Abba - Super Trouper

Super Trouper - the song about spotlights!
This performance of Super Trouper was recorded on November 27 1980 in Stockholm and broadcast live by satellite on Show Express, a West German tv show. It was originally planned for Abba to record the show in Germany. This trip was cancelled after kidnap threats against the group and their children were received. Rather than missing out, Show Express came to Abba instead! Abba performed three songs to playback for the show: The Winner Takes It All, Super Trouper and On And On And On.
Super Trouper was recorded on October 3 1980 and was released as a single and the opening track of Abba's 7th album "Super Trouper" on November 3 1980. Super Trouper gave Abba their 9th and final #1 for 3 weeks in the UK. Top 10 positions were: Austria #3, Belgium #1, Finland #5, France #4, Holland #1, Ireland #1, Mexico #3, Norway #2, Spain #8, Switzerland #3, UK #1, West Germany #1.
Bjorn recalls: "We had already decided to call the album Super Trouper because we'd been on tour and had used these huge coloured spotlights called 'super troupers' which we thought would make a good name for the album. And then we listened to the album and thought 'It needs something more, it needs another song'. So it was a song that we wrote in the studio, the only time that ever happened. The title of the album fitted completely with the chorus we had written, but it was very difficult to build a story around that title. To write a song about a spotlight was not easy. I had met my wife Lena at that point and Abba had been on tour ealier in the year, so I was inspired from that. I thought the only way here was to write something about someone who was on tour, since Super Trouper is the title. And then I could only think of me out there on the road longing for her, and what a difference its going to make if she's in the audience and the spotlight hits me. I even managed to get a rhyme out of Glasgow. Tim Rice told me it was probably the only time the word Glasgow had been rhymed with in a pop song!"
Album and single cover designer Rune Söderqvist recalls "First we had the idea to shoot on Piccadilly Circus with a real circus around, with animals and artists. We had arranged that but we had to stop because the police said 'This is not the centre of London, this is the centre of the universe. You are not allowed to use animals and wear funny clothes!' So we had to stop the project and we decided to shoot in Stockholm." There were about 20 circus artists including clowns, jugglers, acrobats and fire-eaters taking part. Friends and acquaintances of the group and Polar employees appeared as extras, and were instructed to dress up in various festive costumes and to apply heavy make-up. There were also two white horses, a donkey and two poodles. A second circus troupe stormed off the Europa Film Studio premises, as they were enemies of the first!
Tim Rice said "Super Trouper sounds like a simple pop song, but it paints a good picture of a pop star who has the confidence to say 'I'm at the top of the tree and I'm not happy.' Bjorn's life is in those lyrics."
Super Trouper
Beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you
I was sick and tired of everything
When I called you last night from Glasgow
All I do is eat and sleep and sing
Wishing every show was the last show
So imagine I was glad to hear you're coming
Suddenly I feel alright and it's gonna be
So different when I'm on the stage tonight
Tonight the Super Trouper
Lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
Smiling having fun
Feeling like a number one
Tonight the Super Trouper
Beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you
Facing twenty thousand of your friends
How can anyone be so lonely
Part of a success that never ends
Still I'm thinking about you only
There are moments
When I think I'm going crazy
But it's gonna be alright
Everything will be so different
When I'm on the stage tonight
Tonight the Super Trouper
Lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
Smiling having fun
Feeling like a number one
Tonight the Super Trouper
Beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you
So I'll be there when you arrive
The sight of you will prove to me
I'm still alive and when you take
Me in your arms and hold me tight
I know it's gonna mean so much tonight
Tonight the Super Trouper
Lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
Smiling having fun
Feeling like a number one
Tonight the Super Trouper
Beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you
Super Trouper
Lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
Smiling having fun
Feeling like a number one
Super Trouper
Beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue like I always do...

[@armandomagallon6588]

My god I am 53 now every time I watch Abba on KZbin they made me smile .

[@user-lk3tg1pf8u]

Все песни АВВА прекрасны, слушаю с удовольствием. Спасибо за ваше творчество,котрое останется в веках ❤👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@duncankellogg2783]

I truly believe Super Trooper is the best song Frida has ever recorded with Abba. She sounds absolutely magnificent and the key is so right for her voice. What a great song written for her by B & B👍

[@helixmoore7636]

I love her voice. She's my utmost favour8te.

[@MarthaGuyer]

"somewhere in the crowd, there's you"...

[@williamoverly1617]

One of the great things about ABBA's songs, are those little pauses before and after key words and the way they raise and drop starting and ending notes. Unique--and sexy.

[@lotje604]

This music still makes me happy!!!!!

[@archiemilo6023]

I realize I'm kinda off topic but do anybody know a good site to stream newly released tv shows online ?

[@carmelolennon6259]

@Archie Milo Flixportal =)

[@archiemilo6023]

@Carmelo Lennon thanks, I went there and it seems like a nice service :D Appreciate it !

[@carmelolennon6259]

@Archie Milo Glad I could help xD

[@oyyour]

One of my very favorites. There is something about that synth bass line that kicks in at the start of the chorus that just reaches down inside and grabs me like a velvet glove.

[@Halo101st]

Incredible! Two gorgeous ladies with beautiful voices who drip class and talent. We won't see two ladies like this again

[@francisfreyre]

Unfortunately, I think you are right! Theys showed class and dripped class to their audiences.

[@francisfreyre]

This song is a gift for the ones that listen to it! It gives you the best kind of hopes.

[@BroccoliBeefed]

I love Benny and Bjorns refrain Soupa pah, Troupah - pah. It's fits like a glove

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yes their many classic songs like this one have definitely stood the test of time!

[@bruno270787]

Beautiful Frida's Voice In Super Trouper Thanks For Share

[@johnalver]

abba rocks so Hard

[@downshammi]

omg the sound engineering and production along with the writing and performing, so hard to explain to my kids how great they had to be to make this music ,

[@albertofiori9196]

E poi c'è chi non è d'accordo nel dichiarare Abba patrimonio dell'umanità. Basta una canzone come questa per riconciliarti con la vita, la bellezza e la gioia che trasmette ti porta in un mondo dove tutto è perfetto. Grazie Abba, per me, ormai da 50 anni siete patrimonio dell'umanità ❤❤❤❤

[@greenisland75]

One of my favourite Abba songs. Such a happy and jolly song.

[@lorofcb2]

+greenisland75 not jolly at all

[@resireg]

Well, for Agnetha, she is singing about the girl who replaced her

[@zahirkhan-zk6zi]

Wowww what voices i love you ABBA!!!

[@user-rf4zi6fw3y]

Песня супер!!! Обожаю АВВА. Фрида красотка!!!

[@CalleSlatteby]

All they did? GOLD! For ever !

[@gibbopg]

This one really highlights their harmonies.

[@theimaginarygallery5935]

They sound exactly like the record! Amazing!

[@mav6361]

They hardly sing on their own without live stage. So in this video, they didn't sing at all.

[@abhinabhan]

I can't stop loving ABBA. I still feel what I used to feel when I first heard this song. ABBA is magic! ABBA is a Phenomenon! The best band the world has ever had. Every time I hear the girls voices it makes me shiver to the bone. ABBA is timeless and ABBA will never die (Thanks God I grew up listening to these fantastic music from ABBA) and my babies will grow up listening only good music especially ABBA

[@zafira228]

This song fits them ,they are alway super trouper really touched by this song I love you ABBA

[@gemolibre]

All ABBA's musics are great !!!

[@ROcjmaria]

The greatest group ever! I love them since childhood.

[@SHARPGFX-dc9gj]

My favorite song.

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yes its near enough to Super Trooper, making it an ideal song for an Army back then!

[@LayRoyalty]

I wish women was still classy like this and dance like this in front of others.

[@franciscaveronica33J]

Frida tão linda!

[@oldlures]

If you are feeling down or have no energy, all you gotta do is play this song.. Bingo.. Better than a shot of 5 hour Energy any day of the week!!!!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Anne - "if you need some great music today" Abba are always there with songs like this!

[@flaviaviola7672]

Nothing but the old school! ❤

[@williamoverly1617]

"Trouper" is a theatrical term for "spotlight" going back to the 19th century.

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Lenny - yes there's always a touch of realism about Bjorn's lyrics when you look intio them, often writing from their personal experiences and relationships. He's even managed to bring Glasgow into this song, where they performed in November 79. Fortunately it was at the Apollo Theatre, and not the notorious Empire Hall which is known as the "comedian's graveyard" and is often bias towards local acts!

[@kennethskouvmanimtinov9155]

I love that song... i think im gonna cry to that

[@alv27435]

Que show!! Áudio muito bom!! Se usava muito "reverber" na voz, naqueles tempos. Um clássico. Obrigado por compartilhar!

[@Curtisp40E1]

They were a great group. David

[@salvadoralvarado4553]

ABBA is a grerat example of teamwork, they conquered the music world by joining talents.

[@martinpatrick9915]

One of the songs in the musical Mamma Mia..I've heard various versions of the song by the various casts of every production.

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yes its a soooper performance!

[@joevanaman9597]

Simply a great song , well put together, good lyrics and great dance beat to get you out on the floor! Viva ABBA! ❤

[@jeanpierrebressler8518]

Quelle chanson !! Quelles voix!! Quel talent !! Quelle classe .. ABBA inégalé et inégalable

[@frida1965]

One of their finest hits;D I just love it! Perfect Frida lead, a true classic. Abba, We love you and cherish you;D Great audio!

[@PrincesslSwarley]

Oh I've danced to this song with my best friend. Nice memory :D Abba (y) :D

[@serendimary100]

I ♥ ABBA

[@abbafanglosuk]

Glad its cheered you up Jose. Yeah I had a pretty good day today - went to London and saw the new Abba World exhibition! It was pretty good with all their history on display such as costumes, instruments and gold discs and recreation of Eurovision, recording studios and their island cabin etc, plus interactive features such as dancing and singing with holographs of the group! I just got out before they locked up for the night!

[@MYMUZIKAlberca]

i love frida... the princess

[@abbafanglosuk]

Your right the underlying melody can get obscured with all the layers of backing singing. I had to leave out Benny's comments which were:"There's a kind of tingling sound in the verses which disappears in the choruses, because we have the backing vocals and a more rhythmical feel. And in the background is this little tune that everyone who ever learns the piano knows how to play - Russ Conway once recorded it as 'Lesson One' - which was fun to add in, a touch of humour." Nice to get this in now!

[@AnneCherch]

Super song from a super group!

[@samiaalbey3159]

Que de merveilleux souvenirs avec le groupe Abba !

[@ivanjerez2417]

Love the way they dress, so classy!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Anita - yes you can't help liking this song with its strong melody and Frida's clear singing providing a perfect switch from the multi layered chorus! Benny recognised it and said ""There's a kind of tingling sound in the verses which disappears in the choruses, because we have the backing vocals and a more rhythmical feel!"

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Carl, yes I take my time but I'm gradually getting through them. Live satellite broadcasting was still quite new back then. I remember seeing The Beatles performing All You Need Is Love in the first live global television broadcast in June 1967. It was watched by 400 million in 26 countries! Abba had also planned to visit England in December 1980 to record for the Mike Yarwood TV show, but sadly the BBC wouldn't go to the same trouble as the German TV producers did for "Show Express"!

[@martinpatrick1746]

Super Trouper is performed in every production of Mamma mia around the world..I've heard the German verison from the German production of Mamma mia.

[@helixmoore7636]

Frida has the most beautiful eyes

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Carina, yes this is one of their best known songs with a su-uper su-uper chorus and they all look very smart! I found it very interesting assembling the info, and it was more a question of what to leave out. Hugs and lots of love from me XXX!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yes its a very catchy song and easy to sing along to with some nice changes of pace between chorus and verses! You're right Benny's hair is almost as long as Frida's, you can see it goes past his collar at 1:50! Then again, Bjorn's looks even longer at 1:!3!

[@mallets4lyfe]

I've watched this video about five times already and I really can't stop smiling. They were such a fantastic group, and this video of them is awesome!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Isabelle, there are not many songs written about spotlights - but Bjorn managed it!

[@ullafeldt9926]

Ich liebe Euch ❤

[@mohdimranyadi7109]

Abba..best of the best ever

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Elin, yes it lives up to its name as a super song trooping on and on and on through the years! I think the most interesting part was how quickly they dashed off this timeless classic when they suddenly decided they needed a title track just before the album's release! The unfortunate song dropped was Put On Your White Sombrero, which most people would say was clearly good enough already - which they later admitted and allowed release on the box set Thank You For The Music in 1994!

[@martinpatrick9915]

Debbie Sim did a Disco version with Benny on synthesizer and Bjorn on guitar.

[@martinpatrick1746]

The band who played for abba was used for the recording of the original mamma Mia soundtrack and for the mamma Mia sequel.

[@MrPekisha]

@Curtisp40E1 They are still great group. Because ABBA will NOT die. It will always live in our hearts.

[@abbaregistro]

La vida está en las letras de las canciones. Letras y música que han musicalizado y que musicalizan nuestras vidas.

[@user-et4vt9up7q]

세월이 흘러도 더 좋은 아바의 음악

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

ABBA FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@timtam7626]

Frida looked like Linda Carter here! Beautiful

[@gustavnordin8690]

Their voices were truly incredible. Please forgive me if I sing along - i really can't help myself. Just as my love for music I really enjoy singing. Music teacher wanted me in the choir - guess she thought i had a good voice.

[@directiondesoperationsdese746]

IT'S ONE OF MY PREFERED WORLD'S SONG. IT'S FROM MY HEART AND I LIKE IT THAT. I'LL GLAD TO MEET YOU BEYOND. AND YOU'RE AS SWEET AS ANGELS.

[@annemariehallinan7628]

Best band ever, I can relate to many of their songs too. i used to have a teenage crush on benny he was hot.

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yes that's right - they found it imposible to reproduce their multi-layered studio recordings in a live environment and wanted audiences to hear their songs as they expected them to be played, rather than anything less than perfect!

[@hejiranyc]

And for years I thought it was called "super trooper," which makes sense since the protagonist in the song has to push through the sadness and be a happy superstar in the spotlights. Not only is she going to be a trooper, she's going to be a super-duper trooper! It just doesn't seem so majestic when you consider that the song is actually about some stupid spotlight.

[@TGTSTS]

It's both. That's the genius of it. She's a 'trooper' amidst the bright lights of the 'trouper.'

[@prody666]

It's not about a spotlight, it is about emotions, feelings, it's a beautiful love song.

[@rhark25]

Actually, a group of performers that tours around is called a "troup" and members of that touring group are "troupers". That gives the song a kind of duality...the surface meaning of the spotlights with the deeper meaning of a lonely performer looking for their love in the audience.

[@resireg]

And it is about Bjorn's new girlfriend. He would be so happy if he could spot her in amongst the audience

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Bruno - yes Frida's singing is perfect for this lower pitched song!

[@LisergicoRojo]

gotta love them

[@WillYouSmileAgain]

AMAZEBALLS

[@MrGaggymott]

What don't people make songs like this one any more??!! I could sing along, hear every word, and ENJOYED IT! Not like the 'THUD, THUD, THUD' rappers, with 'dudes' just talking over the vicious beat......**Yawns** - GO ABBA! :-)

[@boyhey1]

Wow, John! Another ABBA Video. And It's broadcast via satellite. How nice to technology!! Good Work, John. (and long-time no-chat, friend. nice that you're back. lol)

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Bobbie yes this song still sounds great today, despite being 30 years old now! Sorry for late reply, I had to take some time off to get over all the stupid and unwanted changes that youtube made to the video comments layout last month!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Honours for this video (2) #51 - Most Discussed (Today) - Music #77 - Top Rated (Today) - Music

[@Grandpaw2511]

Howdy John, I didn't know what Super Trouper ment till a few weeks ago. I always figured they were talking about themselves. When I found out it was about a spot light the song finally made sense to me. I guess this old dog is still learning new stuff. Thanks Lenny

[@abbaregistro]

John, Thanks for the video and info!! life is in the lyrics and lyrics musicalize our life.

[@abbafanglosuk]

Many thanks Juan - have a su-uper day, cheers from John!

[@atroticious]

that electric piano sound though

[@qualqui]

Before i listened to this vid i was blue and considerin' the rainy and cloudy day today, i was,....UNTIL SUPER TROUPER,....Many thanx JohnBoy for sharin' this AWESOME Vid, sendin' ya 5 shiny golden stars,....for your collection, eh,....Take care ol' buddy, hope your day's as CHEERY as mine is now! = )

[@ccalccol]

studio version entered Billboard April 4, 1981 ..reached #41

[@faltskog36abba]

+Colin Sanders 45

[@meropale]

+Colin Sanders ...and #1 in the UK for three weeks.

[@Izadeparis]

Hi John Thanks for all this informations and for the clip

[@abhinabhan]

@MrPekisha Serbia? My goodness you live in a very beautiful place. I love Europe! In Europe we breathe culture everywhere. I have already visited London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Moscow and almost entire USA but in Europe I feel something different inside of me and in the atmosphere as well. I still didn't have the chance to visit Sweden and Belgium but soon I will do it. Greetings from Rio de Janeiro.

[@Gato_En_Texas]

M A R A V I L L O S O...5* Abrazos: Gato en Texas

[@clarkeundefined]

FRIDA IS VERY PRETTY.

[@sabineHandl-jm7ty]

❤❤❤❤❤❤vb

[@missbeauty58]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful song and video, this was wonderful with all that info. 5 stars* Love Carina XXX

[@paulorobertodasilva9448]

as mais belas musicas do abba

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Gal, its good for me too - as I get to listen to this catchy song a lot and learn plenty of things I didn't know! I used to think this song was about performing under spotlights. But in reality its about Bjorn's lonely life on the road and how he misses his loved ones. Only he could quickly create a connection from that to spotlights, as they had already decided this would be the album title song before they wrote it!

[@abhinabhan]

@MrPekisha I am with you. ABBA is the best!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Indeed - one of the main reasons why they never liked touring!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Jim - cutting down the overflow to fit the space available can be the trickiest part! A bit like Abba ditching unwanted demos before the final version!

[@newmoonvampire2597]

2000 of My Childhood Songs Abba my memoriies

[@marcos2011989]

muito bom..........

[@Poessneck32]

Mega