The Winner's Gonna Take It All: The final...

Frida says that all four of them really felt the song was a lost cause, and that they were never able to sing it right.
 
D

Deleted member 312

I pair this with Lovelight as songs that evidently caused them problems during this period. Both have equal amazing and awful parts in them.

Lovelight works a little better though.

I actually really like Lovelight. Agnetha's bridge is awesome, as is the chorus, but the verses are a bit plodding. Still, I'd take it on the album over Lovers or Dream any day. If only they'd both been supplanted by Lovelight and Summer Night City...
 
I thought I was going to be in the minority for not enjoying Lovers (Live A Little Longer) -- there are definitely fun parts of the song, but the chorus is just pure shouting and irritating.
 
I actually really like Lovelight. Agnetha's bridge is awesome, as is the chorus, but the verses are a bit plodding. Still, I'd take it on the album over Lovers or Dream any day. If only they'd both been supplanted by Lovelight and Summer Night City...
Summer Night City so should have made the final cut that's for sure.
 
He/Him
63. - a tie

'...You don't care... It's not fair...And you're only smiling when you play your violin...'
- Agnetha Fätlskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad in Dum Dum Diddle-

abba-dum-dum-diddle-1976.jpg

Yes, this is the actual official artwork...

Average: 6.8125
Highest score: 1 *
10.00 - @bichard
Lowest score: 2 * 3.00 - @Baby Clyde @kalonite
My score: 6.50

We have a tie at #63, where we first lose Dum Dum Diddle, which was written and recorded in 1976 and was one of the last songs to be completed for Arrival. It eventually saw the light as the fourth track on the album. That same year it was released in Argentina as a single, which is a bit random, but then again, that's what their release schedule was, seaux...

It features Aggie and Frida singing in harmony for the entirety of the song and it's another example of how complimentary their voices were to each other as the vocals are on point here. It's an incredibly simple song, but the melody is undeniable and the lyrics are absolutely ridiculous... I mean... This woman's expressing her love to a (I'm assuming) quiet, shy man whose only pleasure in life is playing his violin, while being sexually threatened by said violin...

Only ABBA.

Those opening (and closing) synths are quite jarring to these ears and I never actively seek it out, but something kept me from giving it an outright low score. It was in my head for days after listening to it for this rate, so Benny and Björn must have done something good with this one...

Our lone 10-giver bichard agrees with me, telling us to "Ignore the daft lyrics. Melodically and instrumentation-wise this is ABBA at their very best. Just a joyous slice of pop. My favourite song on Arrival.". Sis, you prefer this to the downright classics available on Arrival? Okay.

He wasn't alone in thinking the lyrics were daft though.
Mina calls them "Cringeworthy.", Filippa admits to liking "the melody but those lyrics? Spoils the song for me again..." and for TrueBeliever it's a "Fun song with naff lyrics, nothing more, nothing less. Damned near impossible to not sing along with them, even if I’m not a fiddle lover.".
Meanwhile One Stop Candy Shop doesn't have a problem with the lyrics per sé, but is irritated by something else... "Always enjoyable, though I don't really care for bad rhymes likes "smiling" and "violin".". I actually think their accents are to blame, no?

Mikey1701 thinks "The lyrics are fucking ridiculous- god knows what B&B were smoking when they wrote them- but it’s so jovial and bouncy that I find it impossible not to be swept along in the joyous atmosphere. The best description I’ve ever read about the song comes courtesy of Alexis Petridis of The Guardian: “It is a song about a woman who feels sexually threatened by her partner's violin. ". SCREAMING.". Lemme thank Alexis for helping me in my little write-up too.

SecretsOfFatima awards it an 8, calling it "Fantastically nuts.", while VivaForever thanks God "this was the end of the nonsense songs.". Speaking of nonsense, here's WhatKindOfKylie? who feels like it was "something done from the Ring Ring era, but with more sophisticated progression, and thus a bit better for it. Ends a tad too soon though, a bit longer would have been great.". You're on the same page as poor ol' Sprockrooster who thinks it's "A true earworm.", but wishes "the outro/fade out was a bit longer.".

The Sprockster actually wasn't the only loving the outro and fade-out as chris4862 expresses his love for them, calling the synths "life affirming". Really?
And I must be alone in thinking they're way too heavy and jarring, because constantino shouts "C’mon synth-heavy intro! The chorus is a perfect example of their uncanny ability to create effortlessly breezy and melodic choruses.".

CasperFan doesn't outright love, nor hate it... "Lovely intro-and bang-a-boomerang style lyrics! Catchy but not earth shattering.", while tylerc904 admits "a song about being jealous of a fiddle is aggressively cheesy, but I bop.". Bop away, sis.

We'll end with Hudweiser who simply says "It's a song about someone who loves their violin more than their girlfriend. OK, ABBA, cool…"...
Well, let's get over to Mumty who has another way of putting it, shall we?
"Back on the old ABBA forum, there was a theory that this song was a big metaphor for how the guy preferred to masturbate instead of having sex with his girl and the girl wishes he was playing her fiddle instead of his own. And everytime I hear this song, I think of Agnetha complaining that Bjorn is jerking too much.".

giphy.gif




It was performed live on their 1976 Australian TV special ABBA-dabba-dooo!!.


In 1977 the Spanish version of Dum Dum Diddle was released in Venezuela as the b-side to Conociéndome, Conociéndote, the Spanish version of Knowing Me, Knowing You...


... and Matt Pop mixed it as part of his ABBA reworks too... Let's bop!
 
Last edited:
He/Him
I'm incredibly sorry for the double post, but is it ridiculous and petty of me to be asking for a little bit of feedback? The likes and reactions aren't exactly 'through the roof' and I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something wrong in these write-ups...

Sorry.
 
D

Deleted member 26234

Oh I'm sorry I didn't like your posts - it's just that I don't like losing another song ... I promise whenever we'll lose a song I don't mind that much I'll like your post :-)!

No, you're doing exactly right - I appreciate your hard work very much! It's part of the fun - I would definitely miss your comments and those of the participants!

So please keep going on!
 
He/Him
Oh I'm sorry I didn't like your posts - it's just that I don't like losing another song ... I promise whenever we'll lose a song I don't mind that much I like your post :-)!

No, you're doing exactly right - I appreciate your hard work very much! It's part of the fun - I would definitely miss your comments and those of the participants!

So please keep going on!
Lemme quickly clarify, I'm not asking for likes though.

I'm literally asking if there's something people don't like or if I could do certain things better...

Your feedback's much appreciated, Filippa!
 
Remorque your write-ups are bang-on and i always look forward to each new loss! ( and thinking i've been harsh to a lot of songs!)
 
"Back on the old ABBA forum, there was a theory that this song was a big metaphor for how the guy preferred to masturbate instead of having sex with his girl and the girl wishes he was playing her fiddle instead of his own. And everytime I hear this song, I think of Agnetha complaining that Bjorn is jerking too much."[/MEDIA]

Hahahahaaaaaa!
 
I'm incredibly sorry for the double post, but is it ridiculous and petty of me to be asking for a little bit of feedback? The likes and reactions aren't exactly 'through the roof' and I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something wrong in these write-ups...

Sorry.

I genuinely forget to like things. I mean, the function has only been around for a couple of years...
 
D

Deleted member 16293

They probably chose the title (Dum Dum Diddle) first and then couldn't find anything else than "fiddle" to rhyme with "diddle". And then they had to a make up a story about a fiddle.

It's still a lovely tune. I gave it 8.5, but had it been a bit less silly I'd give a 9 or 9.5.

I never knew a Spanish version of it existed!!

@Remorque : It's a great rate so far, don't worry. I personally would prefer a slightly higher pace (like 2 eliminations a day), but I understand your choice of giving each song their moment in the sun. Nothing wrong with your write-ups. I know from experience writing them can be a challenge sometimes (it isn't easy (but it sure is hard enough)), but you're doing a good job.
 
I always thought Dum Dum Diddle was a poignant meditation on longing and metaphysical desire, but I guess I'm alone in that.

@Remorque, gurl, this rate is giving me life and I'm a little obsessed with it. I can't imagine all the work you've put into this, but I know there are a lot of us who are appreciating it greatly!
 
he/him
Also, @Remorque the rate has been run wonderfully and I've learned a lot from the write-ups. I've tried to comment along the way and stay up to date with everything so far.

If we're doing petty, I don't recall you posting even once during my girl groups rate reveal. ddd
 
Top