Abba Songs Ranked

ABBA (/ˈæbə/, Swedish pronunciation: [ˈabːa]) is a Swedish pop supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group’s name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names. They became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide from 1974 to 1983. ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, giving Sweden its first triumph in the contest. They are the most successful group to have taken part in the competition. Estimates of ABBA’s total records sales are over 150 million, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. ABBA was the first group from a non-English-speaking country to achieve consistent success in the charts of English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. They are the best-selling Swedish band of all time and are one of the best-selling bands originating in continental Europe. ABBA had eight consecutive number-one albums in the UK. The group also enjoyed significant success in Latin America and recorded a collection of their hit songs in Spanish. ABBA was honored at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 when their hit “Waterloo” was chosen as the best song in the competition’s history.  The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2015, their song “Dancing Queen” was inducted into the Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall of Fame. Here are all of ABBA albums ranked.

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20. The Visitors (The Visitors, 1981)

“It is definitely best experienced in a club. It’s dark and meant to be danced to. It’s a song about paranoia coming true. Great song and music love this song so much! The music is pretty scary but a good song!”

19. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (Abba, 1975)

“A very good pop number. Not one of Abba’s more genius pop singles granted, but that’s a pretty good problem to have. The production is still very good though – the piano throughout gives that grand Abba touch. This is still as good as any Abba single in a more emotive sense – I feel there’s a lot of longing in it, and I can’t help but find it very personally relatable.”

18. Eagle (The Album, 1977)

“Super psychedelic! So beautiful, it makes you feel as if you are actually out there in the wilderness, soaring above the pine trees! One of ABBA’s best songs. Sophisticated and mature yet accessible. It’s a pity it never got wider recognition.”

17. One of Us ( The Visitors, 1981)

“More immaculate, mournful ‘divorce pop’ (and their final big hit in Britain) from a group just a year away from the end. The ability of the group’s male songwriters to so convincingly write for the female viewpoint is one area where ABBA has an edge over Lennon and McCartney. The B side here, not even included on the “The Visitors” album, would have made a worthy single in itself.”

16. Money, Money, Money (Arrival, 1976)

“Most of ABBA’s biggest singles generally aren’t too oscillating in quality (they’re high) and this is no exception. The minor key, relatively stripped-back instrumental, and Frida’s lower range in the verses makes this a bit darker than their normal sound too.”

See more: ABBA Albums Ranked

15. Lay All Your Love on Me ( ABBA Remixed Step/Dance 2008)

“The loveliness involved in this track comes mainly from the pounding electronic beat that just drives this track along as well as the vocal trick that is the descending vocal ending each verse, by running the vocal thru some rather sinister-sounding device called a harmonizer device and which they probably bought from their local branch of IKEA”

14. Chiquitita ( Voulez-Vous, 1979)

“The incredible technical blend of the background vocals in terms of rhythm and melody is in my opinion unmatched compared to today’s music. The music is so melodious. And so hopeful. I can almost see myself running across a meadow, with my arms stretched out, singing Chiquitita!”

13. The Name of the Game ( The Album, 1977)

“This song is obviously one of their best songs. The name of the game is so original and the voice of Anni-Frid and Agnetha are perfectly mixing together. The solo part of Agnetha is also fantastic. definitely one of their best’s along with Knowing me knowing you, Chiquitita and Fernando.”

12. Super Trouper (Super Trouper, 1980)

“Lyrically its quite complicated for an ABBA song, but this did not deter the fans who by this time were heavily engaging in bouts of ABBA-mania. The track also had something of a Christmas feel about it with the beat accompanied by bells dinging away merrily, though a tad subdued.”

11. Voulez-Vous ( Voulez-Vous, 1979)

“Not a lot of people feel too strongly about this single – or about its parent album it seems, which has always felt like a knockout to me, replete with hits that should’ve been including b-side “Angeleyes,” hits that never were – but I love it to death!”

10. Fernando (Greatest Hits, 1975)

“Fernando”, more than most among ABBA tracks, shows how far outside the Anglo-American rock/blues template the Super Swedes were operating. What are the influences at work here? Scandinavian folk, easy listening Euro ‘schlager’, Mediterranean pop”

9. Does Your Mother Know (Voulez-Vous, 1979)

“My favorite ABBA song features the guys on vocals, and a more rock sound than they normally gave us. It’s one of those songs about jailbait teenage girls that periodically pops up on popular radio every couple of years. Unlike most of the others, though, the narrator doesn’t sound very tempted.”

8. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (Voulez-Vous, 1979)

“A powerhouse of a record here from Abba, undoubtedly their biggest production ever. A churning intro with guitars and synth prominent bridles at the bit before charging into the vaguely Oriental keyboard motif which counterpoints the main melody that Agnetha sings as brazenly as the lyric demands.”

7. Waterloo (Waterloo, 1974)

“Waterloo” was their first chart hit in the United States and it reached number six on the singles chart. It would set the standard for the music that would follow. It was catchy up-tempo pop with the angelic voices of Agnetha Falkskog and Frida Lyngstad floating over the mix. The music was perfect for AM radio of the day. It may not have been essential to the development of rock ‘n’ roll but it was pleasant and holds up well.”

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6. Knowing Me, Knowing You (Arrival, 1976)

“Knowing me knowing you is not just the best Abba song, IT IS THE BEST SONG OF ALL TIME. You cannot hate this song because it’s just a Wonderful master piece that will never die. Sadly, it is not the most popular of their song but it is way better than The winner takes it all and Dancing Queen. Frida’s voice is totally awesome and beautiful and the chorus is magnificent. It’s the best breakup song ever created. Benny and Bjorn are just genius and the 2 girls are the best singers of all time. Abba Forever”

5. Take a Chance on Me (The Album, 1977)

“This song is a classic. Spectacular, powerful, and breathtaking, with a heart-stopping pause, just before the chorus is belted out against pulsating background guitars. The vocals of all 4 members, blended to perfection, while Frida’s deep mezzo declarations resign us to the fact it’s all over.”

4. Mamma Mia (ABBA, 1975)

“Everything about this song-the marimba, the interjecting guitar, the string breaks between the lines in the chorus, that “dun-dun da-na-na-na” piano thing right after “there’s a fire within my soul”, the way the crowded arrangements gets all sparse for the chorus, the way the chorus repeats itself going into the “even if I say” line, those “ooooo-ooh-ooh-wee-ooooh”s-everything about this song is pure, giddy pop ambrosia. If you can’t separate it from the musical in your mind, that’s your fault.”

3. S.O.S (ABBA, 1975)

“This is Agnetha’s siren call. Wracked with existential angst and with icey enunciation she delivers a plaintive three minute study in Nordic melancholy. The opening mournful keyboard motif aches with a nagging sadness before a runaway chorus charges into the giddy, pleading refrain. This song encapsulates the genius of ABBA; despair and misery wrapped in delirious melody.”

2. Dancing Queen (Arrival, 1976)

“This is as immediate, flawless, relentlessly joyful and memorable a commercial pop song that you will ever hear. The most perfect pop song that ABBA made. A flawless masterpiece. ABBA were more or less at the top of the pile before this song was released, however ‘Dancing Queen’ took them, their artistry and their reputation onto another level and marks the moment when ABBA went from just a very good pop outfit to instantly recognisable pop aristocracy.”

1. The Winner Takes It All (Super Trouper, 1980)

“I grew up in a sane and just world, where “The Winner Takes It All” was not just considered ABBA’s greatest song, but one of the greatest songs of all time.  A world where suggesting that anything else they recorded was better would have been considered a deeply controversial statement (the phrase ‘hot take’ didn’t exist back then, but it would absolutely have been appropriate).”