In 1970, the four original members of Queen formed the band in London. Lead singer Freddie Mercury proposed the name Queen, which he chose because it is a bold, outrageous, international term that is easy to memorise and repeat even in areas where English is not spoken. Anthems include "We Will Rock You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Their popularity fell in the 1980s, but a memorable performance at the charity concert Live Aid in 1985 turned around their commercial fortunes. Mercury died of AIDS in 1991, and the band released their final album in 1995. Queen was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Benny Andersson (Keyboardist) explained and has acknowledged the influence in songwriting from the legendary songwriting duos of his era –– Leiber/Stoller (Elvis Presley), Goffin/King (The Animals, The Chiffons), Lennon/McCartney (The Beatles) - as well as influence from The Beach Boys, Motown, Joni Mitchell, Chuck Berry, and The Kinks. He pointed out that his group possessed a rarely acknowledged capacity for the sorrows of artists living within the "melancholy belt" above the 59th latitude, where the sun virtually disappears for two months and snow falls for nearly half a year. He argued that this despondency runs through Swedish folk, Russian folk, classical composers like Finland's Jean Sibelius and Norway's Edvard Grieg, Ingmar Bergman movies, the voice of Swedish-born actress Greta Garbo and, sometimes, the harmonies of Lyngstad and her front line vocal partner Agnetha Fältskog.

ABBA would go on to epitomize a sense of pop maximalism that masqueraded as intellectual and musical simplicity. But there is no denying that their music is unapologetically culturally homogenous and exceedingly catchy. Taking direct influence from traditional Swedish folk music and European schlager, their sound is completely void of influences from genres like hip-hop, reggaeton, R&B, and soul — giving it a unique, northern-European flair that stylistically sets their discography apart from those of their contemporaries.

How ABBA influenced the Music Industry

ABBA’s influence and impact on the music industry is unparalleled. Ulvaeus (Guitarist) and Andersson's attempts to maximize the symphonic and choral elements of their recordings results in a meticulously harmonic production with each layer of sound adding new textures to their vivid soundscapes. Brilliantly juxtaposed, ABBA's expressive melodies, when stripped bare of the flamboyant piano, heavy drum mixing, and ambient synths, manage to permeate a bittersweet, immediate intimacy deep in your gut: a feat that speaks volumes about their mastery in their craft.

Their signature sound has served as a blueprint for several prominent producers in the pop scene including figures like Max Martin, a Swedish producer for leading pop artists today (such as Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, and more). Their discography has also spawned several tribute albums, ranging from Cher's “Dancing Queen” (2018) and the London Symphony's Orchestra’s “ABBA Played by the London Symphony Orchestra” (1991). Perhaps the most notable piece of media they’ve inspired is the “Mamma Mia!” musical (1999).

Before Queen, there was Yes, Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator, and Pink Floyd who came to be inspirations to the band known as Smile, who we now better know them as Queen. Their flamboyantly cavalier approach would soon go on to inspire such modern masters as Dream Theater, Queensrÿche and Muse. Their famed track ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ encapsulated one of the key things that gave Queen such a distinct identity. Like The Beatles and Beach Boys before them, they used the studio as an instrument – not least when it came to their vocals.

How Queen influenced the Music Industry

Some of the greatest Queen influences can be felt in genres such as rock and disco. Bands such as Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Radiohead have cited Queen as one of their greatest inspirations and have implemented their style into their own music. Their style of music goes beyond just delivering a message, with Queen having an influence on so many artists today because of how Mercury handled his opennesses with his sexuality and how the band lived their life. Many artists, such as Kurt Cobain, cited Queen as their main inspiration and role model for the way they handled their fame.

Since his passing, rather than replacing the iconic Freddie Mercury, Adam Lambert joined Queen as a featured artist alongside the active band members. Their synergy was first showcased during a performance of We Are the Champions, with Lambert and Kris Allen on American Idol. This collaboration has since blossomed into a global musical phenomenon. Queen + Adam Lambert embarked on a series of tours, starting with the Queen + Adam Lambert Tour in 2014 and 2015, which took them across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and South America.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEjLoHdbVeE

Sampled:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwb9jOVRtU

He is also an alumni of the Performing Arts programme from Sunway, finding his unexpected home in theatre foremost, then in film. He was previously also appointed the role of ‘Music Director’ in SUNFM (now popularly known as the SUN4U Broadcast Club). Upon graduating, he has taken up projects from the likes of KONGSIKL, AmberJadeArts, and howls collective. In his downtime, he likes to occasionally write and pursue photography.

ABBA

https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/05/23/408844375/abbas-essential-influential-melancholy

https://stuyspec.com/article/the-lasting-legacy-of-abba#

Queen

https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-prog-were-queen

https://coronadoexplorer.com/2509/entertainment/queen-the-band-that-set-the-stage/

https://www.therichest.com/meet-adam-lambert-the-new-frontman-of-queen/

https://www.queenonline.com/queen

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

I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky
Like a tiger, defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by, like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go, go, go there's no stopping me

I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man outta you

Don't stop me now
I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball
Don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don't stop me now
(Don't stop me now) 'cause I'm having a good time
I don't wanna stop at all, yeah

I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars on a collision course
I am a satellite, I'm out of control
I'm a sex machine, ready to reload
Like an atom bomb about to oh, oh, oh, explode

I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic woman of you

Don't stop me, don't stop me
Don't stop me, come on
Don't stop me, don't stop me
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't stop me, come on, do it
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm not stopping

Have a good time, good time
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Move it
I like it, like it, yeah

Alright, alright, yeah

Alright, alright, do it
Everybody do it
Everybody do it

Don't stop me, don't stop me
Oh, oh, oh, I like it
Don't stop me, don't stop me
Have a good time, good time

Oh, I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man outta you

Don't stop me now
I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball
Don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don't stop me now
(Don't stop me now) 'cause I'm having a good time
I don't wanna stop at all, yeah

However, instead of playing the the whole triad chords, the harmony section omit the third note of the chords. Which mean the melody line oscillating back and forth between root and fifth, and the root and sharpened fifth for tension. It is because this simple expression of ostinato make the into an iconic motif. Notice how the composer use syncopation here, the chords are actually change on the beat four and not beat one.

The intro of "Mamma Mia" by ABBA not only use this simple harmonic techniques to create a memorable and engaging opening, this motif is also repeating and appearing throughout the song.

Notice the C/G and G in the above chord chart. The move to C/G (bVII/5) introduces a slight surprise and a shift away from the tonic, borrowing from the parallel minor. The "my, my" attack on the C/G and G chords adds a striking and memorable hook to the chorus. The G major chord resolves the tension introduced by the C/G, creating a satisfying progression back towards the tonic. The melodic line on "my, my" aligns with this chord change, emphasizing the leap and creating a hook that is instantly recognizable. The rhythmic placement of "my, my" on the C/G and G chords creates a syncopated feel that adds to the excitement and forward momentum of the chorus.

This 5-bar progression adds a unique rhythmic and structural complexity to the song, contributing to its energetic and unpredictable feel. By using 5-bar phrases instead of the more common 4-bar phrases, Queen creates a song that feels continually fresh and engaging. This unconventional structure keeps listeners excited, as the extended phrases create a sense of unpredictability and excitement. It’s a clever technique that contributes significantly to the song's energetic and uplifting character.

Some people consider pop music to be a style rather than a genre, as the types of music that are a part of it are so varied. The genre has included elements of rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, R&B, jazz, electronic and folk music throughout time. If we look at the 1920s-1950s, pop music leaned heavily on jazz music. Then we began to see R&B influences, and hip hop since the 1980s. In short, pop music has drawn inspiration from a plethora of genres as time goes by. The genre is also loosely used to reference songs that are currently ‘popular’ at the time.

The Structure

Generally, the genre follows a simple form and structure, with repeating structures and simple melodies — making it easy for the popular mass to digest and catch on to its ‘catchiness’ making it more danceable and rememberable. Structurally, pop songs usually have a verse and a chorus, each with different musical material, as well as a bridge connecting them.

The History

In the 1950s, with industrialisation beginning to advance, pop music started to advance. TV and radio began to advertise the songs and gain more traction. Of course, in the 1960s, we saw bands like The Beatles start to appear. Since the 1960s, the genre adapted and each decade saw new pop artists making their mark - the 1970s saw ABBA and Elton John, the 1980s had Michael Jackson and Madonna, and the 1990s had Destiny’s Child and TLC. Of course, entering the 2000s, we saw artists like Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears take to the main stage, and the 2010s gave rise to singers like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.

Unfortunately, the band met their early end after as they disbanded in December 1982 mainly due to burning out and lacking motivation. That, however, has not stopped them from being one of the most well-respected and timeless bands of all time. They would soon come back together for one last ride in 2022 but with a twist in their performance. 

1969 - Within this period, Bjorn and Benny had the last 2 puzzle pieces for ABBA who were coincidentally, their soon-to-be fiancees. Agnetha Fältskog started as a successful solo singer upon releasing her first hit single in 1967. On the other hand, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who was also known as Frida, started her singing/recording career right before Agnetha. Bjorn and Agnetha were married in July of 1971 while Benny and Frida married in October of 1978.

1970 - The four members made their first collaboration act, Festfolk, where they blended all four voices, giving them the idea to put together a cabaret act. Their attempt at this, however, was unsuccessful. 

1972 - In spring, the group had their first proper recording song called “People Need Love” which gained them a medium-sized audience and listeners within Sweden. Because of this success, it kick-started their passion and soon entered the Swedish selection to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest, the  Melodifestivalen 1973. They placed third with another one of their songs “Ring Ring” but the exposure earned their single biggest hits of the year in Sweden, competing within the top music charts within the country. Ring Ring would soon reach internationally as it became a hit as well in several other European countries. 

1974 - The group entered Melodifestivalen once more in 1974 but this time as ABBA and with their new song “Waterloo”. Their success had rocketed them to the Eurovision finals in Brighton, England. Coincidentally, ABBA was also the name of a Swedish canned fish company that, fortunately, agreed to lend their name to the pop group. Shockingly, ABBA stole the show and was awarded the win over the different international competitors/participants by winning over the juries with “Waterloo”.  Right after their huge milestone, “Waterloo: was ranked number one on the music charts all over Europe while also even reaching internationally, placing top 10 in the US charts. However, ABBA was not able to ride this momentum as they were only labeled “winners” of the contest and were never taken seriously. Just 18 months later, they broke this stigma and achieved another worldwide hit again with “SOS” from their album also named “ABBA”. Furthermore another song from the “ABBA” album “Mamma Mia” shot the group up to the UK’s number one spot in the music charts where they remained so for nine times between 1974 and 1980. Australia was another continent/country they conquered as “Mamma Mia’ blew up, causing an “ABBA fever”. 

1976 - ABBA had finally solidified themselves as one of the most popular pop groups in the world, defining an era. In late 1976, ABBA released their fourth album entitled “Arrival” which dominated the charts internationally. This was followed by a concert tour of Europe and Australia between January and March 1977. When the tour reached Australia, there was already a feature film of ABBA in the works. This film was soon released in December 1977 which coincided with the release of the “ABBA’ album where it all began. 

1980 - In March of 1980, ABBA finally took their tours to Japan for the very first time. However, it would also be the very last live concert in front of a wide, paying audience. On the other hand, in the following months, the band dedicated their time to recording and working on their next album, “Super Trouper”. 

1981 - This moment marked the start of an end to the ABBA era as Benny and Frida announced their divorce. Nonetheless, the four of them still kept it professional and released another album titled, “The Visitors”, with “One Of Us” as the album’s biggest hit single. 

1982 - The group’s energy and passion started to die down as Bjorn and Benny shifted their focus on writing a musical entitled “Chess” while Agnetha and Frida were trying to bring back their solo singing careers. Towards the end of 1982, the nail of the coffin was finally struck as ABBA announced that they were to be taking a “temporary” break and could always get back together after a few years apart from the band. 

1999 -  Despite the band’s hiatus, a widely successful musical “Mamma Mia!” premiered in London in 1999, basing off of ABBA’s hits. The sought-after musical was finally opened on Broadway two years later which had spread across the globe. To this day, the musical has been seen by more than 60 million people in over 440 cities. Shockingly, when the premier happened in ABBA’s home country in February of 2005, it was attended by none other than all 4 of the band members. 

2021- Being inactive did not stop the band from gathering awards after awards year after year. On March 23rd, ABBA was announced as the winners of the Swedish Government’s 2021 Music Export Prize award. And on the 5th of November, ABBA released another studio album, “Voyage” after a whole 40 years of inactivity. ABBA had kept the album exactly how it was supposed to be done with it being produced by Benny and Bjorn while vocals were by Agnetha and Frida. Furthermore, most of the mixing, arrangement, and programming was done by Benny, with the album featuring the Stockholm Concert Orchestra as well. 

2022 - On the 27th of May, it marked a special day as the ABBA Voyage Arena opened in London. The four members had created a concert they always wanted, performing for their fans as digital versions of themselves backed by fine musicians as the ABBA members sit back and enjoy their own concert from their fans’ perspective. This whole performance was well documented and could also be found on platforms such as YouTube.

Queen

https://calendar.songfacts.com/timeline/queen/

https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/entertainment/music/queen-career-timeline/  

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Queen-British-rock-group

https://study.com/academy/lesson/queen-overview-history-songs.html#:~:text=Queen%20is%20a%20British%20band,theatrical%20presentations%20and%20great%20voice

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-queen-albums/

ABBA

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1755868/bio/?ref_=nmbio_ql_1

https://abbasite.com/story/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/ABBA

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q68213642

Genre Exploring

Both ABBA and Queen were bands that were open to experimenting and trying out different genres, and played a big part in thinning out the line between what defines a genre.

International Fame

Both share the similarity of being successful in their eras and played a major part in history, redefining and reshaping the music industry.

Harmonies

Both ABBA and Queen were known for their rich vocal harmonies. ABBA's harmonies were often characterized by lush, layered arrangements, while Queen's harmonies were often more intricate and operatic, thanks in part to Freddie Mercury's incredible vocal range.

In his 8 years of playing guitars, Brandon has been involved in multiple projects and shows and continues to do so to this day. He is the founder and the MD of the local Jrock band namely, Grand Endeavour which has met stages such as Noizucon KLCC and Jrock Tamashi Rex KL. He is also a frequent sessionist for BrightBurn and helped session-ed mainly for Comic Fiesta 2023 and Ani-Pop Melaka 2024. On the R&B side, Brandon has been involved in MJPF and other gigs either as a sessionist or a guitarist/leader for BandOne, a local pop band. Besides being a guitarist, Brandon also teaches guitar at a center while trying to pursue his career as a recording/post-production engineer. 

In his free time, Brandon likes to research and improve his guitar tone while trying to hone his skills both in guitar and post-production.

"Hobbies? I kind of forgot about them. I devout my time in improving myself and the music that I bring"

Music Director: Brandon Cheong

Bookings: Farah Alia

Music Transcriber: Jake Moy

A double reference to 'Greatest Hits' compilation albums of artists and bands.

She started doing more performances and gigs after that and has continued to do so up until this point. In addition, Band One is a local pop band that Alia fronts and sings for. As an aspiring singer-songwriter, Alia draws inspiration from artists such as Renee Rapp, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Sabrina Carpenter. Her love of singing and music inspires her to continue learning and developing.

Besides music, she also loves her cats!

Even though he is classically trained, he loves contemporary music on genres such as pop, jazz, gospel, and musical. Notice that classically trained musician may not know how contemporary music work, he studied and learned to play contemporary style through self-learning. Soon, he became the main keyboardist in his church and play on stage every week where he gain even more experiences on contemporary music skills such as live sound, music production, studio recording, and accompanying different kinds of events and moods and able to deal with sudden changes swiftly.

Now, he has continuously been involved in jobs like commercial advertisement music production, live sound for small and medium size event, gigs for variety of events, and releasing songs. Additionally, he is also the keyboardist of the local pop band called Band One.

Both ABBA and Queen do not share the same lyrical contents in their songs. Queen’s songs are usually about the celebration of life and freedom and personal empowerment.. For example, in Don’t Stop Me Now, Freddie Mercury sings about feeling invincible and unstoppable, capturing a sense of self-confidence. To compare, ABBA’s songs are more about romantic love and heartbreaks. In the song Mamma Mia, the song talks about emotional turnoil of longing and confusion about their romantic feelings., a past relationship that they were not able to let go of.

Instrumentation

Queen has a more diverse and rock-oriented approach, whereas ABBA's instrumentation is more keyboard and synth-driven and has a polished, pop-oriented production style. In Don’t Stop Me Now, the euphoric attitude of the song is largely conveyed by the instrumentation. The song's momentum is increased by Brian May's electric guitar solo, which has a catchy riff and adds layers of complexity, supporting both melodies and harmonics. In Mamma Mia, the song's themes of love and confusion are supported by the appealing and engaging instrumentation. It has a prominent synthesizer riff that is instantly recognisable. The primary melodic hooks of the song are provided by Benny Andersson's keyboard work.

Fanbase demographic

Although the fan bases of Queen and ABBA are broad, there are noticeable differences in the demographics of these groups, which can be defined to their different musical genres and cultural influences. The European fan base of ABBA is very large, notably in Sweden and other Scandinavian nations, where the group is originally from. They have significant followings in Germany and the UK as well. With large followings in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa, Queen's fan base is international. Their music is loved by people all around the world. Besides that, numerous lovers of pop and dance music who value ABBA's songs and melodies make up the group's fan base. Queen’s fanbase includes many rock music enthusiasts. Overall, followers of pop, disco, and musical theatre make up ABBA's fan base, whilst followers of rock, the LGBTQ+ community, and cinematic storytelling form Queen's.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/ABBA     

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Queen-British-rock-group           

https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/queen/dont-stop-me-now-lyrics-meaning/

https://storyofsong.com/story/dont-stop-me-now-2/

First, we could notice that every time there is a Bb chord, it will follow by an Eb chord, which indicate that the Bb is function as a dominant 7th just without the 7th. This dominant of the dominant (V/V), creating a sense of forward momentum and anticipation.

Additionally, in some part like bar 34 and 40 in the image above, we can see that the melody include the special note of the Bb chord, which is the natural D that suppose to be Db in the key of Ab. Having melody emphasize the dominant of the dominant (V/V), creating a another layer of excitement to the song.

Lastly, notice that the Bb is used between Ab and Eb, effectively creating a 4-5-1 cadence in the key of Eb. This clever use of Bb enriches the harmonic progression, providing a temporary modulation that enhances the overall harmonic texture.

• Pop (Genre)

• Similarities

• Influences

Brandon Cheong (Music Director)

• Rock (Genre)

• Timeline (ABBA)

Farah Alia (Bookings)

• Timeline (Queen)

• Comparisons

• Inspirations

Jake Moy (Music Transcriber)

• Song Analysis

• Lead Sheets