The Winner Takes It All

Infobox Single
Name = The Winner Takes It All


Artist = ABBA
from Album = Super Trouper
Released = July 21, 1980
Format = Single
Genre = Pop ballad
Length = 4:54
Label = Polar Music
Writer = Benny Andersson
Björn Ulvaeus
Producer = Benny Andersson
Björn Ulvaeus
Director = Lasse Hallstrom
Certification = Gold (Netherlands)
Last single = "I Have a Dream"
(1979)
This single = "The Winner Takes It All"
(1980)
Next single = "On and On and On"
(1980)
Misc ="The Winner Takes It All" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released as the first single from the group's "Super Trouper" album on July 21, 1980, it is a ballad, reflecting the end of a romance. The single's B-side was the non-album track "Elaine".

History

"The Winner Takes It All", originally titled "The Story of My Life", was written by both Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with Fältskog singing the lead vocal. The lyrics to the song were thought to mirror the divorce between Ulvaeus and Fältskog in 1979. However, Ulvaeus himself denies this, saying the basis of the song "is the experience of a divorce, but it's fiction. There wasn't a winner or a loser in our case. A lot of people think it's straight out of reality, but it's not". [ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/13/popandrock.film ]

In a 1999 poll for Channel Five, "The Winner Takes It All" was voted Britain's favorite ABBA song. In a 2006 poll for a Channel Five program, "The Winner Takes It All" was voted "Britain's Favourite Break-Up Song."

Reception

"The Winner Takes It All" was ABBA's eighth UK chart-topper; their first No. 1 in Britain since 1978. It remained at the top for two weeks. [http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all_singles_song.php?id=463] "The Winner Takes It All" also hit No. 1 in Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and South Africa, and reached the Top 10 elsewhere throughout the world, including the United States, where it peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, ABBA's fourth and last American Top 10 hit. The song was also the group's second Billboard Adult Contemporary chart-topper (after "Fernando"). "The Winner Takes It All" was also a hit in Brazil: it was included on soundtrack of a very famous soap opera in 1980 called "Coração Alado" ("Winged Heart") as the main theme.

"The Winner Takes It All" also features in the ABBA-based musical and film, "Mamma Mia!".

Chart positions

Cover versions

* French singer Mireille Mathieu covered the song in French with lyrics by Alain Boublil, called "Bravo, Tu As Gagné" (Translated "Bravo, You've Won"). The recording uses a slightly remixed version of the original ABBA backing track & the lead and backing vocals (by Mathieu, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus) were recorded in the Polar Studios, Stockholm, in December 1980.
* In 1980, Czech singer Helena Vondráčková released a cover called "A ty se ptáš co já" with Czech lyrics by Zdeněk Borovec.
* The 1992 compilation "ABBA: The Tribute" (released through Polar Records) contained a cover by Swedish band Freda.
* British singer/songwriter Beverly Craven recorded her own light pop version for her 1993 album "Love Scenes". It was also released as a single.
* In 1993, Argentine duo Pimpinela recorded a Spanish version of "The Winner Takes It All" titled "Solo Hay Un Ganador" for their album "Hay Amores Que Matan".
* Irish pop/rock band The Corrs recorded a version of the song for the "Abbamania" compilation from 1999. For the 2004 "ABBAMania 2" album, the song was covered by TV actress Bernie Nolan.
* Singer Laura Branigan recorded several dance remix covers of the song.
* British singer Samantha Fox recorded a cover for the German "ABBA Mania" compilation, as well as performing it on the coinciding TV special.
* Singer Hazell Dean released a dance-oriented cover of the song as a single. It was also available on her own ABBA tribute album and on the compilation "ABBA: A Tribute - The 25th Anniversary Celebration".
* An electronica cover of the song by Mitchell Sigman can be found on "The Electronic Tribute To ABBA" compilation, with vocals by Deena Noroian.
* American musician/songwriter Pamela McNeill covered the song on her "Tribute To ABBA" album, which was produced by her husband Dugan McNeill.
* Swedish studio musicians The Black Sweden recorded two versions for their ABBA tribute album "Gold", one soft rock, the other acoustic.
* On the compilation "ABBAlicious", performed by various U.S. drag queens, the song is covered by Cashetta.
* German singer Janette Biederman has recorded a cover of this song.
* German power metal band At Vance on their 2001 album "Dragonchaser".
* American indie singer/songwriter Hannah Fury included a cover of the song on her 2001 EP "Meathook".
* Belgian singer Dana Winner covered the song in English for her 2001 album "Unforgettable".
* Stage musical singer Michael Ball recorded a version for his 2001 album "Centre Stage".
* Artist Hannah Fury recorded a version of this song for her 2001 single "Meathook".
* Brazilian ska-core band Randal Grave covered the song on their 2001 album "Like To Do Girlie Stuff Sometimes".
* Synthpop group Queen of Japan covered the song on their 2002 album "Headrush".
* German singer Uwe Kröger included a cover of the song on his 2003 solo album "From Broadway to Hollywood".
* Swedish opera singer Anne Sofie von Otter covered the song on her ABBA tribute album "I Let The Music Speak".
* American actress/singer Jan Gelberman recorded a cover of the song for her album "With Love To Share".
* Swedish singer/musician Tommy Körberg recorded a cover of this song.
* A cover of the song by Asian pop band Sweetbox featuring Jade Villalon can be found as a hidden track on the European edition of their 2006 album "Addicted". The song was played for the FIFA World Cup of that year.
* Polish singer Lidia Kopania recorded an English cover of this song for her 2006 album "Intuicja".
* Italian singer Moony recorded an English cover for her 2006 album "Whispering Of The Moon".
* A cover of the song by Finnish a cappella choral ensemble Rajaton can be found on their 2006 ABBA tribute album "Rajaton Sings ABBA With Lahti Symphony Orchestra".
* A lounge style cover of the song by Trombo Combo was included on their album Trombo Combo: "Swedish Sound Deluxe".
* A cover of the song by Swedish performers Gladys del Pilar and Dave Nerge from a stage show entitled "ABBA: The True Story" was recorded and released as a single.
* The song was covered in a jazz/lounge music style by American group BNB on their 2008 album "Bossa Mia: Songs of ABBA".
* A cover was recorded by the group Eden, and is featured on two 2008 compilations: "Euro Football Party Hits" and "Olympic Dreams: China".
* Pop princesses Kylie Minogue and Dannii Minogue have recorded a cover version of the song to be used on a soundtrack to a British TV show #Beautiful People". It will be on the soundtrack of the show, released on 20th october.
* McFly performed at the VISA London 2012 Olympic Party in front of Buckingham Palace in London.
* The song was sung on Australian Idol season 6 by Thanh Bui during Abba week.

Live performances, appearances in other media, etc.

* Australian singer-songwriter Tina Arena performed the song live during the Night of the Proms tour in 2006.
* American singer Faith Hill covered the song during her Soul2Soul 2007 Tour.
* The song is performed in second act of the "Mamma Mia!" musical by the character of Donna. In the context of the musical, the song is used when Donna professes how much she loves Sam, but she cannot forgive entirely for what he did. She also, believing him still married, says "the rules must be obeyed" meaning she couldn't be with a married man.
* The song is performed by Meryl Streep in the 2008 film 'Mamma Mia!'
* Australian singers Kylie Minogue and Dannii Minogue recorded the song for the soundtrack of a UK comedy series, Beautiful People with the BBC orchestra. The soundtrack is due to be released on the 20th October.

External links

* [http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/abba/thewinnertakesitall.html "The Winner Takes It All" music video and lyrics (LyricsMode site)]
* [http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/abba/thewinnertakesitall.html Lyrics of "The Winner Takes It All" (A-Z Lyrics Universe site)]
* [http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/abba/the+winner+takes+it+all_20002664.html Lyrics of "The Winner Takes It All" (Lyrics Freak site)]