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Does Your Mother Know
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Does Your Mother Know
| cover = Does Your Mother Know (Abba single - cover art).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = ABBA
| album = Voulez-Vous
| B-side = Kisses of Fire
| released = 27 April 1979
| recorded = 6 February 1979
| studio = Polar Music Studios
| genre =
| length = 3:15
| label =
* Polar (Sweden)
* Epic (UK)
* Atlantic (No. America)
| writer =
* Benny Andersson
* Bjrn Ulvaeus
| producer =
* Benny Andersson
* Bjrn Ulvaeus
| prev_title = Chiquitita
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Voulez-Vous
| next_year = 1979
| misc =
}}
"'Does Your Mother Know'" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA and was the second single taken from their sixth album, 'Voulez-Vous'. The B-side was "Kisses of Fire", which was also taken from the album. The song is notable for its emphasis on male vocals, performed by Bjrn Ulvaeus, with female backing vocals.
"Does Your Mother Know" was recorded in February 1979 and released as a single in April of that year. Written by Benny Andersson and Ulvaeus, the demo for "Does Your Mother Know" featured Ulvaeus on guide vocal and it was decided to keep this during the recording process. The track was debuted on the Eurovision networked BBC TV Special 'ABBA In Switzerland' broadcast across the continent in April 1979 when the group performed a slightly different version of the track partially live during the show, with a much longer instrumental introduction from the recorded version.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/BV8kHY_GGuI Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210602223424/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV8kHY_GGuI Wayback Machine]:
In 2019, the single was re-released on picture disc.
Reception
"Does Your Mother Know" was another sizeable ABBA hit, hitting No. 1 in Belgium and reaching the top 5 in Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Finland. It was also a top 10 hit in Australia, Canada, West Germany, Rhodesia and Switzerland. As of September 2021, it is ABBA's 14th-biggest song in the UK, including both pure sales and digital streams.UK Official Charts [https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/abbas-official-top-20-biggest-songs__26113/ ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs]
AllMusic reviewer Donald A. Guarisco said in a review of the song that "ABBA's recording balances the song's rock elements with dance music touches to create an intriguing dance/rock hybrid" and that its "macho feel is enhanced by a rockabilly-styled melody that flowers into a swinging chorus". 'Billboard Magazine' felt the song sounds like those from the musical 'Grease', saying that "the sweet, airy vocals contrast effectively with the rocking instrumentation." 'Cash Box' said that it is a "rocking departure for the group, although the overall sound is still Europop."
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
References
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