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Take a Chance on Me

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Take a Chance on Me

| cover = Take a Chance on Me (Abba single) coverart.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = ABBA

| album = ABBA: The Album

| B-side = I'm a Marionette

| released = January 1978

| recorded = 15 August 1977

| studio = Marcus Music Studio

| genre = Europop, disco

| length = 4:05

| label = Polar (Sweden)
Epic (UK)
Atlantic (US)

| writer = Benny Andersson
Bjrn Ulvaeus

| producer = Benny Andersson
Bjrn Ulvaeus

| prev_title = The Name of the Game

| prev_year = 1977

| next_title = Eagle/Thank You for the Music

| next_year = 1978

| misc =

}}

"'Take a Chance on Me'" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA, released in January 1978 as the second single from their fifth studio album, 'ABBA: The Album' (1977). Agnetha Fltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad share the lead vocals on the verses and choruses, with Fltskog singing two bridge sections solo.

It reached the top ten in both the UK and US. The song was notably covered by the British band Erasure.

Background and release



The working title of "Take a Chance on Me" was "Billy Boy". (An excerpt of Billy Boy was released on the 1994 box set Thank You for the Music, as part of the track ABBA Undeleted, which consisted of demos, early and alternate versions of completed songs, and unfinished songs.) Written and recorded in 1977 by Benny Andersson and Bjrn Ulvaeus, the song was one of ABBA's first singles in which their manager Stig Anderson did not assist with writing the lyrics, confirming Andersson and Ulvaeus as a songwriting partnership.

The song's origins sprang from Ulvaeus, a keen runner, who would repeat a "tck-a-ch"-style rhythm to pace himself. This evolved into "take-a-chance" and the eventual lyrics. Roger Palm, the drummer on the track, described the song as "ABBA at their most energetic and forceful".

The single's B-side was "I'm a Marionette", which, like "Thank You for the Music" and "I Wonder (Departure)" (the B-side to their previous single, "The Name of the Game"), was part of a mini-musical entitled 'The Girl With the Golden Hair' performed during their 1977 concert tour.

Reception



'Billboard' described "Take a Chance on Me" as "one of [ABBA's] most busy, fast paced productions." 'Cash Box' said that the vocals "are intricately arranged to produce a wall of sound."

"Take a Chance on Me" proved to be one of ABBA's most successful chart hits, becoming the group's seventh UK #1 (and third consecutive chart-topper in the country after "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "The Name of the Game").Oldham, A, Calder, T & Irvin, C: "ABBA: The Name of the Game", page 122. Sidgwick & Jackson, 1995 It was also ABBA's final #1 in the UK of the 1970s, and gives the group the distinction of being the act with the most chart-topping singles of the 1970s in the UK. It sold over 500,000 copies and was awarded a gold disc. As of September 2021, it is the group's fourth-biggest song in the country with 950,000 chart sales (including 882,000 pure sales).UK Official Charts [https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/abbas-official-top-20-biggest-songs__26113/ ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs]

In the United States it reached #3 and was certified gold for one million sales. The song peaked at #3 in Canada and West Germany as well.

"Take a Chance on Me" has been widely regarded as one of ABBA's finest songs. In 2017, 'Billboard' ranked the song number two on their list of the 15 greatest ABBA songs, and in 2021, 'Rolling Stone' ranked the song number nine on their list of the 25 greatest ABBA songs.

Personnel



* Agnetha Fltskog vocals

* Anni-Frid Lyngstad vocals

* Bjrn Ulvaeus acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals

* Benny Andersson keyboards, synthesizers, vocals

Additional musicians

* Rutger Gunnarsson bass

* Roger Palm drums

* Malando Gassama percussion

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications and sales



}}

Erasure version



{{Infobox song

| name = Take a Chance on Me

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Erasure

| album = Abba-esque

| released =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Synthpop, hi-NRG

| length =

* 3:45

* 3:26 (radio edit)

| label = Mute

| writer = Benny Andersson, Bjrn Ulvaeus

| producer = Dave Bascombe

| prev_title = Breath of Life

| prev_year = 1991

| next_title = Who Needs Love Like That (Hamburg Mix)

| next_year = 1992

| misc =

}}

The track was covered by English synthpop duo Erasure in 1992 as part of their 'Abba-esque' EP with an additional ragga-style toast performed by MC Kinky added to the song. In a few countries, the song was credited to Erasure featuring Special K. In the United States, it reached number 51 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 Airplay chart. Although it had earned enough charting points to reach the publication's main Hot 100 chart, it was not eligible to enter as it had not been released commercially as a single. The radio edit omits the ragga rap.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from 'Billboard' wrote, "Venerable U.K. pop/dance duo lovingly covers a favorite from now-legendary Swedish pop act ABBA's catalog. Track maintains the cool kitsch of the original, while giving it electro-hip instrumentation and a jolting-but-pleasing toast interlude by MC Kinky. A must for adventurous popsters, while remixes have considerable club potential." Amy Linden from 'Entertainment Weekly' said that Erasure "reverently tarts up "Take a Chance on Me", as keyboard whiz Vince Clarke pumps the '70s gems full of '92 club aggression." She also stated that the duo "digs that ABBA were Euro pop gods, and they pay respect with a frothy testimonial that has its tongue in the right place." Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted that "the whole project roars to life exactly once, when MC Kinky takes over for thirty delightful, crass seconds in the middle of "Take A Chance on Me" and shows the song a little creative disrespect at last." Dave Sholin from the 'Gavin Report' asked, "ABBA goes techno?" He added that this updated version "retains much of the flavor in the original with hip production elements added." Howard Cohen from 'Knight-Ridder Newspapers' deemed it a "bouncy remake".Cohen, Howard (6 August 1995). "Can't duck disco". p. 4E. 'Wisconsin State Journal'.

Music video

Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell played dual roles as themselves and in drag (Clarke as Fltskog and Bell as Lyngstad) in a music video heavily influenced by ABBA's original. It was directed by Philippe Gautier. MC Kinky (aka. Caron Geary), who sings the reggae/dancehall rap part, also appears in an interlude in the video.

Charts



References




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