You can POLL, you can jive, having the time of your life -- ILM Artist Poll #20 -- ABBA (RESULTS THREAD)

http://blog.kievukraine.info/540d.jpg

Välkommen till ILX ABBA enkät!*

19 ballots were submitted to determine ILX's favorite ABBA tunes and albums. I will roll out just the top five albums today as a teaser and the top 45 tracks over the course of the next three days (so, 15 tracks a day til Thursday). I had fun organizing this poll so I hope you guys enjoy the results!

*apologies to actual Swedish-speaking people for the Google Translate butcher job

Hurra!!!

#5 (tie) - 4 points and 2 votes each
Waterloo (1974)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/ABBA_-_Waterloo_%28Original_Polar_LP%29.jpg

and

Gold: Greatest Hits (1992)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/30/ABBA_Gold_cover.png

#4 - 6 points, 3 votes
Voulez-Vous (1979)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/ABBA_-_Voulez_Vous.jpg

#3 - 16 points, 7 votes
ABBA: The Album (1977)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/ABBA_-_The_Album_%28Polar%29.jpg

I will always love that guitar in the top pic.

I really like Voulez Vous, and was surprised to see it described as weak & stilted somewhere. I like them relentless and mechanical, it's like the disco equivalent of power pop. It was my mum's Abba album that she had too, I recall the cool azure hue with fondness.

ABBA: the album is my favorite of their album covers

#2 - 18 points, 9 votes
The Visitors (1981)

http://img12.nnm.ru/b/c/6/3/c/7f68ce119095a91d833c48a2b0c.jpg

#1 - 20 points, 8 votes
Arrival (1976)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/ABBA_-_Arrival.jpg

I thought The Visitors would win at a canter.

Benny's holding a light sabre on the VV sleeve? Why?

tracks start tomorrow!

I had Arrival at no.1. That's quite a consensus that those are the top three.

all of their albums received at least one vote, except for "more abba gold" which didn't get any

and um, neither did 'gracias por la musica'

:( i would have voted for that if i had voted
my high school spanish teacher used to play it for us de vez en cuando and it was heaven -- "chiquitita" es mil veces mejor en español.

i think one of my current best friendships was cemented by a mutual love of "ABBA oro"

Arrival wins why bcz helicopter

I remember Bill Magill grumping when Arrival beat Black Sabbath's Vol. 4 in the alt 70s album poll. Fun day!

On what planet is some Abba record better than Black Sabbath Vol. 4????

― Bill Magill, Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:13 PM (2 years ago)

I prefer the French cover of Arrival:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/ABBA_-_Arrival_%28France%29.jpg

That's the back cover of all the other issues. Is the back cover of the French issue the front cover of the others?

Arrival is not better than Vol. 4. The Visitors might be better than Paranoid though.

ok, time for the tracks! 45-31 today

:D

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/abba-madonna-gal-431.jpg
45 (tie). Soldiers
The Visitors, 1981
(59 points / 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec2dCvoext0

http://members.multimania.nl/abbadfs/hpbimg/LP%20Honey%20Honey%20(1974).jpg
45 (tie). Honey Honey
Waterloo, 1974
(59 points / 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg7ZsOFSV7c

love Honey Honey!

I find Soldiers kinda boring? idk

if nothing else this poll allows me to present the dizzying array of amazing outfits they wore over the years

I love "Soldiers" so much! lovely chorus, overlapping vocal lines, like a much better version of "Fernando" which i don't care for a ton.

but i got drunk and didn't get my vote in so :(

yeah of all their "war" songs it's probably my least favorite

that's ok! i hope there is a lot of discussion here anyhow

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iOCgghMIKjE/0.jpg
42 (tie). Two for the Price of One
The Visitors, 1981
(63 points / 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2APDCyVZ2zA

such a funny little song, that groaner of a punchline undercutting the beauty of the melody itself almost. i dig it a lot.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/0/0f/ABBA_-_That
42 (tie). That's Me
Arrival, 1976
(63 points / 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP_dk429rbc

whoops, that img should be

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/0/0f/ABBA_-_That

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5CU6hthppL4/0.jpg
42 (tie). I've Been Waiting for You
"So Long" b-side, 1974
(63 points / 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ7C127Q-GY

love the beginning of the "that's me" video so much when everyone's heads peek out from behind agnetha's

also that song's grown on me quite a bit since doing this poll

aw I love That's Me -- I used to play Arrival all the time on Mum & Dad's stereo as a kid.

Soldiers is great, and narrowly missed my ballot. But I LOVE I've Been Waiting for You!

That's Me is almost great but for some reason I feel like it comes up a bit short on the payoff...

http://abba_music.tripod.com/solong_s.jpg
41. So Long
ABBA, 1975
(64 points / 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbRB2Cjr_Wo

yaaaaaargh

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3841266768_ce1bd1a149.jpg

Incredibly rocking song. That's a little low!

"rockin'" ABBA is kind of a mixed bag to me (my disco sympathies lie deep) but "so long" is a scorcher

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/Thank_You_ABBA.jpg
40. Thank You for the Music
ABBA: The Album, 1977
(66 points, 4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dcbw4IEY5w

one of these days i'll format like a real boy

40. Thank You for the Music
ABBA: The Album, 1977
(66 points, 4 votes)

So Long: another one that narrowly missed my ballot

wd've left off "Thank You", too stage-y for me

i tend to really like songs that are about how other songs (or how music in general) are great so i love "thank you for the music"

I don't like Thank You For The Music as such, but the way the long melody is constructed in the chorus is nothing short of masterful.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2321350687_ab353d6cb5.jpg
39. Me and I
Super Trouper, 1980
(71 points, 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF040OpxTyM

It really is, though xp - I don't know how you continue after that, I'd be hanging up my songwriting pen and thinking 'yep, that's music done'.

Agree w Noodle about Thank You: though Agnetha saves it for me. Didn't vote for it though.

Did vote for Me & I though. Yay!

I like it, but I'd probably question "Me and I" over most of Voulez-Vous.

(A lot of which I don't expect to make this top 45!)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/SUPER_TROUPER_-_single_cover.jpg
38. Super Trouper
Super Trouper, 1980
(75 points, 4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BshxCIjNEjY

su-pa-pa trou-pa-pa

i love that for a song that's ostensibly about How Hard It Is Being Famous that it's such a vulnerable performance ("how could anyone feel so lonely?")

and the piano melody KILLS me

All of the tracks so far are so great I thought I'd had a couple of them on my ballot, but no. None of my votes have placed yet. I <3 ABBA.

http://cherryouth.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/imagens-da-abba.jpg?w=600&h=400
37. Should I Laugh or Cry
"One of Us" b-side (1981)
79 points, 4 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_uiKm7wsmI

super-happy this one placed, i put it in my top ten. such a devastating song.

btw between all the ballots 75 songs received votes. at the end of this i'd like to tally up the ones nobody voted for

received at least one vote, i mean

ok been trying to get some work done but here's more

http://www.covershut.com/covers/ABBA-Ring-Ring-1973-Front-Cover-34314.jpg
36. Ring Ring
Ring Ring, 1973
(81 points, 4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL0EoXdpOqg

man i should've just saved these covers somewhere

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Ring_Ring.jpg

do you guys think ABBA were swingers?

next level outfits in the 'ring ring' video btw

astonished that So Long is here! a song i've loved for 30 years. and yeah rocky Abba is indeed a mixed bag but So Long proves that they could do it right. i wish they'd gone further with that sound.

also stoked that Arrival is the no.1 album voting wise.

well then i expect you'll be really pleased at the next entry

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/ABBA_-_Arrival_%28France%29.jpg
35. Arrival
Arrival, 1976
(82 points, 3 votes, 1 #1 vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqfI3PtF5ao

dope! I thought this was just a throwaway vote, but I'm glad I got it in the countdown.

hurrah! bafflingly high though.

anyone on here read Bright Lights, Dark Shadows btw? just bought it last week for a fiver.

i bought it for a friend for her bday but not yet read it myself

http://www.penguin99.com/00_images/tiger.jpg
34. Tiger
Arrival, 1976
(83 points, 4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWQ7wrPyUe0

whoops, boldening for scrollers

34. Tiger
Arrival, 1976
(83 points, 4 votes)

stockholm at night<3

another fave. is this going to be the only poll ever where EVERY song off one album gets a decent placing?

(keeps shtum for now)

I had thought this was a poll of all-new discovery for me, but I've just remembered that I did once own a cassette of Abba Gold. I found it under the bed in this filthy dive where I spent a night in Pigalle. It was with a little collection of ebony porn.

I've led a pretty wholesome life in all, but that was definitely one of its sleazier moments I've found myself in. The cassette seems weirdly incongruous now that I think about it.

Didn't vote but <3 every song so far

Tiger is rad, it was my favorite song off Arrival to dance to. Like I wouldn't even listen to Side B, just skip right over to Tiger

it seems a little more repetitive than I remember as a kid but I still like how rockin' it is

hah, there is a pretty significant quality shift between the two sides of that record imo

I'd say it's a mood shift rather than quality shift, because the whole thing is quality.

http://members.multimania.nl/abbadfs/hpbimg/ABBA%20whennallissaidanddone1981.jpg
33. When All Is Said and Done
The Visitors, 1981
(86 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUh4u-lYEhM

Had to cut this one at the last minute. Glad it's here for me to enjoy!

it's a beautiful song, and it's what i always imagined/hoped being an adult would be like

ok two more and then done for today slash i need to eat lunch

http://nikkigsblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/abba-i-do.jpg
32. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
ABBA, 1975
(93 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW3HN_pvbE4

which reminds me of the only vaguely sordid ABBA story i have:

i've still never all of 'muriel's wedding' to this day because when a friend of mine came to visit me in nyc we decided to watch it while drinking some wine. i was 19 and had only recently started drinking/not yet really developed a tolerance for the stuff so when my roommate pointed out that we'd both drank a lot of wine i turned to face him and realized the room was kind of spinning. i spent the entire second half of the film hugging my toilet.

so i mentally associate this song with feeling queasy which is maybe why i've never considered it a big fave

hahah oh dear

>37. Should I Laugh or Cry
>35. Arrival

awesome you guys

http://www.musicchartheaven.com/Abba/on%20and%20on.jpg
31. On and On and On
Super Trouper, 1980
(94 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyxBYbfu6k8

31. On and On and On
Super Trouper, 1980
(94 points, 5 votes)

ok that is all for today, 30-16 tomorrow

thanks Donna!!!

Great beginning!

We have now completed the "Eurovision song contest" portion of the results

They really loved repetition in their song titles, didn't they?

they did, they did, they did, they did, they did

Great beginning!

Thus far, only "Tiger" and "Soliders" placed off my ballot -- but agreed. I love the synth bagpipes on "Arrival."

"Two for the Price of One" was kind of a late cut for me -- it's def. one of my favorite songs w the guys singing (seems to suggest everything on The Visitors may well place).

Glad Two For The Price of One placed, I ended up putting it in my top three. Happy to see Honey Honey and I've Been Waiting For You make it too. Seems like almost everything off Arrival and The Visitors will make it which is cool as they are my two favourite albums.

Stoked that On and On and On placed

I didn't vote because I don't know enough besides the big hits, but I'm enjoying this. Coincidentally, I was just reading Joe Boyd's (very entertaining) book White Bicycles this weekend and came across the part where he meets pre-Abba Abba in 1970. Not gonna transcribe the whole thing, but I like this bit:

After a friendly chat, Benny and Bjorn invited me to stick around: their girlfriends were starring in a turn-of-the-century revue in a hotel lounge, complete with top hats, high-kicking routines and old Swedish music hall songs. After the show, the five of us (yes, the dancers were Agnetha and Frida) went back to Benny's flat. We spent half the night talking, drinking, and playing records, mostly by obscure American soul singers. I told them they should go back to writing in English. We joked about whether or not they could ever write a song as successful as "Daydream."

(He means the Lovin' Spoonful tune, btw. Boyd got to know Benny through John Sebastian's ex-wife. The punchline to the chapter is that he takes a Hollywood job with Warner Bros and misses a chance at Abba's UK/US publishing rights.)

ok, continuing on and on and on...

first, just a recap:

31 On and On and On - 5 votes, 94 points
32 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - 5 votes, 93 points
33 When All Is Said and Done - 5 votes, 86 points
34 Tiger - 4 votes, 81 points
35 Arrival - 3 votes, 82 points, 1 #1 vote
36 Ring Ring - 4 votes, 81 points
37 Should I Laugh or Cry - 4 votes, 79 points
38 Super Trouper - 4 votes, 75 points
39 Me and I - 3 votes, 71 points
40 Thank You for the Music - 4 votes, 66 points
41 So Long - 3 votes, 64 points
42 I've Been Waiting for You - 3 votes, 63 points
42 That's Me - 3 votes, 63 points
42 Two for the Price of One - 3 votes, 63 points
45 Honey Honey - 3 votes, 59 points
45 Soldiers - 3 votes, 59 points

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2007/08/20/abba460.jpg
30. Like an Angel Passing Through My Room
The Visitors, 1981
(96 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiUO39kOadw

This song has what seems to be a bridge coming in very late in the composition and it gets cut off and turned into the coda. Quite nice.

http://members.multimania.nl/abbadfs/hpbimg/ABBA%20-%20Head%20Over%20Heels%20(UK).jpg
29. Head over Heels
The Visitors, 1981
(102 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL2_PZwKDPg

i've never been too crazy about this one tbh

well i am

you might say i'm

head over heels about it

'angel' i love tho. the way frida sings "love was one prolonged goodbye" gives me *feelings*

and it appears 'the visitors' is doing real well today

http://991.com/newGallery/Abba-Slipping-Through-340694.jpg
28. Slipping Through My Fingers
The Visitors, 1981
(108 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNaNVuWes_U

nnnnnng

28. Slipping Through My Fingers
The Visitors, 1981
(108 points, 5 votes)

re: this single cover, from http://www.coca-colaconversations.com/my_weblog/2012/01/abba-and-coca-cola-slipping-through-my-fingers.html:

I spent the afternoon re-filing items that had begun to stack up around my desk in the Archives. One of the items that gave me a chuckle was the ABBA record, "Slipping Through my Fingers" from 1981. This 45 rpm was a promotional created for Coca-Cola Japan by Discomate Records. The cover of the record features an illustration of the ABBA band members Benny Andersson Bjoun Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltslog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and the back has the lyrics to the song and the advertising slogan used at the time in Japan, Yes Coke Yes. The record itself has the song on one side and an autographed photograph of the band. While the song was not one of the bands biggest hits, it was used in the musical and movie versions of Mamma Mia. As a collectible, you can find several copies on e-Bay for $ 40.00 to $ 60.00.

not sure why they thought a song about empty nest syndrome would help sell coke but

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r-hbn1z58Xc/TUbLoxu5yZI/AAAAAAAAAJM/pxCNxNY96NQ/s1600/abba-angel.jpg
27. Angeleyes
Voulez-Vous, 1979
(111 points, 6 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzQeGbgz4-A

Slipping Through My Fingers is excellent, except that 'absent-minded smile' is such a clunker.

Head Over Heels is so awesome

Hey, alright - Voulez-Vous deep cuts!

http://abba_music.tripod.com/money_s.jpg
25 (tie). Money, Money, Money
"Money, Money, Money" b/w "Crazy World" single, 1976/Arrival, 1977
(112 points, 6 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsMoD0

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Money_Money_Money.jpg

http://www.avatune.com/pics/0806201042.jpg
25 (tie). One of Us
The Visitors, 1981
(112 points, 4 votes, 1 #1 vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIKAe8Wi0S0

i didn't know lasse hallstrom (who did 'my life as a dog') directed videos for them!

ok need to work but be back later

I first heard "Slipping Through My Fingers" on the way to the hospital with my wife to give birth to our first daughter. Needless to say, the song has resonated for me ever since.

What I love about "Angeleyes" is, despite the bouncy tune, production and title, the song is basically about the Devil as a lover.

>i didn't know lasse hallstrom (who did 'my life as a dog') directed videos for them!

also directed 'ABBA: The Movie'

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075617/

almost posted a youtube to one particular clip in the film but there is a good chance the song might chart

a couple more:

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E9AvMAZ5ZKo/0.jpg
24. My Mama Said
Waterloo, 1974
(116 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92L6balksi8

Seeing as The Visitors is killing it today, here's an essay about it of some repute by Taylor Parkes from 1995's Melody Maker freebie Unknown Pleasures:

page one
page two
page three
page four

xp TOO LOW

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/ABBA_-_Bang-A-Boomerang.jpg
23. Bang-a-Boomerang
ABBA, 1975
(128 points, 5 votes, 2 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CsJCa2TlXU

Started the Spotify playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/mondosalvo/playlist/6HeINFTYwemhQGbwG9Yukl

thanks!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/ABBA_-_As_Good_As_New_%28Mexico%29.jpg
22. As Good as New
Voulez-Vous, 1979
(142 points, 6 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXmB8fLlFrM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/ABBA_-_Eagle.jpg
21. Eagle
ABBA: The Album, 1977
(148 points, 7 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDI7x1nwTUw

ok lunch and then i'll do 20-16 after

Some stuff outside of the top 20 I was sure would be in there, so looking forward to some surprises.

Eagle is fantastic. I love them at their most teutonic and imperial.

ok, entering the top 20! starting with my favorite two-note timpani appearance in all of music:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/Chiquitita_Lovelight.jpg
20. Chiquitita
Voulez-Vous, 1979
(150 points, 7 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzdfPEsf7qY

<3

Chiquitita would have been my #1 -- so triumphant at the end!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/ABBA_-_Under_Attack.jpg
18 (tie). Under Attack
The Singles: The First Ten Years/“Under Attack” b/w “You Owe Me One” single, 1982
(151 points, 7 votes)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAYB46Z_osM

http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/ZZs5WHVOOH4/hqdefault.jpg
18 (tie). If It Wasn't for the Nights
Voulez-Vous, 1979
(151 points, 5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cygAFdzCcdU

woah! amazed at If It Wasn't For The Nights showing up so high. WHY was it not a single?? it's baffling.

that essay that Ismael just posted is one of my fave essays ever from one of my fave books ever; highly recommended.

Starting to give up on You Owe Me One appearing, but Under Attack is fair compensation (voted for it as well).

Also, wondering if I Know There's Something Going On will crack the top 20 or be shunned. I could see people voting strictly ABBA ballots in an ABBA poll, but that's an excellent track imo.

before i started this poll i was worried the top 19 would just be 'ABBA gold' in a different order and i am really pleased that this is not the case

cf. 'if it wasn't for the nights' placing in the top 20

I'd probably have had If It Wasn't For The Nights as my no.1 were I submitting today (was actually my no.3, so not far out). It's an absolute joy.

it really is marvelous

not sure why "as good as new" wasn't a single either

I guess there's only so many singles you can release. It's not like they were putting out duds.

yeah As Good As New is another for the singles-that-shoulda-been list; Girls Aloud should cover it.

no room for Dum Dum Diddle at this point i guess :/

and from a deep cut to one of their best-known singles:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/48/Mamma_Mia_Intermezzo_No_1.jpg
17. Mamma Mia
ABBA, 1975
(152 points, 8 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unfzfe8f9NI

triple-layered bellbottoms!

Every time I've listened to My Mama Said since submitting my ballot, I think I should've at least made it my #2.

one last one and i'm out for today. take it away, b&b:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/Doesyourmotherknow.jpg
16. Does Your Mother Know
Voulez-Vous, 1979
(157 points, 8 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkL7Fkigfn8

recap:

16 Does Your Mother Know - 8 votes, 157 points
17 Mamma Mia - 8 votes, 152 points
18 If It Wasn't for the Nights - 5 votes, 151 points
18 Under Attack - 7 votes, 151 points
20 Chiquitita - 7 votes, 150 points
21 Eagle - 7 votes, 148 points
22 As Good as New - 6 votes, 142 points
23 Bang-a-Boomerang - 5 votes, 128 points, 2 #1 votes
24 My Mama Said - 5 votes, 116 points
25 Money, Money, Money - 6 votes, 112 points
25 One of Us - 4 votes, 112 points, 1 #1 vote
27 Angeleyes - 6 votes, 111 points
28 Slipping Through My Fingers - 5 votes, 108 points
29 Head Over Heels - 5 votes, 102 points
30 Like an Angel Passing Through My Room - 5 votes, 96 points
31 On and On and On - 5 votes, 94 points
32 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - 5 votes, 93 points
33 When All Is Said and Done - 5 votes, 86 points
34 Tiger - 4 votes, 81 points
35 Arrival - 3 votes, 82 points, 1 #1 vote
36 Ring Ring - 4 votes, 81 points
37 Should I Laugh or Cry - 4 votes, 79 points
38 Super Trouper - 4 votes, 75 points
39 Me and I - 3 votes, 71 points
40 Thank You for the Music - 4 votes, 66 points
41 So Long - 3 votes, 64 points
42 I've Been Waiting for You - 3 votes, 63 points
42 That's Me - 3 votes, 63 points
42 Two for the Price of One - 3 votes, 63 points
45 Honey Honey - 3 votes, 59 points
45 Soldiers - 3 votes, 59 points

and i'll be wrapping it up tomorrow!

My Mama Said madee it! I thought for sure it wouldn't!!! My #5!

Yeah, I figured it would based on how many people talked about it in the voting thread, but 24 isn't high enough for it. humbug.

Agreed. Boo.

do not shoot the messenger he is too busy twisting in his office chair to "if it wasn't for the nights" right now

I really should have voted for Eagle.

Really surprised Bang-a-Boomerang is so high, I had it low down on my list. Even though lyrically it isn't a masterpiece that chorus is so great. I always put that one and Dum Dum Diddle togther, wonder if that will place too.

If It Wasn't for the Night is such a great song. I always thought the album tracks on Voulez-Vous are way better than the singles.

There is no mystery with If It Wasn't For The Nights imo, the few people that voted for it scored it highly. Two less voters than the song it tied with, but I was actually surprised it was so low. Was my #2.

delighted 'if it wasn't for the nights' placed so high, genuinely kinda shocked 'chiquitita' didn't place higher, smh if 'fernando' places higher than it (which surely it is but still).

i was sick and tired everythiiiiiing when you called me last night from glaaaas-gow/all i do is eat and sleep and siiiiiiiiiiing...

i haven't been able to stop singing super trouper for days now.

Didn't vote for it, but echoing the "If It Wasn't for the Nights" fandom. Good work ILM!

do not shoot the messenger he is too busy twisting in his office chair to "if it wasn't for the nights" right now

― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Wednesday, June 6, 2012 2:48 PM (5 hours ago)

I thought you were a lady!

"Super Trouper" seems surprisingly low.

I was just thinking that. Perhaos I shouldve voted for it.

I thought you were a lady!

I did for a long time until he posted a photo in a wdyll thread a while back.

I somehow missed "Eagle" off my ballot too. :(

I have given up on "King Kong Song" making it now - I should have repped for it.

Otherwise, no complaints so far!

I don't think Hey Hey Helen is gonna make it, which is really sad. But this has been great thus far.

haha yeah i am a fella. my DN is from an italo disco song. (one that, coincidentally, i think would sound pretty good mixed out of "summer night city" in case anyone's DJing anytime soon)

ok, gonna wrap things up today! this has been super fun tho

you might want to avert your eyes, balls

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7c/Fernando_Hey_Hey_Helen.jpg
15. Fernando
“Fernando” b/w “Hey Hey Helen” single, 1976
(196 points, 9 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4

IN THE FIRELIGHT FERNANDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

http://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/278/470/278470694_640.jpg
14. When I Kissed the Teacher
Arrival, 1976
(203 points, 9 votes, 2 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR4LJjCBWE0

god I love this song

and I love how Agnetha's accent is really pronounced, it's so much fun to sing along to

ONE OF THIS DAYS

the background vocals on this song are so perfect

SOS at number 2?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/Gimme_Gimme_Gimme.jpg
13. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” b/w “The King Has Lost His Crown” single, 1979
(205 points, 10 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLtU7aOnp2U

When I Kissed The Teacher was my #1. Hoped it would have been higher.

I do love Gimme Gimme Gimme - but it's undeniably faded for me a bit since Hung Up came out, because that's even better.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/VoulezVous.jpg
12. Voulez-Vous
Voulez-Vous, 1979
(212 points, 8 votes, 1 #1 vote)

There's my no.1. A hard-hitting disco classic.

not that none of you know what it sounds like but forgot to include the video link on that one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za05HBtGsgU

er. not that none of you DON'T know. hi triple negatives

and keep your dancin' shoes on for:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4f/ABBA_-_Summer_Night_City.jpg
11. Summer Night City
“Summer Night City” b/w “Medley” single, 1979
(218 points, 11 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5dPYHi17k

Cor, for a moment I was wondering if Summer Night City wouldn't place. #11 seems quite high (though I like it and voted for it).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/ABBA_-_The_Name_of_the_Game.jpg
10. The Name of the Game
ABBA: The Album, 1977
(274 points, 10 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ90ZqH0PWI

Didn't vote for it, but this is a great way to kick off the top 10.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ABBA_-_The_Visitors_(US).jpg
9. The Visitors
The Visitors, 1981
(281 points, 10 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59hkcS5wr9k

i think i had this at #2

I always assumed this was really about paranoid schizophrenia, but it seems to be a straight cold war story. My #5 anyway.

i know their names but not sure which one is which; but blondie is completely smokin' on that summer night city pic sleeve!

agnetha = blonde (lighter voice)
frida = redhead (huskier voice)

everytime I look at Frida now I see the dude from Erasure (when they dressed in drag for the Take A Chance On Me vid)

while we're at it

benny = beard
bjorn = no beard

bjeard
no bjeard

thanks for that. I always forget which guy is which.

Following their post-ABBA careers a little bit helps keep Agnetha and Frida distinct, though.

see I was never confused by the ladies, I think I was born knowing which was which lol

beards? aye that works although less so SINCE Abba..

http://www.abbafan.dk/images/benny%20og%20bjorn%20stockholm.jpg

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00521/SNF02SPDA_682_521777a.jpg

Agnetha and Frida aren't really confusing at all, no. But, as was the case for most everyone from the 70s, some days you look amazing and others you...GODWHATWEREYOUTHINKING don't. There is plenty of photo and video evidence to document both extremes with those two.

we need to do an outfits poll one day. so many lols

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Take_a_Chance_on_Me_%28Abba_single%29_coverart.jpg
8. Take a Chance on Me
ABBA: The Album, 1977
(283 votes, 14 points)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crgQGdpZR0

YES

if you change your MIND
i'm the first in LINE

i covet frida's sweater in this video

ok gonna post one more and then lunch (doing this poll has made me so hungry)

http://991.com/NewGallery/Abba-Waterloo-284839.jpg
7. Waterloo
Waterloo, 1974
(289 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj_9CiNkkn4

So many animated gif opportunities in the Take a Chance on Me video.

definitely my best lol in an outfits poll would be..

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGj0XFVwFGw/ShCmN8DuaEI/AAAAAAAAAZw/WeAJY2coOqY/s400/ABBA-Picture-0002.jpg

I think the Waterloo camerman was drunk

Frida's perm in Waterloo is pretty lolsy too

Take A Chance On Me - it's exactly the kind of good-natured blockbuster that'd turn me off with most other bands ... but there's that second-and-a-half of bubbling synth after "It's magic..." that's just attention-to-detail pop genius.

*belch*

ok back to results

we have six more songs to go but the next one was ABBA's last official recording

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/Daybeforeyoucame.jpg
6. The Day Before You Came
“The Day Before You Came” b/w “Cassandra” single, 1982
(318 points, 13 votes, 1 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HnOFwqpLRQ

That cover is... something.

Man, ABBA would have ruled the 80s so hard.

i want to know the name of the bright pink light in the band

skär

the narrator of this song could almost be jeanne dielman

(don't ask me to flesh that out)

Agnetha has the same haircut my mum had that same year

Tom Ewing did One Week One Band on Abba last week. I only saw one or two bits, but one nugget was The Day Before You Came landing at #3 when ITV (Britain's blandest channel) polled Abba a few years back. (i) that's a surprise, esp beating ILM; and (ii) why does it resonate so?

why does it resonate so?

Minor key gypsy/eastern european dirges go straight for the heart in ways that a lot of western music doesn't, regardless of the key. If you rearranged The Day Before You Came with piano and weepy violin, it would be very Hungarian.

That's interesting, I had supposed it would be the lyric.

It could also be the lyric. lol

yeah, the level of detail in the lyrics is what makes it for me. as a character sketch i think it's peerless

so "take a chance on me" was one of only two ABBA records to go gold in the US. this is the other one (and their only US #1):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Dancing_Queen_That%27s_Me.jpg
5. Dancing Queen
“Dancing Queen” b/w “That's Me” single, 1975/Arrival, 1976
(333 points, 14 votes, 1 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s

Okay, I thought that was nailed on for no.1

my heart still swells when i hear the first notes of this song
that's how i know it still works!

lol @ Agnetha's expression on the single photo

cf. the parkes essay upthread - i don't really buy the argument that i've often heard/read that this song is "secretly really depressing", at least not in the way that i think eg "should i laugh or cry" is. like certainly there's a sense that all these good vibes are fleeting but i think the mood is ultimately pretty celebratory. it's definitely not one of their more "reflective" songs, so much of it is about the present moment, feel the beat of the tambourine, etc

my heart still swells when i hear the first notes of this song
that's how i know it still works!

this argument, otoh, i totally buy (and agree with)

up next: my personal #1 vote

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/Winner_Takes_It_All.jpg
4. The Winner Takes It All
Super Trouper, 1980
(368 points, 13 votes, 3 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cwKCU8Z5c

guilty secret: this song makes me VERY teary for some reason, I have no idea why

Dancing Queen is A+ bcz of piano. OH the piano is so great

also aspirational lyrics very clever, everyone wants to be that girl

"winner" makes me well up every damn time

also: that blue eyeshadow

the top three songs each got 16 or 17 votes, meaning all but two or three people listed them on their ballots

I love how happy they all are on the cover of one of their most miserable (in content) songs.

i'm the only one of my friends/acquaintances irl that likes abba at all. Dancing Queen was my gateway to them as a 11 year old am radio junkie back in the day. i still completely love tha tune but for the past week or two i've been seriously diggin' everything i've gotten my hands on by these guys. it started with a vinyl purchase of Waterloo on vinyl and i haven't stopped listening to 'em since. thanks for another sublime poll pepoll

ok, the biggest jump in points in the entire poll:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Lay_All_Your_Love_On_Me.jpg
3. Lay All Your Love on Me
Super Trouper, 1980
(413 points, 17 votes, 1 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWI2bTckbgc

I hope my #1 is the poll's #1, but I'd be okay with my #3 being the poll's #1.

Love the yacht rock sleeve to TWTIA

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cd/Knowing_Me_Knowing_You.jpg
2. Knowing Me, Knowing You
Arrival, 1977
(421 points, 17 votes, 2 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUrzicaiRLU

So my #1 was #2. I can deal.

ahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

That "ah hahhhh" is THE BEST background vocal swell ever.

which means the runaway winner is...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/SOS_-_Man_In_The_Middle.jpg
1. SOS
ABBA, 1975
(457 points, 16 votes, 2 #1 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvChjHcABPA

lol at first i was shocked/pleasantly surprised to see that the two i had penciled as the heavy faves for #1 - 'dancing queen' and 'the winner takes it all' - had already placed (along w/ one i had pegged as a dark horse - 'the day before you came'), and was thinking 'o wow, i think my #1 is gonna "win"' but had trouble placing what else was left, glanced at the abba gold tracklist and thought 'dear god ilx, plz tell me you didn't put 'i have a dream' in the top two'.

It kinda had to be SOS, right? Sometimes the obvious is also correct.

anyhow my ballot:
top 3 abba albums

1. voulez vous
2. abba (1975)
3. super trouper

tracks
1. s.o.s. - 40
2. waterloo - 36
3. chiquitita - 33
4. as good as new - 30
5. lay all your love on me - 28
6. if it wasn't for the nights - 26
7. the winner takes it all - 25
8. the name of the game - 24
9. knowing me knowing you - 23
10. does your mother know - 22
11. the day before you came - 21
12. gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight - 20
13. eagle - 19
14. the visitors - 18
15. under attack - 17
16. summer night city - 16
17. king kong song - 15
18. elaine - 14
19. mamma mia - 13
20. dancing queen - 12

one of my 'projects' this summer was to sing 20 abba songs at karaoke. last week i did 'waterloo' and 'king kong song', tonight it's 's.o.s.' and 'fernando'. if we were to do a 'best pop songs all time' poll i think i could cut and paste that ballot and change at most half of it and be happy. good job, great effort everybody!

My own

Knowing Me Knowing You - 40
The Visitors - 36
S.O.S. - 33
Take a Chance on Me - 30
You Owe Me One - 28*
Lay All Your Love on Me - 26
Under Attack - 25
Does Your Mother Know - 24
Chiquitita - 23
Arrival - 22
I Know There's Something Going On (Frida) - 21*
Lovelight - 20*
The Day Before You Came - 19
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - 18
Dancing Queen - 17
Money, Money, Money - 16
My Mama Said - 15
On and On and On - 14
The Winner Takes It All - 13
When I Kissed the Teacher - 12

Albums:
1. Arrival
2. The Visitors
3. Super Trouper

Only three things I voted for didn't make the countdown, so I have no gripes.


*3. Lay All Your Love on Me
/Super Trouper/, 1980
(413 points, 17 votes, 1 #1 votes)*



the entire top 45:

1 SOS - 16 votes, 457 points, 2 #1 votes
2 Knowing Me, Knowing You - 17 votes, 421 points, 2 #1 votes
3 Lay All Your Love on Me - 17 votes, 413 points, 1 #1 vote
4 The Winner Takes It All - 13 votes, 368 points, 3 #1 votes
5 Dancing Queen - 14 votes, 333 points, 1 #1 vote
6 The Day Before You Came - 13 votes, 318 points, 1 #1 vote
7 Waterloo - 10 votes, 289 points, 1 #1 vote
8 Take a Chance on Me - 14 votes, 283 points
9 The Visitors - 10 votes, 281 points
10 The Name of the Game - 10 votes, 274 points
11 Summer Night City - 11 votes, 218 points
12 Voulez-Vous - 8 votes, 212 points, 1 #1 vote
13 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - 10 votes, 205 points
14 When I Kissed the Teacher - 9 votes, 203 points, 2 #1 votes
15 Fernando - 9 votes, 196 points
16 Does Your Mother Know - 8 votes, 157 points
17 Mamma Mia - 8 votes, 152 points
18 If It Wasn't for the Nights - 5 votes, 151 points
18 Under Attack - 7 votes, 151 points
20 Chiquitita - 7 votes, 150 points
21 Eagle - 7 votes, 148 points
22 As Good as New - 6 votes, 142 points
23 Bang-a-Boomerang - 5 votes, 128 points, 2 #1 votes
24 My Mama Said - 5 votes, 116 points
25 Money, Money, Money - 6 votes, 112 points
25 One of Us - 4 votes, 112 points, 1 #1 vote
27 Angeleyes - 6 votes, 111 points
28 Slipping Through My Fingers - 5 votes, 108 points
29 Head Over Heels - 5 votes, 102 points
30 Like an Angel Passing Through My Room - 5 votes, 96 points
31 On and On and On - 5 votes, 94 points
32 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - 5 votes, 93 points
33 When All Is Said and Done - 5 votes, 86 points
34 Tiger - 4 votes, 81 points
35 Arrival - 3 votes, 82 points, 1 #1 vote
36 Ring Ring - 4 votes, 81 points
37 Should I Laugh or Cry - 4 votes, 79 points
38 Super Trouper - 4 votes, 75 points
39 Me and I - 3 votes, 71 points
40 Thank You for the Music - 4 votes, 66 points
41 So Long - 3 votes, 64 points
42 I've Been Waiting for You - 3 votes, 63 points
42 That's Me - 3 votes, 63 points
42 Two for the Price of One - 3 votes, 63 points
45 Honey Honey - 3 votes, 59 points
45 Soldiers - 3 votes, 59 points

i'll post the other tracks later tonight

if nothing else this was a very interesting list and i'm happy i got to do this poll! thanks to all of those who voted!

i often think that the
"memories (memories) Good days (good days) bad days (baaad daaays)
/ they'll be (they'll be) with me (with me) always (always)"
bit is my single favourite pop moment of all time.

thanks donna this was great.

I love how happy they all are on the cover of one of their most miserable (in content) songs.

― Desire is withered away from the sons of men! (aldo), jeudi 7 juin 2012 21:37 (23 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Was thinking the exact same thing! It was my #1 (Winner Takes It All).

most surpringly high vote IMO probs Voulez Vous at no 12
most surpringly low vote is surely Ring Ring at 36.

still massively amazed at the high placing for If It Wasn't for the Nights

Arrival
Under Attack
The Day Before You Came
As Good As New
Elaine
When I Kissed The Teacher
The Visitors
That's Me
Take A Chance On Me
When All Is Said And Done
When I Kissed The Teacher
I Am The City
Cassandra
Head Over Heels
Summer Night City
Soldiers
Lay All Your Love On Me
Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
Should I Laugh Or Cry
Two For The Price Of One

Top 3 Albums
The Visitors
Arrival
Waterloo

and if I knew we were voting for solo tracks I would have made room for this

Agnetha Fältskog - If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOrZHbTKmks

Here was my Frida vote. Since only 19 people voted, I'm inclined to believe they're all familiar with it, but in case a random observer drops in, here's "I Know There's Something Going On". (I guess Phil Collins = poison in ILM polls.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz5DkTF2RW8

I'll post my ballot later on; at work right now. I was the #1 vote for Waterloo though.

This poll was an absolute blast. Thank you so much, donna rouge.

in terms of frida solo i love "threnody" and "i see red" as well but i didn't put any solo work/'chess' on my ballot

picking up some kate bush vibes in this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gARk3zPlbs

GREAT POLL YOU GUYS

Bang-A-Boomerang
Waterloo
S.O.S.
Dancing Queen
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Fernando
Mamma Mia
The Day Before You Came
The Winner Takes It All
Like an Angel Passing Through My Room
Honey Honey
Arrival
So Long
Take a Chance on Me
The Name of the Game
Slipping Through My Fingers
Chiquitita
Ring Ring
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
When I Kissed the Teacher

here's everything that came in below 45:

47 King Kong Song - 3 votes, 56 points
48 Elaine - 3 votes, 54 points
49 Rock Me - 2 votes, 53 points
50 You Owe Me One - 2 votes, 51 points
51 Lovelight - 2 votes, 48 points
52 Dum Dum Diddle - 3 votes, 47 points
52 Kisses of Fire - 2 votes, 47 points
54 I Know There's Something Going On - 2 votes, 46 points
55 Lovers (Last a Little Longer) - 2 votes, 44 points
56 Move On - 2 votes, 41 points
57 I Know Him So Well - 1 vote, 40 points, 1 #1 vote
57 One Night in Bangkok - 2 votes, 40 points
59 Hey, Hey Helen - 2 votes, 38 points
60 One Man, One Woman - 1 vote, 30 points
61 I'm a Marionette - 1 vote, 29 points
62 My Love, My Life - 1 vote, 26 points
63 Andante, Andante - 1 vote, 25 points
64 Hole in Your Soul - 1 vote, 22 points
65 The Piper - 1 vote, 21 points
66 I Am the City - 1 vote, 20 points
67 Cassandra - 1 vote, 19 points
68 I Let the Music Speak - 1 vote, 16 points
69 What About Livingstone? - 1 vote, 15 points
70 He Is Your Brother - 1 vote, 14 points
70 Watch Out - 1 vote, 14 points
72 Disillusion - 1 vote, 13 points
72 Happy New Year - 1 vote, 13 points
72 Why Did It Have to Be Me - 1 vote, 13 points
75 Just Like That - 1 vote, 12 points

ABBA songs that didn't receive a SINGLE vote:

Another Town, Another Train
Nina, Pretty Ballerina
I Saw It in the Mirror
Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother
She's My Kind of Girl
I Am Just a Girl
Rock n' Roll Band
Sitting in the Palmtree
Hasta Mañana
Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)
Gonna Sing You My Lovesong
Suzy-Hang-Around
Tropical Loveland
Man in the Middle
Intermezzo No. 1
I Wonder (Departure)
I Have a Dream
The King Has Lost His Crown
The Way Old Friends Do
Merry-Go-Round
Santa Rosa
Crazy World
Happy Hawaii
Medley: Pick a Bale of Cotton / On Top of Old Smokey / Midnight Special

why does it resonate so?

Minor key gypsy/eastern european dirges go straight for the heart in ways that a lot of western music doesn't, regardless of the key. If you rearranged The Day Before You Came with piano and weepy violin, it would be very Hungarian.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, June 7, 2012 2:10 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

That's interesting, I had supposed it would be the lyric.

― Ismael Klata, Thursday, June 7, 2012 2:12 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It could also be the lyric. lol

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, June 7, 2012 2:12 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah, the level of detail in the lyrics is what makes it for me. as a character sketch i think it's peerless

― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Thursday, June 7, 2012 2:13 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Unless your peer is Leonard Cohen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZHqXjFu9jw

1. Voulez-Vous
2. Lay All Your Love On Me
3. If It Wasn't For The Nights
4. Eagle
5. The Day Before You Came
6. The Visitors
7. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
8. Head Over Heels
9. My Mama Said
10. As Good As New

11. Summer Night City
12. SOS
13. Take A Chance On Me
14. Waterloo
15. Slipping Through My Fingers
16. I Let The Music Speak
17. I'm A Marionette
18. Tiger
19. Knowing Me, Knowing You
20. The Name Of The Game

Thanks a ton Donna. I'd never have found If It Wasn't For The Nights without this poll, which alone would've made the whole thing worthwhile.

Almost expected 'marionette' to make the list - the clip from 'abba the movie', overtly creepy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOTLyRki-VI

Like a doll, like a puppet with no will at all

Welp, sorry "Rock Me"...I tried.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzpRXzz4sE0

My ballot, herewith:

I Know Him So Well
Rock Me
Tiger
The Winner Takes It All
Waterloo
Mamma Mia
One Night In Bangkok
Super Trouper
Knowing Me Knowing You
Dancing Queen
Gimme Gimme Gimme
Lay All Your Love On Me
Fernando
Ring Ring
Honey Honey
Hey Hey Helen
Bang A Boomerang-
I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do
Why Did It Have To Be Me
Does Your Mother Know

anyway I found this while I was tubing around, seemed a nice closing encore for a FANTABULOUS poll (THANK YOU THANK YOU DONNA ROUGE!!!)

Olivia Newton John, ABBA and Andy Gibb on a 1978 Oliva tv special.

Part one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzpRXzz4sE0

Part two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViIUlPADAzw

arg part one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhW68WE8F8s

I was the other Rock Me voter and the only one for He Is Your Brother.

When I Kissed The Teacher
If It Wasn't For The Nights
Kisses Of Fire
The Name Of The Game
So Long
The Winner Takes It All
SOS
Lay All Your Love On Me
On And On And On
The Day Before You Came
Ring Ring
Voulez-Vous
One Of Us
Eagle
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Angeleyes
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
He Is Your Brother
Does Your Mother Know
Dancing Queen

Albums:

Arrival
Voulez-Vous
Ring Ring

Eh? I was positive I had voted for Rock Me... oh well, it's my fault it didn't place then.

Thanks, donna rouge. Great fun!

Very surprised that "Lay All Your Love On Me" beat #4 and #5, although I voted for it. On reflection, I should have swapped this for "Eagle".

My ballot:

01 The Winner Takes It All
02 Knowing Me, Knowing You
03 The Visitors
04 Waterloo
05 King Kong Song
06 Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
07 Does Your Mother Know?
08 SOS
09 The Day Before You Came
10 Dancing Queen
11 Money, Money, Money
12 Summer Night City
13 Lay All Your Love on Me
14 Take a Chance on Me
15 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
16 Thank You for the Music
17 When I Kissed the Teacher
18 Under Attack
19 On and On and On
20 Voulez-Vous

My ballot:

The Day Before You Came
The Winner Takes It All
SOS
Summer Night City
The Name of the Game
Knowing Me Knowing You
Move On
My Mama Said
Slipping Through My Fingers
Take a Chance on Me
Under Attack
As Good As New
Angeleyes
Soldiers
Rock Me
Like an Angel Passing Through My Room
What About Livingstone?
Fernando
Tiger
Just Like That

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.

Embarrassed about the great songs I left off - there's so many of them.

1. Lay All Your Love On Me
2. The Name Of The Game
3. SOS
4. Dancing Queen
5. One Of Us
6. Knowing Me, Knowing You
7. Fernando
8. Take A Chance On Me
9. I’ve Been Waiting For You
10. Should I Laugh or Cry?
11. That’s Me
12. The Winner Takes It All
13. The Day Before You Came
14. The Visitors
15. Chiquitita
16. Move On
17. Under Attack
18. Money, Money, Money
19. Summer Night City
20. 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. Arrival
2. The Album
3. The Visitors

Super Trouper was so low!

disappointed in lack of "lovelight" votes personally. also i'm the only one who voted for 'happy new year'!

BANG A BOOMER BOOMERANG
DUM DE DUM DUM DE DUM DE DUM DUM
BANG A BOOMER BOOMERANG
LOVE IS A TUNE YOU HUMMY HUM HUM

that is all

Been getting into ABBA for the first time this week. I couldn't agree with you more.

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

My picks for twenty-five good 'uns.

'Watch Out' was robbed in this poll, IMO.

I didn't submit a ballot but it would have been this:

The Day Before You Came
The Visitors
I’m a Marionette
Head over Heels
Summer Night City
Voulez-Vous
On and On and On
Lay All Your Love On Me
SOS
Eagle
Gimme Gimme Gimme
Lovelight
Ring Ring
Disillusion
Cassandra
I Am the City
The Name of the Game
Hole in Your Soul
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Slipping Through My Fingers

'I'm a Marionette' fucking rules.

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.

I can completely understand why 'S.O.S.' won... it's absolute perfection.

The idea of it being "forgettable" is just completely alien to me!

yeah SOS is beautiful cmon

so... you wish you understood

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!!

i also did not vote in this but my boring ballot would contain (unordered)

hey hey helen
sos
dancing queen
knowing me knowing you
tiger
fernando
take a chance on me
voulez-vous
summer night city
gimme gimme gimme
the winner takes it all
lay all your love on me
should i laugh or cry
the day before you came

+ waterloo
+ honey honey

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

just re-read this thread again, this poll was so much fun

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

lol that is a perfect choice

i can't remember if i voted in this poll or not but my list now would be something like

soldiers
one of us
tiger
knowing me knowing you
me and i
under attack
on and on and on
that's me
should i laugh or cry
the day before you came
head over heels
does your mother know
lay all your love on me
sos
as good as new

ah god i forgot if it wasn't for the nights

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/29/all-abbas-uk-singles-ranked

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.

(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)

Soldiers would be my #1

And of the singles, which one would be your pick?

dancing queen :)

Can’t say you’re wrong

Super Trouper wd make my ballot now

I love Name Of the Game but Under Attack would be number one for. me. NOTG number 2

Gonna have to search some singles bins for that (Day Before You Came too, I guess)

"Angel-eyes" came up on a playlist today and surprised me, I hadn't heard it in years. Good tune.

this poll was such a joy to participate in, and so much fun to put together a ballot. abba are the fucking best

i’m gonna listen to more abba this week

"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.

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?

'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.

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.

"Under Attack" in last place out of all their singles? Löjlig!

"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

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.”

Guardian Top 5 OTM.

Disillusion is a fantastic song

Their best albums.

^ 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

Agreed, solid list.

Apropos of nothing, my love of the Mamma Mia movies knows few bounds. There should be a thread for chrissakes.

How I'd rank their British top forty singles.