Released August 1982 Recorded 1982 | Format 7" vinyl Genre Pop | |
B-side "Threnody" (album version)You Know What I Mean"(2015 limited edition version) Length 5:29 (album version)4:07 (single version) |
"I Know There's Something Going On" is a song recorded in 1982 by ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida). It was the lead single from her solo album Something's Going On. The song was a hit around the world during 1982 and 1983.
Contents
Song history
Recording began in ABBA's Polar Music Studio, Stockholm, in February 1982. As ABBA were unofficially on a break, Lyngstad spent time on her solo project. At the time of recording this song/album, Frida wanted to distance herself from "the typical ABBA pop sound". "I Know There's Something Going On" was written by Russ Ballard and produced by Genesis drummer and singer Phil Collins, who also played drums on the song. The backing vocals are sung by Lyngstad herself and Collins.
"I Know There's Something Going On" was released in the autumn of 1982 and became a major success for Frida. It hit #1 in France (spending five weeks on top), Belgium, Switzerland and Costa Rica, and was a Top 10 hit throughout most of Europe, as well as in Australia and South Africa. The song was also a success in the United States, reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1983 with the song's video receiving heavy airplay on MTV. Though the song did not reach the top ten, Billboard's Year-End chart ranked it as the 20th most popular song of 1983. However, in the UK, traditionally a popular market for ABBA, the song failed to reach the Top 40, peaking at #43 (and spending seven weeks inside the Top 75).
A one-hour TV documentary about the making of the album and this song, is included in Frida - The DVD. The whole recording process, from day one in the studio to the release party, was filmed by Swedish TV SVT. This documentary includes interviews with Lyngstad and Collins, Björn and Benny from ABBA, as well as all the musicians involved with the album.
Music video
The music video was directed by Stuart Orme and filmed at several locations in London, England in early July 1982. The video, which received heavy promotion on MTV due to the worldwide success of the song, shows Frida in a struggling relationship. She then discovers through photos taken at a fashion shoot that her husband or lover is seeing another woman.
The video is included in Frida - The DVD.
Credits
Cover versions
Sampling
Appearances in other media
In the MTV animated series Daria, the song was featured during the closing credits of Episode #406, entitled, "I Loathe a Parade". The song is featured in the 1984 movie Just The Way You Are as well as the song "Voulez-Vous" by ABBA (of whom Frida is a member). The song also played during the pilot episode of 2015's Scream Queens on Fox.