Is Bang-A-Boomerang a cover?

The definition of a "cover song" per dictionary.com:

cover version

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noun

1. a recording of a song by a singer, instrumentalist, or group other than the original performer or composer.

I was asked by a friend if the song ABBA song Bang-A-Boomerang is a cover song. I replied with my view, that technically, it is a cover song because ABBA released their version of the song after Svenne & Lotta performed it at the Melodifestivalen for 1975 and subsequently released it, however, considering that Björn and Benny (and Stig) wrote and composed the song, and B&B are half of ABBA, no, it is not a cover song.

After asking around on other forums and groups, my friend came to the answer that yes, it is a cover song, and my opinion on the matter is not correct.

In today’s blog post, I’d like to further explain my opinion, and why I think I am correct. (remember, this is just my opinion!!!)

As I pointed out earlier, Björn and Benny are the composers of the song, and going by the definition I posted above, since B&B are ABBA (one half, but ABBA nonetheless), I don’t think it makes sense to say that ABBA is covering their own song.

Next, I want to share a timeline of events leading up to the song being performed by Svenne & Lotta and then later being released by ABBA.

• September 16th, 1974, ABBA started recording the original demo version of Bang-A-Boomerang, titled Stop And Listen To Your Heart. It was written for a forthcoming ABBA album.
• In late 1974, Björn and Benny were again invited to submit a song to the Melodifestivalen of 1975, however, seeing as ABBA literally just won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, they decided to give a different Swedish act a chance to win, that other act being Svenne & Lotta. Together with Stig, the boys came up with Swedish lyrics for the now retitled Bang-En-Boomerang.
• In February 1975, Svenne & Lotta won 3rd place in the Melodifestivalen and around that time released the song as a single. The song was really successful in Sweden, and shortly afterward, Svenne & Lotta released an album with both the Swedish version of the song and an English version, Bang-A-Boomerang, also written by Björn, Benny, and Stig. (Fun fact, the English version of the single also features on the B-side, an English language cover of another Björn and Benny song from 1970, Kära Gamla Sol as Roly-Poly-Girl.  Also, on their album, Svenne & Lotta sang a cover of Dance (While The Music Still Goes On).)
• In April of 1975, ABBA released their version of the English version of the song on their self-titled record that they had been working on since August of 1974.

Based on this timeline, it seems pretty obvious that the song was originally intended as an ABBA song, and even though Svenne & Lotta performed the song in the Melodifestivalen (on behalf of Björn and Benny) and released singles and an album due to the success, the song is still ABBA’s song.

A lot of people say that ABBA’s song is a cover of Svenne & Lotta’s because ABBA’s version was released after Svenne & Lotta’s. However, I don’t think the release date can really confirm if a song is a cover or not.

During the 1979 world tour, Agnetha would perform her song, I’m Still Alive, live in concert, but the song was never officially released, until decades later in 2014. Until it’s official release in 2014, all we ever had of the song were bootleg recordings.

Agnetha was asked to submit a song of her own into the 1981 Melodifestivalen, and she wrote the song Men natten är vår . The singer Kicki Moberg performed it in the competition, and the song was later released as a single, I believe in February, 1981, and as the B-side, Kicki sang the Swedish version of I’m Still Alive, titled Här är mitt liv. Going by release date, Kicki’s version of the song was released first, in 1981, and Agnetha’s only released in 2014. However, no one says that Agnetha is covering Kicki’s song - in the end, it is still Agnetha's song!

Now, is the song Fernando a cover song as well?

On November 10th, 1975, Frida released a solo album titled Ensam, where she sang many cover songs, however she also sang a new song titled Fernando, composed and written in Swedish by none other than Björn and Benny and Stig.

Then in 1976, the song was released in English (lyrics written by Björn, Benny, and Stig) by ABBA. Going by release date, technically it is a cover, yes, but remember, Frida is a quarter ABBA, Björn and Benny are half of ABBA, meaning that the original Swedish version of Fernando was by 3/4 ABBA. I don't think it makes sense to say that ABBA covered 3/4 ABBA.

Is Waterloo a cover song?

Carl Magnus Palm wrote a very interesting article in January about the song Waterloo being originally performed, not by ABBA, but by this band called Ajax.

Ajax was a vocal group who not only sang as backup vocalists during the Melodifestivalen, but also would perform songs entered in the competition in advance of the actual contest. The Melodifestivalen for 1974 was held on February 9th, but on January 30th, Ajax performed Waterloo live for the first time ever, being the first time the public ever heard the song! But nobody says that ABBA’s Waterloo is a cover of Ajax just because the song was first heard performed by Ajax.

So what is the point of this blog post? Am I trying to say that everyone who believes that Bang-A-Boomerang and Fernando are covers are wrong to have that view? No, absolutely not. I am, however, trying to prove that there really is no right answer to the question. I think I have some valid points, and just because my opinion doesn’t line up with the majority’s view, that doesn't mean that my opinion is wrong.

So, in conclusion, is Bang-A-Boomerang a cover? There is no right or wrong answer.  It is and it isn't, and whichever way you think it is, you're correct.