Recording of Dancing Queen started in August 1975. It was inspired by George McCrae's 1974 disco classic Rock Your Baby. It was released in August 1976, and was instantly a huge wordwide hit. It was no. 1 for 14 weeks in Sweden, and 6 weeks in UK.
Stig recalls "One day I found a note in my office with a telephone number on it. I gave it to Gorel and said 'Can you call them'. She replied 'It's not a telephone number, it's the latest sales figures for Dancing Queen in Britain'".
Frida recalls "I loved the song from the very beginning. Coming back from the studio, Benny played the backing track to me. It was so beautiful that I started to cry. I mean, even without lyrics or voices on it, it was outstanding."
Dancing Queen is Abba's best known song, and continues to fill dance floors the world over to this day.
This performance is from the November 1978 Japan tv show "Abba Special".
From Arrival album. Lyrics:
You can dance, you can sing
Having the time of your life,
See that girl, watch that scene
Dig in the Dancing Queen,
Friday night and the lights are low,
Looking out for the place to go,
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come in 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
You can dance, you can jive
Having the time of your life,
See that girl, watch that scene
Dig in the Dancing Queen,
You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave 'em 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
You can dance, you can jive
Having the time of your life,
See that girl, watch that scene
Dig in the Dancing Queen