There's Something Going On - Frida (1982) 7/19/23

In 1982, ABBA was breaking up: professionally as a group, and personally through double divorces.

Anna-Frid Lyngstad thought the time was right to go solo, so she called Phil Collins and asked him for help.

Phil responded in a BIG way!

He not only co-wrote today's Great Song of the '80s with Russ Ballard, he produced it for Anni-Frid, played drums on the track, and sang backup!

When "There's Something Going On" was released from Anna-Frid's (Frida's) solo debut album of the same name, it was an instant worldwide hit, charting in 16 countries, and reaching #1 in Belgium and Switzerland.

In the US, it peaked at a solid #13 on Billboard's Hot 100.

The video for the song told the story of a woman whose lover was a photographer who was cheating on her with his model, so she follows him all over town spying on them.

It's all very "film noir" (except it's in color)!

Surprisingly, "There's Something Going On" was Anna-Frid's only "Great Song" as a solo artist--but she was certainly NOT a one-hit wonder.

She spent the next several years performing and doing charity all over Europe, and when ABBA regrouped in 2021 for their first album in 40 years, she was front and center with Benny Bjorn and Agnetha for the festivities.

Only now, her official name was Princess Anni-Frid Reuss, Dowager Countess of Plauen, widow of Heinrich Ruzzo Prinz Reuss von Plauen of Sweden.

Trivia: As far as I can tell, Frida is only the second member of a Royal family to have at hit record. The first was Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, who in 1956, (before her marriage to Prince Rainier), teamed up with Bing Crosby to record a #3 hit version of Cole Porter's "True Love," a Best Song Oscar nominee from the film "High Society."

But I digress.

"There's Something Going On" by Frida (and Phil Collins) is a Great Song of 1983! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98PjtSfNWo

Bing & Grace (1956): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfqFtsINILo

Tomorrow: Romantic Sleep Talking