Under Attack

Infobox Single
Name = Under Attack


Artist = ABBA
from Album =
B-side="You Owe Me One"
Released = December 3 1982 in UK, February 21, 1983
Format = 7" single
[ Recorded = ]
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 3:46
Label = Polar Music, Epic, Atlantic
Writer = Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Producer = Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
[ Certification = ]
Chart position = * #3 (BEL)
* #5 (NL)
* #26 (UK)
* #96 (AUS)
NoReviews = yes
Last single = "The Day Before You Came"
(1982)
This single = "Under Attack"
(1982)
Next single = "Thank You for the Music"
(1983)
Misc =
Misc =

"Under Attack" was the last single release by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally featured as a track on the 1982 compilation album "", but was released as a single the following year in most countries. In the United Kingdom however, it was released on December 3 1982. "Under Attack" was ABBA's twenty-eighth single for Polar Music.

History

"Under Attack" was one of the last songs ABBA recorded (on August 2 1982). The group had originally intended to release a new studio album, but the stress of the working environment led them to indefinitely shelve the project and instead release a double-album compilation of their past singles. Since it was decided that there would be two new tracks on the compilation, ABBA set to work recording the songs. The two tracks that made it onto what became "The Singles: The First Ten Years" were "The Day Before You Came" and "Under Attack". The former was released as a single in October 1982.

Reception

"Under Attack" was not very popular upon its releaseFact|date=September 2008. ABBA's popularity was in decline and the two preceding singles had failed to reach number 1 anywhere. Some fans say "Under Attack" was ahead of its timeWho|date=September 2008, others criticize it for being too poppy and simplistic when compared to ABBA's earlier efforts. Although a Top 5 hit in Belgium and The Netherlands, and a minor Top 20 single in a couple of other European territories, it did not become a major hit anywhere else. It peaked at number 26 in the United Kingdom [ [http://www.everyhit.com/ EveryHit.com] ] In Australia, where the group's popularity only a few years earlier had rivaled that of The Beatles, "Under Attack" was a sad swan-song, limping into the singles chart at number 96. After the single's release, it was decided that ABBA would take a "break", However, they would not record as a group again.

Bjorn Ulvaeus has said that "Under Attack" is a good song which, if released a year earlier, would have been a big hitFact|date=September 2008. Benny Andersson, however, has stated that although the production was strong, the song overall was not one of ABBA's better recordingsFact|date=September 2008.

Musically, "Under Attack" is a song with strong production values and tight harmonies - it has a stereo sound that was popular in its day with a "soft fade" to end the song. The lead vocal has an interesting frequency equalisation effect, not unlike certain parts of David McWilliam's "The Days of Pearly Spencer".

"Under Attack" is featured in the musical theatre smash "Mamma Mia!", being the only number in the production that was not a major hit in Europe. Also in the musical is "Honey, Honey", which received limited release and success in Europe, plus some other ABBA songs that were not released as singles at all, such as "Our Last Summer" and "Slipping Through My Fingers".

Chart positions

Cover versions

* The song is one of the opening numbers performed by the character of Sophie for the second act of the musical "Mamma Mia!". In the context of the musical, the song is sung by Sophie as a nightmare about her wedding and also, about how to solve the situation. Again, some of the lyrics are altered to suit the story. However, the song was one of several not included in the 2008 "Mamma Mia!" movie adaptation.
* A cover of the song can be found on the ABBA tribute album "ABBA Super Hits" by Power Generation Project.
* Dutch artist Ice did a version on her 2004 album "N Ster Vir My".
* A hi-NRG/eurodance cover by Abbacadabra can be found on the 2008 compilation "We Love ABBA: The Mamma Mia Dance Compilation", released through Almighty Records.

Live performances

* The song was performed live by Swedish singer Magnus Carlsson

References