This week marks a whole 35 years since ABBA’s ‘The Day Before You Came’ charted upon its release. Peaking at a relatively low number 32 in the UK, the song did become a Top 5 success for them in many countries. Including – of course – their native Sweden. It holds a special place in the hearts of many ABBA fans – not just because it’s widely regarded as one of their best ever (personally, it’s our joint favourite alongside ‘The Winner Takes It All’ – we could never pick between those two), but also because it’s the final recording they made together as a band.
Earlier this month, Benny Andersson released his latest album ‘Piano’. A collection of him playing piano versions of some of his favourite songs, including some ABBA tracks. One recording in particular, we’ve been listening to a hell of a lot. And that’s ‘The Day Before You Came’. There’s something so very magical about a man playing a sparse piano version of one of the most heartbreaking songs of all time, that he himself wrote 35 years ago. It’s genuinely moving. And stops us in our tracks and draws us in every time.
We’ve been obsessed with ‘The Day Before You Came’ for as long as we can remember. And on its 35th anniversary, thanks to its composer, that obsession has started all over again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT0R4kAZRNs
