S.O.S. - ABBA (1975) 9/7/21

Today, we present the only Top 20 song in history where the title and the artist are both palindromes (spelled the same forward and backward). And, if you consider "S.O.S" by ABBA a "POP" song...then it's a triple palindrome!

The working title was "Turn Me On," but ABBA's manager Stig Anderson thought "S.O.S." would be a better title, so Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (the 2 "B's") took it from there and did some re-writing.

Agnetha Faltskog sang lead, with harmonies by Anna-Frid Lyngstad (the 2 "A's") and the "B's." "S.O.S." was described as "Agnetha's first 'heartbreak classic, blending her trademarked tear-filled delivery with an Anglo-Saxon pop melody and a dash of Swedish melancholy." In other words: it's a "Great Song." :-) In the end, it became ABBA's first big international hit since their debut single, 1974's "Waterloo," which we highlighted back on: 3/6/21: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelCuuuk/posts/293365755470212 Actually, "international hit" is an understatement. The song reached the Top 20 in 18 countries...including #1 in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Switzerland...and #2 in Austria, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Mexico and Zimbabwe. In Canada, it peaked at #9 and in the US, it reached #15. That's VERY impressive, but note that ABBA's home country of Sweden is not on the list. That's because Agnetha released a SOLO version of the song...IN SWEDISH...that reached #4 on the Swedish chart in early 1976. Note: In 2018, Cher released an excellent cover version that critics liked, but only charted in Scotland (of all places). Special Note: “The Visitors," Abba's first new album in nearly 40 YEARS...will be released on November 5th! "S.O.S." by Abba: a "Great song of 1975" and a triple palindrome for the ages! Abba:

Agnetha Faltskog:

Cher: