Fernando (song) explained

Fernando
Cover:Anni-Frid Lyngstad - Fernando.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Album:Frida ensam
B-Side:Ett liv i solen
Language:Swedish
Released:10 November 1975 (album)January 1976 (single)
Length:4:14
Label:Polar Music
Producer:
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus
Prev Title:Man Vill Ju Leva Lite Dessemellan
Prev Year:1972
Fernando
Year:1976
Next Title:I Know There's Something Going On
Next Year:1982
Fernando
Cover:ABBA - Fernando.png
Caption:Scandinavian variant of standard artwork
Type:single
Artist:ABBA
Album:Greatest Hits
B-Side:
Released:
  • 12 March 1976 (UK)
  • 12 April 1976 (Sweden)
  • August 1976 (US)[1]
Recorded:4 September 1975
Studio:Metronome
Genre:
Length:4:15
Label:
Producer:
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus
Prev Title:Rock Me
Prev Year:1976
Next Title:Dancing Queen
Next Year:1976

"Fernando" is a song written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, from the Swedish musical group ABBA. The song was written for their fellow group member Anni-Frid Lyngstad and was included on her 1975 album Frida ensam.

The following year, "Fernando" was re-recorded by ABBA. It was released in March 1976 as the brand new track for the 1976 compilation album Greatest Hits, and was also included on the group's fourth studio album, Arrival, in Australia and New Zealand. "Fernando" is also featured on the multi-million-selling compilation. The song is one of ABBA's best-selling singles, with six million copies sold in 1976.[3] It is one of fewer than forty singles to have sold at least 10 million physical copies worldwide.

Background

"Fernando" was not originally released as an ABBA song but as a solo single by band member Anni-Frid Lyngstad. It was featured on her No. 1 Swedish solo album Frida ensam (1975). The song was composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and carried the working title of "Tango". Preparations for recording began in August 1975. The writers made last-minute changes to the title before recording.[4] The name "Fernando" was inspired by a bartender of that name who worked at a club the band frequented in Stockholm, Sweden.

Swedish-language version

The original Swedish-language version's lyrics were written by ABBA's manager Stig Anderson, and differ substantially from the English-language version. In the original, the narrator tries to console the heartbroken Fernando, who has lost his great love.

English-language version

The English version, with completely different lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus, presents a vision of nostalgia for two veterans reminiscing in old age about a long-ago battle in which they participated.[5] "I wrote all the songs as little stories. 'Fernando' was about two old freedom-fighters from the Mexican Revolution. I was lying outside one summer night, looking at the stars and it suddenly came to me".[6] "I knew that the title 'Fernando' had to be there, and after pondering a while, I had this vivid image in my mind of two old and scarred revolutionaries in Mexico sitting outside at night talking about old memories".

The B-side to "Fernando" was the song "Hey, Hey, Helen", a track from the group's self-titled third studio album (1975), although in some countries other tracks from the album were used instead, namely "Tropical Loveland", "Rock Me" or "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)".

Spanish-language version

The title and rhythm of the song made it an obvious choice for inclusion on ABBA's Spanish album, Gracias Por La Música. The lyrics were translated into Spanish by Mary McCluskey and recorded at Polar Music Studio on 3 January 1980. The song was released as a promotional single in Spain.

Reception

"Fernando" was released in March 1976 and became one of ABBA's best-selling singles, topping the charts in at least 13 countries, and selling over 10 million copies worldwide.[7] It was the longest-running No. 1 in Australian history (spending 14 weeks at the top and 40 weeks on the chart), and remained so for over 40 years, until it was surpassed by Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You", which achieved 15 weeks at No. 1 in May 2017.[8] [9] Prior to 1997, it was Australia's highest-selling single.[10] "Fernando" also reached the top of the charts in Austria, Belgium, France, West Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. It was also a Top 5 hit in ABBA's native Sweden (although Lyngstad's version was No. 1 on Sweden's radio chart for nine weeks), Finland, Norway, Spain, Canada and Rhodesia.

The track became ABBA's fourth Top 20 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 13.[11] It also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, the first of two chart-toppers for ABBA on this chart (the second being "The Winner Takes It All"). The song remains an airplay staple on American radio stations specializing in the MOR, adult standards and easy listening formats. Record World called the song "a classic!"[12]

"Fernando" was the fourth-biggest single of 1976 in the UK.[13] It spent 10 weeks in the UK Top 10 (more than any other ABBA single),[14] and was also the second of three consecutive UK No. 1 singles for ABBA, after "Mamma Mia" and before "Dancing Queen".[15] As of September 2021, it is ABBA's sixth-biggest song in the UK with 903,000 chart sales (pure sales and digital streams).[16]

In Portugal the single sold 80,000 copies;[17] in France it went to No. 1 and sold 850,000 copies.[18]

The song was also chosen as the "Best Studio Recording of 1975", ABBA's first international prize.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1976)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 1
Belgium (Ultratop)[21] 1
Brazil (IBOPE)[22] 9
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 4
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[24] 1
Denmark (IFPI)[25] 4
Finland (Seura and Help magazine)[26] 5
France (SNEP)[27] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[29] 3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[31] 2
Portugal (AFP)[32] 1
Rhodesia (Rhodesian Singles Chart)[33] 2
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[34] 1
Spain (El Gran Musical)4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[38] 13
US Cashbox Top 100[39] 10
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[40] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[41] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[42] 61
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[43] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[44] 5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 2
UK Singles (Music Week)[46] 7
US Easy Listening (Billboard)[47] 20

Cher version

Fernando
Cover:Cher - Fernando - Single.png
Type:single
Artist:Cher
Album: and Dancing Queen
Released:21 June 2018
Recorded:2017
Genre:Pop
Length:3:59
Label:
Producer:Benny Andersson
Prev Title:Ooga Boo
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
Next Year:2018

American singer and actress Cher recorded "Fernando," which was released as the third single from the movie soundtrack of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Her version was released on 21 June 2018, by Capitol and Polydor Records.[48] Produced by Benny Andersson, the song debuted on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in July 2018 at number 22. This cover version features background vocals by actor Andy García and also references the Mexico–Guatemala conflict of 1959, part of which had been seen by Cher's character, Ruby Sheridan, Donna's mother, along with her long lost love, Fernando Cienfuegos.[49] Cher's solo cover version without background vocals by García appears on her 2018 ABBA tribute album Dancing Queen.[50] [51] [52]

Critical reception

Writing for Idolator, Mike Wass felt that, in contrast to Cher's version of "Mamma Mia", which sounds "so playful and well-intentioned that it's impossible to resist," "Fernando" sounds "disarmingly faithful to the original, which is probably due to the fact it was co-produced by ABBA's own Benny Andersson. It has a warm, live feel that was so peculiar to ABBA's '70s fare and that sound really suits our heroine's soaring vocals."[53]

Live performances

Cher performed "Fernando" at the CinemaCon 2018 to promote the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again film.[54] During her Here We Go Again Tour she also performs the song together with "Waterloo" and "SOS".[55] On 31 October 2018 "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" and "Take Me Home" were cut from her Classic Cher concert residency and "Waterloo", "SOS" and "Fernando" were added.[56]

Track listings and formats

Digital download

Charts and Certifications

Appearances in other media

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ABBA – Fernando / Rock Me – Atlantic – USA – 45-3346 . 2018-11-10.
  2. Book: Dedrick, Jay. ABBA. Knopper. Steve. January 1, 1998. MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. Detroit. 1.
  3. Web site: Karen Collins . Fernando the Flute – Details . Tagg.org . 12 January 2008 . 2009-07-29.
  4. ABBA fan magazine 1980
  5. Web site: RTL Today - Stories behind the songs - Fernando by Abba . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329165601/https://today.rtl.lu/culture/music/a/1313042.html . 29 March 2023 . 1 March 2019 . Nathalie Lodhi . . That (initial) lyric is so banal and I didn’t like it...what does Fernando tell me? I was in my summerhouse one starry evening...I thought of two old comrades from some guerrilla war in Mexico who would be sitting in the porch and reminiscing about...what it is all about. Total fiction. . live.
  6. Book: Palm . Carl . ABBA: The Complete Recording Sessions . 13 October 1994 . Verulam Publishing Ltd . 978-0907938101.
  7. ABBA fan magazine 1977.
  8. News: Ed Sheeran breaks Australian music chart record with Shape of You . 2 May 2017 . News Corp . Australia . Cameron . Adams . 4 January 2019.
  9. Web site: McIntyre . Hugh . Ed Sheeran's 'Shape Of You' Is The Longest-Running No. 1 Hit Of All Time In Australia . 2023-05-02 . Forbes . en.
  10. Book: Kutner . Jon . Leigh . Spencer . 26 May 2010 . 1,000 UK Number One Hits . London, England . . E-book . 563 . 978-0-85712-360-2.
  11. Web site: United States of America - Additional Information . 29 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091013215009/http://home.zipworld.com.au/~callisto/weeksusa.html . 13 October 2009 . dead .
  12. Record World. September 4, 1976. 1. 2023-03-04. Hits of the Week.
  13. Web site: uk-charts.top-source.info . Uk-charts.top-source.info . 2022-03-21.
  14. Web site: United Kingdom - Additional Information . 29 August 2017 . 10 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170310181220/http://home.zipworld.com.au/~callisto/weeksuk.html . dead . .
  15. Oldham, A, Calder, T & Irvin, C: "ABBA: The Name of the Game", page 122. Sidgwick & Jackson, 1995
  16. UK Official Charts ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs
  17. Abba the world – Portugal . Billboard . Fernando . Tenente . 8 September 1979 . 4 August 2018.
  18. Rich Diversity of Marketing – French Companies – From Paris With Hits . Billboard . 9 April 1977 . 25 December 2018.
  19. Web site: Kent Music Report National Top 100 Singles, No 120 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080213112341/http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/edu/ICT/student_pages/sem1_2003/dlowe/kent-sgl.html . 13 February 2008 . . 11 October 1976 . 12 April 2013.
  20. Web site: Austrian Charts > ABBA . austriancharts.at Hung Medien . 14 November 2020 .
  21. Web site: Ultra Top – Belgian Charts. Ultra Top. 14 November 2020.
  22. Hits of the World. Billboard. Google Books. 18. 46. 67. 0006-2510. 13 November 1976. 12 June 2021.
  23. Web site: Image: RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 17 July 2013 . 2016-10-11.
  24. Web site: Image: RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 17 July 2013 . 2016-10-11.
  25. Hits of the World. Billboard. World Radio History. 63. 15 May 1976. 12 June 2021.
  26. Hits of the World. Billboard. Google Books. 88. 45. 66. 0006-2510 . 6 November 1976. 12 June 2021.
  27. Web site: Charts singles Top 50 en France: 23 Mai 1976 . 2017 .
  28. Web site: The Irish Charts > ABBA . IrishCharts.ie . 14 November 2020. Note: User must define search parameter as "Abba".
  29. Book: Racca, Guido. M&D Borsa Singoli 1960–2019. it. 2019. Independently Published . 9781093264906.
  30. Hits of the World – Italy. Billboard. Google Books. 62. 16 October 1976. 14 November 2020.
  31. Web site: Norwegian Charts > ABBA . no . norwegiancharts.com Hung Medien . 14 November 2020.
  32. Hits of the World. 18 September 1976. Billboard. 9 November 2021. 53.
  33. http://home.zipworld.com.au/~callisto/zimbabwe.html .
  34. Hits of The World. Billboard. Google Books. 69. 29 January 1977. 14 November 2020.
  35. Web site: Swedish Charts > ABBA. swedishcharts.com Hung Medien. 14 November 2020.
  36. Web site: Charts. Hit Parade. 14 November 2020.
  37. Web site: Old-Charts . Old-Charts . 2015-11-12 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134919/http://www.old-charts.com/charts70/yearend70/1976yearend_uk.htm . dead .
  38. Web site: Hot 100 – ABBA. Billboard. 14 November 2020.
  39. Book: Cash Box pop singles charts, 1950–1993 . 1994 . Libraries Unlimited . Downey . Pat . Albert . George . Hoffmann . Frank W. . 1 . 978-1-56308-316-7 . registration .
  40. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts: ABBA . de. Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. 26 September 2021.
  41. Web site: National Top 100 Singles for 1976. . 131 . . 27 December 1976 . 15 January 2022 .
  42. Web site: Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977 . . . 13 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160319222559/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5173a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 . 19 March 2016 . dead .
  43. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 1976 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart . Nztop40.co.nz . 1963-12-08 . 2016-10-11.
  44. Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1976 . 2 September 2018.
  45. http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1976 http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1976 Swiss YE charts, 1976
  46. Top 50 Singles of 1976 . . Spotlight Publications . London, England . 25 . 25 December 1976.
  47. http://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=2171 Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976
  48. News: New Music Friday: Tinashe, DJ Snake, Mamma Mia Soundtrack... . latfusa.com . 13 July 2018.
  49. http://www.idolator.com/7681859/cher-fernando-mamma-soundtrack-listen/ Review by IDOLATOR
  50. Cher Announces 'Dancing Queen' Album Release Date . Billboard . 9 August 2018 . 9 August 2018 . Tornow, Sam.
  51. Web site: Cher to Release New Album, 'Dancing Queen,' Next Month . . 9 August 2018 . 9 August 2018.
  52. Web site: CHER'S 'DANCING QUEEN': A TRACK-BY-TRACK REVIEW . . 14 September 2018 . 17 September 2018.
  53. News: Album Review: Cher's 'Dancing Queen'. 13 October 2018. Idolator. 13 October 2018.
  54. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8383592/cher-performs-mamma-mia-here-we-go-again-song-cinemacon-abba-fernando/ Review by Billboard
  55. Web site: Cashmere. Paul. Cher Opens Here We Go Again Tour in Auckland And Then Heads Out For Gelato. Nosie11. 24 September 2018. 24 September 2018.
  56. Cher Returns to the Concert Stage With Glitz & Hits (But No Politics) . . 9 February 2017 . 9 February 2017 . Caulfield, Keith.
  57. Hot Adult Contemporary. Billboard. 5 July 2018.