Abbasolutely fabulous
With the news of a new Abba single, I decided to find my favourite Abba songs recorded by other artists.
Last week a shriek echoed around the globe when lovers of Mamma Mia and music fans of a certain age found out Abba had released a new single. There is an album coming in November – their first in 40 years, plus a tour, of sorts.
I have to admit I was impressed they’ll be using “Abbatars”, rather than appearing in the flesh. But in what I’ve seen so far, Frida reminds me uncomfortably of Princess Fiona from Shrek. Don’t get me wrong, I love Shrek, but …
So although I’m not rushing to buy a ticket, or dusting off my old Abba vinyl just yet, even I’m not enough of a curmudgeon to deny Abba had some brilliant pop songs.
Which got me thinking – what were my favourites?
Nothing reveals the true strength of a song like taking the original and reconstructing it in a totally different genre, I always say, so to add a little spice to the task, I decided to find my favourite Abba songs recorded by other artists.
The Name of the Game – Shaynie and FiFi 95
The fabulous Abbasolutely album released by NZ’s Flying Nun Records in the 90s features the Flying Nun bands tackling their favourite Abba songs, and for my money this is the pick of them; a dark and eerie collaboration between Shayne Carter of Straitjacket Fits and Fiona McDonald of the Headless Chickens. Just sublime.
This is stripped down and so dark. Unlike the original, it really does sound like a cry for help.
Super Trouper – Camera Obscura
The bouncy Super Trouper gets slowed right down and the verses swallow up the chorus to reveal the heartache obscured by the original.
Knowing Me Knowing You – MGT & Ville Valo
Britain meets Finland in this gothic remake, featuring guitarist Mark Thwaite (MGT) and Ville Valo of HIM. The eye-liner heavy video has had almost four million views on YouTube, so clearly there’s more than a handful of Abba loving goths out there.
Hailing from Cobram in Victoria, Eliott delivers a beautiful stripped back, piano-based version that makes you feel like curling up on the couch with a hot chocolate rather than hitting the dance floor. (A Dancing Queen honourable mention has to go to the acapella version by the Monks of Moramanga.)
The Irish teenagers gave this a good bit of fuzz on the B-side of their single “Oh Yeah”. Sung by a teenage boy, especially one who looked as dreamy as Tim Wheeler, removes the creep factor from the original version.
If any of these take your fancy, most can be found on Spotify or YouTube.
