I Know There's Something Going On

"I Know There's Something Going On"

UK vinyl-single cover for "I Know There's Something's Going On".
Single by Anni-Frid Lyngstad
from the album Something's Going On
B-side "Threnody" (album version)
Released September 1982
Format Cd/Vinyl
Recorded 1982
Genre Art rock, new wave
Length 5:29 (album version)
4:04 (7" version)
Label Epic / Universal
Writer(s) Russ Ballard
Producer(s) Phil Collins
Anni-Frid Lyngstad singles chronology
"Fernando" "I Know There's Something Going On" "To Turn The Stone"
Music sample
"I Know There's Something Going On"

"I Know There's Something Going On" is a song recorded in 1982 by ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida). It was the lead single from her solo album Something's Going On. The song was a hit around the world during 1982 and 1983.

Song history

Recording began in ABBA's Polar Music Studio, Stockholm, in February 1982. As ABBA were unofficially on a break, Lyngstad spent time on her solo project. At the time of recording this song/album, Frida wanted to distance herself from "the typical ABBA pop sound". "I Know There's Something Going On" was written by Russ Ballard and produced by Genesis drummer and singer Phil Collins, who also played drums on the song. The backing vocals are sung by Lyngstad herself and Collins.

"I Know There's Something Going On" was released in the autumn of 1982 and became a major success for Frida. It hit #1 in France (spending five weeks on top), Belgium, Switzerland and Costa Rica, and was a Top 10 hit throughout most of Europe, as well as in Australia and South Africa. The song was also a success in the United States, reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1983 and ranking as the 20th biggest hit of the year on Billboard's year-end chart for 1983.[1] However, in the UK, traditionally a popular market for ABBA, the song failed to reach the Top 40, peaking at #43 (and spending seven weeks inside the Top 75).

A one hour TV documentary about the making of the album and this song, is included in Frida - The DVD. The whole recording process, from day one in the studio to the release party, was filmed by Swedish TV SVT. This documentary includes interviews with Lyngstad and Collins, Björn and Benny from ABBA, as well as all the musicians involved with the album.

Music video

The music video was directed by Stuart Orme and filmed at several locations in London, England in early July 1982. The video, which received heavy promotion on MTV due to the worldwide success of the song, shows Frida in a struggling relationship. She then discovers through photos taken at a fashion shoot that her husband or lover is seeing another woman.

The video is included in Frida - The DVD.

Single

  1. I Know There's Something Going On 4:04 (single edit).
  1. Threnody 4:16 (album version).

Charts

Chart (1982/1983) Position
Australian Singles Chart 5
Austrian Singles Chart 3
Belgian Singles Chart 1
British Singles Chart 43
Canadian Singles Chart 30
Costa Rican Singles Chart 1
Dutch Singles Chart 3
Finnish Singles Chart 7
French Singles Chart 1
German Singles Chart 5
Irish Singles Chart 23
Italian Singles Chart 7
Norwegian Singles Chart 3
Polish Singles Chart 3
South African Singles Chart 5
Swedish Singles Chart 3
Swiss Singles Chart 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 13
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 17

Credits

Cover versions

Sampling

Appearances in other media

In the MTV animated series Daria, the song was featured during the closing credits of Episode #406, entitled, "I Loathe a Parade". The song is featured in the 1984 movie "Just The Way You Are" as well as the song "Voulez-Vous" by ABBA (of whom Frida is a member).

References