot used in large venues.

Upon release the song continued ABBA's run of chart success worldwide by topping the charts in Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Germany & UK, where it became their 9th & final UK chart topper to date. It also managed top 10 peaks in Austria, Finland, France, Israel & Switzerland. However outside of Europe the song was only a modest hit by charting the lower regions in Australia & only reached a #45 oeak in the USA. To date this is ABBA's 2nd biggest selling single in the UK with sales of over 978,000 copies.

The song works as an encapsulation of ABBA’s past work combined with a more mature feel with more synthesized keyboards & simple piano runs that are effective, along with tight vocal harmonies. However its the synth bass-line of the chrous is what feels new for the group & the more throaty vocals by Frida shows how the group have matured, & its pretty great. The acapella introduction gives this a rather nursery rhyme feel, yet with a sense of dread in the lyrics. This is a great example of ABBA moving forward with larger than life production & stunning textures makes this a near perfect pop song.

Super Trouper grew on me over many years. I initially hated it. Thought it was just the cheesiest thing I'd ever heard.

 

Then one day it just kind of clicked. Now I love it. I love everything about it.

 

That pre-chorus>chorus transition is sublime, and potentially one of their best. The chorus itself is majestic. Those harmonies. Wow.

 

I don't know why I gave this less than a 10. Moment of madness clearly.

Edited December 8, 20213 yr by PaulM1983

I never really had much time for Super Trouper until I saw Cher signing it in Mama Mia 2. One of my favourites now.

I still really enjoy 'Mamma Mia' even though it's been ridiculously overdone at this point.

 

Super Trouper :wub: :wub: Can't fault it, honestly.

Love mama mia and SOS

Lots of my 10s missing the Top 10, definitely would have loved to see The Day Before You Came, Chiquitita, Voulez-Vouz and Dancing Queen in the Top 10. The latter missing it really is a travesty, there’s a reason why it’s their best seller and most iconic track - its absolute pop perfection; the most undeniable, catchy anthem that’s up there with Toxic and Hung Up for 100% replay value and never losing any of its spark.

@Nina West these commentary writeups are fantastic!

I think Mamma Mia is a tad overrated

Mamma Mia - great song, although I think I may have heard it too much in my life

Super Trouper - love the mix of their voices. Always been a great song

@Nina West these commentary writeups are fantastic!

 

Thank you so much J00prstar

 

I always try to write something postive about every track (even if i'm not keen on them). The reason why I posted all of these in single posts is that so the page doesn't look too cluttered & every song in this rate deserves its own spotlight. I know like a lot of people, groups a lot of songs together especially if there's a ton of them, but considering there was only 33 songs in this rate, it was better to single each one out.

 

Glad u guys are liking these commentaries so far & hopefully these results will be completed within' the next week or so.

If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown

7. Take A Chance on Me | 8.68



Highest Scores: 11: (ready for it, Cameron), 10: (Qween, spiceboy, Jester, Nina West, Simon, Feel The Fever, Dante77, Eduardo, Liam.k), Lowest Scores: 5: (Last Dreamer)


Wow these chart toppers are really dropping like flies, in at #7 is Take A Chance On Me, released in January 1978 as the 2nd single from ABBA's 5th studio album ABBA: The Album. The song's working title was "Billy Boy", an excerpt of its original demo form was released in 1994 on their box set Thank You For The Music, as part of the track ABBA undeleted, which consisted of demos. Written & recorded in 1977 by Benny & Bjorn, and was also one of their first singles in which their manager Stig Anderson did not assist with writing the lyrics. The song's orgins sprang from Bjorn, a keen runner, who would repeat a "tck-a-ch"-style rhythm to pace himself, which evolved into the song's title & the eventual lyrics. The song was notably covered in 1992 by the British band Erasure as part of their 'ABBA-esque EP' which topped the UK charts for 5 weeks.

Upon release the song proved to be one of ABBA's most successful chart hits, becoming their 7th UK #1 & last of the 1970's decade, and gives the group the distinction of being the act with the most chart-topping singles of the 1970s in the UK. Elsewhere it also topped the charts in Austria, Belgium & Ireland, as well as top 5 peaks in Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Rhodesia & in the USA where it became their 2nd highest charting single there by reaching #3 & was certified Gold for sales of over 1 Million copies.

I know i'm repeating myself but WHO CARES, this is another fantastic ABBA number that layers on many different melody arrangement details. The first being the genius acapella introduction with the 2 men chanting, then the beat kicks in with layers of keyboard hooks that switches between the running beat that underscores the tune and the verses, which sound outstanding as does the commanding vocal performances by both the ladies who each gets their own solo sections & simply sound superb. The production has a lot going on that not only makes this unique, but everything's balanced wonderfully without sounding cluttered. This is a prime example of ABBA perfecting their approach to their songs & dare I say it, everything they released during this period was magnificent.

Everything left has a 10, 10.5 or 11 from me in the rate, so I'm very happy.

 

I do feel like Mamma Mia is a bit too high. It's overrated. But really, this top 10 is impeccable. If Angeleyes had made it, it'd be perfection.

 

Thrilled that One Of Us is still in the running too.

I’m amazed Take A Chance On Me is this high!

 

Echo the comment about One Of Us. If their popularity hadn’t started to go, it would have been a massive number one (surely!)

Yep, also happy One Of Us has made it this high and hopefully higher.

I'm like a dream within a dream that's been decoded

6. Don't Shut Me Down | 8.728



Highest Scores: 11: (gooddelta, Eduardo), 10: (Nina West, PaulM1983, Simon, cider man, slowdown73, Viper, JulianT, Liam, Liam.k), Lowest Scores: 5: (Cameron)


At #6 is Don't Shut Me Down, released in September 2021 as a dual single alongside "I Still Have Faith In You" (which dropped at #22). Both songs are from ABBA's 9th studio album Voyage. Both of which were the group's first singles in 38 years since 1983. Written & produced by Benny & Bjorn, who together wrote virtually all of the pop group's tracks. This song & its counterpart was actually recorded back in 2018, with the original plan was for the songs to support a TV special produced by NBC and the BBC, but this was later changed to the "ABBAtar" tour which is set to debut in 2022. Then the group decided to keep the songs for a brand new album, which I can safely say was for the better, as the album would become a huge success by selling more than 1 Million copies in its first week of release & top the charts in 19 countries worldwide.

Upon release the song was the most successful of the 2 releases by topping the charts in both Switzerland & Sweden, where it became their first #1 in 40 years since "Summer Night City". It also managed top 5 peaks in Finland, Iceland, Hungary & Germany, as well as top 10 peaks in Denmark, Norway, Belgium, UK & Croatia. In the UK this would be the group's first top 10 hit since 1981's "One of Us", making this their 20th top 10 hit overall.

Well this is a total surprise, knew that would do well on here, but didn't it expect to get this high considering how new it is. However its a fantastic song & an instant ABBA classic. The track starts beautifully with the slow, melodic bars before it gives way to a more upbeat pop number with stunning piano work, saxophones & gentle strings that combines the wonderful lyrics with a catchy chorus that helps the song flow effortlessly. Then of course there's Agentha's more mature yet refined soprano vocals which melds with the harmonies perfectly along with Frida's slightly lower mezzo soprano range helps create something magical. The whole thing is classic ABBA through & through & sure the voices may have aged a little, but they still remain unmistakably ABBA, just with an added layer of maturity & experience. On the whole it was just great to hear new music from one of my favourite groups of all-time.

Edited December 10, 20213 yr by Nina West

Here's a re-cap of the Results 6-10:

06. Don't Shut Me Down - 8.728
07. Take A Chance On Me - 8.68
08. Super Trouper - 8.666
09. Mamma Mia - 8.583
10. SOS - 8.472



Here's what's left in our final 5:

Knowing Me Knowing You
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
The Winner Takes It All
Lay All Your Love On Me
One of Us


Thoughts? Predictions? Feel free to share

I'd say it feels wrong for DSMD to be this high from recency bias but honestly I'm not sure I'd rank it that much lower myself as there aren't many ABBA songs that I really love and this may be up there with the best of their 2nd tier songs for me, it is certainly far better than the other 2 singles off the new album anyway.

 

LAYLOM/TWTIA top 2 pls