ABBA Wins Eurovision With "Waterloo"

1974

ABBA become European stars overnight when their composition "Waterloo" wins the annual Eurovision Song Contest.

Although ABBA's single "Ring Ring" made light waves throughout Europe in 1973 and came in third in their homeland's Melodifestivalen song competition, it failed to qualify for that year's Eurovision Song Contest, which would guarantee the Swedish pop quartet (made up of Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad) a smash hit and instant acclaim. Come 1974, ABBA doesn't just want to win the competition, they want to make a splash so big that it will soak the UK chart and far-flung US chart with the sounds of Swedish pop. You can't get that kind of attention by following the rules. While the contest typically favors dramatic ballads sung in the competitor's native language, ABBA offers a catchy pop tune, sung in English, while marching out a disco beat in silver platform boots. "Waterloo" wins and unleashes the floodgates to a full-on ABBA phenomenon. The song tops charts throughout Europe, and lands the coveted #1 spot on the UK chart for two weeks, while peaking at #6 in the US. It becomes one of the best-selling singles of all time and paves the way for worldwide hits like "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "Fernando," and "The Name Of The Game."