This appearance by Abba on the German TV pop show in November 1976 would have seen them performing their most recent hit, Dancing Queen. The long-running British TV show "Top of the Pops" will be familiar to many English-speaking readers of this review. "Disco" was a similar show on German TV. An audience, mainly comprising children, surrounds the foot of the stage.
For their few personal appearances on "Top of the Pops", Abba performed the song 'live', assisted by the BBC orchestra. On "Disco" (as well as on various other non-British TV shows), however, they mimed to the studio recording which, when well done (as in the case of Abba) I think usually works best on TV. Then the performers can concentrate more on their visual performances. And that certainly happens here.
1976 was a very successful year for Abba, when they were at the peak of popularity, and the time from which many people remember them with great admiration. Dancing Queen was their third main hit of the year - a catchy and innovative tune with challenging vocal performances by the girls.
The TV footage focuses firmly upon the women (the men being consigned to the foot of the stage with their instruments), whose red-hot, stunning looks match their voices. In their silky kimono suits (which suit them far better than they do the men), and with their long, flowing hairstyles (in classically contrasting colours), they dance and writhe around in a vibrant, impassioned performance.
The camera seems to linger longest on blonde Agnetha, the group's youngest and most iconic member who, at that particular time, aged 26, may well have had more male admirers than any other woman in the world.
The presentation is energetic and attractive. Two simple but very effective zoom camera shots see a reflection of the girls' performance in a high-angled mirror.
A classic, highly attractive and memorable Abba TV performance.
For their few personal appearances on "Top of the Pops", Abba performed the song 'live', assisted by the BBC orchestra. On "Disco" (as well as on various other non-British TV shows), however, they mimed to the studio recording which, when well done (as in the case of Abba) I think usually works best on TV. Then the performers can concentrate more on their visual performances. And that certainly happens here.
1976 was a very successful year for Abba, when they were at the peak of popularity, and the time from which many people remember them with great admiration. Dancing Queen was their third main hit of the year - a catchy and innovative tune with challenging vocal performances by the girls.
The TV footage focuses firmly upon the women (the men being consigned to the foot of the stage with their instruments), whose red-hot, stunning looks match their voices. In their silky kimono suits (which suit them far better than they do the men), and with their long, flowing hairstyles (in classically contrasting colours), they dance and writhe around in a vibrant, impassioned performance.
The camera seems to linger longest on blonde Agnetha, the group's youngest and most iconic member who, at that particular time, aged 26, may well have had more male admirers than any other woman in the world.
The presentation is energetic and attractive. Two simple but very effective zoom camera shots see a reflection of the girls' performance in a high-angled mirror.
A classic, highly attractive and memorable Abba TV performance.