Dancing Queen
Studio album by
Cher
ReleasedSeptember 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)
RecordedOctober 2017 – August 2018
Studio
GenreDance-pop[1]
Length40:05
LabelWarner Bros.
Producer
Cher chronology
Closer to the Truth
(2013)		 Dancing Queen
(2018)		 Christmas
(2023)
Singles from Dancing Queen
  1. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
    Released: August 9, 2018
  2. "SOS"
    Released: August 23, 2018

Dancing Queen is the twenty-sixth studio album by American singer Cher, released by Warner Bros. Records on September 28, 2018. It is Cher's first album in five years, following Closer to the Truth (2013). The album contains cover versions of songs recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, with the title referencing their 1976 song "Dancing Queen". The album follows Cher's appearance in the 2018 musical film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, based on the music of ABBA.[2][3]

The album was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number three on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 153,000 album-equivalent units, becoming Cher's highest debut sales week for an album in the United States. The album also peaked within the top ten of charts in another 18 countries, with nine of those being top five entries. As of March 2019, Dancing Queen has been certified gold by Music Canada and silver by BPI.

To promote the album, Cher embarked on the Here We Go Again Tour, which began on September 21, 2018. It also marks her first worldwide tour since Living Proof: The Farewell Tour.

Background

After previously appearing in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, for which she recorded "Fernando" and "Super Trouper", Cher was inspired to do an ABBA cover album.

While recording, Cher hinted on her Twitter account that she might be releasing an ABBA cover album. On July 16, 2018, it was officially revealed in an interview with The Today Show that the album would consist of ABBA covers. She further stated:

"After filming Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, I was reminded again of what great and timeless songs they wrote and started thinking, 'Why not do an album of their music?' The songs were harder to sing than I imagined but I'm so happy with how the music came out. I'm really excited for people to hear it. It's a perfect time." —Cher

Cher also said that "[she has] always liked ABBA and saw the original Mamma Mia! musical on Broadway three times".

In addition to that, Cher was asked about what people can expect from the album. She replied with saying, "It's not what you think of when you think 'ABBA', because [she] did it in a different way."

On August 9, 2018, it was announced that the album would be released on September 28, 2018.[4]

Singles and promotion

Singles

On August 8, 2018, Cher released a teaser of the album's first single "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" on her Twitter account.[5] The song was released the following day.[6] People who pre-ordered the album on iTunes immediately received a digital copy of the single. The song peaked at number four on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. An extended version of "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" was released on September 14, 2018.[7]

The second single, "SOS" was released on August 23, 2018.[8] It peaked at number 56 on the Scottish singles chart.[9] A music video for the song was released on September 18, 2018.[10]

Live performances

Cher performed "SOS" at the Ellen Show in 2018.[11] On September 18, 2019, Cher performed "Waterloo" at the season 14 finale of America's Got Talent, to promote the album and her Here We Go Again Tour.[12]

Tour

A world tour, titled the Here We Go Again Tour, in support of Dancing Queen, began on September 21, 2018, in Auckland, New Zealand. It was officially announced on May 7, 2018.[13][14] "Fernando", "Waterloo", and "SOS" were the only songs off the album Cher performed, however.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.9/10[15]
Metacritic79/100[16]
Review scores
SourceRating
attitude[17]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[18]
Gay Star News[19]
Gay Times[20]
Newsday[21]
NME[22]
Rolling Stone[23]
The Guardian[24]
The Telegraph[25]
Idolator[26]

According to Metacritic, which calculated a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 from 10 music critics, the album received "generally favorable reviews".[16] Gay Star News gave the album a positive review, saying: "If she'd approached this collection of ABBA re-recordings with the seriousness of, say, George Michael on the excellent Songs from the Last Century, she'd have been in big trouble. Instead, Dancing Queen is about fun, entertainment, dizzy abandonment. She knows how to please a crowd, while also acknowledging the desires of her die-hard fans."[19] Marc Snetiker from Entertainment Weekly gave the album a favorable review, calling it Cher's "most significant release since 1998’s Believe" and saying that "the album ender, 'One of Us,' is frankly one of Cher’s best recordings in years."[18]

Nick Levine from Gay Times praised Cher's vocals, calling them "glorious [...] – still rich and wonderfully androgynous-sounding" and pointing out that they "drive each song from beginning to end."[20] Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos commented that "the 72-year-old makes ABBA songs not only sound like they should’ve been written for her in the first place but like they firmly belong in 2018".[23] At Idolator, Mike Wass felt that "every track exudes the glitter, fun and nostalgia of a bygone era" and that "Dancing Queen, while disappointingly brief, covers all bases from dreamy disco moments and emotional ballads."[26]

In a positive review for The Guardian, it was noted that "occasionally Cher uses her trademark Auto-Tune like a crutch [...] but mostly it acts as a kind of interstellar portal that elevates Abba from the dancefloor to the cosmos."[24] In a review for The Times, Will Hodgkinson was less positive; he stated that the album delivered "exactly the results you would expect" and that "There's nothing to dislike, but also nothing to recommend beyond this being a fun, tacky choice for the Christmas party."[27]

Rolling Stone placed Dancing Queen on fifth place of all pop albums released in 2018, as well as placing Cher's version of "The Name of the Game" as the 22nd best song of the year.[28][29] The album's music video of "SOS" was ranked as the 18th best music video of 2018 by Paper.[30]

Accolades

Dancing Queen on year-end lists
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Paper Paper's Top 20 Music Videos of 2018
18
[B]
Rolling Stone The 20 Best Pop Albums of 2018
5
Rolling Stone Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2018
22
[A]


[A] for "The Name of the Game"
[B] for "SOS"

Commercial performance

In the US, the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 153,000 album-equivalent units, becoming Cher's highest debut sales for an album in the United States. It also ties the record for Cher's highest-charting solo album on that chart, which she first reached when her album Closer to the Truth also debuted and peaked at number three. It went on to spend 8 weeks in the chart.[32]

The album also debuted at number two in Canada, Cher's highest peak for a studio album there since 1998's Believe. Dancing Queen went on to be certified gold by Music Canada for sales of over 40,000 copies.

In the UK the album debuted at number two as well, giving Cher her highest-charting studio album there since 1992's Greatest Hits: 1965–1992, with 22,677 units.[33][34] The album was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling over 60,000 copies[35] and landed at number 91 on the year end chart for 2018. As of October 2023, Dancing Queen had to-date consumption of over 92,000 units in the UK.[36] In Ireland, the album gave Cher her first top ten album in 20 years when it debuted at number ten.[37]

In Australia the album debuted at number two, making it Cher's highest-charting studio album there since Heart of Stone topped the chart in 1989.[38]

The album also reached the top five in Hungary, peaking at number five, as well as placing 61st in the country's year-end chart.[39]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson and produced by Mark Taylor (tracks 1-7 and 9–10) and Benny Andersson (track 8), except where noted.

Dancing Queen track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dancing Queen" 3:42
2."Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
4:11
3."The Name of the Game" 4:48
4."SOS" 3:22
5."Waterloo" 2:52
6."Mamma Mia" 3:34
7."Chiquitita"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
5:14
8."Fernando"Andersson, Taylor[a]3:57
9."The Winner Takes It All"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
4:32
10."One of Us"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:53
Total length:40:05

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a vocal producer

Personnel

Credits for Dancing Queen adapted from AllMusic.[1]

  • Benny Andersson – executive producer, keyboards, mixing, piano, producer (all on "Fernando")
  • Göran Arnberg – orchestration, transcription
  • Chris Barrett – assistant engineer
  • Rob Barron – piano
  • Mat Bartram – engineer
  • Thomas Bowes – orchestra leader
  • Matt Brind – string arrangements, string conductor
  • Andy Caine – background vocals
  • Cher – vocals, concept, executive producer
  • Judy Craymer – executive producer
  • Björn Engelmann – mastering
  • Mats Englund – bass on "Fernando"
  • Linn Fijal – assistant engineer
  • Matt Furmidge – mixing
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
  • Jeri Heiden – art direction, design
  • Lasse Jonsson – guitar
  • Martin Koch – conductor, orchestration
  • Per Lindvall – drums on "Fernando"
  • Bernard Löhr – engineer, mixing
  • London Session Orchestra – orchestration
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Paul Meehan – engineer, keyboards, programming
  • Simon Meredith – saxophone
  • Machado Cicala Morassut – photography
  • Rocco Palladino – bass
  • Adam Phillips – guitar
  • Hayley Sanderson – background vocals
  • Ash Soan – drums
  • Nick Steinhardt – art direction, design
  • Jörgen Stenberg – percussion
  • Mark Taylor – engineer, keyboards, producer, programming, vocal producer
  • Björn Ulvaeus – executive producer on "Fernando"
  • Lasse Wellander – guitar on "Fernando"

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Dancing Queen
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[69] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Silver 60,000‡
United States — 150,000[71]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dancing Queen - Cher". AllMusic.
  2. ↑ Tornow, Sam (August 9, 2018). "Cher Announces 'Dancing Queen' Album Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Cher to Release New Album, 'Dancing Queen,' Next Month". Variety. August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Cher to Release ABBA Cover Album in September". E! Online. August 9, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Cher just released a teaser of her ABBA album, and it's amazing". August 9, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Cher Announces 'Dancing Queen' Album Release Date". Billboard.
  7. ↑ "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) [Extended Mix], Cher – Télécharger et écouter l'album". Qobuz.com. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Hear Cher Belt Out Emotional Version of ABBA's 'SOS'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ "WATCH: Cher's new video for SOS features Betty Who, Rumer Willis and more lip-syncing the hit ABBA song". channel24.co.za.
  11. ↑ "Cher Performs the ABBA Classic 'SOS'". ellentube.com.
  12. ↑ Avery Thompson (September 19, 2019). "Cher, 73, Rocks Plunging Purple Jumpsuit & Performs 'Waterloo' On 'AGT' Finale".
  13. ↑ "Cher coming to NZ for one-off concert in September". Stuff.co.nz. June 26, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Cher is bringing her arena tour to Sydney". Timeout.com. May 8, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Dancing Queen by Cher reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Reviews for Dancing Queen by Cher". Metacritic. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  17. ↑ Scott, Darren (September 28, 2018). "Cher's 'dancing Queen': A Track-by-track Review". attitude. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  18. 1 2 Snetiker, Marc (September 28, 2018). "Cher sends ABBA into disco bliss on Dancing Queen". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  19. 1 2 "REVIEW: Cher's new album Dancing Queen is here to save 2018". Gay Star News. September 14, 2018. Archived from the original on September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  20. 1 2 Levine, Nick (September 26, 2018). "Cher's new album Dancing Queen is an instant gay classic – review". Gay Times. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  21. ↑ Gamboa, Glenn (September 28, 2018). "Dancing Queen review: Cher covers ABBA songs and makes them her own". Newsday. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  22. ↑ Levine, Nick (September 25, 2018). "Cher – 'Dancing Queen' review". NME. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  23. 1 2 Spanos, Brittany (September 28, 2018). "Review: Cher Lovingly Updates ABBA's Hits on Dancing Queen". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  24. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (September 28, 2018). "Cher: Dancing Queen review – ingenious Abba-dabbling". The Guardian. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  25. ↑ McCormick, Neil (September 28, 2018). "Cher, Dancing Queen, review: a guided missile of pure atomic pop". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  26. 1 2 Wass, Mike (September 28, 2018). "Album review: Cher's Dancing Queen". Idolator. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  27. ↑ Hodgkinson, Will (September 28, 2018). "Pop review: Cher: Dancing Queen". The Times. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  28. ↑ Spanos, Brittany; Sheffield, Rob (December 14, 2018). "20 Best Pop Albums of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  29. 1 2 Sheffielf, Rob (December 20, 2018). "Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  30. 1 2 Montero, Roytel (December 17, 2018). "PAPER's Top 20 Music Videos of 2018". Paper. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  31. ↑ Sheffield, Brittany Spanos,Rob; Sheffield, Rob (December 14, 2018). "20 Best Pop Albums of 2018". rollingstone.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ↑ "Cher". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Charts analysis: Rod Stewart rules albums chart".
  34. ↑ "Rod Stewart Scores Ninth Solo No. 1 Album in U.K With 'Blood Red Roses'". Billboard.
  35. ↑ "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Charts analysis: Rolling Stones land 14th No.1 album in six decades at the top". October 27, 2023.
  37. ↑ White, Jack (October 5, 2018). "Kodaline collect their third Number 1 on the Official Irish Albums Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Australian Charts : John Butler Trio 'Home' Debuts At No 1". Noise11. October 7, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Top Albums - based on sales in 2018". MAHASZ. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  40. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Cher – Dancing Queen" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Cher – Dancing Queen" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Cher – Dancing Queen" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Cher Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Lista prodaje 42. tjedan 2018" (in Croatian). HDU. October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 40.Týden 2018 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  47. ↑ "VINYL TOP-40". Hitlisten. December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Cher – Dancing Queen" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums (Week 40, 2018)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Cher – Dancing Queen" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  51. ↑ "Greekcharts.com – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  52. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 40. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Cher". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  54. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Charts.nz – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  57. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  59. ↑ "Slovak Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved October 9, 2018. Note: On the chart page, select SK Albums and "201840" on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data.
  60. ↑ "South Africa Top 20" (in Afrikaans). Recording Industry of South Africa. October 29, 2018. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  61. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  62. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  63. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Cher – Dancing Queen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  64. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  65. ↑ "Cher Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  66. ↑ "Top Albums - based on sales in 2018". MAHASZ. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  67. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  68. ↑ "2018 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  69. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Cher – Dancing Queen". Music Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  70. ↑ "British album certifications – Cher – Dancing Queen". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  71. ↑ "Cher Ties Solo-Career-Best Rank on Billboard 200 as 'Dancing Queen' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. October 7, 2018. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
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