Super Trouper (song) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Super Trouper" |
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| Single by ABBA | ||||
| from the album Super Trouper | ||||
| B-side | "The Piper" | |||
| Released | 3 November 1980 | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:10 | |||
| Label | Polar Music, Epic Records (UK) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus | |||
| Producer(s) | Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus | |||
| ABBA singles chronology | ||||
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"Super Trouper" is a famous song by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It's also the title track from their 1980 album, also called Super Trouper. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote the song. It came out in November 1980 as the third single from the album.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad sings the main vocals on "Super Trouper." The song's first name was "Blinka Lilla Stjärna," which means "Twinkle Little Star" in Swedish. It was the very last song written and recorded for the album. The song's title refers to a "Super Trouper," which is a type of bright followspot light used in big shows and concerts.
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Song Meaning
The song has a line that says, "I was sick and tired of everything when you called me last night from Glasgow." In 2020, a musician named Ulf Andersson, who toured with ABBA, shared a secret about this line. He said it was a special message from Björn Ulvaeus to his wife at the time, Agnetha Fältskog.
Björn was in Glasgow for an ABBA event. He wrote the words, and Agnetha sang them. But it was really a personal note from him to her. It shows how songs can sometimes have hidden meanings for the people who create them!
Music Video Fun Facts
The music video for "Super Trouper" was filmed in October 1980. It featured the largest number of people ABBA ever used in a music video, including a whole circus troupe!
Even though the song is called "Super Trouper," the spotlight in the video wasn't actually a real "Super Trouper" brand light. It was a different type of stage light. The city of Glasgow was suggested by someone who worked with ABBA's music publishers. The famous director Lasse Hallström directed the music video. Some parts of this video were later used again in the music video for ABBA's song "Happy New Year."
Who Played What?
Here are the main people who played on the song:
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead singer
- Agnetha Fältskog – background singer
- Benny Andersson – played keyboards and synthesizer
- Björn Ulvaeus – played guitar
Extra Musicians
Other talented musicians also helped make the song sound great:
- Janne Schaffer – played lead guitar
- Mike Watson – played bass guitar
- Per Lindvall – played drums
- Åke Sundqvist – played percussion
Song Success
"Super Trouper" was a huge hit for ABBA! It reached number one in many countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and West Germany. It also did well in other places like Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden. The song sold nearly a million copies in the UK alone, earning a Gold award!
| "Super Trouper" | ||||
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| Single by A-Teens | ||||
| from the album The ABBA Generation | ||||
| Released | 2 August 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Pop, Europop | |||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label | Universal Music Group | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus | |||
| Producer(s) | Thomas Johansson Ronald Malmberg |
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| A-Teens singles chronology | ||||
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A-Teens Cover Version
Years later, in 1999, a pop group called A-Teens released their own version of "Super Trouper." This was their second single from their first album, The ABBA Generation. On this album, A-Teens covered many of ABBA's famous songs.
Just like their first single, "Mamma Mia," the A-Teens' "Super Trouper" became a hit worldwide. It reached number 2 in Sweden and was certified platinum there. It also made it into the top 5 in Germany and was a top 20 hit in Switzerland, Norway, Austria, and the Netherlands.
A-Teens Music Video
The music video for the A-Teens' "Super Trouper" was filmed in Sweden. It shows a girl who is a huge fan of the band. She has posters, magazines, mugs, and clothes with the A-Teens on them. She even copies their dance moves from TV! In the video, some of the pictures of the band in her room magically come to life.
At the very beginning of the video, you can faintly hear a bit of the song "Mamma Mia" playing. This video was very popular on TV music channels in late 1999 and early 2000.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Version
The song "Super Trouper" was also featured in the movie Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which came out in 2018. In the movie, the song is sung by almost the entire main cast! This includes actors like Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Cher, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, and Meryl Streep.
The song was produced by Benny Andersson, one of the original writers from ABBA. "Super Trouper" was also performed in the first Mamma Mia! film by Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters.
Where Else Can You Hear It?
"Super Trouper" is a popular song that appears in other places too!
- It's performed in the Mamma Mia! stage musical.
- It's also in the 2008 film adaptation of the musical. In both the musical and the film, the characters Donna, Tanya, and Rosie sing the song. They perform it at Sophie's party while wearing their old sparkly stage outfits from their girl band days. In the story, the song shows that even when Donna's life is tough, knowing Sophie is there makes everything better.
