Nina, Pretty Ballerina
Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
"Nina, Pretty Ballerina" is a song recorded in November 1972 by Swedish pop group ABBA and released on their debut album Ring Ring.
Background
"Nina, Pretty Ballerina" is a third-person story song written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The song describes a mundane lifestyle of a young woman who works at an office, but on a Friday night, she transforms and lives her dream on the dancefloor.[1]
The initial recording took place on 17 October 1972 alongside "He Is Your Brother" in Europa Film Studios, Stockholm, but the end result of this song was unsatisfactory.[2] The song was re-recorded in 2 November 1972 at Kungliga Musikhögskolan, Stockholm’s Royal College of Music.[2] This is considered to be the first ABBA song to have the ABBA sound, where Agnetha Fältskog and Frida Lyngstad have lead vocals in unison.[1]
Several sound effects are used including a train whistle and cheering.[1] Andersson and sound engineer Michael B. Tretow pioneered a technique similar to Vari-speed, where the song tape had been slowed down and the piano score had been overlayed.[1][2] With the song back in the original speed, this resulted in the instrument being sped up, so fast that it would not be possible to play.[1]
"Nina, Pretty Ballerina" was released on 7" vinyl record in France in October 1973 without any chart success. After radio success in Austria, the song was released in February 1974,[3] serving as the seventh and final single from the band's debut album Ring Ring. The single reached #8 on the singles chart in Austria.
Personnel
- Agnetha Fältskog – lead and backing vocals
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead and backing vocals
- Björn Ulvaeus – electric guitar and backing vocals
- Benny Andersson – piano and backing vocals
Additional musicians
Charts
Template:Single chart| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|
Release history
| Region | Date | Title | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Oct 1973 | "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" / "He Is Your Brother" | Vogue | 7-inch vinyl | 45. X. 3027 |
| Austria | 1974 | "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" / "I Am Just A Girl" | Polydor | 2040 111 | |
| Kenya | 1977 | "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" / "Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)" | 2001 736 | ||
| Philippines | 1977 | "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" / "So Long" | PRO-3512 (2001 741) |
Covers
- The song in covered in Swedish-language, titled "Nina Fina Ballerina" in 1974 by several groups including Jigs, Sewes and singer Dick Zetterlund. The version by Sewes reached number 5 in the Svensktoppen charts on 27 October 1974.[4]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".