THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

44-ABBA-Dancing Queen.

1976-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. What is Pop Music’s infatuation with the age of 17? You can probably think of a song right now that sings about someone of that age, or has the song title ’17.’ For example Meatloaf was barely that age, and he was barley dressed. Whereas Kid Rock was infatuated with a 17 year old girl who ‘was far from in-between,’ and as music moved on into the second decade of the 21st Century, Sam Fender kept that all important Number at the forefront with the wonderful ‘Seventeen Going Under.’ There of course is no hidden meaning, or any great mystery, it is simply that ’17’ fits in so much easier to the beat and lyrics than any other Number. For the songs in this best songs list that mention ’17’ see best songs 942-433-353-90 and 44.

ABBA were formed in 1972, in Stockholm, Sweden, by Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, they were all born in Sweden, with the exception of Lyngstad who was born in Norway. ABBA remained active until 1982, but officially reformed in 2016, and at the time of writing they remain active. It was the groups manager Stig Anderson (1931-1997) who came up with the name ‘ABBA,’ by taking the first letter from each of the bands members first names, but it has never been revealed whose name relates to the first ‘A,’ or whose name relates to the first ‘B.’

ABBA are one of the best selling acts of all time with sales in excess of 350 million records sold worldwide. In the UK their 1992 release ‘ABBA Gold Greatest Hits,’ is the second best ever selling Album in that country, with sales in excess of 5.5 million copies. ABBA have released nine studio Albums between 1973-2021, and 50 singles between 1972-2022. In Sweden 19 of their singles have made the top 40, with four reaching Number 1, while in the UK, 27 of their singles have reached the top 40, with nine of those making Number 1. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, they have reached the top 40 on 14 occasions, with ‘Dancing Queen’ giving them their only chart topper.

‘Dancing Queen’ was co-written by Benny Andersson, and Bjorn Ulvaeus, with song writing credit also given to Stig Anderson for his lyrical input. The writers have said that ‘Dancing Queen’ was inspired by many other songs, including the Phil Spector (1939-2021) ‘Wall of Sound’ arrangements, and also by the 1974 ‘Disco’ hit ‘Rock Your Baby’ (see also best songs 64.) Other inspirations that are cited is the drumming on ‘Dr. John’s 1972 Album ‘Dr. John’s Gumbo,’ and the 1971 song ‘Sing My Way Home.’ by ‘Delaney & Bonnie,’ whose harmonies definitely echo those of ‘Dancing Queen.’The song was the first of four singles released from ‘Arrival,’ which was the fourth studio Album released by ABBA. from 1976. The Album was produced by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and is the bands best selling single, with sales in the UK in excess of 1.6 million copies, and is the only ABBA song in that country to have topped one million copies sold.

‘Dancing Queen’ tells the story of a 17 year old girl realising her potential. She goes to the discotheque to have a good time knowing that she could make any man she wants hers, but she is in charge, and they will play by her rules.

‘You’re a teaser, you turn ’em on, leave ’em burning and then you’re gone. Looking out for another, anyone will do, you’re in the mood for a dance, and when you get the chance.’