Reception
The "Waterloo" single introduced the world to the phenomenon that was to become ABBA. The song shot to #1 in the UK and stayed there for two weeks, becoming the first of the band's nine UK #1's, and the 16th biggest selling single of the year in the UK. It also hit the top of the charts in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, West Germany, Ireland, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland, while reaching the Top 3 in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and ABBA's native Sweden. (The tune did not reach #1 in their home country, its Swedish (#2) & English (#3) versions were beat out for the top spot by the Waterloo album .) The song also spent 11 weeks on Svensktoppen (24 March - 2 June 1974), including 7 weeks at #1. Surprisingly, the song never made a huge impact in Italy, only reaching #14. In fact, ABBA would only achieve Top 10 success in Italy 3 times.
But the song's appeal transcended Europe; unlike other Eurovision-winning tunes, which are usually ignored outside the continent, "Waterloo" also reached the Top 10 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Rhodesia and even the United States (peaking at #6, "Waterloo" is one of only two Eurovision winners, the other being "Save Your Kisses For Me", to be an American Top 40 hit). "Waterloo" is the only Eurovision song to reach the Top 10 in 15 countries. The Waterloo album performed similarly well in Europe, although in the US it failed to match the success of the single.
ABBA had originally cited the Wizzard song "See My Baby Jive" as influences; in the wake of their Eurovision victory, were quoted as saying that it would not surprise them if artists such as Wizzard would consider entering the Eurovision contest in future.
In 1994, "Waterloo" (along with several other ABBA hits) was included in the soundtrack of the film Muriel's Wedding. It was re-released in 2004 (with the same B-side), to celebrate its 30th anniversary, reaching #20 on the UK charts.
On 22 October 2005, during the 50th celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest, "Waterloo" was chosen as the best song in the competition's history.
Read more about this topic: Waterloo (ABBA Song)
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—Billy Wilder (b. 1906)
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—Lewis H. Lapham (b. 1935)