World of Chig   

15.4.04
Your favourite ABBA tracks: #9 Super Trouper

The opening track on the album of the same name became ABBA’s ninth and final UK number one in November 1980, for three weeks. It might have been there at least a week longer, had John Lennon not been murdered while ABBA topped the chart. ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ had initially peaked at #8 the same week that Super Trouper claimed the top spot, but it rebounded up from #21 to #1 in one week after his death.

ABBA deposed Blondie’s ‘The Tide Is High’ from the top spot, causing a rare, perhaps unique, incidence of consecutive number ones which both mention “number one” in their lyric (the chorus in both cases). ABBA also had cause for celebration; nine number ones saw them overtake the Rolling Stones in the ‘most number ones’ list. Only The Beatles, Elvis, Cliff & The Shadows had more. ABBA have since been overtaken by Madonna and Westlife (including the song that ABBA couldn’t get to #1 themselves – see #20 in this countdown.) They have also been equalled on nine by The Spice Girls. Reason enough to pray that the Spice reunion and proper farewell single never, ever materialise.

For those who still don’t know, a super trouper is a big, theatrical spotlight, as used to great effect on the back and front of the album, and in the splendid video with all the circus performers. This was another ABBA single ruined by Terry Wogan. I can’t hear this without thinking they’re singing, “When I called you last night from Tesco.” As if the real lyric wasn’t strange enough. What was she doing in Glasgow? Perhaps Michelle McManus will cover it and the line will make sense after all these years?

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