Dancing Queen
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"Dancing Queen" is the title of a song, which was one of the biggest hit singles recorded by Swedish group ABBA.
Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, recorded in 1975 for the group's album Arrival, and released as a single in 1976, the song preceded and contributed to the huge popularity of disco music in the late seventies. Although it does not contain many of the most common key characteristics of disco music, it has come to be considered as one of the best examples of this genre. This is somewhat ironic as its relatively slow tempo and syncopated rhythm makes it quite difficult to dance to.
It features a shared lead vocal performance by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and its introduction of piano and hummed vocals is one of the most identifiable sections of ABBA's music. Another unusual (but not unique) aspect of the song is that it begins with its chorus.
ABBA donned traditional 18th Century costumes when they first performed this song for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden the night before he was married to Silvia Sommerlath before it spent six weeks at number one in the United Kingdom from August 1976, and it became the group's only American number one in April 1977. It also reached number one in numerous countries including Sweden, Norway, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.
In recent years it has been covered by such diverse artists as U2 and Kylie Minogue who performed it at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Featured in the 1994 film Muriel's Wedding, the song was used as the theme for idealised dreaming with the character Muriel saying early in the film that she wished her life was perfect. She always wished her life was Dancing Queen.
It is also featured in the ABBA musical Mamma Mia. The Irish folk singer Luka Bloom includes a rendition of "Dancing Queen" in most of his live performances.
Other artists who have covered this song:
- A*Teens
- Milo Binder
- Luka Bloom
- CoCo Lee
- Jennifer Love Hewitt
- Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
- Franck Pourcel
- S Club 7
- Wing (singer)
The song is popular at sporting events, and has been adopted as a gay anthem.