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SOS (ABBA song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "SOS" | |||||
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| Single by ABBA from the album ABBA |
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| Released | June, 1975 (Sweden) September 8, 1975 (US) September 20, 1975 (UK) |
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| Format | 7" Single | ||||
| Genre | Pop/Europop | ||||
| Length | 3:23 | ||||
| Writer | Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson |
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| Producer | Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson |
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| Certification | N/A | ||||
| ABBA singles chronology | |||||
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| Audio sample | |||||
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"SOS" was the third single from Swedish pop group ABBA's self-titled 1975 album, their third for Polar Music, and their second for Epic and Atlantic. It was released with "Man in the Middle" as the B-side. Agnetha Fältskog recorded the song in Swedish on her 1975 solo album "Elva kvinnor i ett hus".
Contents |
"SOS" was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. The title itself was coined by Stig, though the lyrics he provided were re-written by Ulvaeus. "SOS" was among the first three songs recorded for the group's upcoming 1975 album, ABBA.
Despite the song's catchiness, it was passed over as the lead single from the album; the track "So Long" was chosen instead. "So Long" was chosen primarily because it had the same uptempo beat as their 1974 hit single, "Waterloo."
The descending chords and ominous synthesizer melody line of the introduction set the tone for Faltskog’s vocals, sounding almost as if she were breaking down in tears.
"SOS" was the song that put the group back on the worldwide charts. It was their UK comeback, peaking at No.6, and a U.S. Top 20 hit. It topped the charts in New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Belgium and West Germany, and reached the Top Five in Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), Switzerland and Ireland. The track was also the group's first charting single in Canada, peaking at No.9.
From this point on, ABBA were guaranteed recognition as a force in 1970s popular music and were no longer regarded as Eurovision one-hit wonders.
"SOS" has a number of musical fans: John Lennon and Pete Townshend had both declared that it was one of their favourite pop songs.
| Chart (1975) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 1 |
| Belgian Singles Chart | 1 |
| German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Mexican Singles Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| South African Singles Chart | 1 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 2 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Zimbabwean Singles Chart | 2 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 3 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart | 6 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 15 |
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Singles Chart | 15 |
- Released in the early 1980's, the "Stars on 45 Medley 2" started off with a bunch of 60's songs then ended the last third with several ABBA tracks. This section of the medley kicked off with "SOS", followed by "Money Money Money"/"Knowing Me, Knowing You"/"Fernando"/"The Winner Takes It All"/"Super Trouper".
- Dance covers of the song have been recorded by Abbacadabra (through Almighty Records), German Eurodance group E-Rotic on their album Thank You For The Music, The Element on the Lay All Your Love On ABBA compilation, Angeleyes on their album ABBAdance, Euphorica on their 2003 album ABBA Dance, Les Blue Belles, and DJ Ensamble on the album Trancing Queen.
- An electronica version by Radha Kali is included on the compilation The Electronic Tribute To ABBA.
- Finnish rock group The Rasmus recorded a cover of the song.
- On the German ABBA Mania compilation, the song was covered by Swiss actress/model/singer Michelle Hunziker.
- British singer Hazell Dean recorded a dance-oriented version on her own ABBA tribute album.
- Swedish musician Nils Landgren covers the song on his album Funky ABBA.
- On ABBAlicious, a compilation performed by U.S. drag queens, the song is covered by Joie Starr.
- U.S. indie artist Pamela McNeill covers it on her album Tribute To ABBA.
- The New Zealand compilation ABBAsalutely includes a cover by the Able Tasmans.
- Swedish studio musicians The Black Sweden included a version of the song on their ABBA tribute album Gold. This version includes a riff from the Kiss song "God of Thunder".
- An acoustic version of the song was recorded by American rock band Tonic.
- The tribute album ABBAMetal included a heavy metal version by German band Paradox.
- Canadian rock band Harem Scarem recorded a cover of the song.
- Indie artists Brad Sucks & The Hip Cola recorded an acoustic version that was available for download on the Internet in the past.
- In 1988, Kees Zaaijer released a fully synthesized version of "SOS", which he recorded using the up-and-coming Commodore 64 synth.
- In 1989, Canadian pop band Men Without Hats covered the song for their album, The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century.
- In 1992, the song was covered on Erasure's Abba-esque EP.
- In 1995, Peter Cetera released a cover version of the song as a duet with singer Ronna Reeves on his album One Clear Voice. The song was also included on the 1999 compilation ABBA: A Tribute - The 25th Anniversary Celebration. Cetera's love of ABBA is not only evident in his covering of "SOS," but in his producing of Agnetha Faltskog's 1987 solo album I Stand Alone, which included a duet with her on the track "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)".
- In 1999, the Swedish pop group A*Teens did a cover of "SOS" for their debut album, The ABBA Generation.
- In 2000, the ska band Mad Caddies covered "SOS" on their "The Holiday Has Been Cancelled" EP.
- In 2000, another heavy metal cover of the song was included by At Vance as a bonus track on the Taiwanese edition of their album Heart Of Steel.
- In 2004, the song was covered by TV actress Tricia Penrose on the British ABBAMania 2 album.
- In 2005, The Conway Sisters sang the song on series 2 of The X Factor.
- The song is performed in the Mamma Mia! musical.
- Punk rock band The Sex Pistols used the riff of "SOS" as the introduction to their track "Pretty Vacant".
- In 1989, Austrian group Edelweiss used the melody behind "SOS" as part of their biggest-selling single "Bring Me Edelweiss".
- In 2000, "SOS" was the main theme song in Lukas Moodysson's film Tillsammans.
- In 2001, ABBA's original version of "SOS" was used as the theme song of the Japanese TV drama Strawberry on the Shortcake. The song was re-released as a single, some twenty-five years after its original release, followed by a soundtrack album. Both the single and the album were successful on the Japanese charts, and the former became that year's best-selling single by an international music act in Japan, selling some 130,000 copies. [1] The following year "SOS" won a gold prize at the 17th Japan Gold Disc Awards in honor of its renewed commercial success. [2].