Dancing Queen

Lyrics Meaning of Dancing Queen by ABBA, and what it is about

ABBA’s songwriters were inspired by soulman George McCrae’s dance-floor hit “Rock Your Baby” to try their hands at a disco song, deciding to open their tune mid-chorus, Benny Andersson said, “for maximum impact.” Dancing Queen was released in 1976.

When Andersson auditioned the song for his fiancée and band member Anni-Frid Lyngstad, she was moved to tears.

Sweden’s biggest musical export debuted “Queen” in 1976 at a ball for King Carl XVI Gustaf on the eve of his wedding.

"Dancing Queen" is a Europop and disco song by the Swedish group ABBA, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Arrival in 1976. It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Andersson and Ulvaeus also produced the song.

Musically, "Dancing Queen" is a Europop version of American disco music.

As disco music dominated the US charts, the group decided to follow the trend, replicating Phil Spector's Wall of Sound arrangements.

Andersson and Ulvaeus have cited George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby" as a source of inspiration for the style of the song. The opening melody echoes "Sing My Way Home" by Delaney & Bonnie

The song alternates between "languid yet seductive verses" and a "dramatic chorus that ascends to heart-tugging high notes".

It features keyboard lines by Andersson, while Ulvaeus and Andersson interlace many instrumental hooks in and out of the mix.

Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s layered vocals have been noted for their dynamism. Lyngstad said, "I found the song so beautiful. It's one of those songs that goes straight to your heart".

Agnetha Fältskog later said: "It's often difficult to know what will be a hit. The exception was 'Dancing Queen.' We all knew it was going to be massive."

Lyrically, the song concerns a visit to the discothèque, but approaches the subject from the joy of dancing itself.

ABBA wanted to release "Dancing Queen" as the follow-up single to "Mamma Mia" but their manager, Stig Anderson, insisted that the more sedate and folksy "Fernando" should be first, as he felt it would appeal to a broader audience and so was more likely to be a hit.

It became ABBA's only number one hit in the United States, and topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, West Germany and the Soviet Union. "Dancing Queen" also reached the top five in many other countries.

In 2015, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Dancing Queen lyrics by ABBA

Ooh, you can dance, you can jive

Having the time of your life

Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene

Digging the dancing queen

Friday night and the lights are low

Looking out for a place to go

Where they play the right music, getting in the swing

You come to look for a king

Anybody could be that guy

Night is young and the music's high

With a bit of rock music, everything is fine

You're in the mood for a dance

And when you get the chance

You are the dancing queen

Young and sweet, only seventeen

Dancing queen

Feel the beat from the tambourine

Oh, yeah

You can dance, you can jive

Having the time of your life

Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene

Digging the dancing queen

You're a teaser, you turn 'em on

Leave them burning and then you're gone

Looking out for another, anyone will do

You're in the mood for a dance

And when you get the chance

You are the dancing queen

Young and sweet, only seventeen

Dancing queen

Feel the beat from the tambourine

Oh, yeah

You can dance, you can jive

Having the time of your life

Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene

Digging the dancing queen

Digging the dancing queen