Last night, in the sparkling desert of Las Vegas, the crème de la crème of music filled the big hall at the classic MGM Grand to celebrate the industry’s biggest night; the Grammys. However, I can’t shake the feeling there was a big void in that hotel ballroom, namely the rightful winners of the Record of the Year: ABBA
There is no question that I have a passionate love for Scandinavia’s most famous quartet. Their return to the limelight in 2021 was one of the highlights of not only my year, but of my life. I've grown up with ABBA blasting through every speaker, on every road trip, and at every party I ever attended. If I’m having a bad day, or if I am having the best day of my life, there’s no doubt what my soundtrack would be.
To top it off, I have 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' tattooed on my arms, so my adoration of ABBA, is, quite literally and metaphorically, permanent.
Photo: Getty
Therefore, when the nominees were announced for the Grammys' most prestigious award, Record of the Year, I was absolutely over the moon. ABBA’s first single since 1981, I Still Have Faith In You, had been recognised as one of the most influential songs of 2021. As this was the Grammys' first-ever recognition of ABBA as a group (they received zero nominations throughout their first run), it felt like this was their time.
The Record of the Year is one of the 'big four' (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, and Record of the Year), and is, according to the Recording Academy, dedicated to "honour artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to sales or chart position.”
Past winners include the absolute classics, such as Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, Roberta Flack’s Killing Me Softly, Amy Winehouse’s Rehab, and Adele’s Rolling in the Deep, to name a very, very few. To win Record the Year is to win the title of bonafide classic.
When we look back at this past year, without regarding sales and chart positions, the nominations in the category accurately reflected what pop culture looked like. There was Olivia Rodrigo’s break-out song Driver’s License, Lil Nas X’s Montero (Call Me By Your Name), Doja Cat feat. SZA’s Kiss Me More, and the winner Leave the Door Open by Silk Sonic. The category truly highlighted the best of the best in music.
But when I look at the characteristics required to win in this category, I think of the song that has united us— across oceans, generations, and time. ABBA feels like the stand-out winner. I Still Have Faith in You sparked once again a worldwide love for Scandinavian pop, not only in an air of nostalgia but in a genuine fondness for their craft and the art that they share with the world.
Against all odds, ABBA returned to the big stage, three decades later, stronger than ever. If that is not an “artistic achievement”, I do not know what is.
Silk Sonic’s Leave the Door Open is an exceptionally well-made record, that not only climbed the charts (it went number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100) but also recreated the soul of the 1970s. They were nominated and are winners for a reason.
However, when I look back at this past year, and what ABBA accomplished with Voyage, I believe that the golden gramophone might have ended up in their hands, despite their dark horse status.
Photo: Getty
As the significance of the Grammys has begun to wean each year, especially after the catastrophic snub of The Weeknd’s entire album After Hours, and hit single Blinding Lights, which now happens to be the biggest song of literally all time, there is no shame in not being recognised. Even though our favourite group technically lost a statue, ABBA will forever go down in history as the people’s winners.
ABBA won Record of the Year in our hearts, and at the end of the day, that is all that matters.