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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This was written by ABBA members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. According to ABBA's official site, it was conceived as a dance song with the working title "Boogaloo." They drew inspiration from the 1974 George McCrae disco hit "Rock Your Baby," and from the drumming on the 1972 album Gumbo by Dr. John. Their manager Stig Anderson came up with the title "Dancing Queen," and after several months working on the track, ABBA came up with arguably the world's first Europop Disco hit.

Abba performed this song on June 18, 1976 at a televised tribute to Queen Silvia and King Gustaf XVI of Sweden, who were married the next day.

This was ABBA's only #1 hit in the US. They had 14 songs crack the Top-40 in The States.

Regarding the lyrics, "Night is young and the music's high," many listeners interpret this as a statement that the music makes you feel high. In ABBA's part of the world, however, it simply means that the music is loud.

Along with many other ABBA songs, this was featured in Muriel's Wedding, a hit Australian movie starring Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths. (thanks, Katie - Australia)

According to the BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, when this song was played at a Windsor Castle event Queen Elizabeth said: "I always try to dance when this song comes on because I am the Queen and I like to dance."

This song also reached #1 in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia, South Africa, Sweden and West Germany. (thanks, Jerro - New Alexandria, PA)

Comments:

One night at a party with several adults, and their kids we played this song probably fifteen times in a row and EVERYONE was dancing. Song created one of my best memories. I think of my friends every time I hear it. OBSCENE?? what are you smoking?
- Lisa, Milwaukee, WI, WI

I hated disco, but, man, I loved this song.
- Ed, Canton, OH

Wonderful band, great track with flawless harmonies. Their music is timeless much in the same way the Beatles music is. Whether it is 1964's I Want To Hold Your Hand or 1976's Dancing Queen, the sound is right at home in 2009 and beyond.
- john, Grand Island, NY

Proof is in the pudding. No.1 in 13 countries, 6 weeks at the top of the UK charts - also No.1 in USA. I guess a lot of people liked it, including me.
- Keith, London, United Kingdom

Dancing queen an obscene song? LOL. You are probably joking or where have you otherwise been the last 30 years. Ever heard a rap-song? or the more Abba-contemporary "I love to love or "Yes sir I can boogie". You would probably have been among those who wanted to ban Elvis too... If Dancing Queen is too much I can recommend the most beautiful lovesong ever written: Abbas Andante, Andante...
- Stefan, Stockholm, Sweden

Since my childhood days, I've been listening to ABBA. They've been awesome, really. Dancing Queen is good, but not my favorite. I love Tropical Loveland, Nina Pretty Ballerina, Eagle, S.O.S, Honey, Honey; I've been waiting for you.
- Vinita, Chennai, India

if there was ever a song that embodied sheer bliss, incomparable exhilaration and overwhelming joy when you hear it on the radio, at a disco, played at home in your living room, this is the one. ABBA was sheer genius, the masterful songwriting of Benny and Bjorn and the Angelic vocals of Agnetha and Annifried. The group will go down as one of the greatest of all time and this song, their signature tune, is arguably the finest composition ever recorded in musical history.
- syed, lakewood, CA

Mamma Mia recently was made into a film with Meryl Streep. Dancing Queen is sung to her character by Julie Waters and Christine Baranski when she is feeling down and she becomes happy again by becoming the Dancing Queen!
- Sara, Silver Spring, MD

This song is real boss, and also Muriel's Wedding is like the best movie ever. (that I watched with my mom)
- Kerry G., Detroit Rock City, MI

Sure my friend Rick would get angry when I dedicated this to him, played it over and again while singing poor Rick would sometimes leave and hide, but as the years past Rick came to understand the song will outlast time. Now Rick will dance, maybe just a few steps at a time, but thats a good start, The Dancing Queen is with us another year, Happy Birthday Rick, and my gift is to keep the song alive. BB too
- Yvonne, Northwest Corner, CT

My friend sang this song at his school, and then he became known as "Queen".
- Ryan, Farmer City, IL

i really think it makes 17-year old ladies feel much high
- Fulu Thompho, limpopo, South Africa

in 1980,i was 7 and lived in melbourne australia. Abba was played endlessly on the radio and on countdown. I loved them then and I still love them now. I don't like "dancing queen" nearly as much as their others because it was played to death then and now.My favourite is"The winner takes it all" The reason why Abba was more popular in aust is because moly meldrum played dancing queen on countdown constantly, so when Abba came to australia in 1978 nealy the whole country turned out to see them
- peter, brisbane , Australia

I'm definitely not gay and whenever I hear this song it makes me think of my youth and my little sister who used to dance to this song, it makes me almost tearful with joy. This song has special meaning to many.
- Big Moe, Miami, FL

ABBA is only considered "gay" in the U.S. The appeal of this group was global. They were not a disco group althought they delved into it as well. Dancing Queen is just plain pop classic. It's stuff we do not have anymore! :-(
- Phil, New York, United States

This Abba song has the most comments. Let me tell you why....it's great!!!! Such a charge to it, like The Beatles' I Want to Hold Your Hand. The fantastic keyboard intro, the moment you hear it you know you're in for something special. A lot of people knock Abba. They say only gay people listen to them. How sad is that? 'If you see the wonder of a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail,' from that other great song, I Have a Dream. A charming foursome from the lakes and forests of Scandinavia.
- kenny, clydebank, Scotland

Never one of my favorite ABBA songs. Maybe because I've heard it so much over the years...
- Madison, Norway, ME

Sounds exactly like it could be about Studio 54
- Chris, Claremont, CA

As someone stated above, this song has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE QUEEN OF SWEDEN. Get over it people.
- Terri, Noneya, United States

This is truly one of the greatest pop songs ever.
- Christopher, Colorado Springs, CO

yeah what Djoko said i agree 100 % ,couldn't have said it better my self
- pete, nowra, Australia

bjorn and benny started their songwriting careers as part of swedish folk group the hep stars then later met up with agnetha and anni frid when they were in the hootenannay singers also anni frid is the odd one out of the four as she was born in narvik norway
- jeff, liverpool, England

ABBA was a Swedish pop group active from 1972 until 1982. The quartet was formed through the friendship of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and their respective girlfriends Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog.The name "ABBA" is an acronym formed from the first letters of each group member's given name. Benny and Björn had known each other since they met on the road with their respective bands -- the date was June 5th 1966 -- and in March 1969, Benny met Anni-Frid, and by May they were living together. Björn likewise met Agnetha during a TV show filmed in May 1969, and soon they too were living together. During the early recording sessions, Benny brought a tape home with the backing track of "Dancing Queen" on it and played it to his future wife Anni-Frid, who started crying when listening. Quote: "I found it so beautiful".
- Camille, Toronto, OH

dude man this song blows
- joseph, Alabama, AL

Can't say that I'm the biggest ABBA fan, but I definitely think this is the best disco song.
- Nadine, Riverside, CA

Not my fave of the ABBA collection but still decent enough to dance to
- Rebecca, Houston, TX

This song was in fact written long before the King of Sweden married Silvia, and the composers have repeatedly stressed the song even being inspired by the Queen-to-be. By Björk declared as the best pop song ever recorded. Recording began August 4th 1975 and the song was premiered on tv in january 1976 -the wedding was in august '76 :)
- John, Oslo, Norway

A*teens did a rendition of this.I thought it was okay, but I really think Ateens is rather stupid.
- Caitlin, Upper Township, NJ

Definitley not the best of abba but still good.
- Michelle, Darlington, England

This song is the principal theme tune in the ABBA-music based musical, MAMA MIA
- Leah, Brooklyn, NY

Well... The lyrics are a little contrived. You can tell the lyricist is not a primary English speaker. I often wonder what this would sound like performed by someone with a really good voice and an accoustic guitar... Jim, Cocoa Beach, FL
- Jim, Cocoa Beach, FL

Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the dynamic duo created a gem with "Dancing Queen"-a favorite of the foursome. After ABBA's breakup, Bjorn and Benny went on to write the rock opera "Chess" -though never achieved broad appeal, still has great material worth checking out. It is somewhat ironic that years later their ABBA music drew Broadway success with the production of "Momma Mia".
- Rodney, Mountain Home, AR

Whenever I hear this song, I immediately picture Mira Sorvino and John Leguizamo duking it out for who's driving the car home. Summer of Sam is the best movie, and its the only reason why this song isnt trash
- Dennis, Chicagoland burrows, IL

I love this song...also I think it made me gay after listening to it over and over when I was 10 yrs old or so...
- Bernard, Caracas, South America

This song is rubbish
- Alfred, Sidmouth, CO

saya suka lagu ini. -djoko,cimahi
- djoko, cimahi, China

This song is the best!! I was and still am a big ABBA fan.
- Dawn, Beloit, WI

in my country of greece we used to love abba, then we discovered vodka, so... tough luck pansies.
- gustaf, shweden, United States

In my country of Greece, ABBA were hated for many years. Now they are loved and stay in the hearts of the Greek people!
- Gareth, Athens, Greece

If you want to get a party moving than this is the song to put on, you can bet that everyone will be up on the dance floor, it never fails.
- dazza, London, England

Im not really into Abba but my mom is and I hear Ateens thats like a copy of Abba and I guess their songs are pretty goodf.
- Casie, Denver, CO

Everyone's gotta love this song
- Shana, Detroit Rock City, Canada

Hey, Billy, I also saw your messages at Nirvana. Are you scanning this whole website with the idea everybody is waiting for your plain opinion on every song there is in this world? Wrong!
- Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands

I love ABBA, even if they are from before 'my time'. En inderdaad wij zijn het roerend eens =)
- Moya, Zoutleeuw, Belgium

I agree this is the greatest piece of music ever produced, but then again so is almost everything by ABBA... Because, their music sounds so simply, yet in reality it isn't easy to bring live at all. They often played live with a live ochestra behind them. Further more is "Dancing Queen" a very hard song to bring, because Frida & Agnetha (the girls) have to go high, low, high quite fast and that isn't easy. ABBA's music would've sounded so different without the wonderful soprano & mezzo-soprano voices of Agnetha & Frida!
- Moya, Zoutleeuw, Belgium

Moya, we zijn het roerend eens;-)
- Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands

This song always makes me happy, regardless of how down I am. Only ABBA can achieve that.
- Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands

this song makes me feel ill
- khalifa, reading, England

Who would have thought that the pinnacle of mankind's musical achievement(see below)would include the lines - You're a teaser, you turn 'em on Leave them burning and then you're gone Fair enough!
- Calum, Edinburgh, Scotland

Another fact about this song: it is the greatest piece of music ever produced by mankind. I brought this to the attention of the website's moderators but they said, "That's not a fact, that's just your opinion," but I still think I'm right.
- arthur, what cheer, IA

Appeared in Season 1 Episode 15 of Cold Case on CBS. The name of the episode is "Disco Inferno."
- Jonathan, Natchitoches, LA

i play this at a 70's 80's disco night at the local pub , the crowd loves it. it goes off
- pete, nowra, Australia