My ballot:
The Day Before You CameThe Winner Takes It AllSOSSummer Night CityThe Name of the GameKnowing Me Knowing YouMove OnMy Mama SaidSlipping Through My FingersTake a Chance on MeUnder AttackAs Good As NewAngeleyesSoldiersRock MeLike an Angel Passing Through My RoomWhat About Livingstone?FernandoTigerJust Like That
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 8 June 2012 11:31 (eleven years ago) link
I missed this!!!! "Lay All Your Love On Me" was my No. 1 - I know it's Geir's favourite ABBA song too, so he obv. didn't contribute to this.
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 June 2012 14:19 (eleven years ago) link
Embarrassed about the great songs I left off - there's so many of them.
1. Lay All Your Love On Me2. The Name Of The Game3. SOS4. Dancing Queen5. One Of Us6. Knowing Me, Knowing You7. Fernando8. Take A Chance On Me9. I’ve Been Waiting For You10. Should I Laugh or Cry?11. That’s Me12. The Winner Takes It All13. The Day Before You Came14. The Visitors15. Chiquitita16. Move On17. Under Attack18. Money, Money, Money19. Summer Night City20. Mamma Mia
When I was choosing the albums I originally placed "The Visitors" at no. 1, then I systematically went thru the ratings for the songs I'd chosen and found that "Arrival" won it easily and that "The Visitors" wasn't even in the Top 3! But I overruled myself... 1. Arrival2. The Album3. The Visitors
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 June 2012 14:25 (eleven years ago) link
Super Trouper was so low!
― skip, Friday, 8 June 2012 14:38 (eleven years ago) link
disappointed in lack of "lovelight" votes personally. also i'm the only one who voted for 'happy new year'!
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Friday, 8 June 2012 15:22 (eleven years ago) link
BANG A BOOMER BOOMERANGDUM DE DUM DUM DE DUM DE DUM DUMBANG A BOOMER BOOMERANGLOVE IS A TUNE YOU HUMMY HUM HUM
that is all
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 23 April 2014 15:57 (ten years ago) link
Been getting into ABBA for the first time this week. I couldn't agree with you more.
― valerie loves me some hummus (how's life), Wednesday, 23 April 2014 16:02 (ten years ago) link
yeah someone started talking about them when I got to work this morning, and I've been on a kick since then
I was amusing myself by wondering how ABBA would sound if Frida's voice was replaced by Marlene Dietrich, in particular on 'Tropical Loveland' :D
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 23 April 2014 16:17 (ten years ago) link
My picks for twenty-five good 'uns.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 March 2017 15:17 (seven years ago) link
'Watch Out' was robbed in this poll, IMO.
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Friday, 10 March 2017 22:35 (seven years ago) link
I didn't submit a ballot but it would have been this:
The Day Before You CameThe VisitorsI’m a MarionetteHead over HeelsSummer Night CityVoulez-VousOn and On and OnLay All Your Love On MeSOSEagleGimme Gimme GimmeLovelightRing RingDisillusionCassandraI Am the CityThe Name of the GameHole in Your SoulKnowing Me, Knowing YouSlipping Through My Fingers
― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Friday, 10 March 2017 22:43 (seven years ago) link
'I'm a Marionette' fucking rules.
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Friday, 10 March 2017 23:43 (seven years ago) link
Was amazed when SOS won this. Was it on an ad in America or something? One of their most forgettable singles to me, had to remind myself how it goes.
― Supposed Former ILM Lurker (WeWantMiles), Friday, 10 March 2017 23:48 (seven years ago) link
I can completely understand why 'S.O.S.' won... it's absolute perfection.
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:01 (seven years ago) link
The idea of it being "forgettable" is just completely alien to me!
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:03 (seven years ago) link
yeah SOS is beautiful cmon
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:10 (seven years ago) link
so... you wish you understood
― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:43 (seven years ago) link
there are not many songs better than "SOS".. so i would say that WeWantMiles is wrong
was it in an ad in america or something... phhbbbttt how insulting!!
― a but (brimstead), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:15 (seven years ago) link
i also did not vote in this but my boring ballot would contain (unordered)
hey hey helensosdancing queenknowing me knowing youtigerfernandotake a chance on mevoulez-voussummer night citygimme gimme gimmethe winner takes it alllay all your love on meshould i laugh or crythe day before you came
― a but (brimstead), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:17 (seven years ago) link
+ waterloo+ honey honey
― a but (brimstead), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:18 (seven years ago) link
not surprised to see the first album's songs get zero votes because there is some absolute shit on there (if I go to hell it would probably be a loop of "Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother" occasionally interrupted by "I Saw It in the Mirror," like that "What's New Pussycat" sketch), but it was my father's favorite ABBA album so I have a soft spot for it
― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:20 (seven years ago) link
just re-read this thread again, this poll was so much fun
― donna rouge, Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:48 (seven years ago) link
I was amusing myself by wondering how ABBA would sound if Frida's voice was replaced by Marlene Dietrich, in particular on 'Tropical Loveland' :D― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, April 23, 2014 10:17 AM (two years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, April 23, 2014 10:17 AM (two years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― hardcore dilettante, Saturday, 11 March 2017 02:38 (seven years ago) link
lol that is a perfect choice
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 11 March 2017 03:27 (seven years ago) link
i can't remember if i voted in this poll or not but my list now would be something like
soldiersone of ustigerknowing me knowing youme and iunder attackon and on and onthat's meshould i laugh or crythe day before you camehead over heelsdoes your mother knowlay all your love on mesosas good as new
― the raindrops and drop tops of lived, earned experience (BradNelson), Saturday, 11 March 2017 16:09 (seven years ago) link
ah god i forgot if it wasn't for the nights
― the raindrops and drop tops of lived, earned experience (BradNelson), Saturday, 11 March 2017 16:24 (seven years ago) link
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/29/all-abbas-uk-singles-ranked
― nxd, Friday, 29 June 2018 10:53 (five years ago) link
Can’t really argue with their top 10 picks. Name Of The Game at 10 is much too low though, that would be my no 1. As soon as I saw the post, it started playing in my head. Love that song so much. Immediately after I’m all: B-b-but... Dancing Queen? ...Knowing Me, Knowing You? ...Winner Takes It All? All three are at least as good, Dancing Queen is one of the best records ever, but I’m NOTG for life, I guess - that song moves me. My only gripe is with Day Before You Came, it’s way overrated imo. I mean, it’s great, but not top-10-great. I would replace it with Chiquitita. Beautiful song, and the coda takes it next level.
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 21:50 (five years ago) link
(So I checked: ILM’s ranking is quite similar, with one notable exception: where the Guardian has Super Trouper, here it’s Waterloo - better choice perhaps, although I wasn’t mad at ST placing)
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 22:13 (five years ago) link
Soldiers would be my #1
― music saved my life (Ross), Friday, 29 June 2018 23:13 (five years ago) link
And of the singles, which one would be your pick?
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 23:23 (five years ago) link
dancing queen :)
― music saved my life (Ross), Friday, 29 June 2018 23:29 (five years ago) link
Can’t say you’re wrong
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 23:31 (five years ago) link
Super Trouper wd make my ballot now
― bedraggled vorticist (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 30 June 2018 03:55 (five years ago) link
I love Name Of the Game but Under Attack would be number one for. me. NOTG number 2
― Hotdogs Killcars (dog latin), Saturday, 30 June 2018 21:22 (five years ago) link
Gonna have to search some singles bins for that (Day Before You Came too, I guess)
― albvivertine, Saturday, 30 June 2018 21:34 (five years ago) link
"Angel-eyes" came up on a playlist today and surprised me, I hadn't heard it in years. Good tune.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 1 July 2018 04:07 (five years ago) link
this poll was such a joy to participate in, and so much fun to put together a ballot. abba are the fucking besti’m gonna listen to more abba this week
― Squeaky Fromage (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 1 July 2018 06:04 (five years ago) link
"One of Us" is low-key their best single, IDGAF if no one else but Brad agrees. If not that, it's "The Day Before You Came." And for a supposed singles act they certainly had a lot of great album cuts - Ross and Brad OTM on "Soldiers," which would def make my top 10 ABBA tracks if not top 5.
― It's like an Christian pop (thewufs), Sunday, 1 July 2018 07:03 (five years ago) link
I mean ABBA got game with deep cuts all the way back to the debut album - "Disillusion" and "Another Town, Another Train" are worlds better than their first two singles ("People Need Love," and "He Is Your Brother," both among the worst songs they ever released). Anybody know why Agnetha never wrote an ABBA song again?
― It's like an Christian pop (thewufs), Sunday, 1 July 2018 07:10 (five years ago) link
'Soldiers', 'One of Us' and 'The Day Before You Came' are all fantastic, I agree, although I'm not sure I could choose one single that stands above all the rest. I know that 'Dancing Queen' wouldn't be it because I've heard it far too many times at this point.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Sunday, 1 July 2018 07:48 (five years ago) link
Yeah actually I don't really have one favorite, it's just that that was my first favorite when I got into ABBA half a dozen years ago. I resent the fact that "Dancing Queen" is the only ABBA song I ever hear on the radio, because I heard it many times before I ever "got" ABBA and though I like it a lot better now than I did before I saw the light, I'm never going to be able to hear it with fresh ears. I mean it's transcendent, but there's always going to be that residue of those benighted years when I thought it was fluff.
― It's like an Christian pop (thewufs), Sunday, 1 July 2018 08:07 (five years ago) link
"Under Attack" in last place out of all their singles? Löjlig!
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Sunday, 1 July 2018 11:52 (five years ago) link
"Angel-eyes" came up on a playlist today and surprised me, I hadn't heard it in years. Good tune.― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, July 1, 2018 12:07 AM (eight hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, July 1, 2018 12:07 AM (eight hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
My three year old and I listen to a lot of ABBA on the way to school and I’m really surprised that out of their entire catalog of hits her favorite song is “Angel Eyes” followed closely by deep cut “Elaine.”
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Sunday, 1 July 2018 12:18 (five years ago) link
Guardian Top 5 OTM.
― dorsalstop, Sunday, 1 July 2018 12:40 (five years ago) link
Disillusion is a fantastic song
― bedraggled vorticist (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 5 July 2018 07:59 (five years ago) link
Their best albums.
― The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 16 September 2018 01:48 (five years ago) link
^ This would probably be my ranking exactly. It's nice that both you and the ILM poll gave a shout out to "When I Kissed the Teacher," which I think is the one ABBA album track that most deserved to be the A-side of a single
― Josefa, Monday, 17 September 2018 02:13 (five years ago) link
Agreed, solid list.
Apropos of nothing, my love of the Mamma Mia movies knows few bounds. There should be a thread for chrissakes.
― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 15:38 (five years ago) link
How I'd rank their British top forty singles.
― recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 21 May 2019 00:40 (four years ago) link