Thank You For The Music

Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

Benny Goran Bror Andersson / Bjoern K. Ulvaeus

Thank you for the Music was written in 1977 by the Swedish pop group, Abba. The song didn’t register in my consciousness then, but it sure has now!

I love this song! I find myself humming it and hearing the music in my head all the time. That’s called audiating, by the way. I mean, really, what would life be without music?

Earlier this month, Franklin High School drama and music departments put on the musical, Mamma Mia. They created the setting and story very well. There are some wonderful singers at FHS! Shout out to clarinet student, Georgia, who embodied the feisty character of Rosie so well that I didn’t recognize Georgia at first!

The week after I saw the Franklin players, I streamed the 2008 movie at home. Amanda Seyfried plays the role of the daughter getting married. During the movie end credits, she sings Thank You For The Music.

Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk
She says I began to sing long before I could talk
And I’ve often wondered, how did it all start?
Who found out that nothing can capture a heart
Like a melody can?
Well, whoever it was, I’m a fan

Second verse of Thank You For The Music

This song also ties in with An Die Musik, my studio’s Winter recital. On Jan 8, 2023, we celebrate the salve that is music. We affirm our gratitude for this phenomenon. As the song asks, “how did it all start? Who found out that nothing can capture a heart like a melody can?” I’m a fan, too.

I went to the source first and listened to the Abba version on YouTube. I was pretty turned off by the sound of the piano in the opening bars before Agnetha Fältskog starts singing. It sounds tinny and out of tune. If you can get past that part, the rest of the song is sung and played beautifully. Agnetha has a strong and husky voice. Then, if you are watching on YouTube, you may want to just stream the audio on Spotify or Apple Music, etc. Let’s just say, the outfits are very seventies!

I’m streaming the audio on my phone. After all, it’s the music that matters, not the visuals.

Thank you, Music!