The King Has Lost His Crown
"The King Has Lost His Crown" is a song by Swedish group ABBA, released on their 1979 album Voulez-Vous. It was also the B-side of the non-album single "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".
"The King Has Lost His Crown" | |
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Song by ABBA | |
from the album Voulez-Vous, Greatest Hits Vol. 2 | |
A-side | "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" |
Length | 3:35 |
Label | Polar Music |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
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Synopsis
The song is a "vengeful ballad" whose lyrics are an allegory to describe the end of a relationship.[1]
Critical reception
On his book Abba – Uncensored on the Record, John Tobler said the song "appeared to be much more personal than many of the group's previous songs".[1] The Sydney Morning Herald said "The King Has Lost His Crown" is "an interesting song with some neat variations in style".[2] Internet reviewer George Starostin said it "is simply way too pompous and ambitious to be endured".[3] ABBA biograph Carl Magnus Palm said "Perhaps there's ... a sense of "undiscovered gem" about [Voulez-Vous], simply because what I feel were the best tracks were never international single A-sides, such as 'As Good as New', 'The King Has Lost His Crown' and 'If It Wasn't for the Nights'."[4]
References
- Tobler, John (2011). Abba – Uncensored on the Record. Coda Books Ltd. p. 67.
- "ABBA make a comeback". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 May 1979. p. 48.
- "ABBA Reviews". Starling.rinet.ru. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- "ABBA – favourites and least favourites". Carl Magnus Palm. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2014.