Happy New Year
by ABBA

Album: Super Trouper (1980)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was one of several songs on Super Trouper written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus during a working holiday in Barbados. The song actually started life as an idea for a musical. The plot was to be centered around a New Year's Eve, a thought that got into Björn and Benny's heads on a plane over to the island. They ran into the comedian John Cleese at the holiday resort and asked him if he would be interested in writing a manuscript. When Cleese turned them down, the idea was abandoned.
  • This wasn't released as a single until 1999 when it reached #4 in Sweden and #8 in The Netherlands. The song was re-released in 2008 and it again peaked at #4 in Sweden, as well as #5 in Norway and #14 in Denmark.
  • Swedish pop group A-Teens covered the song in 2000 peaking at, yep, #4 on the Swedish chart as well as #12 in Finland.
  • This had a working title of "Daddy Don't Get Drunk On Christmas Day."

Comments: 1

  • George Pope from Vancouver BcOdd they likely conceived the song in 1979, but sang about New Year 1989; maybe to keep the song relevant longer? It's 2023, & I happily play this as relevant still on the morning of 1st of January, as I do yearly. . .
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.