【美壇綜藝秀】ABBA的歌曲如何成為熱門音樂劇Mamma Mia!

 

"Mamma Mia" covered by ToClouds (Duet with myself)

 

How ABBA's songs were turned into the popular Musical "Mamma Mia!"

 

ABBA is the legendary Swedish music group that was very famous in the 1970s and 1980s. Their timeless classics include "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "The Winner Takes It All,"  "Waterloo" and more.

 

I still remember my university days when I was attracted by ABBA's melodies. At that time little did I anticipate that these songs would be transformed into a successful musical years later. When I first saw a poster for the musical "Mamma Mia!" in my city, I could hardly believed it. I wonder how ABBA's unrelated songs could be woven into a story. Did ABBA themselves create the script?

 

It turns out that Catherine Johnson, a british playwright, who had the brilliant idea of transforming ABBA songs into a musical. Catherine persistently persuaded ABBA for years before they agreed on her concept. 

"Mamma Mia!" tells the story of a young lady named Sophie who will get married on a Greek island. She wants her father to give her away at the wedding, but she doesn't know who her father is as he has never appeard in her life. She discovers three potential fathers from her mother's old diary and invites them all to her wedding. After a series of comical events, her mother marrys to her true lover -- A happy ending. 

 

 

Catherine seamlessly incorporate 23 ABBA songs into this story including hits like "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me," "Super Trouper," and of course, "Mamma Mia." The story was designed to be full of love, friendship, and self-discovery prevalent in ABBA's music.

 

The Musical "Mamma Mia!" started in London's West End in 1999 and became a huge success, with audiences tapping their feet and singing along in theater. The musical became so popular that it later opened on Broadway in 2001. In 2008, a film was adapted from the musical and starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. The film became the best-selling movie of that year.

 

 

Thanks to the timeless allure of ABBA's songs, combined with Catherine Johnson's storytelling prowess, this enchanting musical "Mamma Mia!" was brought to us.

（本文經過ChatGPT修改）

 

Mamma Mia

I've been cheated by you since I don't know when
So I made up my mind, it must come to an end
Look at me now, will I ever learn
I don't know how, but I suddenly lose control
There's a fire within my soul

and I can hear a bell ring
(One more look) and I forget everything, whoa

Mamma mia, here I go again
My, my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again
My, my, just how much I've missed you?

Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know
My, my, I could never let you go

I've been angry and sad about things that you do
I can't count all the times that I've told you we're through
And when you go, when you slam the door
I think you know that you won't be away too long
You know that I'm not that strong

and I can hear a bell ring
(One more look) and I forget everything, whoa

Mamma mia, here I go again
My, my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again
My, my, just how much I've missed you?

Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, even if I say
Bye-bye, leave me now or never
Mamma mia, it's a game we play
Bye-bye doesn't mean forever

Mamma mia, here I go again
My, my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again
My, my, just how much I've missed you?

Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know
My, my, I could never let you go