Abba - The Winner Takes It All (1980) (2024)

: Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson wrote the song in a summer cabin on the island of Viggsö. It began as an up-tempo track titled "The Story of My Life" before they settled on a slower, French chanson-style arrangement featuring a descending piano motif .

: Agnetha Fältskog recorded the vocals in the dark to capture the raw vulnerability of the lyrics. Despite the painful subject matter, she has called it her favorite ABBA song . Chart Performance & Legacy ABBA - The Winner Takes It All (1980)

: Björn reportedly wrote the lyrics in a single, emotional hour fueled by whiskey. He later recalled an image of a man walking through an empty house as the core symbol of the divorce. : Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson wrote the

: It was ABBA's last Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the painful subject matter, she has called

: It is frequently voted as Britain's favorite breakup song and gained renewed fame through the Mamma Mia! musical and films, where it was memorably performed by Meryl Streep .