Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"
Song
B-side	"The King Has Lost His Crown"

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)", (working title "Been and Gone and Done It"), is one of Swedish pop group ABBA's biggest Eurodisco hits. It was recorded and released in 1979 with "The King Has Lost His Crown" as the B-side. It appears on ABBA's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 album, as well as their best-selling album, Gold: Greatest Hits.

Original version

History

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight)" was written and composed by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, with the lead vocal sung by Agnetha Fältskog. Agnetha, as the narrator, weaves the image of a lonely young woman who longs for a romantic relationship and views her loneliness as a forbidding darkness of night, even drawing parallels to how the happy endings of movie stars are so different from her own existence.

The song was recorded at Polar Music Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 1979, and was ready for release in October of that year, in conjunction with the group's tour of North America and Europe.

Originally, ABBA had recorded another song, "Rubber Ball Man", which was planned as a single. It featured the typical "ABBA-arrangement" with both Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad on lead vocals and the use of classical strings. This song was also performed by the group during rehearsals for its 1979 tour as "Under My Sun". However, the group felt that "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!", with its disco sound, would be a better choice, and thus, "Rubber Ball Man" remained nothing more than a demo.

Single version

The single version of this song, which was released in its full length of 4:45 everywhere else in the world, was released in the United States and Canada in an edited format, being just 3:36 in length. This was done by removing the first half of the opening instrumental, the first four of the eight bars of the instrumental bridge between the second and final chorus, and fading the song out early. It is believed the edit was done by Atlantic, ABBA's North American record label, and not Polar, hence the reason why it was available only in the USA and Canada. This single version has never appeared on any commercial CD issued by Polar/Universal to date, and along with the US radio edit of Chiquitita, it marked the only time Atlantic ever commercially released an edited version of an ABBA single while they had the North American rights to release ABBA recordings.

The single was never released by Polar Music in the group's native Sweden, instead being featured on the "Greatest Hits Volume 2" album, which did get a Swedish release. While Polar released the single in neighbouring Norway, Denmark, and Finland, copies of these versions were not made available in the Swedish record stores, who thus arranged to import copies of the United Kingdom version on Epic Records. Sales of these imports were sufficient for the single to reach number 16 on the sales chart in Sweden.

Spanish version

"¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame!" is the Spanish-language version of the song. The song was released as a single to promote Gracias Por La Música in Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries.

Reception

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was another highly successful song for ABBA. It hit No. 1 in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, and Switzerland, while reaching the Top 3 in Austria, West Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, and Norway. It also proved to be ABBA's most successful song in Japan, hitting #17.

Chart positions

Chart (1979-1980)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	1
France (SNEP)	3
Invalid chart entered Germany2	3
Irish Singles Chart	1
Japan (Oricon)	17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	15
Norway (VG-lista)	2
South African Chart	16
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	1
UK (Official Charts Company)	3

A-Teens version

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"
Song

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was A-Teens' third single (fourth in other territories) from their first album The ABBA Generation, a collection of ABBA cover versions.

When the single came out in the winter of 1999 in Sweden, it earned a Gold certification. It also became their third top ten hit there and the band's third top 40 hit in Germany. The song peaked at number 51 in Switzerland, number 27 in the Netherlands, number 20 in Mexico, and number 22 in Argentina and Chile.

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was recorded in Spanish for the Latin American promotion that started in early 2000.

Music video

The music video was directed by Sebastian Reed, and it was filmed in Sweden.

The video starts with the boys entering a warehouse, where they find a crystal ball. Inside, there is an "alternate world" where they perform the song.

The video had high rotation on several music channels, but it was not as successful as the first singles.

The version of the song used on the video is the Radio Version, which is shorter and includes different beats and sounds to the album version.

Releases

European 2-track CD single

1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
2. "A*Teens Medley" [Pierre J's Radio Mix] – 3:54

European maxi CD

1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
2. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Extended version] – 6:02
3. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Earthbound Late Show Remix] – 5:04
4. "A*Teens Medley" [Pierre J's Full Length Mix] – 8:19

Mexican CD single

1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
2. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Spanish version] – 3:43

Japanese maxi CD

1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
2. "A*Teens Medley" [Pierre J's Radio Mix] – 3:54
3. "Mamma Mia" [Spanish version] – 3:46
4. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Spanish version] – 3:43

1 Track CD'

1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45

Star Academy France version

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"
Song
B-side	"Brigite Bardot" (remix)

In 2001, the song was successfully covered by the first edition of the French TV reality show Star Academy 1. The song was credited to Olivia Ruiz, Jenifer Bartoli and Carine Haddadou, three of the contestants. This version went straight to number-one in France, disloging Star Academy's previous hit, "La Musique (Angelica)", and stayed atop for two weeks.

Track listings

CD single

1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" – 3:30
2. "Brigitte Bardot" (remix edit) by Jean-Pascal Lacoste – 3:01

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	11
France (SNEP)	1

Film version

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"
Song

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was the first single released from the soundtrack for the 2008 film version of Mamma Mia! by American actress Amanda Seyfried. Unlike the original stage version, Seyfried sings the complete song as a solo performance.

Covers, live performances and uses in the media

Other notable covers

• An instrumental electronica cover of the song by Motor Industries can be found on the album The Electronic Tribute to ABBA.
• British electronic band O.V.N.I also recorded its own rendition of the song.
• The song was covered by the band Eldissa on its album What A Difference.
• Dance versions have been recorded by various artists including: Angeleyes on its 1999 album ABBADance, Marmic on the compilation Lay All Your Love On ABBA, DJ Ensamble on its 2006 Dancing Queen tribute album, Rio & Mars, and Mito featuring Naymi.
• The famous guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen released a metal version of the song, titled "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (Your Love after Midnight)" from the compilation album Anthology: 1994–1999. The song features minor changes to the lyrics and the melody features a more powerful metal feel. Malmsteen plays an arpeggiated version of the main theme in his version, and has added guitar solos in the instrumental bridge.
• German alternative band Bananafishbones covered the song with slightly altered lyrics.
• Vietnamese-American singer, Christine Thuy Huong, recorded her version of the song for her album, Men Say Tinh Ai. In her version, Huong sings part of the song in English, and part in Vietnamese.
• A Cantonese version entitled 心向上 was performed by Hong Kong singer Teresa Cheung Tak Lan.
• In 1980, a Mandarin version entitled Annoying Autumn Wind (惱人的秋風) hit Taiwan, performed by pop singer Lingfeng Gao. Later, in the late 1980s, it was introduced into mainland China by a Chinese American singer Kris Phillips (Fei Xiang).
• In 1984, The Sisters of Mercy covered the song several times as part of their live set.
• In 1986, British synthpop duo Erasure released a faithful cover as the B-side to their 12" single "Oh L'amour". Erasure would go on to record a further EP of ABBA songs.
• In 1986, the song was also covered and released in two different mixes on 12" singles by the Swedish rock band The Leather Nun.
• In 1997, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus recorded a cover of the song for its album ExtrABBAganza!.
• In 1998, punk rock band Attaque 77 made a cover for its tribute album Otras Canciones; called "Dame, Dame, Dame" (Spanish for Gimme ! Gimme Gimme!) the version was in Spanish.
• In 1999, a version of the song performed by singer/actress Denise Van Outen was included on the British Abbamania tribute album. Van Outen was also the host of the Abbamania TV special. On the subsequent ABBAMania 2 album, from 2004, which featured covers performed by various British TV stars, the song was performed by actress Julie Forsyth.
• In 2000, the song was covered by Swedish metal band Black Ingvars on its album Kid's Super Hits.
• In 2001, another heavy metal version of the song is the track by Finnish power/speed metal band Sinergy from the ABBAMetal tribute album (also released as A Tribute to ABBA).
• In 2001, as a B-side to its single "Gimme Back My Brain", the Northern Irish rock band Therapy? recorded a cover version.
• In 2004, Swedish musician Nils Landgren included a cover on his tribute album Funky ABBA.
• In 2004, a duet version by German heavy metal vocalist Doro Pesch and comedian Dirk Bach was featured on the German ABBA Mania album (released in conjunction with a TV special on RTL Television.
• In 2004, on the tribute album Abbalicious performed by various American drag queens, the song was covered by Hedda Lettuce.
• In November 2004, the French-Techhouse project Shana Vanguarde covered the song, eliminating most of the lyrics and retaining a looped sample at the end of the chorus before the eight-bar instrumental.
• In 2004, a cover by Swedish goth metal band Beseech can be found on its album Souls Highway.
• In 2006, a cover of the song by Sawa Kobayashi can be found on the chill out music compilation ABBA Chill Out.
• In 2006, a cover of the song by Finnish a cappella choral ensemble Rajaton can be found on its ABBA tribute album Rajaton Sings ABBA With Lahti Symphony Orchestra.
• In 2007, Swedish goth rock band Funhouse covered the song on its EP Don't Wanna Know Me. An audio sample can be heard on their official MySpace page.
• In 2008, the song was covered in a jazz/lounge music style by American group BNB on its album Bossa Mia: Songs of ABBA.
• In 2008, Spanish singer Edurne covered the song in Spanish as Dame, Dame, Dame Amor Esta Noche for her album Première.
• In 2008, Canadian singer Damhnait Doyle covered the song on her album of cover songs, Lights Down Low.
• Tribute group Abbacadabra released numerous dance cover remixes of the song through Almighty Records in the late 1990s. Mixes of the group's cover version were most recently included on the its 2008 compilation We Love ABBA: The Mamma Mia Dance Compilation. Audio samples can be heard on the official Almighty Records website.
• Indie artist Bangobang recorded a cover of the song.
• Idol 2008 winner Kevin Borg sang his version on the Top 9 final performance show and also a studio version was released on the Idol 2008 best of cast recording, replacing "gimme a man after midnight" with "gimme your love after midnight".
• In 2008, Australian singer Lee Adam Wilshier included an instrumental cover of the song on his album Lover Man.
• In 2010, the Spanish folk metal band Mago de Oz covered the song as a B-side for its single "Que el Viento Sople a tu Favor".

Live cover performances

• The song is one of the major numbers in the Mamma Mia! musical and movie. In the context of the musical, the song is sung by Sophie's friends at the hen party when they notice the fathers and dance with them. Throughout the song in little intermissions, the fathers question Sophie as to why they are invited to the island. At the end of the song, Bill (One of the three of Sophie's potential fathers) talks to Sophie about his great aunt leaving Donna money in her will. Bill then realizes that he could be Sophie's father.
• The X Factor girl band Hope sang the song with interjections of Madonna's "Hung Up" on Series 4.
• The song was sung on Australian Idol season 6 by Sophie Paterson during ABBA week.

Sampling, references, appearances in other media, etc.

• In 2005, this song was sampled by Madonna, who used it on her worldwide huge hit "Hung Up". Madonna is said to have sent a letter to Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus asking to use the song as a sample, since the Swedish songwriting duo are reluctant to let other artists sample their material. It was only the second time that an ABBA track had been officially sampled, the first being the Fugees in 1996 with their hit "Rumble in the Jungle", sampling part of 1977's "The Name of the Game".
• The Tamperer featuring Maya used the melody-line as a backdrop for their song "Hammer to the Heart".
• "Ooh, Yes I Do", a single by Dutch girl group Luv', uses a melody inspired by the flute theme of the song.
• A ringtone called "Cool Chick" uses the rhythm of the song. It was released in many Siemens phones like Siemens AX72.
• The British sitcom comedy "Gimme Gimme Gimme" used this song as its title theme.
• The song sampled electronic melodic of the song Chilean band Dënver's Revista de gimnasia.
• This song will appear in Just Dance 2014 making it ABBA's first video game appearance besides having their own games respectively Singstar ABBA and ABBA: You Can Dance which also feature the song.

External links

• Video of the song being recorded (from Abba's official website)