http://youtu.be/Xv_-6XQyIq0

ABBA是一支瑞典的流行樂樂隊，在當時他們是瑞典最出名的樂隊。字母縮寫（ABBA）源自於樂隊成員姓名的首字母（字母的排列順序並無規定）。少數時候被記為Abba。在1976以前的樂隊的宣傳材料中，樂隊標誌中的第一個「B」字母就已經被反轉過來了。樂隊在1970前後組建，樂隊成員是比約恩·奧瓦爾斯（Björn Ulvaeus）、班尼·安德森（Benny Andersson）、昂內塔·費爾特斯科格（Agnetha Fältskog）和安妮-弗瑞德·林斯塔德（Anni-Frid Lyngstad，綽號是「Frida」）。他們憑藉歌曲《Waterloo》（《滑鐵盧》）在1974年歐洲歌唱大賽中獲勝，他們從此廣泛地為人所知。ABBA於1982年解散。

http://youtu.be/IM_1CIrjDwk

1974年，ABBA決定再次衝擊歐洲歌唱大賽冠軍，從英國正在發展的華麗搖滾（Glam Rock）中得到靈感，創作了一些如Wizzard的《See My Baby Jive》那樣的音樂。而後，他們投入到《Waterloo》（《滑鐵盧》）的創作中——這是一支真正意義上的華麗流行音樂。 再次使用音效設備，並仍由Michael B. Tretow操刀。這次，他們為比賽作好了精心的準備，並且在演出同時這張唱片已經被帶到英格蘭的布賴頓，並做好了銷售準備。這回他們沒有錯，這首歌輕而易舉的勝出，同時，這個樂隊也給英國人留下了深刻的印象。這回他們有了一個易記的名字——ABBA——人們爭相購買《Waterloo》。

 http://youtu.be/qrfY7RNaBjw

Can you hear the drums fernando?
I remember long ago another starry night like this
In the firelight fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums
And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar

They were closer now fernando
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And I'm not ashamed to say
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry

There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando

Now we're old and grey fernando
And since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums fernando?
Do you still recall the frightful night we crossed the rio grande?
I can see it in your eyes
How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land

There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando

There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando
Yes, if I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando...

他們的事業在1975年開始起飛，他們的每首單曲都十分動聽，並且一次次的贏得音樂榜冠軍，這其中包括著名的歌曲《Mamma Mia》。樂隊甚至得到了令人驕傲的頭銜——Greatest Hits（最偉大的音樂榜冠軍）緊接著，他們的音樂巔峰時代隨著唱片《1976》的發行而到來。這張唱片比其他的任何唱片都要完美，在音樂創作和錄音方面，這張唱片都達到音樂創作的新高度。唱片中的許多音樂打榜成功，這包括《Knowing Me，Knowing You》、《Fernando》以及使ABBa功成名就的打榜歌曲《Dancing Queen》。一系列的成功使樂隊財源廣進。這時的ABBA在英國和澳洲極受歡迎，但在美國市場仍舊反應平平。《Dancing Queen》是ABBa樂隊在美國唯一的一支冠軍歌曲。

ABBA於1979在美國巡演，受到大量熱情歌迷的歡迎，但是美國的成功對樂隊來說顯得微不足道，而且來得太晚。他們的下一張專輯《Super Trouper》（1980年發行）依舊達到了可觀的銷量，但這支樂隊的音樂聽起來似乎不再那麼讓人印象深刻了。為了反擊這一觀點，ABBA在隨後的專輯《The Visitors》（1981年發行）顯示了嫻熟的歌曲寫作技巧並表達了深刻的感情——這在他們早期的作品中是不多見的。《The Visitors》的主打歌曲提出了一個主題——持續秘密集會來反對法西斯式獨裁統治，其他歌曲涉及的主題包括衰老、喪失清白、一個人的童年成長經歷等等。其他的歐洲式的輕流行樂與ABBA相比，都差距甚遠，但是張專輯朗朗上口的曲調掩蓋了它本身的深刻內涵。

http://youtu.be/ZLr1cmN17E0

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try

Take a chance on me
(That's all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me

We can go dancing, we can go walking, as long as we're together
Listen to some music, maybe just talking, get to know you better
'Cos you know I've got
So much that I wanna do, when I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try

Take a chance on me
(Come on, give me a break will you?)
Take a chance on me
Oh you can take your time baby, I'm in no hurry, know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me, baby don't worry, I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now
My love is strong enough to last when things are rough
It's magic
You say that I waste my time but I can't get you off my mind
No I can't let go
'Cos I love you so

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)

Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)

Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me