Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
Single by ABBA
from the album Greatest Hits Vol. 2
B-side "The King Has Lost His Crown"
Released 2 October 1979
Format Single
Genre Disco[1][2]
Length 4:48
Label Polar Music
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus
ABBA singles chronology
"Angeleyes"
(1979)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
(1979)
"I Have a Dream"
(1979)

"Angeleyes"
(1979)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
(1979)
"I Have a Dream"
(1979)
¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame!

Spanish-language version single
Music video
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) Official Music Video on YouTube
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (working title "Been and Gone and Done It") is a song by Swedish band ABBA. It was recorded and released in 1979 with "The King Has Lost His Crown" as the B-side. It appears on ABBA's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 album, as well as their best-selling album, Gold: Greatest Hits.

Original version

History

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was written and composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with the lead vocal sung by Agnetha Fältskog. Agnetha, as the narrator, weaves the image of a lonely young woman who longs for a romantic relationship and views her loneliness as a forbidding darkness of night, even drawing parallels to how the happy endings of movie stars are so different from her own existence.

The song was recorded at Polar Music Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 1979, and was ready for release in October of that year, in conjunction with the group's tour of North America and Europe.

Originally, ABBA had recorded another song, "Rubber Ball Man", which was planned as a single. It featured the typical "ABBA-arrangement" with both Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad on lead vocals and the use of classical strings. This song was also performed by the group during rehearsals for its 1979 tour as "Under My Sun". However, the group felt that "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!", with its disco sound, would be a better choice, and thus, "Rubber Ball Man" remained nothing more than a demo.

Single version

The single version of this song, which was released in its full length of 4:48 everywhere else in the world, was released in the United States and Canada in an edited format, being just 3:36 in length. This was done by removing the first half of the opening instrumental, the first four of the eight bars of the instrumental bridge between the second and final chorus, and fading the song out early. It is believed the edit was done by Atlantic, ABBA's North American record label and not Polar, hence the reason why it was available only in the USA and Canada. This single version has never appeared on any commercial CD issued by Polar/Universal to date and along with the US promo edit of "Chiquitita", it marked the only time Atlantic ever commercially released an edited version of an ABBA single while they had the North American rights to release ABBA recordings.

The single was never released by Polar Music in the group's native Sweden, instead being featured on the Greatest Hits Vol. 2 album, which did get a Swedish release. While Polar released the single in neighbouring Norway, Denmark, and Finland, copies of these versions were not made available in the Swedish record stores, who thus arranged to import copies of the United Kingdom version on Epic Records. Sales of these imports were sufficient for the single to reach no. 16 on the sales chart in Sweden.

Spanish version

"¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame!" is the Spanish-language version of the song. The song was released as a single to promote Gracias Por La Música in Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries.

Reception

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was another highly successful song for ABBA. It hit no. 1 in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, and Switzerland, while reaching the Top 3 in Austria, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, and Norway. It also proved to be ABBA's most successful song in Japan, hitting no. 17.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1979–1980) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 1
France (IFOP)[8] 3
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 1
Japan (Oricon International Chart)[11] 1
Japan (Oricon Singles Chart)[11] 17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 15
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 2
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] 16
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[19] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (1979) Rank
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 32
France (IFOP)[21] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 42
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 57

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
France (SNEP)[24] Gold 613,400[25]
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Silver 250,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

A-Teens version

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
Single by A-Teens
from the album The ABBA Generation
Released 1999, 2000
Format
Length
  • 3:56 (Album Version)
  • 3:45 (Radio Edit)
Label Universal Music Group
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Thomas Johansson
  • Ronald Malmberg
A-Teens singles chronology
"Super Trouper"
(1999)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
(1999)
"Happy New Year"
(1999)

"Super Trouper"
(1999)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
(1999)
"Happy New Year"
(1999)

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was A-Teens' third single (fourth in other territories) from their first album The ABBA Generation, a collection of ABBA cover versions.

When the single came out in the winter of 1999 in Sweden, it earned a Gold certification.[27] It also became their third top ten hit there and the band's third top 40 hit in Germany. The song peaked at no. 51 in Switzerland, no. 27 in the Netherlands, no. 20 in Mexico, and no. 22 in Argentina and Chile.

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was recorded in Spanish for the Latin American promotion that started in early 2000.

Music video

The music video was directed by Sebastian Reed, and it was filmed in Sweden.

The video starts with the boys entering a warehouse, where they find a crystal ball. Inside, there is an "alternate world" where they perform the song. Part of the video also features the band at a bowling alley where they play a few games against each other.

The video had high rotation on several music channels, but it was not as successful as the first singles.

The version of the song used on the video is the Radio Version, which is shorter and includes different beats and sounds to the album version.

Releases

European 2-track CD single

  1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
  2. "A*Teens Medley" [Pierre J's Radio Mix] – 3:54

European maxi CD

  1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
  2. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Extended version] – 6:02
  3. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Earthbound Late Show Remix] – 5:04
  4. "A*Teens Medley" [Pierre J's Full Length Mix] – 8:19

Mexican CD single

  1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
  2. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Spanish version] – 3:43

Japanese maxi CD

  1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45
  2. "A*Teens Medley" [Pierre J's Radio Mix] – 3:54
  3. "Mamma Mia" [Spanish version] – 3:46
  4. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Spanish version] – 3:43

1 Track CD'

  1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" [Radio version] – 3:45

Charts

Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[28] 4
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[29] 19
Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 33
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 24
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 51

Star Academy France version

"Gimme ! Gimme ! Gimme ! (A Man After Midnight)"
Single by Star Academy 1
from the album L'Album
B-side "Brigite Bardot" (remix)
Released 2002
Format CD single
Length 3:30
Label
Songwriter(s)
Star Academy 1 singles chronology
"La Musique (Angelica)"
(2001)
"Gimme ! Gimme ! Gimme ! (A Man After Midnight)"
(2002)

"La Musique (Angelica)"
(2001)
"Gimme ! Gimme ! Gimme ! (A Man After Midnight)"
(2002)

In 2001, the song was successfully covered by the first edition of the French TV reality show Star Academy 1. The song was credited to Olivia Ruiz, Jenifer Bartoli and Carine Haddadou, three of the contestants. This version went straight to no. 1 in France, dislodging Star Academy's previous hit, "La Musique (Angelica)", and stayed atop for two weeks.

Track listings

CD single
  1. "Gimme ! Gimme ! Gimme ! (A Man After Midnight)" – 3:30
  2. "Brigitte Bardot" (remix edit) by Jean-Pascal Lacoste – 3:01

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[34] 11
France (SNEP)[35] 1

Film version

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
Single by Amanda Seyfried
from the album Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack Featuring the Songs of ABBA
Released 2008
Format Single
Length 3:53
Label Polydor Records
Songwriter(s)
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus
Producer(s)
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus

"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was the first single released from the soundtrack for the 2008 film version of Mamma Mia! by American actress Amanda Seyfried. Unlike the original stage version, Seyfried sings the complete song as a solo performance, and also does the same in a music video to promote both the single and the movie.

Covers, live performances and uses in the media

Other notable covers

Live cover performances

Sampling, references and appearances in other media

See also

References

  1. Guarisco, Donald A. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  2. Tobler, John (2011). Abba – Uncensored on the Record. Coda Books Ltd. p. 100.
  3. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  4. "Austriancharts.at – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. "Ultratop.be – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  6. MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 June 2006). MusicSeek.info.
  7. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  8. "Le Détail par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "ABBA" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Gimme Gimme Gimme". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Japan #1 IMPORT DISKS by Oricon Hot Singles". Hbr3.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – ABBA - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  14. "Charts.org.nz – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  15. "Norwegiancharts.com – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". VG-lista. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  16. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (A)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  18. "Swisscharts.com – ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  19. "Archive Chart: 1979-11-10" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  20. "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  21. "TOP – 1979" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  22. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  23. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1979" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  24. "Les Singles / Titres Certifiés "Or"" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  25. "Les Meilleures Ventes "Tout Temps" de 45 T. / Singles / Téléchargement" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  26. "British single certifications – ABBA – Gimme Gimme Gimme". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Gimme Gimme Gimme in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  27. "År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  28. "Ultratop.be – A*Teens – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  29. "Ultratop.be – A*Teens – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  30. "Offiziellecharts.de – A*Teens – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  31. "Dutchcharts.nl – A*Teens – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  32. "Swedishcharts.com – A*Teens – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  33. "Swisscharts.com – A*Teens – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  34. "Ultratop.be – Olivia Ruiz, Jenifer & Carine Haddadou – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  35. "Lescharts.com – Olivia Ruiz, Jenifer & Carine Haddadou – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  36. "DJ Ensamble – Trancing Queen". EuroDanceHits. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  37. Bossa Mia, the music of ABBA at the Wayback Machine (archived 5 December 2008). The Manila Times.
  38. "Abbacadabra – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!". Almighty Records. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  39. "James Last - Abba Medley (From "String of Hits" DVD" on YouTube
  40. "Madonna 'begged' Abba for sample". BBC News Online. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
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