ABBA, was the biggest export from Sweden in the 70’s, at least as far as music was concerned. They remained on the billboard from 1974 to 1982, when they disbanded. Interest in the band was revitalized when tunes from their songbook were transformed into the musical Mama Mia – first on stage in 1999, and later on film in 2008.
One of their hits, Thank You for the Music (hear it here: https://youtu.be/0dcbw4IEY5w) is definitely a timeless classic – a shout out to ALL musicians and song writers who provide the music for us to live to.
I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
'Cause everyone listens when I start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud
So I say thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me
Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk
Mhm, she says I began to sing long before I could talk
And I've often wondered, how did it all start?
Who found out that nothing can capture a heart
Like a melody can?
Well, whoever it was, I'm a fan
So I say thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me
I've been so lucky
I am the girl with golden hair
I wanna sing it out to everybody
What a joy, what a life, what a chance
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me
So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me
(Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, © 1977)
