Eagle is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA from 1978. The song is taken from their fifth studio album The Album. The song is the longest they ever recording (the album version lasts 05: 51). Eagle was issued with Thank You for the Music as the b-side. Due to the popularity of Thank you for the music is the single in Netherlands considered a double A-side.
Background[Edit][]
Eagle was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad shared the vocal parts. Previously had the number the titles "High, High" and "The Eagle" gotten. For the text was Ulvaeus inspired by the book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach. Years after the appearance of the number is Eagle seen as one of ABBA's best songs in terms of text. There are also rumors that the song is a tribute to The Eagles, the Group popular in the 1970s, or that they are simply a tribute to the freedom that have these birds of prey by flying. The number seems strong on Laredo Tornado by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
Eagle was not a big hit in the charts. One reason was that the album where the song got up already on sale was. Another was that it was only released in a few countries, including Belgium (where it was a number one hit) and Netherlands. To make the song more radio friendly there was an edit made by 04: 25 (instead of 05: 51). The instrumental part and the third chorus were deleted. Australia and France even got an edit from the edit, with the song fading shortly after the second chorus, making it number lasted only 3: 33; almost 02: 20 shorter than the original.
The song was promoted with a music video by Lasse Hallström whereas previously was issued as part of an ABBA: The Movie. This last clip was added due to many more interesting special effects.
The single was released in May 1978 to fill the gap between the previous single "Take a Chance on Me and the next, all-new, " Summer Night City ". The B side of Eagle,Thank You for the Music was also released as a single in 1984 in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom and Netherlands.
Chart Positions[Edit][]
Eagle/Thank You for the Music in the Dutch Top 40 - inside: 20 may 1978 | ||||||||||
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Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
Number | 25 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 26 | 34 | from |
Eagle/Thank You for the Music in the Dutch Single Top 100 - inside: 27 May 1978 | |||||||||||
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Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
Number | 28 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 21 | 22 | 27 | from |
Radio 2 Top 2000[Edit][]
Number (s) with markings
in the Radio 2 Top 2000 |
' 99 | ' 00 | ' 01 | ' 02 | ' 03 | ' 04 | ' 05 | ' 06 | ' 07 | ' 08 | ' 09 | ' 10 | ' 11 | ' 12 | ' 13 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagle | 174 | 114 | 90 | 94 | 89 | 129 | 100 | 135 | 89 | 104 | 162 | 165 | 194 | 208 | 282 |