ABBA - MAMMA MIA

Estrena: setembre de 1975

Llistes: EUA: #32   Regne Unit: 1 (2 setmanes)

"Mamma Mia" és una cançó escrita per Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus i Stig Anderson, amb veus principals compartides per Agnetha Fältskog i Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Es va llançar al setembre de 1975 com el sisè senzill del seu tercer àlbum, “ABBA”. "Mamma Mia" es va convertir en el primer número u del grup al Regne Unit des de "Waterloo" el 1974.

"Mamma Mia," inspirada en la frase italiana, reflecteix el malestar emocional d'una relació fracassada. La frase "Mamma Mia" s'utilitza en italià per expressar sorpresa. El mànager d'ABBA, Stig Anderson, va suggerir el títol, i Björn Ulvaeus i Benny Andersson van construir la lletra al seu voltant. La cançó descriu els sentiments contradictoris de la cantant envers una antiga parella després d'una relació tumultuosa. Tot i el dolor, la cantant se sent atreta per la possibilitat de reconciliació, però lluita amb el risc de tornar a ser ferida. La tornada reflecteix aquest conflicte intern, destacant la dificultat de resistir-se a algú a qui encara estima profundament.

L'abril de 1975, ABBA va filmar clips promocionals per a quatre cançons: "Mamma Mia," "SOS," "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" i "Bang-A-Boomerang." En aquell moment, no estava clar si "Mamma Mia," probablement la cançó més enganxosa de l'àlbum, seria llançada com a single, però aquests clips es van emetre regularment a la televisió australiana, on "Mamma Mia" es va fer especialment popular.

Inicialment, hi va haver problemes per llançar "Mamma Mia" com a single, malgrat la seva creixent popularitat a Austràlia. La discogràfica australiana d'ABBA, RCA, va pressionar Polar Music perquè publiqués la cançó com a senzill, però l'equip suec s'hi va resistir, ja que planejaven llançar "SOS" i no volien treure una altra cançó de l'àlbum. Finalment, Stig Anderson va acceptar davant el seu gran potencial, i "Mamma Mia" va substituir "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" al capdamunt de les llistes australianes, on hi va romandre durant 10 setmanes.

L'èxit de "Mamma Mia" a Austràlia va tenir un efecte boomerang, captant l'atenció del segell britànic d'ABBA, Epic Records. Al Regne Unit, Epic va començar a promocionar seriosament el single "SOS", que va ser el primer gran èxit d'ABBA al Regne Unit des de "Waterloo". Quan "Mamma Mia" finalment es va llançar com a single al Regne Unit, va pujar ràpidament al número u al gener de 1976. La cançó també va tenir un gran èxit a Europa, arribant al Top 5 d’almenys 10 països.

"Mamma Mia" ha evolucionat molt més enllà de la seva forma original com una simple pista d'àlbum. El seu èxit massiu a Austràlia va jugar un paper fonamental en l'ascens d'ABBA a la fama global, conduint a la creació del musical i la pel·lícula amb el mateix nom. Benny Andersson reconeix el paper crucial d'Austràlia, afirmant que la resposta entusiasta del país va fer que la carrera del grup agafés alçada realment. Tot i que "Waterloo" va fer famosos ABBA, va ser "Mamma Mia" la que els va elevar a l'estatus de superestrelles mundials.

ABBA - MAMMA MIA

Released: September 1975

Charts:  US: #32  UK: 1 ( 2 wks)

"Mamma Mia" is a song written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, with lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. It was released in September 1975 as the sixth single from their third album, “ABBA”. "Mamma Mia" became ABBA's first UK number one hit since "Waterloo" in 1974.

"Mamma Mia" inspired by the Italian phrase meaning "My Mother," reflects the emotional turmoil of a failed romance. The phrase "Mamma Mia" is an Italian saying that literally means "My Mother" and is used to express surprise. ABBA’s manager Stig Anderson suggested the title, and songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson built the lyrics around it. The song describes the singer's conflicting feelings of love and heartache towards a former partner after a tumultuous relationship. Despite the pain, the singer is drawn to the possibility of reconciliation but struggles with the risk of being hurt again. The chorus captures this inner conflict, highlighting the difficulty of resisting someone they still deeply love.

In April 1975, ABBA filmed promo clips for four songs: “Mamma Mia,” “SOS,” “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,” and “Bang-A-Boomerang.” At the time, it wasn’t certain that “Mamma Mia,” arguably the catchiest song on the album, would be released as a single, but these promo clips were regularly aired on Australian television, with “Mamma Mia” becoming particularly popular. 

There was an initial problem to release "Mamma Mia" as a single, despite its growing popularity in Australia. ABBA's Australian record company, RCA, urged Polar Music to issue the song as a single, but the Swedish team resisted, as they planned to release "SOS" next and didn't want to pull another track from the album, finally seeing the song's immense potential, Stig Anderson eventually agreed to release it. "Mamma Mia" quickly proved its strength, replacing "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" at the top of the Australian charts, where it remained for an impressive 10 weeks.

The success of "Mamma Mia" in Australia had a ripple effect, catching the attention of ABBA’s British label, Epic Records. In the UK, Epic began to seriously promote the group's current single, "SOS," which became ABBA’s first British Top Ten hit since "Waterloo." When "Mamma Mia" was released as a single in the UK, it quickly climbed to number one in January 1976. The song also achieved significant success across Europe, reaching the Top Five in at least 10 countries.

"Mamma Mia" has evolved far beyond its original form as just an album track. Its massive success in Australia played a pivotal role in ABBA's rise to global fame, leading to the creation of the blockbuster musical and movie that bear its name. Benny Andersson acknowledges Australia's crucial role, stating that the country's enthusiastic response is when things truly took off for the band. While "Waterloo" made ABBA popular, it was "Mamma Mia" that elevated their status as worldwide superstars.