20/06/2025
Madonna’s Longstanding Love Affair with ABBA 🇸🇪🇺🇸
Before Hung Up took over global dancefloors in 2005, Madonna had already been captivated by the music of ABBA for years. Her admiration for the Swedish pop icons wasn’t a marketing move—it was deeply personal and rooted in genuine musical respect.
The world first heard Madonna sample ABBA in the infectious Hung Up, which uses the unmistakable hook from Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight). But behind the hit lies a story of patience and pop diplomacy. Madonna famously wrote a heartfelt letter to Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, humbly asking permission to use their music. In her own words: “I begged them. I wrote a letter and said, please, please let me use your music. I love ABBA!”
The Swedish songwriting duo were initially hesitant, known for being extremely selective with how their catalog is used. But eventually, they gave their blessing. Benny Andersson explained in an interview, “We admire Madonna. We always have. She goes her own way, and the song is 100% pop.”
The result? A massive global hit. Hung Up topped the charts in 41 countries and became one of the most successful singles of Madonna’s career. With its disco-infused production and energetic beat, it became a club anthem and a timeless homage to ABBA’s brilliance.
Yet Madonna’s connection to ABBA predates Hung Up by several years. In fact, she once recorded a cover of Like An Angel Passing Through My Room—a haunting track from ABBA’s final studio album The Visitors—during the early sessions for her 2000 album Music. The version was produced by William Orbit, but according to Orbit, the entire first version of the Music album was mysteriously scrapped. Along with several other tracks, the ABBA cover was shelved and remains unreleased to this day.
Madonna’s decision to cover Like An Angel Passing Through My Room shows just how deep her appreciation for ABBA runs. It wasn’t a commercial choice—it was an artistic one. She saw in ABBA’s work not just catchy melodies but emotional depth and timeless craftsmanship.
As fans continue to speculate about the fate of that unreleased recording, one question lingers: will Madonna’s ABBA cover ever see the break of dawn?
Madonna and Orbit covered this ABBA song during the Music sessions. The demo and instrumental versions leaked online on August 15, 2008.
