The Winner Takes It All - ABBA (1981) 11/8/23

By the time ABBA released their "Super Trouper" album in late 1980, things behind the scenes were not going well.

The biggest clue was the first single from their album: 1981's "The Winner Takes It All."

Sure, it was a Great Song and a worldwide hit, but it was also a breakup song, and although Bjorn Ulvaeus, who wrote the lyrics, (Benny Andersson wrote the music) claimed it had nothing to do with his marriage to Agnetha Falkskog, they were on the verge of breaking up, and did so shortly thereafter.

Creation of the song did not come easy for either Bjorn or Benny.

Benny struggled with creating the right musical "feel," and Bjorn had writers block so severe, he had to get drunk to finish the lyrics.

Then, when he showed the lyrics to Agnetha, she reportedly cried because it affected her so deeply. It resulted in her heart wrenching vocal.

The Winner takes It All" was a Top 10 hit in 14 countries, reaching #1 in Belgium, The Netherlands, Ireland, The UK, and in the US on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart. On the Hot 100, it reached #8.

But it was the beginning of the end for ABBA. Not only did Bjorn and Agnetha divorce, but so did Benny and Anni-Frid.

Note: The song was been covered by artists as diverse as Cher and Susan Boyle, and was featured in episodes of "Glee," and "Better Call Saul."

"The Winner Takes It All" by ABBA: a Great, but Sad Song of 1981. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cwKCU8Z5c

Tomorrow: Hard Juice