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{{Infobox song
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{{AfDM|page=Dum Dum Diddle|date=2008 August 17|substed=yes}}
| name = Dum Dum Diddle
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| cover =
<!-- For administrator use only: {{oldafdfull|page=Dum Dum Diddle|date=17 August 2008|result='''keep'''}} -->
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| alt =
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| type = song

| artist = [[ABBA]]
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{{Infobox Single
| Name = Dum Dum Diddle
| album = [[Arrival (ABBA album)|Arrival]]
| B-side = Tiger
| Cover = ABBA - Dum Dum Diddle (Argentina).jpg
| Artist = [[ABBA]]
| released =
| recorded =
| from Album = [[Arrival (ABBA album)|Arrival]]
| B-side = Tiger
| studio =
| Released =
| venue =
| Format = [[Single (music)|7" single]]
| year = 1976
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| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[europop]], [[disco]]
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| Recorded =
| length = 2:53
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| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]/[[Europop]]/[[Disco]]
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| label = [[Polar Music|Polar]] (Sweden)<br>[[Epic Records|Epic]] (UK)<br>[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] (US)
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| Length = 2:53
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| writer = [[Björn Ulvaeus]]<br>[[Benny Andersson]]
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| Label = [[Polar Music|Polar]] (Sweden)<br>[[Epic Records|Epic]] (UK)<br>[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] (US)
| Writer = [[Björn Ulvaeus]],<br>[[Benny Andersson]]
| producer = Björn Ulvaeus<br>Benny Andersson
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|3yoTDkGuHxw|"Dum Dum Diddle"}}|type=song}}
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| Producer = [[Björn Ulvaeus]],<br>[[Benny Andersson]]
| Last single = "[[Money, Money, Money]]"<br />[[1976]]
| This single = "Dum Dum Diddle"
| Next single = "[[That's Me (song)|That's Me]]"<br />[[1977]]
}}
}}


"'''Dum Dum Diddle'''" was a song by the [[Pop music|pop]] group [[ABBA]] released as a single in [[Argentina]] to promote their [[1976]] album ''[[Arrival (ABBA album)|Arrival]]''. The B-side was "Tiger".
"'''Dum Dum Diddle'''" is a song by [[ABBA]], released on their 1976 album ''[[Arrival (ABBA album)|Arrival]]''. In 1977 it was released as a promo single in [[Argentina]] on the [[RCA]] label.


==Cover versions==
==Production==
When asked how ABBA made "such a ridiculous and quite banal song [as Dum Dum Diddle] come alive,"{{cn|date=July 2023}} Björn Again founder Rod Leissle said, "I think ABBA had a special quality about them. They could put ridiculous lyrics into a song, and because they were fundamentally great songwriters they could make it work. A line like 'Dum Dum Diddle, to be your fiddle' doesn't really make a great deal of sense, but it still works because it's something you can sing along to and enjoy".<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-hkbqflhfKoC&q=%22Dum+Dum+Diddle%22+abba&pg=PT112 | title = Abba - Uncensored on the Record | isbn = 9781908538239 | last1 = Tobler | first1 = John | date = 2012-01-04}}</ref>
The 1992 compilation ''ABBA: The Tribute'' (released through [[Polar Records]]) contains a cover by Swedish rock band Beagle.


==Sources==
==Composition==
"Dum Dum Diddle" is a folk-inspired pop song. The song has Lasse Wellander's acoustic guitar in the verses. Benny plays piano during the breaks between the girls' "woh-woh" vocals. The song has a fiddle-style refrain (simulated by a synthesiser), which serves as its hook. It contains a "stream of strong melodies and instrumentation".<ref>{{cite book|last=Tesch|first=Christopher Patrick ; editor: Matthew|title=ABBA : let the music speak : an armchair guide to the musical soundscape of the Swedish supergroup|year=2008|publisher=Christopher J N Patrick|location=Fairfield Gardens, Qld.|isbn=9780646496764|pages=33, 121|edition=1st}}</ref> The lead vocals are shared by [[Agnetha Fältskog]] and [[Anni-Frid Lyngstad]].
* http://www.abba4therecord.com/singles_results.php

==Synopsis==
The song is about a woman who quietly longs for the affections of a sad, lonely man who derives his only pleasure from constantly playing and practicing on his violin. ''[[The Guardian]]'' described it as "a song about a woman who feels sexually threatened by her partner's violin".<ref>{{cite news|author=Alexis Petridis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/oct/28/popandrock.shopping7 |title=CD: Abba, The Complete Studio Recordings &#124; Music |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=2013-10-07}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
''Abba's Abba Gold'' suggests that ABBA criticised the song, but adds that the writers of the book like it.<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yoCV0eaetb0C&q=%22Dum+Dum+Diddle%22+abba&pg=PA11 | title = Abba's Abba Gold | isbn = 9780826415462 | last1 = Vincentelli | first1 = Elisabeth | date = 2004-03-31}}</ref> ''Abba - Uncensored on the Record'' said the "unfortunately titled song ... seemed like a reversion to Eurovision-style thinking". ''The complete New Zealand music charts, 1966-2006'' describes the song as "rather silly but fun".<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wyU5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22Dum+Dum+Diddle%22+abba | title = The complete New Zealand music charts, 1966-2006: Singles, albums, DVDs, compilations | isbn = 9781877443008 | last1 = Scapolo | first1 = Dean | date = January 2007}}</ref> ''Bright Lights Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba'' implied that Eagle was more lyrically ambitious than "the 'dum dum diddles' of ABBA's earlier work".<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jo4ZAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Dum+Dum+Diddle%22+abba | title = Bright Lights Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba | isbn = 9781847724199 | last1 = Palm | first1 = Carl Magnus | date = 2008-09-01}}</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Times|The Los Angeles Times]]'' described the song as "cheery nonsense".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/153339641 |title=POP MUSIC; DISC DERBY: WE'RE GONNA GET LETTERS |publisher=Los Angeles Times: Archives |date=1983-01-30 |access-date=2013-10-07 |author=Hilburn, Robert |pages=K62-3 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304231957/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/153339641.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan%2030,%201983&author=&pub=Los%20Angeles%20Times&edition=&startpage=&desc=POP%20MUSIC |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Scotsman'' implied that "Dum Dum Diddle" was a bad song by saying: "LIFE – to quote Toni Collette in ''Muriel's Wedding'' – can be 'as good as an Abba song' but the clunky transfer of ''Mamma Mia!'' from stage to screen proves that it can be just as awful as 'Dum Dum Diddle' too."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/film-review-mamma-mia-1-1434485 |title=Film review: Mamma Mia! |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=2008-07-04 |access-date=2013-10-07}}</ref>

==Covers==
[[Helen Sjöholm]] has performed "Dum Dum Diddle", accompanied by Orsa Spelman's Kalle Moraeus on the fiddle.<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QErsAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Dum+Dum+Diddle%22+abba | title = From Abba to Mamma Mia!: The Official Book | isbn = 9780823083176 | last1 = Palm | first1 = Carl Magnus | last2 = Hanser|first2=Anders | date = 2000-09-01}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{ABBA}}
{{ABBA}}
{{ABBA songs}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1976 singles]]
[[Category:1976 songs]]
[[Category:1976 songs]]
[[Category:ABBA songs]]
[[Category:ABBA songs]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records singles]]
[[Category:Epic Records singles]]
[[Category:Polar Music singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus]]

Latest revision as of 04:41, 28 July 2024

"Dum Dum Diddle"
Song by ABBA
from the album Arrival
B-side"Tiger"
GenrePop, europop, disco
Length2:53
LabelPolar (Sweden)
Epic (UK)
Atlantic (US)
Songwriter(s)Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
Producer(s)Björn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson
Audio
"Dum Dum Diddle" on YouTube

"Dum Dum Diddle" is a song by ABBA, released on their 1976 album Arrival. In 1977 it was released as a promo single in Argentina on the RCA label.

Production

[edit]

When asked how ABBA made "such a ridiculous and quite banal song [as Dum Dum Diddle] come alive,"[citation needed] Björn Again founder Rod Leissle said, "I think ABBA had a special quality about them. They could put ridiculous lyrics into a song, and because they were fundamentally great songwriters they could make it work. A line like 'Dum Dum Diddle, to be your fiddle' doesn't really make a great deal of sense, but it still works because it's something you can sing along to and enjoy".[1]

Composition

[edit]

"Dum Dum Diddle" is a folk-inspired pop song. The song has Lasse Wellander's acoustic guitar in the verses. Benny plays piano during the breaks between the girls' "woh-woh" vocals. The song has a fiddle-style refrain (simulated by a synthesiser), which serves as its hook. It contains a "stream of strong melodies and instrumentation".[2] The lead vocals are shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

Synopsis

[edit]

The song is about a woman who quietly longs for the affections of a sad, lonely man who derives his only pleasure from constantly playing and practicing on his violin. The Guardian described it as "a song about a woman who feels sexually threatened by her partner's violin".[3]

Critical reception

[edit]

Abba's Abba Gold suggests that ABBA criticised the song, but adds that the writers of the book like it.[4] Abba - Uncensored on the Record said the "unfortunately titled song ... seemed like a reversion to Eurovision-style thinking". The complete New Zealand music charts, 1966-2006 describes the song as "rather silly but fun".[5] Bright Lights Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba implied that Eagle was more lyrically ambitious than "the 'dum dum diddles' of ABBA's earlier work".[6] The Los Angeles Times described the song as "cheery nonsense".[7] The Scotsman implied that "Dum Dum Diddle" was a bad song by saying: "LIFE – to quote Toni Collette in Muriel's Wedding – can be 'as good as an Abba song' but the clunky transfer of Mamma Mia! from stage to screen proves that it can be just as awful as 'Dum Dum Diddle' too."[8]

Covers

[edit]

Helen Sjöholm has performed "Dum Dum Diddle", accompanied by Orsa Spelman's Kalle Moraeus on the fiddle.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tobler, John (2012-01-04). Abba - Uncensored on the Record. ISBN 9781908538239.
  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. 33, 121. ISBN 9780646496764. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Alexis Petridis. "CD: Abba, The Complete Studio Recordings | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  4. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (2004-03-31). Abba's Abba Gold. ISBN 9780826415462.
  5. ^ Scapolo, Dean (January 2007). The complete New Zealand music charts, 1966-2006: Singles, albums, DVDs, compilations. ISBN 9781877443008.
  6. ^ Palm, Carl Magnus (2008-09-01). Bright Lights Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba. ISBN 9781847724199.
  7. ^ Hilburn, Robert (1983-01-30). "POP MUSIC; DISC DERBY: WE'RE GONNA GET LETTERS". Los Angeles Times: Archives. pp. K62-3. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  8. ^ "Film review: Mamma Mia!". The Scotsman. 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  9. ^ Palm, Carl Magnus; Hanser, Anders (2000-09-01). From Abba to Mamma Mia!: The Official Book. ISBN 9780823083176.
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