Abba - Take A Chance On Me Video
Abba visited Japan from November 17- 26 1978 for 10 days of promotion to consolidate their success there. Five months later Abba had sold more than 1.5 million records in Japan!
The tv shows and performances recorded in Tokyo during their visit were as follows:
Nov 20 - News Centre 9:00 - Summer Night City, Dancing Queen
Nov 22 - 11PM - Dancing Queen
Nov 22 - Music Fair - Dancing Queen, Take A Chance On Me, Summer Night City, Thank You For The Music
Nov 23 - The Best 10 - Dancing Queen
Nov 24 - Ginza Now - Summer Night City
Nov 25 - Abba Special - Eagle, Take A Chance On Me, Money Money Money (Live), SOS (Live), That's Me, Tiger, Dancing Queen, Waterloo, Fernando, Summer Night City, Knowing Me Knowing You, If It Wasn't For The Nights, Thank You For The Music (Live).
This performamce of Take A Chance On Me is from the Music Fair tv show recorded on November 22 in Tokyo. It was broadcast on Japanese tv on January 16 1979 at 9.30pm.
Take A Chance On Me was recorded on August 15 1977 and released as a single in January 1978 and on "Abba - The Album" in December 1977. Chart positions were as follows: Australia 12, Austria 1, Belgium 1, Canada 7, Ireland 1, Mexico 1, Norway 8, South Africa 6, Switzerland 3, Netherlands 2, United Kingdom 1 (3 weeks), United States 3, West-Germany 3, Zimbabwe 2. Measured in sales and other statistics Take A Chance On Me remains the group's biggest hit in America.
The song's origins sprang from Bjorn's daily jogging. Bjorn recalls: "The words came to me while I was out running one day. I was thinking to myself 'If the music sounds like "chuck-a-chuck chuck chuck", which English words or what phrase might correspond with the percussive feel of the chorus?' The first notes in the chorus are very short and only the last note is long. And I found this phrase: "Take A Chance On Me". It was wonderful to be inspired to come up with that title by running in the woods. There is definitely a country music feel to this song. Here you have a verse that is completely different from the chorus, and that's what makes it interesting for me. There's something of a disco feel to start with and then the song becomes very square, almost like a German march crossed with country music. It's crazy if you think about it. It would be physically impossible to sing the 'Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance" backing vocals without drawing breath. We had to build it up from individual pieces of tape, singing the phrase until we just couldn't sing it anymore, and then starting all over again."
Music/Lyrics: Benny Andersson / Bjorn Ulvaeus
Lead Vocals: Agnetha & Frida
Solo passages in each verse: Agnetha
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free, take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free, take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me (that's all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me
We can go dancing, we can go walking,
As long as we're together
Listen to some music, maybe just talking,
Get to know you better
Cos you know I've got so much that I wanna do,
When I dream I'm alone with you Its magic
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know that I can't let go
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
(come on, give me a break will you? )
Take a chance on me
Oh you can take your time baby, I'm in no hurry,
Know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me, baby don't worry,
I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now my love is strong enough
To last when things are rough it's magic
You say that I waste my time
But I can't get you off my mind
No I can't let go cos I love you so
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)
Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Honey I'm still free take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby cant you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)
Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba
Honey I'm still free take a chance on me
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caquerio: I like this video, more than the one I had watched on "ABBA Gold"; I think this performance is more cheerful. Anyway, they are great, wherever you see them. Thanks John
abbafanglosuk: They're certainly more smart and professionalt looking here Francisco. As they're performing with standing mic's to a tv audience its more a case of some nice jigging about on the spot with plenty of hand movements here, and we get some good close-ups of Agnetha!. While in the Abba Gold video they're more casually dressed and jogging around the seated guys to the storyline for the director! As you say its nice to see them in different situations - cheers from John!
fredrik7001: Wow, so nice to see this video..5*.
abbafanglosuk: Thanks Fredrik, yes this is a very professional and pleasing performance of one of their most well known and high tempo songs!
2Shaymcn: Love this 'all black' version a lot John Thanks for the fantastc detailed info too !!
decimo73: I LIKE THIS VIDEO
abbafanglosuk: Thanks Shay, yep they're definitely looking smart and co-ordinated here! It took a bit of digging out, but I think I've covered every aspect about the song and performance - even Bjorn's original creative thoughts!
abbafanglosuk: Yes there's a dynamic feel to the singing and movements in this peformance, and the girls look great in the close-ups!
kupaval: strong hook--> 2:13 addiction
abbafanglosuk: You're right, the girls singing levels are very cleverly alternated for maximum effect! Frida drops to a softer level for a few lines, which then allows Agnetha to charge in and grab our attention with her higher Soprano voice - that's great teamwork!
spankysmagicpiano: The girls are looking hot, hot, hot! Great video, great quality. thanks John :)
abbafanglosuk: Thanks Simon, the Japanese were always leaders in technology back then and produce a high standard show! There are some nice close-ups of the girls here enhanced by the blue background - especially Agnetha! There's lots of energy in this performance too - it feels like a marching song looking at Agnetha swinging her arms back & forth in the dance movements!
SeSsHoUmArU000: i just like the song cause it was played on a funny episode of malcolm.. When each one of reese and malcolm thought they were gay!!! hahahaha it was funny!!! !-_-!
bikerfront: Another masterpiece John, a great catchy song tweety is frida and sparrow is Agnetha well we can dream!!!!
abbafanglosuk: Yes I think you've both got the looks to match them! Its a very happy singalong song - one of their best!
mac6mac: The part where the synth starts reminds me of the start of time to pretend by MGMT.
Kerri75: I love this song:D
abbafanglosuk: Thanks Kerri - yes its full of enegy and races along. Its definitely one of their best, with the typical Abba wall-to-wall sound and interleaved vocals they were famous for!
LoveTheSupremes: Heavy Phil Spector-like engineering here, as with most of their songs
soccachick96: i just cnt get enough of abba
abbafanglosuk: That's right, but credit must go to their innovative sound engineer Michael B. Tretow who experimented with multiple overdubbing and slightly off sync production techniques to achieve a "wall of sound" quality similar to Phil Spectre but without employing loads of musicians to do it!
abbafanglosuk: Don't forget Agnetha, she had an excellent solo career before and after Abba. She has done some wonderful songs and wrote many herself!
Pumpapickels: Oh I love this song! "Take a chance on me" is full of energy! 1:00 Frida is amazing. I like her so much. 5 stars and favourite!
hsjames1: Abba is so talented. It seems like Agneitha got most of the praise but Frida is an outstanding singer also.
boyhey1: abba has many wonderful song. "knowing me knowing you" is one of my favorite.
Author: abbafanglosuk; Uploaded: Aug 3, 2009; Duration: 4:6; Views: 7953
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