When I Kissed the Teacher

Last updated
"When I Kissed the Teacher"
ABBA - When I Kissed the Teacher.jpg
Brazilian EP cover, featuring "Money, Money, Money", "That's Me", and "Happy Hawaii"
Song by ABBA
from the album Arrival
Released11 October 1976 (1976-10-11)
Recorded14 June 1976 [1]
Genre
Length3:01
Label Polar
Songwriters Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson
Producers Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson
Audio video
"When I Kissed the Teacher" on YouTube

"When I Kissed the Teacher" is a song by the pop band ABBA. It is the opening track on their 1976 album Arrival .

Contents

Synopsis

The song's recording sessions began on 14 June 1976 with the name "Rio de Janeiro". Eventually, the track was renamed "When I Kissed the Teacher". [4] The song's light-hearted lyrics tell the story of a student who has a crush on her teacher, one day cannot restrain herself and kisses him. [5] The lyrics are set to spirited music. [6] Benny Andersson considered this one of his favourite ABBA songs. [1] [5]

The video clip "goes from a female student longing for her teacher to her taking direct action by kissing him as he leans over her in class." [7] The actor playing the part of the teacher was Magnus Härenstam. [8]

Release

The song was also released on the compilation album More Gold: More Hits and the video was included on The Definitive Collection. [9] [10]

Composition

Lyrically and musically, the song is filled with "schoolgirl imagery". [11] Agnetha Fältskog is the lead vocal. [12]

Critical reception

Buffalo News describes it as "bouncy". [13] The Daily Telegraph lists the song as one of ABBA's hidden gems, offering it as an alternative to "Waterloo". It says the song "Starts off slow, but quickly turns into a surreal, pop homage to low level sexual harassment". [2] Robert Hilburn of the Malaysian Star said "My nomination for the best ABBA track that wasn't a hit in the U.S.: "When I Kissed the Teacher", a zestful number that recalls the teen passion of such Phil Spector productions as the Ronettes' 'Be My Baby'". [14] In a Voulez-Vous review, "When I Kissed the Teacher" is listed alongside "Dancing Queen" as an example of the group's "soaring female harmonies, uplifting melodies, and festive instrumental touches" in their earlier hits. [15] Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, in a review of the Mamma Mia musical, noted "A soundtrack has become a discography. I've even almost forgotten my favorite ABBA ditty, 'When I Kissed the Teacher', just because it's not in the show." [16] The Los Angeles Times said "'When I Kissed the Teacher' is the most convincing thing Abba has done because it injects some sly, mocking humor and passion that offsets the group seriousness". [17] Abba – Uncensored on the Record cites the song as an example of what was "expected of ABBA". [12] The Teacher in American Society: A Critical Anthology lists "When I Kissed the Teacher" with the Van Halen song "Hot for Teacher" and the Jethro Tull song "Teacher" as examples of "how teachers are viewed by [students] as sexual objects. [18]

Certifications

Certifications for "When I Kissed the Teacher" by ABBA
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [19] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again version

Lily James, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies and Celia Imrie recorded When I Kissed the Teacher, with a slightly changed lyric, as the first single from the soundtrack of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again . Their version was released on 8 May 2018 by Capitol [20] [ failed verification ] and Polydor Records. It was produced by Benny Andersson, and Björn Ulvaeus plays one of the teachers in the clip. [21]

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40) [22] 15
Ireland (IRMA) [23] 38
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [24] 17
Scotland Singles (OCC) [25] 31
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [26] 78
UK Singles (OCC) [27] 40

Certifications

Certifications for "When I Kissed the Teacher" by Lily James, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies, and Celia Imrie
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [28] Gold400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Palm, C. (2005). Abba: The Complete Guide to their Music. p. 36. ISBN   1844495051.
  2. 1 2 McNulty, Bernadette (9 July 2008). "Abba: take a chance on these". Telegraph.co.uk.
  3. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (September 2, 2021). "The 25 Best ABBA Songs, Ranked". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 8, 2024. But in "When I Kissed The Teacher," they take on the Swedish educational system. It's an innocent bubblegum tune...
  4. ↑ "Rio de Janeiro". Abbaomnibus.net.
  5. 1 2 Scott, R. (2003). ABBA Thank You for the Music. p.  74. ISBN   1842227939.
  6. ↑ "Arrival". AllMusic . Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  7. ↑ Roy Fisher; Ann Harris; Christine Jarvis (2008). Education in Popular Culture: Telling Tales on Teachers and Learners. Routledge. ISBN   9780415332422 . Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  8. ↑ "Rafaels and Stefans pictures". Raffem.com. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  10. ↑ "The Definitive Collection". AllMusic . Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  11. ↑ Louise FitzGerald; Melanie Williams (2013-04-15). Mamma Mia! The Movie: Exploring a Cultural Phenomenon. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN   9781848859425 . Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  12. 1 2 Tobler, John (2012-01-04). Abba - Uncensored on the Record. Coda Books. ISBN   9781908538239.
  13. ↑ [ dead link ]
  14. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (24 March 2009). "ABBA set reveals more than one-hit wonder". Articles.latimes.com.
  15. ↑ Robert Hilburn (Jul 19, 1979). "Abba to start U.S. tour in Seattle". The Spokesman-Review.
  16. ↑ "Review: 'Mamma Mia!' at the Oriental Theatre - Chicago Tribune". Archived from the original on 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  17. ↑ "British Regress to Innocent '50s". Los Angeles Times. Feb 1, 1977.
  18. ↑ Eugene f. Provenzo, Jr (2010-02-02). The Teacher in American Society: A Critical Anthology. SAGE Publications. ISBN   9781412965934.
  19. ↑ "British single certifications – ABBA – When I Kissed the Teacher". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "ABBA's 'When I Kissed the Teacher' Receives Modern Makeover in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again': Watch". Billboard . 27 July 2018.
  21. ↑ Lenker, Maureen Lee (August 3, 2022). "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: Everything you need to know about the ABBA cameos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart on 3/8/2018 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  24. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 30, 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 3/8/2018 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  26. ↑ "Lily James, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies & Celia Imrie – When I Kissed The Teacher". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  27. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 17/8/2018 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  28. ↑ "British single certifications – James/Keenan Wynn/Davies/Imrie – When I Kissed The Teacher". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 1, 2024.
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