Mamma Mia (ABBA song)

This article is about the song. For the musical which got its name from the song, see Mamma Mia! For the 2008 film adaptation which got its name from the musical, see Mamma Mia! (film).

"Mamma Mia"
Song

"Mamma Mia" is a song from ABBA's third album, ABBA, written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, with the lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

The official B-side of the single was the instrumental "Intermezzo No.1", also included on the ABBA album. However, in the UK, "Tropical Loveland", another track from the same album, was used as the b-side. The reasoning for this is unclear. Epic Records in the UK may have made the change as "Intermezzo No. 1" was not representative of the album as a whole, being the only instrumental track on it. Epic may have feared that record buyers would be put off from buying the album if they thought there might be more than one vocal-less track on it.

• In 1980, a Spanish version of "Mamma Mia" was included on the album Gracias Por La Música.
• In 1999, a musical with the same name, Mamma Mia! opened in London's West End, featuring many of ABBA's songs, and production has spread to many other countries, with over 1500 performances on Broadway alone.

Reception

ABBA's ubiquitous single initially topped the charts in November 1975 in Australia where it stayed at the No.1 position for 10 weeks. At the time, it was rumoured that every third citizen of the country owned an ABBA record. It was almost entirely due to this overwhelming success that the single was subsequently, but reluctantly, released in the UK and other territories. On 21 July 2008, some 33 years later, "Mamma Mia" reentered the Australian Charts at #48.

While never released as a single in their native Sweden, "Mamma Mia" was the act's first song to make a breakthrough in Australia, thus sparking off their surge in popularity there and elsewhere. It took the single nearly two months after it was released to top the UK charts. Interestingly, Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (the No.1 single that preceded "Mamma Mia" on the charts) also contained the words 'Mamma Mia' in the lyrics.

"Mamma Mia" also reached No.1 in Ireland, Switzerland and West Germany and made the Top Five in New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Austria and South Africa.

The single's popularity was boosted by a promotional music video, thus reintroducing the group to audiences, dressed in white à la 'glam rock' style outfits, and set against a pristine white backdrop. In the filming, sensual close-up and profile shots were used during the chorus "...Mamma Mia, here I go again, my my, how can I resist you...."

Chart positions

Chart (1975–1976)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	1
German Singles Chart	1
Irish Singles Chart	1
Swiss Singles Chart	1
U.K. Singles Chart	1
Belgian Singles Chart	2
New Zealand Singles Chart	2
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
Austrian Singles Chart	3
South African Singles Chart	5
Dutch Singles Chart	13
Finnish Singles Chart	14
Canadian Singles Chart	20
Zimbabwean Singles Chart	20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	32

Due to the release of Mamma Mia! (film) the movie, the song has re-entered several singles charts around the world. In the UK singles chart, it is currently at number 86, while it is number 48 in Australia

Cover versions

• French singer Karen Cheryl recorded a French language cover of the song in 1976.
• The song was covered by A*Teens on their debut album The ABBA Generation in 1999.
• The exact same music from the A*Teens version was re-used for another cover of "Mamma Mia" by Danish singer Kate Hall on the German compilation ABBA Mania a few years later.
• British singer/actress Martine McCutcheon covered the song for the 1999 tribute Abbamania. She also performed the song on the TV special. On the subsequent ABBAMania 2 album from 2004, the song is covered by British actress Tricia Penrose.
• British singer Hazell Dean recorded a dance-oriented cover for her own ABBA tribute album.
• Dance covers of "Mamma Mia" have been recorded by Abbacadabra (produced by Almighty Records), Angeleyes on their 1999 tribute album ABBAdance, Sabu on the Japanese ABBA Ibiza Caliente Mix compilation, Euphorica on their 2003 album ABBA Dance, and DJ Ensamble on their Trancing Queen tribute album.
• On the tribute compilation ABBAlicious, the song is performed by several American drag queens.
• The song is played in the Millennium Force line periodically.
• Ska band Five Iron Frenzy recorded their own rendition of the song.
• Musician/songwriter Pamela McNeill includes a cover of the song on her album Tribute To ABBA, which was produced by her husband Dugan McNeill.
• Taiwanese singer A-mei has recorded a version of the song.
• The New Zealand tribute compilation ABBAsalutely includes a cover by alternative pop band The 3Ds.
• A cover of the song was recorded by indie rock artist DackAttac.
• Indie rock band Seks Bomba from Boston recorded a cover of the song for their 2005 album Thanks & Good Night.
• Swedish studio musicians The Black Sweden included the song on their ABBA tribute album entitled Gold. Their version featured an opening riff borrowed from the Deep Purple song "Smoke on the Water".
• A cover of the song by Storm Corp. can be found on the 2006 chill out music compilation ABBA Chill Out.
• A cover of the song by Finnish a cappella choral ensemble Rajaton can be found on their 2006 ABBA tribute album Rajaton Sings ABBA With Lahti Symphony Orchestra.
• Tribute band Gabba (band) recorded a cover of the song, in the style of The Ramones.
• A dance version by Shana Vanguarde omits the second half of the chorus.
• The Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus sung Mamma Mia in a show entitled ExtrABBAganza that included almost all of the groups greatest hits.
• Elena Temnikova, Russian singer, sang this song in 2003 television show Star Factory.
• Miley Cyrus sang this song in 2005 in one of her Hannah Montana audition tapes.
• The Countdown Singers covered this song on the album "Disco Nights".

Live cover performances, appearances in other media, etc.

• The song is featured in the Mamma Mia! musical, and sung by the character of Donna.
• The song is featured in the Mamma Mia! film, and sung by the character of Donna.