"Mamma Mia" is a song from ABBA's 3rd album, ABBA, written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson, with the lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The song's name is derived from Italian, where it is an interjection.
[edit] History and impact
"Mamma Mia" has been called "the song that saved ABBA". It was the last track recorded for the album "ABBA" and was one of the four songs from the album to have a promo clip made to promote the album. The song, however, was never intended for release as a single.[1]
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.[2] However, in the end Stig Anderson agreed & "Mamma Mia" was released in Australia where it spent 10 weeks at #1.[1]
After this phenomenal success in Australia, Epic Records in Great Britain sat up & took notice of ABBA for the first time since Eurovision & "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 1st hit since "Waterloo". "Mamma Mia" soon followed reaching #1 on the British charts in early 1976, the 2nd of ABBA's 18 consecutive Top 10 singles.[1]
In most countries the B-Side to Mamma Mia was Intermezzo Number 1, however ABBA's British label Epic used Tropical Loveland on the UK release as the B-Side as they thought it would promote the ABBA album, as it showed a different style of music and they thought it would be better than an instrumental song.
In the UK Singles Chart of January 1976, Mamma Mia knocked Queen's song Bohemian Rhapsody of the number 1 which contained the words "Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia" in the song.
[edit] Chart positions
[edit] Cover versions
- French singer Karen Cheryl recorded a French language cover of the song in 1976.
- The 1995 New Zealand tribute compilation Abbasalutely includes a cover by alternative pop band The 3Ds.
- The song was covered by A*Teens on their debut album The ABBA Generation in 1999.
- 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.
- Italian pop group Gazosa recorded an English cover of the song in 1999. It was included on their self-titled 2001 album[7].
- 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.
- British singer Hazell Dean recorded a dance-oriented cover for her 1996 album The Winner Takes It All: Hazell Dean Sings Abba.
- 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[8].
- On the 2004 tribute compilation Abbalicious, the song is performed by several American drag queens.[9]
- Ska band Five Iron Frenzy recorded their own rendition of the song.
- 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.
- Indie rock band Seks Bomba from Boston recorded a cover of the song for their 2005 album Thanks & Good Night.
- Swedish studio musicians The Black Sweden included the song on their ABBA tribute album entitled Gold. Their version featured an opening riff borrowed from the Deep Purple song "Smoke on the Water".
- A cover of the song by Storm Corp. can be found on the 2006 chill out music compilation ABBA Chill Out.
- German AC/DC tribute band Riff Raff recorded a cover in AC/DC style for their 2006 album Rock 'N' Roll Mutation Vol. 1: Riff Raff Performs ABBA.
- A cover of the song by Finnish a cappella choral ensemble Rajaton can be found on their 2006 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.[10]
- A dance version by Shana Vanguarde omits the second half of the chorus.
- The song was covered in a jazz/lounge music style by American group BNB on their 2008 album Bossa Mia: Songs of ABBA.[11]
- Australian rock band Audioscam covered the song on their 2008 album Abbattack. Samples from the album can be heard on their official MySpace page.[12]
- American indie alternative rock band Miniature Tigers recorded a cover of the song that was available for download on the Net.
- Bollywood hit song Mil Gaya Humko Saathi from the movie Hum Kisise Kum Nahin is almost an exact reproduction of the Mama Mia tune (albeit not acknowledged in the end credits).
[edit] 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.
- Elena Temnikova, Russian singer, sang this song in the 2003 television show Star Factory.
- Miley Cyrus sang this song in 2005 in one of her Hannah Montana audition tapes[citation needed].
- 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. [1]
- Loreto Normanhurst teachers (Mr Lundon, Mr Lennon, Mrs Marsh and Mrs Millar) performed the song at Loreto Day 2009, almost an exact reproduction of the original.
[edit] References and appearances in other media
- In 1980, a Spanish version of "Mamma Mia" was included on the album Gracias Por La Música.
- In 1999, a musical with the same name, Mamma Mia! opened in London's West End, featuring many of ABBA's songs and production has spread to many other countries, with more than 1,500 performances on Broadway alone.
- ABBA perform parts of the song live in the film "ABBA: The Movie" (1977).
- The song is featured in the movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert which was made in Australia, site of the single's greatest success.
- The song can be heard in the That 70's Show episode "No Quarter". Jackie plays it trying to get to sleep, to the annoyance of Donna.
[edit] References
