Meaning of Dancing Queen by ABBA & The Story Behind

When disco went on a triumphal procession around the planet, the members of the ABBA group decided that they should definitely record a song in a popular style.

This is how the song Dancing Queen was born, which conquered the charts in many countries, remained incredibly popular even after the disco boom declined and turned into a real standard of dance-pop music.

The story of Dancing Queen – ABBA

Dancing Queen was written by Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and band manager Stig Anderson. As stated on the official ABBA website, in the working version it was called Boogaloo, and the final version of the name came to mind Stig.

The song Rock Your Baby by George McCrae and the album Gumbo by Dr. John are cited as inspirations.

What is Dancing Queen about?

It is hardly worth looking for a deep meaning in the text of Dancing Queen (I hope ABBA fans will not be offended by this statement). The song is about a girl who becomes the queen of the dance floor in any nightclub where she appears.

If you are strong enough in English, you may be alerted by the line “Night is young and the music is high” (“high” can mean “high”). But let’s not forget that the song was composed by the Swedes, who might not be very good at understanding slang phrases. So in this case, most likely, loud music was meant.

Frida recalled that when she first heard the music of Dancing Queen, she could not hold back her tears:

And that was before Agnetha and I sang! I realized that this was absolutely the best song that ABBA has ever done.

The Guardian

Agnetha spoke about the song in the same vein:

It’s often hard to determine what’s going to be a hit. Dancing Queen was the exception. We all knew it would be great.

Release and achievements

Studio work on the song went on for several months and was completed at the end of 1975. However, the release of the composition took place only in August 1976, when it was released as the lead single from the ABBA album. This delay in release was intentional. The band members immediately realized that Dancing Queen was going to be a hit and decided to hold it until the release of the album.

Within days of the official introduction of Dancing Queen, it became an international hit and topped the singles charts in the US, UK, Australia, Canada and many other countries. The song was played by all popular radio stations, and the visitors of nightclubs demanded it from DJs again and again.

The composition was performed and recorded by hundreds of famous and not so famous musicians. Some, like the A-Teens, even climbed high on the charts with their covers.

Dancing Queen is included in almost all popular ratings of the best tracks, the format of which it corresponds to. So, it is presented in the lists:

Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
“100 Greatest Dance Songs in Rock and Roll” VH1,
“Top 100 Pop Songs” by Rolling Stone and MTV.

Video of Dancing Queen by ABBA

Below you can watch the online music video for the song Dancing Queen by ABBA.

Interesting Facts

In the original version, the second verse was longer, but the authors decided to abandon a few lines of text.
While working on the composition, the musicians used the arranging and recording technique known as the “wall of sound”.
Dancing Queen became the only ABBA song to top the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1977, the composition was published in the Soviet magazine “Krugozor”, where it was presented under the title “Dancing Queen”.
For Gracias Por La Musica (1980), ABBA performed a Spanish version of the song, calling it Reina Danzante. It was then renamed La Reina Del Baile for the ABBA Oro: Grandes Exitos compilation (1990).
The song immediately appealed to homosexuals and soon acquired the status of a universally recognized gay anthem.
American politician John McCain listed Dancing Queen as one of his ten favorite tracks, compiled at the request of Blender Magazine.

Dancing Queen Lyrics by ABBA

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come in to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music’s high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
You’re in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance…

chorus:
You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen

You’re a teaser, you turn ’em on
Leave them burning and then you’re gone
Looking out for another, anyone will do
You’re in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance…

Lyrics of Dancing Queen by ABBA Alternate

You can dance, rock to jazz, enjoy life
Look at that girl, watch her, she’s a dance queen

Friday night, the lights are dimmed
Are you thinking about where to go
Where the right music is playing, capable of igniting
You came looking for a king
Anyone could be that guy
The evening has just begun and the music is loud
With notes of rock – everything is fine
You’re in the mood to dance
And when the opportunity arises…

Chorus:
You’re a dance queen, young and sweet, you’re only seventeen
Queen in the dance, feel the rhythm of the tambourine
You can dance, rock to jazz, enjoy life
Look at that girl, watch her, she’s a dance queen

You are not available, she turns them on
Let them burn with passion when you’re gone
Looking for someone else, anyone will do
You’re in the mood to dance
And when the opportunity arises…