Anita Ward's Disco Critique: ABBA's "Barely Danceable" Tracks

Anita Ward, the Memphis R&B/Disco icon behind the hit song "Ring My Bell," has been making waves with her scathing critique of some of ABBA's most popular tracks from the early 1980s.[1] ABBA, known for their global pop dominance, might have expected praise from a disco legend like Ward, but instead, she's speaking out against their "barely danceable" songs.

Anita Ward's Disco Standards

According to Ward, a good dance song requires a heavy kick drum, strong girl-group vocals, man-made disco elements, and serious background voices - a formula she believes is missing from some of ABBA's early 80s output.[2] With her credentials as the singer behind "Ring My Bell," a classic of the disco era, Ward is well-positioned to offer her expert opinion on what makes a song danceable. Her affinity for 1970s US disco is well-documented, and she's not afraid to share her thoughts on what works and what doesn't on the dance floor.[3]

"Super Trouper": Overproduced and Underwhelming

The first song on Ward's list is "Super Trouper," a track she believes is overproduced and lacking in the key elements that make a song danceable.[4] Ward's criticism centers on the song's excessive vocal complexity, weak drums, and the absence of that signature '70s disco kick drum.[5] She's also not a fan of the "Sup-p-per Troup-p-per" backing vocals, which she believes overshadow the more serious girl-group vocals that she thinks the song needs. According to Ward, the song's potential is wasted by the lack of strong background vocals from American girl singers, a key element she believes is essential to a great disco track.[6]

In an interview with The Guardian, Ward elaborated on her dislike of "Super Trouper," stating that it's "not a dance song" due to its over-reliance on vocal harmonies and lack of a strong beat.[7] This sentiment is echoed by other critics, who have noted that ABBA's later work, including "Super Trouper," marked a departure from the more straightforward pop and disco sound of their earlier output.[8]

Conclusion

In conclusion, Anita Ward's critique of ABBA's "Super Trouper" highlights her commitment to the traditional disco sound, and her expectation that a dance song should have a strong kick drum, serious girl-group vocals, and man-made disco elements. While ABBA's global pop dominance is undeniable, Ward's criticism serves as a reminder that not all of their songs are created equal, and that some may be more suited to the pop charts than the dance floor.

The key elements that make a song danceable, according to Anita Ward, are a heavy kick drum, strong girl-group vocals, man-made disco elements, and serious background voices.

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