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Knowing Me, Knowing You

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Knowing Me, Knowing You (disambiguation).

"Knowing Me, Knowing You"
Artwork for Scandinavian release, also used for other releases in different layouts
Single by ABBA
from the album Arrival
B-side"Happy Hawaii" (Early version of "Why Did It Have to Be Me?")
Released18 February 1977 (1977-02-18)[1]
Recorded23 March 1976
StudioMetronome, Stockholm, Sweden
Genre
Length4:00
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus
ABBA singles chronology
"Money, Money, Money"
(1976) 		"Knowing Me, Knowing You"
(1977) 		"That's Me"
(1977)
Music video
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" on YouTube

"Knowing Me, Knowing You" is a song recorded by Swedish pop music group ABBA, released on 18 February 1977 as the third single from the group's fourth studio album Arrival (1976). The pop and soft rock infused track was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, and produced by the former two. Featuring Anni-Frid Lyngstad on lead vocals, the track explores the end of a relationship. The B-side of the single was "Happy Hawaii", an early version of what would be the album track "Why Did It Have to Be Me?".

"Knowing Me, Knowing You" was both a critical and commercial success. Music critics praised it as a more mature step for the group both sonically and lyrically wise. The single topped the charts in Belgium, Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom (where it became their fifth number one hit on the UK singles chart), and West Germany, and entered the top ten in eight more. In the United States, it charted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their sixth top-twenty hit.

Retrospectively, "Knowing Me, Knowing You" is ranked amongst critics as one of ABBA's best songs. The song is included on ABBA Gold (1992), and is featured in the Mamma Mia! musical and the film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. A Spanish version of the song, "Conociéndome, Conociéndote", was recorded in 1980, and is included on the compilations Gracias Por La Música (1980) and Oro: Grandes Éxitos (1993).

Background

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"Knowing Me, Knowing You" was recorded in 1976 at the Metronome Studios in Stockholm and was released as a single in February 1977, becoming one of the group's more successful hits. The B-side, "Happy Hawaii", was an early version of another ABBA song, "Why Did It Have to Be Me?", with a different lead vocalist and lyrics.[5]

"Knowing Me, Knowing You" was one of the early ABBA songs to deal with the break-up of a relationship. It predates the divorces of the ABBA members as well as further break-up songs to come: "The Winner Takes It All", "One of Us" and "When All Is Said and Done".

"Conociéndome, Conociéndote" is the Spanish-language version of the song. It was included on the compilations Gracias Por La Música in 1980 Oro: Grandes Éxitos in 1993.

Reception

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Critical

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Billboard reviewed the song and described it as a "melodically energetic but sad worded ditty about a romantic breakup."[6] Cash Box called it "a softly rocking record that combines memorable pop hooks in their distinctive reverb-soaked ambiance" and said that it has "a sound agreeable to just about any top 40 station."[2] Record World said that "Its chorus is a mighty hook, capping another superb melody."[7] Caroline Coon for Melody Maker praised the single, noting that while not "as instant-hit sounding as most ABBA hot-shots [...] it grows on you [and it] will become one of their best-loved."[8] Phil McNeill for NME wrote how "Ulvaeus and Andersson are masters of basics" with "a catchy tune, a clean sound and a few elegant flourishes on the harpsichord/backing whisper/reverbed piano."[9]

Commercial

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"Knowing Me, Knowing You" proved to be one of ABBA's more successful singles, hitting #1 in West Germany (ABBA's sixth consecutive chart-topper there and had sold over 300,000 copies there by September 1979),[10] and the United Kingdom,[11] Ireland, Mexico and South Africa,[12] and reaching the top 3 in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It was a top 10 hit in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand and Norway.

In the United States, "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was released on 25 April 1977 via Atlantic Records.[13] It became ABBA's sixth top 20 single, peaking at #14 on the Hot 100 and reaching #7 on Billboard's AC chart.

In the UK, "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was one of the biggest singles of 1977.[14] It also began a second run of three consecutive #1 singles for ABBA (followed by "The Name of the Game" and "Take a Chance on Me"), the group having had three consecutive #1 hit singles in 1976. As of September 2021, it is the group's third-biggest song in the country with 1.02 million chart sales, made up of pure sales and streams.[15]

"Knowing Me, Knowing You" continues to be regarded as one of ABBA's finest songs. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song number four on their list of the 15 greatest ABBA songs,[16] and in 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song number two on their list of the 25 greatest ABBA songs.[17]

Music video

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The music video for "Knowing Me, Knowing You" depicts the band against various colored backdrops singing while facing each other, turning away as a new line is sung. At the end of the video, the band's female members are seen walking away through thick snow. The video was directed by future Academy Award nominee Lasse Hallström, as were most of their other videos.[18]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Knowing Me, Knowing You"
  • Andersson
  • Anderson
  • Ulvaeus
4:02
2."Happy Hawaii"
  • Anderson
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
4:26

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for Knowing Me, Knowing You
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[58] Gold 75,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] Gold 45,000‡
Germany — 300,000[10]
Kenya — 10,000[60]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61] Platinum 30,000‡
Portugal — 20,000[62]
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Platinum 973,000[63]
Yugoslavia — 30,000[65]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Title Label Format Catalog
Scandinavia 18 Feb 1977 "Knowing Me, Knowing You" / "Happy Hawaii" (Early Version Of "Why Did It Have To Be Me") Polar 7-inch vinyl POS 1230
UK, Ireland Epic S EPC 4955
Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Kenya Feb 1977 Polydor 2001 703
Philippines 1977 PRO 3505
France Vogue 45.X. 140 188
Greece Pan-Vox PAN 7598
Australia, New Zealand 26 Feb 1977 RCA Victor 102870
Yugoslavia 29 Mar 1977 PGP RTB S 53979
USA, Canada 26 April 1977 Atlantic 3387
South Africa, Rhodesia 1977 Sunshine GBS 121
Jamaica Dynamic Sounds D 111
Bolivia RCA BOC/S - 1162
Colombia 05(3011)51928
Peru POS 1230
Panama RCA, RCA Victor XAPBO-724
Mexico "Knowing Me, Knowing You" / "Why Did It Have to Be Me?" RCA Victor SP-4785
Venezuela "Knowing Me, Knowing You" / "Dum Dum Diddle" 45-736
Spain "Knowing Me, Knowing You" / "Money, Money, Money" Carnaby MO 1669
Hungary Pepita SPSK 70261
Brazil RCA 101.8068
El Salvador RCA, RCA Victor CA-10053
Europe 2016 "Knowing Me, Knowing You" / "Happy Hawaii" (Early Version Of "Why Did It Have To Be Me") Polar 7” vinyl, picture disc 4795074

Cover versions and appearances in other media

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  • Finnish eurodance act DCX recorded the song in 2007. Their single charted in fifth place in the Finnish charts.[66]
  • Brief clips from the original ABBA recording features in the film ABBA: The Movie (1977) when Ashley is stuck in a traffic jam; it is presumably coming from the radio of another car.
  • The song is performed in the musical Mamma Mia! by the character of Sam.[67] In the context of the musical, the song is used as Sam's description of his failed marriage.
  • It is featured in the film adaptation's sequel, performed by younger versions of Sam (Jeremy Irvine) and Donna (Lily James), as well as the present-day Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and Sophie (Amanda Seyfried).[68][69]
  • Steve Coogan’s 1990s comedy radio show and TV series Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge was named after the song.[70][71] The song is also used as the theme tune.

References

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  1. ^ "Releases: Listings". Music Week. 19 February 1977. p. 41. ISSN 0265-1548.
  2. ^ a b c "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 7 May 1977. p. 22. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. ^ Vice Staff (14 July 2015). "The 99 Greatest Dance Albums of All Time". Vice. Retrieved 20 June 2025. Arrival is the most successful album by the Swedish-pop group, containing three of their biggest hits...these tracks are basically the origin of disco-jive...
  4. ^ "ABBA - Knowing Me, Knowing You (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  5. ^ Scott, Robert (2002). Abba Thank You for the Music: the stories behind every song. London: Carlton Books. pp. 82–83, 85. ISBN 1-84222-793-9.
  6. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 7 May 1977. p. 88. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 7 May 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  8. ^ Coon, Caroline (26 February 1977). "Singles". Melody Maker. Vol. 52, no. 9. London, United Kingdom: IPC Magazines. p. 23.
  9. ^ McNeill, Phil (5 March 1977). "Singles". NME. London, United Kingdom: IPC Magazines. p. 23.
  10. ^ a b Spahr, Wolfgang (8 September 1979). "Abba The World". Billboard. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  11. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 338–9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. ^ "South Africa". Home.zipworld.com.au. 5 January 2014. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Atlantic recording group ABBA...". Billboard. Vol. 89, no. 16. Los Angeles, CA. 23 April 1977. p. 1. ISSN 0006-2510.
  14. ^ "UK-Charts - 1977". uk-charts.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  15. ^ UK Official Charts ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs
  16. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (14 August 2017). "ABBA's 15 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  17. ^ Sheffield, Rob (2 September 2021). "The 25 Best ABBA Songs, Ranked". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Knowing me Knowing you/ABBA Lasse Hallström". indielisboa. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  19. ^ David Kent (2006). Australian Charts Book 1993—2005. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-646-45889-2.
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  21. ^ "ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
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  25. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 2809". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  26. ^ "Europarade: De Iijst van 1977-11". hitnoteringen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  27. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "ABBA". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 8. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  28. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – ABBA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 11, 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
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  32. ^ "ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You". VG-lista. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  33. ^ http://home.zipworld.com.au/~callisto/zimbabwe.html Archived 8 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  34. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  35. ^ "ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  36. ^ "ABBA Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  37. ^ "ABBA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  38. ^ "ABBA Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  39. ^ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffmann, Frank W (1994). Cash Box pop singles charts, 1950–1993. Libraries Unlimited. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-56308-316-7.
  40. ^ Fell, Ron, ed. (8 July 1977). "Adult Contemporary Programming". Gavin Report. No. 1159. San Francisco, CA. p. 3.
  41. ^ "Pop/Adult/40". Radio & Records. Vol. 5, no. 21. Hollywood, California. 17 June 1977. p. 42. ISSN 0277-4860.
  42. ^ "The Back Page". Radio & Records. Vol. 5, no. 24. Hollywood, California. 8 July 1977. p. 48. ISSN 0277-4860.
  43. ^ "Record World – The Singles Chart". Record World. Vol. 35, no. 1569. New York, NY. 30 July 1977. p. 37. ISSN 0034-1622. See July 23 column.
  44. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  45. ^ "Kent Music Report No 183 – 26 December 1977 > National Top 100 Singles for 1977". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  46. ^ Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1977". Ultratop. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  48. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  49. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1977". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  50. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1977" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  51. ^ Swiss Year-End Charts, 1977
  52. ^ Hunter, Nigel; Scaping, Peter, eds. (1978). "Top 100 Singles in 1977". BPI Year Book 1978 (3rd ed.). London, England: The British Phonographic Industry Ltd. pp. 216–17. ISBN 0-906154-01-4.
  53. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  54. ^ Billboard, 24 December 1977.
  55. ^ "Top Adult Contemporary Hits of 1977". Gavin Report. No. 1183. San Francisco, CA. 19 December 1977. p. 3.
  56. ^ "The Pop/Adult "77" of 1977". Radio & Records. Vol. 5, no. 48. Hollywood, California. 23 December 1977. p. 61. ISSN 0277-4860.
  57. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  58. ^ "ABBA the World - Canada". Billboard. 8 November 1979. p. ABBA-8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  59. ^ "Danish single certifications – Abba – Knowing Me, Knowing You". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  60. ^ "ABBA the World - Kenya". Billboard. 8 November 1979. p. ABBA-18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  61. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You". Radioscope. Retrieved 29 September 2025. Type Knowing Me, Knowing You in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  62. ^ Fernando, Tenente (8 November 1979). "ABBA the World - Portugal". Billboard. p. ABBA-30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  63. ^ Myers, Justin (22 April 2019). "ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  64. ^ "British single certifications – ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Knowing Me, Knowing You ABBA in the "Search:" field.
  65. ^ "ABBA fenomen ili fenomenalna ABBA". Džuboks. No. 33. April 1977. p. 5. Retrieved 3 November 2020 – via Popboks.
  66. ^ "finnishcharts.com - DCX - Knowing Me, Knowing You". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  67. ^ Thomas, Sophie (14 October 2022). "All the ABBA songs in 'Mamma Mia!'". London Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  68. ^ Chambers, Georgia (20 July 2018). "These are all the songs featured in Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again". The Standard. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  69. ^ Daw, Stephen (23 July 2018). "All 16 Musical Performances from 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  70. ^ "Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge | Is it on Netflix? Where to watch and stream online | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  71. ^ Heritage, Stuart (4 April 2014). "Alan Partridge: a guide for Americans, newcomers and American newcomers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
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