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ABBA gets happy happy happy in Hawaii

by: Derek Paiva
posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 04:56 PM
For pau hana entertainment purposes only, here’s a vintage clip of an animated-but-still-very-‘70s ABBA, singing their original song called “Happy Hawaii.”

Trust me, the track is no “Dancing Queen.” It also annoys me to no end that they mispronounce the name of our Island home … over and over.

But it’s kind of fun. It’s kind of Swedish. It’s kind of cheesy. In other words, it’s classic ABBA.

If anyone out there knows what moved Bjorn, Benny, Anni-Frid and Agnetha to craft this sugary pop confection and its accompanying cartoon clip, feel free to enlighten me.
 



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Scott Rose
on 01/23/2008
Maybe ABBA were getting revenge for every time an American had mispronounced Stockholm.
lava girl
on 01/23/2008
I love it!
hot lava
on 01/24/2008
I can't stop listening to the song! It's so fun and catchy. Sing it with me...hey Honolulu, we're going to Happy Hawaii!
Web Ed
on 01/24/2008
Glad you're digging it, hot lava! Anybody know if ABBA ever did a concert here in Honolulu?
chicagoaloha
on 01/26/2008
Hey cool vid, very catchy song. It's almost like an oxymoron, ABBA + Hawaii.
Naleilehua
on 02/21/2008
OK, this is from the "Official ABBA Website" -- "This cartoon version of Happy Hawaii was originally to be featured in a projected series of ABBA cartoons, instigated in 1976. The project was ultimately shelved, but not before this unique clip was completed." Also, "Happy Hawaii" which was never published on an album but only as the B-side to "Knowing Me, Knowing You." It is also apparently an early version of "Why Did It Have To Be Me." Whew! Even with the mispronunciation, it's kinda cute, in an ABBA sort of way ...
Web Ed
on 02/21/2008
Wow, Naleilehua! Thanks for finding an answer to my question. I appreciate the research. I'm guessing A, B, B and A kind of dug Hawaii, too. Do you know if they ever did a concert here or vacationed here?
Naleilehua
on 02/22/2008
I don't know if ABBA, either as a group, or individually, were ever in Hawai'i. I guess there were plans for a tour in the late 70's, but I don't know ever they ever got there. But I have an update about "Happy Hawaii": it has been included in these CDs -- "Arrival," "Thank You For The Music," "30th Anniversary Original Album Box," "The Complete Studio Recordings," "Chronicles - 3 Classic Albums," and the "Arrival Deluxe Edition."

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