Dum Dum Diddle

"Dum Dum Diddle" is a song by ABBA, released on their 1976 album Arrival. In 1977 it was released as a single in Argentina on the RCA label.

"Dum Dum Diddle"
Single by ABBA
from the album Arrival
B-side"Tiger"
GenrePop, europop, disco
Length2:53
LabelPolar (Sweden)
Epic (UK)
Atlantic (US)
Songwriter(s)Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
Producer(s)Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
ABBA singles chronology
"Money, Money, Money"
(1976)		 "Dum Dum Diddle"
(1976)		 "That's Me"
(1977)

Production

When asked "how did [ABBA] manage to make such a ridiculous and quite banal song [as Dum Dum Diddle] come alive", Björn Again founder Rod Leissle said "I think ABBA had a special quality about them. They could put ridiculous lyrics into a song, and because they were fundamentally great songwriters they could make it work. A line like 'Dum Dum Diddle, to be your fiddle' doesn't really make a great deal of sense, but it still works because it's something you can sing along to and enjoy".[1]

Composition

Dum Dum Diddle is a folk-inspired pop song. The song has Lasse Wellander's acoustic guitar in the verses. Benny plays piano during the breaks between the girl's "woh-woh" vocals. The song has a fiddle-style refrain (simulated by a synthesiser), which serves as its hook. It contains a "stream of strong melodies and instrumentation".[2] The lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

Synopsis

The song is about a woman who quietly longs for the affections of a sad, lonely man who derives his only pleasure from constantly playing and practicing on his violin. The Guardian described it as "a song about a woman who feels sexually threatened by her partner's violin".[3]

Critical reception

Abba's Abba Gold suggests that ABBA criticised the song, though add that the writers of the book like it.[4] Abba - Uncensored on the Record said the "unfortunately titled song...seemed like a reversion to Eurovision-style thinking". The complete New Zealand music charts, 1966-2006 describes the song as "rather silly but fun".[5] Bright Lights Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba implied that Eagle was more lyrically ambitious than "the 'dum dum diddles' of ABBA's earlier work".[6] The Los Angeles Times described the song as "cheery nonsense".[7] The Scotsman implied that Dum Dum Diddle was a bad song by saying "LIFE – to quote Toni Collette in Muriel's Wedding – can be "as good as an Abba song" but the clunky transfer of Mamma Mia! from stage to screen proves that it can be just as awful as 'Dum Dum Diddle' too".[8]

Covers

Helen Sjöholm has performed "Dum Dum Diddle", accompanied by Orsa Spelman's Kalle Moraeus on the fiddle.[9]

References
  1. Tobler, John (2012-01-04). Abba - Uncensored on the Record. ISBN 9781908538239.
  2. Tesch, Christopher Patrick ; editor: Matthew (2008). ABBA : let the music speak : an armchair guide to the musical soundscape of the Swedish supergroup (1st ed.). Fairfield Gardens, Qld.: Christopher J N Patrick. pp. 33, 121. ISBN 9780646496764.
  3. Alexis Petridis. "CD: Abba, The Complete Studio Recordings | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  4. Vincentelli, Elisabeth (2004-03-31). Abba's Abba Gold. ISBN 9780826415462.
  5. Scapolo, Dean (January 2007). The complete New Zealand music charts, 1966-2006: Singles, albums, DVDs, compilations. ISBN 9781877443008.
  6. Palm, Carl Magnus (2008-09-01). Bright Lights Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba. ISBN 9781847724199.
  7. Hilburn, Robert (1983-01-30). "POP MUSIC; DISC DERBY: WE'RE GONNA GET LETTERS". Los Angeles Times: Archives. pp. K62-3. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  8. "Film review: Mamma Mia!". The Scotsman. 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  9. Palm, Carl Magnus; Hanser, Anders (2000-09-01). From Abba to Mamma Mia!: The Official Book. ISBN 9780823083176.
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