Álbum: Arrival
Artista: ABBA
- Fecha de lanzamiento: 11 de Octubre de 1976
- Sello Discográfico: Polar
- Compositores: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson
- Productores: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Lanzado en 1976, Arrival es el cuarto álbum de estudio de ABBA y es, para muchos, su obra cumbre y uno de los mejores álbumes de pop de todos los tiempos. Este disco captura a la banda en el apogeo absoluto de su poder creativo y comercial. "Arrival" es una colección impecable de pop, europop y pop rock, con una producción revolucionaria y una sucesión de sencillos que definieron el sonido de los años 70. El álbum está liderado por la que es posiblemente la canción de pop más perfecta jamás creada, el himno universal "Dancing Queen". Con este disco, ABBA alcanzó el estatus de la banda más popular del planeta, dominando las listas de éxitos de todo el mundo y creando una obra de una belleza y una melancolía atemporales.
Contexto y Grabación
En 1976, la "ABBamanía" era un fenómeno global. La grabación de "Arrival" se llevó a cabo en los Metronome Studios de Estocolmo. Benny Andersson y Björn Ulvaeus, como compositores y productores, junto a su ingeniero Michael B. Tretow, continuaron perfeccionando su técnica del "muro de sonido", creando arreglos increíblemente complejos y detallados. Fue durante estas sesiones cuando compusieron "Dancing Queen", una canción que supieron que era un éxito masivo desde el momento en que la terminaron.
Análisis Musical y Estilo
El sonido de "Arrival" es la quintaesencia del sonido ABBA. Es pop en su forma más pura y sofisticada. La producción es impecable, con un equilibrio perfecto entre las melodías de piano de Benny, las guitarras de Björn y, sobre todo, las deslumbrantes armonías vocales de Agnetha y Frida. El álbum perfecciona la fórmula de ABBA de combinar melodías pop eufóricas con letras a menudo melancólicas, una dualidad que le da a su música una profundidad emocional única.
Portada
La portada del álbum es una de las más icónicas de su carrera. Muestra a los cuatro miembros de la banda posando dentro de un helicóptero. La imagen, simple pero elegante, capturó perfectamente su estatus de superestrellas globales, siempre llegando ("arrival") a un nuevo destino.
Análisis de las canciones
El álbum es una colección de clásicos. "Dancing Queen" es el himno disco definitivo, una celebración de la juventud y la libertad que se convirtió en el único número 1 de ABBA en Estados Unidos. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" es una de sus baladas más sofisticadas y melancólicas sobre una ruptura amorosa. "Money, Money, Money" es un tema de pop de inspiración cabaretera. "When I Kissed the Teacher" es un divertido tema de pop-rock. El instrumental que cierra el disco, "Arrival", es una hermosa pieza inspirada en la música folclórica sueca.
Lanzamiento y Rendimiento en Listas
"Arrival" fue un fenómeno de ventas mundial, convirtiéndose en el álbum más vendido de 1977 en el Reino Unido.
- UK Albums Chart: 1
- USA Billboard 200: 20
- Australia (Kent Music Report): 1
- Alemania (GfK Entertainment): 1
- Suecia (Sverigetopplistan): 1
Recepción Crítica
La crítica aclamó "Arrival" como una obra maestra del pop. Fue elogiado por su impecable calidad de producción y su increíble colección de éxitos. "Arrival" es el álbum que cimentó el legado de ABBA como una de las mejores bandas de pop de la historia, una obra de arte atemporal que sigue siendo tan fresca y emocionante hoy como lo fue en 1976.
Listado de Canciones
- When I Kissed The Teacher3:00
Letra
Everybody screamed when I kissed the teacher And they must have thought they dreamed when I kissed the teacher All my friends at school They had never seen the teacher blush, he looked like a fool Nearly petrified 'cause he was taken by surprise When I kissed the teacher Couldn't quite believe his eyes, when I kissed the teacher My whole class went wild As I held my breath, the world stood still, but then he just smiled I was in the seventh heaven when I kissed the teacher One of these days Gonna tell him I dream of him every night One of these days Gonna show him I care, gonna teach him a lesson alright I was in a trance when I kissed the teacher Suddenly I took the chance when I kissed the teacher Leaning over me, he was trying to explain the laws of geometry And I couldn't help it, I just had to kiss the teacher One of these days Gonna tell him I dream of him every night One of these days Gonna show him I care, gonna teach him a lesson alright What a crazy day, when I kissed the teacher All my sense had flown away when I kissed the teacher My whole class went wild As I held my breath, the world stood still, but then he just smiled I was in the seventh heaven when I kissed the teacher (I want to hug, hug, hug him) When I kissed the teacher (I want to hug, hug him) When I kissed the teacher (I want to hug, hug, hug him) When I kissed the teacher (I want to hug, hug him) When I kissed the teacher (I want to hug, hug, hug him) - Dancing Queen3:50You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Dancing Queen Friday night and the lights are low Looking out for the place to go Where they play the right music, getting in the swing You come in to look for a king Anybody could be that guy Night is young and the music's high With a bit of rock music, everything is fine You're in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Dancing Queen You're a teaser, you turn 'em on Leave them burning and then you're gone Looking out for another, anyone will do You're in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Dancing Queen
- My Love, My Life3:52
Letra
I've seen it on your face Tells me more than any worn out old phrase So now we'll go separate ways Never again we two Never again, nothing I can do Like an image passing by, my love, my life In the mirror of your eyes, my love, my life I can see it all so clearly Answer me sincerely Was it a dream, a lie Like reflections of your mind, my love, my life Are the words you try to find, my love, my life But I know I don't posses you So go away, God bless you You are still my love and my life Still my one and only I've watched you look away Tell me is it really so hard to say Oh, this has been my longest day Sitting here close to you Knowing that maybe tonight we're trough Like an image passing by, my love, my life In the mirror of your eyes, my love, my life I can see it all so clearly Answer me sincerely Was it a dream, a lie Like reflections of your mind, my love, my life Are the words you try to find, my love, my life But I know I don't posses you So go away, God bless you You are still my love and my life Yes, I know I don't posses you So go away, God bless you You are still my love and my life Still my one and only - Dum Dum Diddle2:53
Letra
I can hear how you work, practising hard Playing night and day, wo-oh And it sounds better now, yes you improve Everytime you play, wo-oh But it's bad You're so sad And you're only smiling When you play your violin Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle To be so near you and not just hear you Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle I think then maybe you'd see me, baby You'd be mine And we'd be together all the time Wish I was dumb dumb diddle, your darling fiddle But I think, you don't know that I exist I'm the quiet kind, wo-oh From the day when I first listened to you You've been on my mind, wo-oh You don't care It's not fair And you're only smiling When you play your violin Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle To be so near you and not just hear you Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle I think then maybe you'd see me, baby You'd be mine And we'd be together all the time Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle To be so near you and not just hear you Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle I think then maybe you'd see me, baby You'd be mine And we'd be together all the time Wish I was dumb dumb diddle, your darling find - Knowing Me, Knowing You4:02No more carefree laughter Silence ever after Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes Here is where the story ends, this is goodbye Knowing me, knowing you There is nothing we can do Knowing me, knowing you We just have to face it, this time we're through (This time we're through, this time we're through This time we're through, we're really through) Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go (I have to go this time I have to go, this time I know) Knowing me, knowing you It's the best I can do Mem'ries (mem'ries), good days (good days), bad days (bad days) They'll be (they'll be), with me (with me) always (always) In these old familiar rooms children would play Now there's only emptiness, nothing to say Knowing me, knowing you There is nothing we can do Knowing me, knowing you We just have to face it, this time we're through (This time we're through, this time we're through This time we're through, we're really through) Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go (I have to go this time I have to go, this time I know) Knowing me, knowing you It's the best I can do
- Money, Money, Money3:05I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay Ain't it sad And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me That's too bad In my dreams I have a plan If I got me a wealthy man I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball Money, money, money Must be funny In the rich man's world Money, money, money Always sunny In the rich man's world Aha-ahaaa All the things I could do If I had a little money It's a rich man's world A man like that is hard to find but I can't get him off my mind Ain't it sad And if he happens to be free I bet he wouldn't fancy me That's too bad So I must leave, I'll have to go To Las Vegas or Monaco And win a fortune in a game, my life will never be the same Money, money, money Must be funny In the rich man's world Money, money, money Always sunny In the rich man's world Aha-ahaaa All the things I could do If I had a little money It's a rich man's world Money, money, money Must be funny In the rich man's world Money, money, money Always sunny In the rich man's world Aha-ahaaa All the things I could do If I had a little money It's a rich man's world It's a rich man's world
- That’s Me3:15
- Why Did It Have To Be Me3:20
Letra
When you were lonely, you needed a man Someone to lean on, well I understand It's only natural But why did it have to be me? Nights can be empty, nights can be cold So you were looking for someone to hold That's only natural But why did it have to be me? I was so lonesome, I was blue I couldn't help it, it had to be you and I Always thought you knew the reason why I only wanted a little love affair Now I can see you are beginning to care But baby, believe me It's better to forget me Men are toys in the game that you play When you get tired, you throw them away That's only natural But why did it have to be me? Falling in love with a woman like you Happens so quickly, there's nothing to do It's only natural But why did it have to be me? I was so lonesome, I was blue I couldn't help it, it had to be you and I Always thought you knew the reason why I only wanted a little love affair Now I can see you are beginning to care But baby, believe me It's better to forget me - Tiger2:55
Letra
The city is a jungle, you better take care Never walk alone after midnight If you don't believe it you better beware Of me I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger The city is a nightmare, a horrible dream Some of us will dream it forever Look around the corner and try not to scream It's me I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger Yellow eyes are glowing like the neon lights Yellow eyes, the spotlight of the city nights I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger The city is a prison, you never escape You're forever trapped in the alleys Look into the shadows and you'll see the shape Of me I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger Yellow eyes are glowing like the neon lights Yellow eyes, the spotlight of the city nights I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger And if I meet you, what if I eat you, I am the tiger I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger Tiger Tiger Tiger - Arrival3:00
Letra
Instrumental
