The Visitors (song)

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“The Visitors”
Single by ABBA from the album The Visitors
B-side	"Head over Heels"
Released	1981
Format	7-inch Single
Genre	Pop
Length	5:47
Label	Polar Music
Writer(s)	Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
Producer	Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
ABBA singles chronology
"Head over Heels" (1981) "The Visitors" (1981) "The Day Before You Came" (1982)

"The Visitors", originally "Den första", meaning "The First", was the final single release from Swedish pop group ABBA's studio album of the same name, released in the United States in 1981. The lead vocal was sung by Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The single peaked at #63 on the singles chart in the US, and #10 on the dance chart.

[edit] Meaning

There is debate amongst fans regarding the song's meaning. Theories range from alien abduction to a descent into a mental illness. Lyrically, the song fits into both themes.

However, the official stated theme is a protest against the mistreatment of political dissidents in the Soviet Union back then, as ABBA seemed to input political issues into their lyrics in the final days of the group. ^[1]

In 1982, the album The Visitors was banned from the Soviet Union, though it is likely due to their participation on the US Department of Information special TV show "Let Poland Be Poland" broadcasted via satellite around the world on the 31st January 1982. The show, which also featured Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Orson Welles, Henry Fonda and Ronald Reagan, was a public protest against the then recent imposition of martial law in Poland.

[edit] Cover versions

• A Hi-NRG cover of the song was released as a single by a group called Moonstone in the late 1980s.
• Abbacadabra released several dance cover remixes of the song under Almighty Records during the late 1990s.

[edit] References

1. ^ [2]

• http://www.abba4therecord.com/singles_results.php

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