So Long (song)

"So Long" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, released as the first single from their studio-album ABBA. It was backed with "I've Been Waiting for You", also a new composition.

[edit] History

"So Long" was written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with vocals by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. ABBA and their manager, Stig Anderson, decided to release this track instead of the more secure "I've Been Waiting for You" or "SOS", simply because they wanted to show their different styles of music. It was thought that this kind of up-tempo rock number, with a beat and musical style that was somewhat reminiscent of their Eurovision-conquering "Waterloo" would be a good choice, standing a greater chance of becoming a hit.

[edit] Reception

As it happened, "So Long" gave ABBA its worst international chart performance. Although it became a significant hit in Sweden, Austria and West Germany, other countries were not impressed by it. In the UK it failed to chart. As a British chart flop, this was a worrying state of affairs for ABBA, who were almost destined to become one-hit wonders like a number of previous Eurovision winners. However, subsequent singles began to show some sign of improvement and led to ABBA's eventual domination of the charts. It is also notable for the appearance of the refrain from 'Bali Ha'i' during the fade-out.

[edit] Chart positions

Chart (1974)	Position
Austrian Singles Chart	3
Swedish Singles Chart	7
German Singles Chart	11
Belgian Singles Chart	29
French Singles Chart	64

v • d • e ABBA

Agnetha Fältskog • Björn Ulvaeus • Benny Andersson • Anni-Frid Lyngstad

Studio albums	Ring Ring • Waterloo • ABBA • Arrival • The Album • Voulez-Vous • Super Trouper • The Visitors

Compilations	Greatest Hits • Greatest Hits Vol. 2 • Gracias Por La Música • The Singles: The First Ten Years • ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits • More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits • ABBA Oro: Grandes Éxitos • Thank You for the Music • The Definitive Collection • The Complete Studio Recordings • Number Ones

Hit singles	"People Need Love" • "He Is Your Brother" • "Ring Ring" • "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)" • "Waterloo" • "Honey, Honey" • "So Long" • "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" • "SOS" • "Mamma Mia" • "Fernando" • "Dancing Queen" • "Money, Money, Money" • "Knowing Me, Knowing You" • "The Name of the Game" • "Take a Chance on Me" • "Eagle" • "Summer Night City" • "Chiquitita" • "Does Your Mother Know" • "Voulez-Vous" • "Angeleyes" • "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" • "I Have a Dream" • "The Winner Takes It All" • "On and On and On" • "Super Trouper" • "Lay All Your Love on Me" • "One of Us" • "When All is Said and Done" • "Head over Heels" • "The Visitors" • "The Day Before You Came" • "Under Attack" • "Thank You for the Music"

Related articles	Discography • Unreleased songs • Eurovision Song Contest 1974 • Mamma Mia! (musical) • Mamma Mia! (film) • Congratulations • Music of Sweden • Stig Anderson • "Thank ABBA for the Music"