Super Trouper (song)

"Super Trouper" is a single by Swedish pop group ABBA, and the title track from their 1980 studio album of the same name, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The song – with lead vocals by Anni-Frid Lyngstad – had the working title "Blinka Lilla Stjärna" (i.e. Twinkle Little Star, in Swedish),[2] and was the last track to be written and recorded for the album (ultimately replacing the track "Put On Your White Sombrero"). "Super Trouper" is included on the compilation album Gold: Greatest Hits, and also features in the musical Mamma Mia!.

This article is about the ABBA song. For other uses, see Super Trouper (disambiguation).

"Super Trouper"
Single by ABBA
from the album Super Trouper
B-side"The Piper"
Released3 November 1980
Recorded1980
GenrePop, disco
Length4:10
LabelPolar Music, Epic Records (UK)[1]
Songwriter(s)Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus[1]
Producer(s)Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus[1]
ABBA singles chronology
"On and on and On"
(1980)		 "Super Trouper"
(1980)		 "Our Last Summer"
(1980)
Music video
"Super Trouper" on YouTube

The song's name refers to the Super Trouper, a make of followspot used in large venues.[3]

Music video

In October 1980, the music video for "Super Trouper" used the largest number of artists including a circus troupe that ABBA ever used in a music video. The spotlight featured throughout the video is, in fact, a CCT Silhouette profile spot with followspot kit, as opposed to a real Super Trouper. The city of Glasgow mentioned in the lyric was suggested by Howard Huntridge who worked with their then-UK publishers Bocu Music. The music video was directed by Lasse Hallström. Parts of the video were later reused in the clip for the song "Happy New Year" (which also features on the Super Trouper album).

Reception

"Super Trouper" continued ABBA's run of chart success, particularly in Europe. It was to become ABBA's ninth (and final) No. 1 in the United Kingdom.[1][4] This distinction placed ABBA fourth for the most UK chart-toppers in history (behind The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard); a position the group would keep for almost 20 years until Madonna scored her tenth UK No. 1 with "Music" in August 2000.[5] The track was also the fourth biggest selling single in the UK for 1980. "Super Trouper" also topped the charts in Belgium, West Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, and was a Top 10 hit in Austria, Finland, France, Norway, Spain and Switzerland.

Outside of Europe, "Super Trouper" was a more modest hit. In the United States for example, where ABBA never quite managed to achieve the same sort of popularity experienced elsewhere, the single only reached No. 45. However, combined with "Lay All Your Love on Me" and "On and On and On", it topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart in May 1981. The song only reached the lower region of the charts in countries such as Australia[6] and Japan,[7] but did prove successful in Mexico, where it reached No. 3.[8]

Personnel
  • Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals
  • Agnetha Fältskog – backing vocals
  • Benny Andersson – keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Björn Ulvaeus – guitar, backing vocals

Additional musicians
  • Janne Schaffer – lead guitar
  • Mike Watson – bass guitar
  • Per Lindvall – drums
  • Åke Sundqvist – percussion

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Russia (NFPF)[25]
Ringtone 		Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[26]
physical sales 		Gold 978,000[27]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

A-Teens version
"Super Trouper"
Single by A-Teens
from the album The ABBA Generation
Released2 August 1999
Recorded1999
GenrePop, Europop
Length3:52
LabelUniversal Music Group
Songwriter(s)Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Producer(s)Thomas Johansson
Ronald Malmberg
A-Teens singles chronology
"Mamma Mia"
(1999)		 "Super Trouper"
(1999)		 "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
(1999)

"Super Trouper" was A-Teens' second single from their first album The ABBA Generation, a cover of ABBA's song. When the single came out in the fall of 1999, it became a hit around the globe, just as its predecessor "Mamma Mia", also an ABBA cover. "Super Trouper" debuted at No. 2 in Sweden and was later certified platinum.[28]

It also became their only Top 5 hit in Germany peaking at No. 4. The single also reached No. 21 in the United Kingdom, No. 18 in Switzerland, No. 15 in Norway, No. 11 in Austria and No. 12 in the Netherlands.

Music video

The music video was directed by Sebastian Reed and was filmed in Sweden. The video shows a girl so obsessed with the band that she owns posters, magazines, mugs, clothing, and a key chain. She also copies the band's choreography that is shown on TV. Some of the articles that feature pictures of the band come to life in the video.

In the first few seconds of the video, before the actual song starts, Mamma Mia can be faintly heard in the background.

The video was a hit in most TV stations charting inside the Top 10 countdowns in late 1999 and early 2000.

Releases

European 2-track CD single

  1. "Super Trouper" (Radio Version) – 3:52
  2. "Super Trouper" (Super Radio Remix) – 4:04

European CD Maxi

  1. "Super Trouper" (Radio Version) – 3:52
  2. "Super Trouper" (Super Super Remix) – 8:58
  3. "Super Trouper" (Pinocchio Remix) – 5:08
  4. "Super Trouper" (Extended Version) – 6:05

German CD Maxi (3 January 2000)

  1. "Super Trouper" (Radio Version) – 3:52
  2. "Super Trouper" (Perre J's Remix) – 4:04
  3. "Happy New Year" – 4:23
  4. "Mamma Mia" (Radio Version) – 3:43
  • Video: "Mamma Mia"

UK CD1 (22 November 1999)

  1. "Super Trouper" (Radio Version) – 3:52
  2. "A*Teens Medley" (Pierre J's Full UK Mix) – 7:27
  3. "Super Trouper" (Karaoke Version) – 3:52
  • Video: "Super Trouper"

UK CD2 (22 November 1999)

  1. "Super Trouper" (Extended Version) – 6:05
  2. "Super Trouper" (W.I.P.) – 6:10
  3. "Super Trouper" (The Bold & The Glamour Mix) – 6:50

UK Cassette (22 November 1999)

  1. "Super Trouper" (Radio Version) – 3:52
  2. "Super Trouper" (Karaoke Version) – 3:52

Japan CD Maxi (1 December 1999)

  1. "Super Trouper" (Radio Version) – 3:52
  2. "Happy New Year" – 4:23
  3. "Super Trouper" (Super Super Remix) – 8:58
  4. "Super Trouper" (Extended Version) – 6:05

Sweden promo CD

  1. "Super Trouper" (Radio Version) – 3:52

12" vinyl promo (1-track)

  1. A. "Super Trouper" (Extended Version) – 6:05

UK 12" vinyl promo (3-track) (22 November 1999)

  1. A1. "Super Trouper" (Extended Version) – 6:05
  2. B1. "Super Trouper" (The Bold & The Glamour Mix) – 6:50
  3. B2. "Super Trouper" (W.I.P.) – 6:10

Charts

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again version

Super Trouper was released on 13 July 2018, alongside the soundtrack of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, by Capitol and Polydor Records. The song is performed by the whole main cast (Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Cher, Dominic Cooper, Alexa Davies, Josh Dylan, Colin Firth, Andy García, Jeremy Irvine, Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgård, Hugh Skinner, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and Jessica Keenan Wynn) and it was produced by Benny Andersson. The song was also performed in the first film by Streep, Baranski, and Walters.

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[41] 52
UK Singles Download Chart (Official Charts Company)[42] 81
UK Singles Sales Chart (Official Charts Company)[43] 81

Appearances in other media
  • The song is performed in the Mamma Mia! stage musical, as well as the 2008 film adaptation. In the musical and film, Donna, Tanya and Rosie perform the song at Sophie's hen party dressed in the tight lycra suits they used to wear when they were a girl band called "Donna and the Dynamos". In the context of the musical, it explains that even though Donna has a hard life sometimes, all she has to know is that Sophie is there and that makes Donna feel much better. When Niklas Strömstedt wrote lyrics for the Swedish staging of the musical, "Glasgow" was replaced by "Gränna" as the place from which the singer calls in the lyrics.

References
  1. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 209. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  2. Elisabeth Vincentelli (31 March 2004). Abba's Abba Gold. p. 96. ISBN 9781441167897.
  3. "The Making of Super Trouper". Abba - the Official Site. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 387–8. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. https://www.onlineweb.com/theones/auxiliary_pages/madonna.htm
  6. "Australia". Home.zipworld.com.au. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  7. "Japan". Home.zipworld.com.au. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  8. "Mexico". Home.zipworld.com.au. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  9. David Kent (2006). Australian Charts Book 1993—2005. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 978-0-646-45889-2.
  10. "Australian Charts > ABBA". australian-charts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  11. "Austrian Charts > ABBA". austriancharts.at Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  12. "Ultra Top - Belgian Charts". Ultra Top. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 49, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – ABBA – Super Trouper" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  15. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts: ABBA". GfK Entertainment (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  16. "The Irish Charts > ABBA". IrishCharts.ie. Retrieved 3 November 2020. Note: User must define search parameter as "Abba".
  17. "Hits of The World". Billboard. 13 December 1980. p. 74.
  18. "Norwegian Charts > ABBA" (in Norwegian). norwegiancharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  19. "Swedish Charts > ABBA". swedishcharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  20. "Charts". Hit Parade. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  21. "Hot 100 - ABBA". Billboard. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  22. Dance mix with "On and On and On" and "Lay All Your Love on Me"
  23. Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffmann, Frank W (1994). Cash Box pop singles charts, 1950–1993. Libraries Unlimited. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-56308-316-7.
  24. "Chart File". Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 21 March 1981. p. 37.
  25. "РОССИЙСКАЯ ИНДУСТРИЯ ЗВУКОЗАПИСИ - Год 2011 I полугодие" [Top 50 RBT 2011] (PDF) (in Russian). Lenta.ru. 2011. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  26. "British single certifications – ABBA – Super Trouper". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Super Trouper in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  27. Myers, Justin (22 April 2019). "ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  28. Archived 28 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  29. "Austriancharts.at – A*Teens – Super Trouper" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  30. "Ultratop.be – A*Teens – Super Trouper" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  31. "Offiziellecharts.de – A*Teens – Super Trouper". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  32. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  33. "Dutchcharts.nl – A*Teens – Super Trouper" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  34. "Norwegiancharts.com – A*Teens – Super Trouper". VG-lista. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  35. "Swedishcharts.com – A*Teens – Super Trouper". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  36. "Swisscharts.com – A*Teens – Super Trouper". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  37. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  39. "Årslista Singlar – År 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  40. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  41. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  42. "Official Singles Download Chart Top 100". Music Week. London, UK. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  43. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Music Week. London, UK. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
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