Harman Patil (Editor)

Mamma Mia (song)

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Released
  
September 1975

Length
  
3:35

Format
  
7" single

B-side
  
"Intermezzo No.1" "Hey, Hey Helen" (Australia) "Tropical Loveland" (UK, Canada, US)

Recorded
  
12 March 1975 at Metronome Studio

Label
  
Polar (Denmark) Epic (UK) Atlantic (Canada, US) Carnaby (Spain) Polydor (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland) RCA Victor (Australia) Disques Vogue (Belgium)

"Mamma Mia" is a song recorded by the Swedish pop group ABBA, written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, with the lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. It is the opening track on the group's third album, the self-titled ABBA. The song's name is derived from Italian, where it is an interjection used in situations of surprise, anguish, or excitement, which corresponds to the English interjection "my" but literally means "My mommy". The interjection "my my" can be found indeed in some lines within the song.

Contents

History and impact

The distinctive sound at the start of the song is the marimba. According to biographer Carl Magnus Palm, the instrument was incorporated at the last minute, added after composer Benny Andersson found it in the studio and decided its "tick tock" rhythm was perfect for the track.

"Mamma Mia" was written at the home of Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus, and was the last track recorded for the album ABBA. It was one of four songs from the album to have a music video made to promote the album. Initially however, "Mamma Mia" was never intended for release as a single. Around this time, many artists were recording ABBA songs (such as "Honey, Honey" and "Bang a Boomerang"), similarly ABBA offered "Mamma Mia" to British pop group Brotherhood of Man, who turned it down.

When "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" topped the Australian charts for 3 weeks, the Australian public was hungry for more ABBA – the beginnings of ABBAmania. It was the promo clip for "Mamma Mia" that was proving the most popular after repeat screenings on Australian television, notably Molly Meldrum's Countdown. ABBA’s Australian record company, RCA, asked that "Mamma Mia" be released as a single but Polar Music refused. However, Stig Anderson would agree to this and "Mamma Mia" was released in Australia in August 1975 where it spent 10 weeks at number one.

After this success in Australia, Epic Records in the United Kingdom took notice of ABBA for the first time since Eurovision and "Waterloo". From then on, Epic began to heavily promote ABBA's singles with the immediate result of "S.O.S." reaching the Top 10 in the important British market, their first hit since "Waterloo". "Mamma Mia" soon followed reaching number one on the British charts in early 1976, the second of ABBA's 18 consecutive Top 10 singles.

The B-side for the Australian release of "Mamma Mia" was "Hey, Hey Helen". In most other countries the B-Side was the instrumental "Intermezzo Number 1". ABBA's British label Epic selected "Tropical Loveland" as the B-side for the UK release, feeling another vocal track, especially one showcasing ABBA in a different musical style would better promote the parent album.

In the UK Singles Chart on 31 January 1976, "Mamma Mia" replaced Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the number 1 position.

International single

  1. "Mamma Mia"
  2. "Intermezzo No. 1"

UK single

  1. "Mamma Mia"
  2. "Tropical Loveland"

A-Teens version

"Mamma Mia" became the first single by the A-Teens which was released as the debut single from the album The ABBA Generation. The song is a cover version of the popular hit by ABBA. Unlike the original, this version leaves out the second refrain "Mamma Mia, even if I say, Bye bye, leave me now or never; Mamma Mia, it's a game we play, Bye bye, doesn't mean forever."

When the single came out in the spring of 1999, it became a smash hit in their home country, Sweden, where it peaked at number-one and stayed there for eight consecutive weeks earning a platinum certification.

On the initial pressings of the single, the name of the band appeared as ABBA*Teens, but Universal Music Group thought it would be better to change the name of the band to A-Teens so the new pressings of the single were made.

The single hit Top Twenty in almost every European country, reaching number three in Norway, number nine in Switzerland and the Netherlands, number ten in Germany, number twelve in the United Kingdom, number fourteen in Austria and Finland, among others. A Spanish version of the song was recorded for promotion in Latin America and Spain.

Despite the worldwide success, the song failed to attract the Australian public, peaking at seventy-two on the ARIA Charts. The album flopped and the A-Teens stopped releasing singles/albums in that country until the 2002 single "Can't Help Falling in Love". "Mamma Mia" also peaked at thirteen in New Zealand, but due to the lack of success in Australia, the further singles were never released in that country either.

In the United States the single peaked at sixty-three on the Billboard Hot Single Sales Chart, becoming the band's first single to chart in the country.

Music video

The music video was directed by Henrik Sylvén and was filmed in Sweden. It shows the A-Teens as waiters in an art exposition, and they are suppressed by the manager; but soon they discover that one of the paintings transports them to a party where the manager and patrons he's helping also join in on the fun.

The video reached number one on several music channels, and was the main single outside the US, where "Dancing Queen" was used as the main single to promote the album.

Chart positions

  • 1 (Argentina, Chile, Sweden)
  • 3 (Norway, Ukraine)
  • 9 (Bavaria, Netherlands, Switzerland)
  • 10 (Germany)
  • 12 (Mexico, United Kingdom)
  • 13 (New Zealand)
  • 14 (Austria, Finland)
  • 51 (France)
  • 72 (Australia)

    • Releases

    European 2-Track CD Single

    1. Mamma Mia [Radio Version] – 3:43
    2. Mamma Mia [Extended Version] – 5:48

    International Edition

    1. Mamma Mia [Radio Version] – 3:43
    2. Mamma Mia [Giuseppe Remix] – 5:35
    3. Mamma Mia [Jam Lab Remix] – 3:56
    4. Mamma Mia [Extended Version] – 5:48

    U.K. CD1

    1. Mamma Mia [Radio Version] – 3:45
    2. Lay All Your Love On Me – 4:04
    3. Mamma Mia [Karaoke Version] – 3:45

    Video: Mamma Mia

    U.K. CD2

    1. Mamma Mia [Extended Version] – 5:48
    2. Mamma Mia [The Bold & The Beautiful Glamourmix Edit] – 3:46
    3. Mamma Mia [Trouser Enthusiasts' Undying Dub] – 9:20

    U.K. Cassette

    1. Mamma Mia [Radio Version] – 3:45
    2. Mamma Mia [Karaoke Version] – 3:45

    U.S. CD Single

    1. Mamma Mia [Radio Version] – 3:43
    2. Mamma Mia [Extended Version] – 5:48

    Promo CD

    1. Mamma Mia – 3:43

    12" Vinyl Promo

    1. A. Mamma Mia [The Bold & The Beautiful Glamourmix Edit] – 3:46
    2. B. Mamma Mia [Extended Version] – 5:48

    Other cover versions

  • In 1976, French singer Karen Cheryl recorded a French-language version, titled "Oh! Mama Mia".
  • The 1995 New Zealand tribute compilation Abbasalutely includes a cover by alternative pop band The 3Ds.
  • In 1996, British singer Hazell Dean recorded a dance-oriented cover for her album The Winner Takes It All.
  • In 1997, Ska band Five Iron Frenzy recorded their own version of the song.
  • In 1999, The song was covered by A-Teens on their debut album The ABBA Generation (see above section). On February 13, 2001, that cover was heard on the second track of the CD Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 3.
  • The exact same music from the A-Teens version was re-used for another cover of "Mamma Mia" by Danish singer Kate Hall on the German compilation ABBA Mania a few years later.
  • British singer/actress Martine McCutcheon covered the song for the 1999 tribute Abbamania. She also performed the song on the TV special. On the subsequent ABBAMania 2 album from 2004, the song is covered by British actress Tricia Penrose.
  • Dance covers of "Mamma Mia" have been recorded by Abbacadabra (produced by Almighty Records), Angeleyes on their 1999 tribute album ABBAdance, Sabu on the 2001 Japanese ABBA Ibiza Caliente Mix compilation, Euphorica on their 2003 album ABBA Dance, and DJ Ensamble on their 2006 Trancing Queen tribute album.
  • In 2000, Swedish band The Black Sweden included the song on their ABBA tribute album Gold. Their version featured an opening riff borrowed from the Deep Purple song "Smoke on the Water".
  • On the 2004 tribute compilation Abbalicious, the song is performed by several American drag queens.
  • Musician/songwriter Pamela McNeill included a cover of the song on her album Tribute To ABBA, which was produced by her husband Dugan McNeill.
  • A cover of the song was recorded by indie rock artist DackAttac.
  • In 2005, indie rock band Seks Bomba from Boston recorded a cover of the song for their album Thanks & Goodnight.
  • In 2005, Hungarian jazz vocal group Cotton Club Singers recorded Mamma Mia for their ABBA Jazz Live 1 album.
  • A cover of the song by Storm Corp. can be found on the 2006 chill out music compilation ABBA Chill Out.
  • In 2006, German AC/DC tribute band Riff Raff recorded a cover in AC/DC style for their album Rock 'N' Roll Mutation Vol. 1: Riff Raff Performs ABBA.
  • In 2006, Finnish a cappella choral ensemble Rajaton released a cover on their ABBA tribute album Rajaton Sings ABBA With Lahti Symphony Orchestra.
  • Tribute band Gabba (band) recorded a cover of the song, in the style of The Ramones. A sample can be heard on their official website.
  • A dance version by Shana Vanguarde omits the second half of the chorus.
  • In 2007 singer and actor Ariana Grande with her friend Aaron Simon Gross covered a really short part of the chorus of the song for their homemade show "Freaky Forever" (parody of Freaky Friday)
  • In 2008, the song was covered in a jazz/lounge music style by American group BNB on their album Bossa Mia: Songs of ABBA.
  • American indie alternative rock band Miniature Tigers recorded a cover of the song that was available for download on the Net.
  • In 2011, British Folk Punk band Smokey Bastard covered Mamma Mia on their album Tales From The Wasteland.
  • In 2012, the song was parodied by The Fringemunks (a group that is a parody itself of Alvin and the Chipmunks) to recap Fringe episode 4.07, "Wallflower."
  • In 2013, popular TV series Glee covered the song in the seventeenth episode of their fourth season, "Guilty Pleasures".

    • Live cover performances

  • Taiwanese singer A-mei has performed the song live.
  • The song is featured in the Mamma Mia! musical, and sung by the character of Donna. In the context of the musical, the song is used as Donna's surprise at finding the three men she went out with at the same time. Donna explains how much pain the men caused her at the separation, but also in the song she explains how easily she can succumb to temptation. In the 2008 Mamma Mia! film adaptation, it is sung by Meryl Streep, who plays Donna. In both cases, the length of the song is exactly the same as the original, but like the A-Teens version (see above), the second refrain is omitted and the main refrain is sung twice in succession.
  • Elena Temnikova, Russian singer, sang this song on the 2003 television show Star Factory.
  • Miley Cyrus sang this song in 2005 in one of her Hannah Montana audition tapes.
  • The James Last Orchestra performed the song on tour in 2006 as part of a big band ABBA tribute. The band's performance at London's Royal Albert Hall was recorded and released on CD and DVD.
  • The Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus sang "Mamma Mia" in a show entitled ExtrABBAganza that included almost all of the group's greatest hits.
  • The song was sung on Australian Idol Season 6 by Chrislyn Hamilton during ABBA week.
  • The song has also been performed, but without the lyrics, by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • English-Irish pop band One Direction performed part of the song on their live concert in stockholm, Sweden

    • References

    Mamma Mia (song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA