One of the most iconic and popular tracks in pop music history, ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” was recorded in August 1979. This song was specifically crafted to boost the excitement surrounding their North American and European tour that year and was released as the brand new track on their compilation album Greatest Hits Vol. 2. Interestingly, the single was distributed by Polar Records in Norway, Denmark, and Finland but was never officially available in Swedish record stores. Instead, Swedish fans had to obtain their copies through imports from the UK version on Epic Records, demonstrating the song’s widespread international demand and cult status.
This track marked a pivotal moment in ABBA’s legacy, being arguably their most influential song due to its heavy electronic emphasis. This electronic soundscape profoundly influenced the burgeoning techno music scene emerging in the post-disco era, imprinting ABBA’s signature style well beyond their established disco roots.
Before settling on this groundbreaking track, ABBA initially planned to release “Rubber Ball Man” — a song adorned with classical strings and featuring the usual vocal duets of Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad — as their lead single. The band even rehearsed this song, previously known as “Under My Sun,” during their 1977 tour. However, their instincts led them to choose the vibrant disco appeal of “Gimme!” over the more traditional “Rubber Ball Man,” which ultimately remained unreleased, shrouded in mystery.
Furthermore, the song’s influence spans decades and genres. In a notable 2005 example, Madonna’s hit “Hung Up” samples heavily from “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, an act permitted personally by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. This rare endorsement marked only the second occasion the original band members allowed their music to be sampled, the first being the 1996 Fugees track “Rumble in the Jungle,” which sampled ABBA’s “The Name Of The Game.”
The song’s legacy continued well into the 21st century when it was revived as the first single from the soundtrack of the 2008 film “Mamma Mia!” featuring Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried not only lent her voice to the track but also starred in the accompanying music video, further promoting both the song and the much-anticipated movie.
Lyrics reveal a poignant loneliness:
Half past twelve and I’m watching the late show in my flat all alone,
How I hate to spend the evening on my own.
Autumn winds blowing outside the window as I look around the room,
And it makes me so depressed to see the gloom.
There’s not a soul out there, no one to hear my prayer,
Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight.
Won’t somebody help me chase the shadows away?
Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight.
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day.
The song poignantly captures a feeling of despair deepened by solitude and a desperate longing for connection during lonely nights, emotions resonating profoundly especially with the older generation who understand the sting of solitude. Its compelling disco beat juxtaposed with lyrics filled with yearning and melancholy creates a timeless masterpiece that both moves and energizes.
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” remains not just an enduring symbol of ABBA’s brilliant craft but an anthem that connects generations around the world, echoing in nightclubs, films, and the hearts of many millions.
