"Elaine" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was used as the B-side to the 1980 single "The Winner Takes It All". It was not included on any of their original albums but was later included as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of Super Trouper.
| "Elaine" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by ABBA | |
| from the album Super Trouper (2001 reissue) | |
| A-side | "The Winner Takes It All" |
| Released | July 21, 1980 |
| Genre | Dance-pop |
| Length | 3:44 |
| Label | Polar Music |
| Songwriter(s) | Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus |
| Producer(s) | Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus |
| Audio | |
| "Elaine" on YouTube | |
Synopsis
editThe song is about a "devil-may-care path in pursuit of love".[1]
Composition
editABBA: Let the Music Speak describes "Elaine" as a "bold and brazen up-tempo number", adding that it has a "wealth of treated synth effects". The pace remains the same throughout the song, and the intro has a "melodic riff that is squeezed and contorted over a series of suspended chords". This is followed by a "whistlable refrain".[1] At the end of the second verse, the synths mimic the girls' voices.[2]
Analysis
editThe song has a degree of programmatic irony, as the "extrovert nature" of the refrain juxtaposes "Agnetha and Frida's decisive and cutting unison stabs".[1]
Critical reception
editAbba - Uncensored on the Record says the song is "OK, in a rather frantic way", and adds that it "paled in comparison," in the author's opinion, to the song it was paired with in the single "The Winner Takes It All".[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c Tesch, Christopher Patrick ; editor: Matthew (2008). ABBA : let the music speak : an armchair guide to the musical soundscape of the Swedish supergroup (1st ed.). Fairfield Gardens, Qld.: Christopher J N Patrick. pp. 63–4. ISBN 9780646496764.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Tesch, Christopher Patrick ; editor: Matthew (2008). ABBA : let the music speak : an armchair guide to the musical soundscape of the Swedish supergroup (1st ed.). Fairfield Gardens, Qld.: Christopher J N Patrick. p. 128. ISBN 9780646496764.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Tobler, John (2012-01-04). Abba - Uncensored on the Record. ISBN 9781908538239.