Classic Songs: “Waterloo” by ABBA.

This year on the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s incredible victory at the annual Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, fans this week in England, Sweden and around the world celebrated the hit song Waterloo with impromptu performances. With that in mind I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to briefly look back at its history.

Diehard ABBA and Eurovision fans alike will tell you Waterloo was the catalyst which saw the Swedish supergroup rise to international fame. But for a brief moment though, the band considered putting forward another song for the Eurovision Song Contest. That song was Hasta Mañana, the fourth track from ABBA’s second studio album, Waterloo (1974), which was sung only by Agnetha Fältskog aka Anna. But as fate would have it, the group decided upon the title track because it showcased the strong harmonies of both lead vocalists Anna and Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad, aka Frida. 

Interestingly, the previous year in 1973, ABBA failed to win the Swedish pre-selection contest with Ring Ring. Commercially though the single was received well in several European countries, however without a wider international appeal the band would be forced to try again the following year with a new song that would be built around a single-minded purpose to break through to the Eurovision Song Contest.  

With Waterloo specifically composed by ABBA’s Benny Anderson and Björn Kristian Ulvaeus and written by Sting Anderson for the Eurovision Song Contest, it was immediately apparent that it was a fan and jury favourite. It’s jovial nature easily aroused support and by the final, it beat out runner-up Gigliola Cinquetti of Italy’s song entry Si. 

It’s fair to say a number of things went right for ABBA during the song contest. From ABBA’s theatrical flair and flamboyant costumes, to the song’s uptempo pop arrangement, to the band’s added advantage of performing Waterloo in English, ABBA could do no wrong. The latter was particularly one of more compelling elements that won ABBA the song contest. Prior to 1973, all Eurovision contestants had to sing in their country’s native tongue. However, with the relaxing of rules ABBA took full advantage of the change, electing not to sing in Swedish and in the process delivering a standout and unique performance. It is also said that Anna and Frida had a particular way of pronouncing English words which really caught the ear of music listeners.

In short, the lyrics of Waterloo are infectious and rousing but not expressed in a direct way one might expect. Instead the famous battle of Waterloo cleverly becomes a metaphor for a relationship, where the song’s protagonist can’t escape and is forced to finally face their own Waterloo. 

“My, my / At Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender / Oh, yeah / And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way / The history book on the shelf/ Is always repeating itself / Waterloo / I was defeated, you won the war / Waterloo / Promise to love you forevermore…”

After the European Song Contest, ABBA’s Waterloo would catapult them to fame beyond their wildest dreams. The song was a huge hit, not only in Sweden but England and around the world, ultimately going number one in no less than eleven countries. 

In 2005, Waterloo was recognised as the Eurovision Song Contest’s greatest song. It’s quite an accomplishment given the calibre of song entries in the competition’s history.