The music of ABBA will always be timeless. Beginning with “People Need Love”, out in 1972, the band released plenty of great songs, including some that are perfect for a dance floor. These are three of ABBA’s best songs, which still make me want to dance today.
“Dancing Queen”
Of course, “Dancing Queen” needs to be on any list of ABBA songs that are worthy of a dance floor. Among their most popular songs, “Dancing Queen” came out in 1976. Written by band members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, along with their manager, Stig Anderson, “Dancing Queen” stayed at the top of the charts in their native Sweden for 14 weeks.
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Although ABBA had many hit singles in the United States, “Dancing Queen” is their only one to reach No. 1 in the United States.
“Dancing Queen” says, “You are the dancing queen / Young and sweet, only seventeen / Dancing queen / Feel the beat from the tambourine / Oh, yeah.”
By the time “Dancing Queen” was released, ABBA already had numerous hits. Still, all of ABBA knew right away it would be a success. Band member Anni-Frid Lyngstad burst into tears when she first heard it.
”It’s hard to tell when a hit is being made. You don’t always sense it,” ABBA’s Agnetha Fältskog says. “‘Dancing Queen’ was an exception; we knew immediately it was going to be massive.”
“Summer Night City”
Out in 1978, “Summer Night City” appears on ABBA’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2 record. The song was written by Andersson and Ulvaeus.
The only single from the record, “Summer Night City” is a celebration of the best things about evenings when the weather is hot. The song says, “Waiting for the sunrise, soul dancing in the dark / Summer night city / Walking in the moonlight, love-making in the park / Summer night city.”
“Summer Night City” has been covered multiple times, including by Abracadabra in 1998.
“Waterloo”
Out in 1974, “Waterloo” is the title track of ABBA’s sophomore album. The uptempo tune was written by Andersson and Ulvaeus. Waterloo is where Napoleon Bonaparte lost his battle in 1815.
The song says, “The history book on the shelf / Is always repeating itself / Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war / Waterloo, promise to love you forevermore.”
“Waterloo” was recorded in their native Swedish, which won the Eurovision Song Contest. It was also recorded in English, French, and German.
Photo by OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images
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