Fernando (song)
"Fernando" | ||||
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Single by Anni-Frid Lyngstad | ||||
from the album Frida ensam | ||||
Language | Swedish | |||
B-side | "Ett liv i solen" | |||
Released | 10 November 1975 (album) January 1976 (single) | |||
Length | 4:14 | |||
Label | Polar Music | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Anni-Frid Lyngstad singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Fernando (Swedish version)" on YouTube |
"Fernando" | ||||
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Single by ABBA | ||||
from the album Greatest Hits | ||||
B-side |
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Released |
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Recorded | 4 September 1975 | |||
Studio | Metronome | |||
Genre |
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Length | 4:15 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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ABBA singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Fernando " on YouTube |
"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
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.[citation needed]
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".[6]
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.
"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
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Year-end charts
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Sales and certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia | — | 720,000[49] |
Austria | — | 2,000[50] |
Brazil | — | 200,000[51] |
Canada (Music Canada)[52] | Gold | 75,000^ |
France ( SNEP)[53]
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Gold | 500,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[55] | Gold | 600,000[54] |
Ireland (IRMA)[56] | Gold | 7,500[56] |
Kenya | — | 10,000[57] |
Portugal | — | 80,000[58] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] | Gold | 1,000,000[59] |
Yugoslavia[61] | Gold | 100,000[61] |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 10,000,000[62] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Cher version
"Fernando" | ||||
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Single by Cher | ||||
from the album Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: The Movie Soundtrack and Dancing Queen | ||||
Released | 21 June 2018 | |||
Recorded | 2017 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:59 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Benny Andersson | |||
Cher singles chronology | ||||
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Licensed audio | ||||
"Cher, Andy Garcia - Fernando (Audio)" on YouTube |
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.[63] 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.[64] Cher's solo cover version without background vocals by García appears on her 2018 ABBA tribute album Dancing Queen.[65][66][67]
Critical reception
Writing for
Live performances
Cher performed "Fernando" at the
Track listings and formats
Digital download
- "Fernando" (feat. Andy García) – 3:59
- "Fernando" (solo version) – 3:57
Charts and Certifications
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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CIS (TopHit)[72] | 342 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[73] | 26 |
UK Singles (OCC)[74] | 92 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[75] | 22 |
Scotland (OCC)[76] | 24 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[77] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Appearances in other media
- ABBA perform parts of the song live in the film ABBA: The Movie (1977).
- The ABBA recording was featured in the films The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1993) and Muriel's Wedding (1994).
- In 1976, the song was adapted, and performed by ABBA in this version, for use in a series of five television commercials promoting the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.[citation needed]
- The song was featured prominently in Season 1, Episode 7 of That '70s Show, both in the nightclub scene in which the original version plays and in the closing scene in which the characters Eric and Donna sing a portion of the song.
- The song was featured in the Season 2, Episode 6 of Community, Epidemiology, where it can be heard playing in the library's PA System after Troy lowers the temperature on the thermostator, in an attempt to save the infected students.
- The song was featured in the Malcolm in the Middle Season 1 finale "Water Park", as the background music for a dance scene between Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) and his babysitter, Mrs. White (Bea Arthur).
- The song was featured in the Family Guy episode "Cat Fight" during a cutaway gag featuring a boy and a mounted moose head going on a date.
- The song appeared in How I Met Your Mother during the episode 'World's Greatest Couple'. It can be heard playing as Marshall walks away from Brad after seeing he got back together with his girlfriend.
References
- ^ "ABBA – Fernando / Rock Me – Atlantic – USA – 45-3346". Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ Dedrick, Jay (1 January 1998). "ABBA". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 1.
- ^ Karen Collins (12 January 2008). "Fernando the Flute – Details". Tagg.org. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ ABBA fan magazine 1980
- ^ Nathalie Lodhi (1 March 2019). "RTL Today - Stories behind the songs - Fernando by Abba". RTL. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023.
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.
- ^ ISBN 978-0907938101.
- ^ ABBA fan magazine 1977.
- ^ Adams, Cameron (2 May 2017). "Ed Sheeran breaks Australian music chart record with Shape of You". Australia: News Corp. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "Ed Sheeran's 'Shape Of You' Is The Longest-Running No. 1 Hit Of All Time In Australia". Forbes. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
- ^ "United States of America - Additional Information". Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 4 September 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "uk-charts.top-source.info". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "United Kingdom - Additional Information". Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017..Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ Oldham, A, Calder, T & Irvin, C: "ABBA: The Name of the Game", page 122. Sidgwick & Jackson, 1995
- ^ UK Official Charts ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs
- ^ Tenente, Fernando (8 September 1979). "Abba the world – Portugal". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "Rich Diversity of Marketing – French Companies – From Paris With Hits". Billboard. 9 April 1977. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- ^ "Kent Music Report National Top 100 Singles, No 120". Kent Music Report. 11 October 1976. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ "Austrian Charts > ABBA". austriancharts.at Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Ultra Top – Belgian Charts". Ultra Top. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 12 June 2021 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Image: RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
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- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 15 May 1976. p. 63. Retrieved 12 June 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 12 June 2021 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Irish Charts > ABBA". IrishCharts.ie. Retrieved 14 November 2020. Note: User must define search parameter as "Abba".
- ISBN 9781093264906.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 14, 1976" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
- ^ "ABBA – Fernando" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
- ^ "Hits of the World – Italy". Billboard. 16 October 1976. p. 62. Retrieved 14 November 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Norwegian Charts > ABBA" (in Norwegian). norwegiancharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 18 September 1976. p. 53. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ http://home.zipworld.com.au/~callisto/zimbabwe.html Archived 8 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Hits of The World". Billboard. 29 January 1977. p. 69. Retrieved 14 November 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Swedish Charts > ABBA". swedishcharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Charts". Hit Parade. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Old-Charts". Old-Charts. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "Hot 100 – ABBA". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-56308-316-7.
- GfK Entertainment(in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". Kent Music Report. 27 December 1976. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1976 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 8 December 1963. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1976". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1976 Swiss YE charts, 1976
- ^ "Top 50 Singles of 1976". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 25. 25 December 1976.
- ^ Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ Rondeau, Jose Emilio (9 August 1981). "ABBA, Adeus". Jornal do Brasil. p. 52. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – ABBA – Fernando". Music Canada. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "French single certifications – ABBA – Fernando" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select ABBA and click OK.
- ^ Spahr, Wolfgang (6 November 1976). "German Sales Pace in Lag". Billboard. p. 62. Retrieved 14 November 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (ABBA; 'Fernando')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ Tenente, Fernando (8 September 1979). "Abba the world – Portugal". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ISBN 0668064595.
The disc sold over a million in Britain, subsequently 6 million globally
- ^ "British single certifications – ABBA – Fernando". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ a b "ABBA fenomen ili fenomenalna ABBA". Džuboks. No. 33. April 1977. p. 5. Retrieved 14 November 2020 – via Popboks.
- ISBN 978-0-9701684-1-2. Archivedfrom the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "New Music Friday: Tinashe, DJ Snake, Mamma Mia Soundtrack..." latfusa.com. 13 July 2018.
- ^ Review by IDOLATOR Retrieved 21 June 2018 2:43 pm
- ^ Tornow, Sam (9 August 2018). "Cher Announces 'Dancing Queen' Album Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
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