Cher, Dancing Queen | COVERS

In the 27^th edition of COVERS (2023), Cher delivers a compelling rendition of “Dancing Queen,” originally performed by ABBA.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 27^th edition of COVERS (2023), Cher delivers a compelling rendition of “Dancing Queen”, originally performed by ABBA.  

via GIPHY

“You are the dancing queen / Young and sweet, only seventeen / Dancing queen / Feal the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah.” Woo! It is a tall task to cover one of the most beloved and most recognizable gems of them all: “Dancing Queen”.  That ABBA song right there… gargantuan.  Of course, iconic musician and Academy Award winning actress Cher wasn’t afraid to cover the Grammy-nominated Swedish collective.  Not only did she take on “Dancing Queen,” but she recorded an entire ABBA covers LP: Dancing Queen (2018).  Rightfully, Dancing Queen commences with “Dancing Queen,” produced by Mark Taylor.

“You can dance, you can jive / Having the time of your life / Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene / Digging the dancing queen.” Cher does the Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson penned joint justice .  The recreated instrumental captures the disco vibes of the 1970s yet sounds fresh in the 2010s. Vocally, Cher brings contrast given her distinct, husky pipes. The huskiness doesn’t hinder “Dancing Queen” in the least, adding character – her own mark.  Furthermore, in the diva’s hands, this record sounds like one she could’ve nailed in her heyday, particularly given her success with other covers (her take on Betty Everett’s “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” is a must hear). It’s arduous to recreate, reinvent, or transform a certified, worldwide classic like “Dancing Queen”, but all in all, Cher does a bang up job with her cover.

via GIPHY

Cher • Dancing Queen • Warner • 2018

Cher, “Dancing Queen”: Covers No. 27 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Warner; cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Ron Lach from Pexels; Paul Brennan from Pixabay]