Abba Costumes

Waterloo was recorded in Dec 1973. Abba chose it over Hasta Manana to be the Swedish entry for Eurovision 1974, as it was a happy uptempo rocking song with rhythm and energy, and all the group sing. Stig Anderson took a demo tape on holiday to the Canary Isles. Stig agonised for a week to find the right title, then produced the original Swedish lyrics in a few hours, constructing a story of Waterloo as a metaphor for a girl surrendering to the love of a suitor. The rest is history, it was the first time Sweden had won Eurovision. The song rapidly became a worldwide hit after this huge success in Brighton in April 1974, reaching no. 1 in England on May 4 1974. This tv performance is from November 1974. Lyrics: My, my, at Waterloo Napolean did surrender Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny In quite a similar way, The history book on the shelf, Is always repeating itself, Waterloo – I was defeated, you won the war Waterloo – Promise to love you for ever more, Waterloo – Couldn’t escape if I wanted to, Waterloo – Knowing my fate is to be with you, Waterloo – Finally facing my Waterloo, My, my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger Oh yeah, and now it seems My only chance is giving up the fight, And how could I ever refuse, I feel like I win when I lose, Waterloo – I was defeated, you won the war Waterloo – Promise to love you for ever more, Waterloo – Couldn’t escape if I wanted to, Waterloo – Knowing my fate is to be with you, Waterloo – Finally facing my Waterloo, So …