Arrival (song)
Encyclopedia
"Arrival" is a 1976 song by ABBA
featured on their album of the same name
. It is an instrumental piece, mainly the brainchild of member Benny Andersson
and had the working titles of "Fiol", "Ode to Dalecarlia" & "Arrival in Dalecarlia".
and Björn Ulvaeus
. It was recorded on 30 August 1976 at Stockholm
's Metronome Studio. The title of the album, Arrival, gave the instrumental its name, rather than vice versa. It was also one of the last tracks to be recorded for the album before its release on 11 October 1976.
In 1983, a different version of the song with lyrics, called "Belle", was sung by Daniel Balavoine
and Anni-Frid Lyngstad
("Frida") as part of the French musical ABBAcadabra
. Also in 1983, it was re-recorded with different lyrics, and released as "Time" by B. A. Robertson
and Lyngstad.
Mike Oldfield
recorded a cover-version of the song, which is found on his QE2
album. The artwork for Oldfield's single is a parody of ABBA's Arrival album artwork depicting the artist in a Bell 47G
helicopter.
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
featured on their album of the same name
Arrival (ABBA album)
-Side one:#"When I Kissed the Teacher" – 2:58#"Dancing Queen" – 3:47#"Dum Dum Diddle" – 2:50#"My Love, My Life" – 3:50...
. It is an instrumental piece, mainly the brainchild of member Benny Andersson
Benny Andersson
Göran Bror "Benny" Andersson is a Swedish musician, composer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
and had the working titles of "Fiol", "Ode to Dalecarlia" & "Arrival in Dalecarlia".
Background
"Arrival" was the second and last song from the group not to contain lyrics, following "Intermezzo No.1" the previous year. As with "Intermezzo No.1", the choral tune, heavily influenced by traditional Swedish folk music, was written by Benny AnderssonBenny Andersson
Göran Bror "Benny" Andersson is a Swedish musician, composer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
and Björn Ulvaeus
Björn Ulvaeus
Björn Kristian Ulvaeus is a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, writer, producer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
. It was recorded on 30 August 1976 at Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
's Metronome Studio. The title of the album, Arrival, gave the instrumental its name, rather than vice versa. It was also one of the last tracks to be recorded for the album before its release on 11 October 1976.
In 1983, a different version of the song with lyrics, called "Belle", was sung by Daniel Balavoine
Daniel Balavoine
Daniel Balavoine was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and inspired many singers in the 1980s, such as Jean-Jacques Goldman, and Michel Berger, his closest friend...
and Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anni-Frid Prinzessin Reuss von Plauen , is a Norwegian-born Swedish pop singer...
("Frida") as part of the French musical ABBAcadabra
Abbacadabra
Abbacadabra is the name of a French children's musical based on songs from the pop group ABBA, originally produced for French television in 1983 by Alain and Daniel Boublil, but which was later also transferred to an English stage version and two other television programs.-French television...
. Also in 1983, it was re-recorded with different lyrics, and released as "Time" by B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson is a Scottish musician, actor, composer and songwriter.-Career:...
and Lyngstad.
Mike Oldfield version
In 19801980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
recorded a cover-version of the song, which is found on his QE2
QE2 (album)
QE2 is the sixth record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1980 on Virgin Records.The album contained both original Oldfield compositions as well as two cover version of pieces recorded by other bands .- Album analysis :The longest tracks on the album are "Taurus I" and the title track, "QE2",...
album. The artwork for Oldfield's single is a parody of ABBA's Arrival album artwork depicting the artist in a Bell 47G
Bell 47
The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946...
helicopter.
Track listing
- "Arrival" – 2:46
- "Polka" (live on European tour 1980In Concert 1980In Concert 1980 was a concert tour by the British multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield.- Background :The In Concert 1980 tour was in promotion of Oldfield's Platinum album.- Tour dates :...
) – 3:34
- "Polka" consists of a medley of one and a half traditional Irish polkaPolkaThe polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
s— the first part of "The 42 Pound Checque" and the first and second parts of "John Ryan's Polka". Mike Oldfield rearranged the parts so that he is going from the A part of "42 Pound Checque" to the B part of "John Ryan's", then to the A part of "John Ryan's", then back to the B part of "John Ryan's". He plays through the entire medley 3 times in all, with increasingly more backup and percussion each time. Also, he has transposed these tunes to the key of G, where they are more commonly played in D, traditionally.
Oldfield's credits
- Mike Oldfield: Electric Guitars, African Drums, Celtic Harp, Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Spanish Guitar, Synthesizers, Vocoder, Aboriginal Rythmn Sticks, Vocals
- David HentschelDavid HentschelDavid Hentschel is an English recording engineer, writer and music producer who engineered on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as well as with artists including Genesis, Elton John, Ringo Starr, Queen, Marti Webb, Andy Summers, Mike Oldfield, Peter...
: Synthesizers, Drums, Vocals - Maggie ReillyMaggie ReillyMaggie Reilly is a Scottish singer best known for her collaborations with the composer and instrumentalist Mike Oldfield...
: Vocals - Strings and Choir arranged by David BedfordDavid BedfordDavid Vickerman Bedford , was an English composer and musician. He wrote and played both popular and classical music....
- Leader of Strings: Dick Studt
- Choir English Chorale
Other cover versions, sampling, etc.
- FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
singer Michèle Torr covered the song and added lyrics, under the title "J'aime". - GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
danceElectronic dance musicElectronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
group ScooterScooter (band)Scooter are a German hard dance band founded in Hamburg, who have sold over 25 million records and earned over 80 gold and platinum awards. Scooter are considered the most successful single-record German act with 23 top ten hits. The band is currently composed of members H.P. Baxxter, Rick J....
sampled "Arrival" in the song "Roll Baby Roll" on their 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
album The Stadium Techno ExperienceThe Stadium Techno ExperienceThe Stadium Techno Experience is the ninth studio album by Scooter. Three singles were released from it: "Weekend", "The Night" and a remix of "Maria " featuring Marc Acardipane and Dick Rules. Its artwork is an homage to the 1991 album The White Room by The KLF...
, although some chords are slightly altered. - The British rock band The Darkness played "Arrival" as their opening song on headlining tours.
- Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
recorded a vocal version for her 2008 seasonal album A Winter SymphonyA Winter SymphonyA Winter Symphony is a Christmas album from the English soprano singer Sarah Brightman, released in November 2008.-Album information:The album borrows its name from Brightman's earlier 2008 album, Symphony...
, with previously unused lyrics from Björn UlvaeusBjörn UlvaeusBjörn Kristian Ulvaeus is a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, writer, producer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
, which he wrote in 1999 for possible inclusion in the Mamma Mia!Mamma Mia!Mamma Mia! is a stage musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band. Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia", the plot is fictional, not...
musical. - ABBA tribute act Björn AgainBjörn AgainBjörn Again is a tribute show to the Swedish pop group ABBA founded in 1988 in Australia, but now involving multiple touring troupes performing under the Björn Again name...
have used this as their entry music when starting a gig for many years. - The GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
band GregorianGregorian (band)Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.- Band history :...
made a cover of this song, on their album Masters of Chant Chapter VIIMasters of Chant Chapter VIIMasters of Chant Chapter VII is the tenth album by Gregorian. The album was released September 25, 2009.- Track listing :# "Meadows of Heaven" # "One" # "It Will Be Forgiven"# "Sweet Child of Mine"...
.