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"Elaine"
Single by ABBA
from the album Super Trouper (2001 reissue)
A-side	"The Winner Takes It All"
Released	July 21, 1980
Genre	Synth-pop
Length	3:44
Label	Polar Music
Songwriter(s)	Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus
Producer(s)	Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus
Audio
"Elaine" on YouTube

"Elaine" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was used as the B-side to the 1980 single "The Winner Takes It All". It was not included on any of their original albums but was later included as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of Super Trouper.

Synopsis

The song is about a "devil-may-care path in pursuit of love".

Composition

ABBA: Let the Music Speak describes "Elaine" as a "bold and brazen up-tempo number", adding that it has a "wealth of treated synth effects". The pace remains the same throughout the song, and the intro has a "melodic riff that is squeezed and contorted over a series of suspended chords". This is followed by a "whistlable refrain". At the end of the second verse, the synths mimic the girls' voices.

Analysis

The song has a degree of programmatic irony, as the "extrovert nature" of the refrain juxtaposes "Agnetha and Frida's decisive and cutting unison stabs".

Critical reception

Abba - Uncensored on the Record says the song is "OK, in a rather frantic way", and adds that it "paled in comparison," in the author's opinion, to the song it was paired with in the single "The Winner Takes It All".

References

1. Stroude, Will (July 16, 2018). "The 10 best ABBA songs not to make the 'Mamma Mia!' films". Attitude. Retrieved December 8, 2024. Elaine" is a fast-paced frenetic synthy gem...even in their non-album tracks , ABBA showed a consistent commitment to pop excellence.
2. ^ Tesch, Christopher Patrick ; editor: Matthew (2008). ABBA : let the music speak : an armchair guide to the musical soundscape of the Swedish supergroup (1st ed.). Fairfield Gardens, Qld.: Christopher J N Patrick. pp. 63–4. ISBN 9780646496764. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. Tesch, Christopher Patrick ; editor: Matthew (2008). ABBA : let the music speak : an armchair guide to the musical soundscape of the Swedish supergroup (1st ed.). Fairfield Gardens, Qld.: Christopher J N Patrick. p. 128. ISBN 9780646496764. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. Tobler, John (2012-01-04). Abba - Uncensored on the Record. ISBN 9781908538239.

• 1980 singles
• ABBA songs