Based on the Broadway musical, which, in turn, is based on vintage ABBA tunes, the 2008 Hollywood adaptation of MAMMA MIA! features the star-studded cast performing classic tracks by the beloved Swedish pop group. While most cast members (including Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosnan), acquit themselves admirably, Meryl Streep truly shines on buoyant songs such as the title track and "Dancing Queen."
ABBA principals Benny Andersson and Bj”rn Ulvaeus turned to stage musicals after their band's demise and composed two, one of which, CHESS, ran in the West End and on Broadway. For their third stage effort, they returned to their ABBA catalog and put together MAMMA MIA!, a show that employs their old songs (with occasional lyric revisions) in the service of a libretto by Catherine Johnson about a girl who tries to discover her father's identity in time to have him give her away at her wedding. So, how does MAMMA MIA! compare to an ABBA greatest-hits album? Well, the recordings are less fully produced than the originals, and in that sense less impressive. But the originals were sung by Scandinavians who sometimes sounded like they had learned the lyrics phonetically, the vocals often featuring odd phrasing and word emphasis. Here, the songs are being sung by native English speakers, and that is a distinct improvement.
Culled from the smash hit London, Toronto, and Broadway musical of the same name, MAMMA MIA is a treasure trove of ABBA hits penned by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, who are also the guiding force behind said production. The theatrical versions of these classics have been reworked somewhat, and the album also includes some pieces not from the original ABBA catalog, but in the main this is a fun workout from the oeuvre of Sweden's biggest export since Volvo cars.
While it's a little disorienting to hear familiar songs like these in unfamiliar orchestral settings, the material is strong enough to withstand the reworking it undergoes here. The result is an enjoyable memento of what should prove to be a long-running and popular production.
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Reviews
– Customer review on 15/09/2008
I love this soundtrack!!!!! It has nearly every song from the movie except Chiquitita which is a real pity, even though not much of it is sung in the movie. Also "What's the name of the game?" is not actually in the movie but it's still good. I recommend that any Mamma Mia Movie or Abba fan get this soundtrack...I have listened to it over and over again!!!
I loved the Movie and couldnt resist the soundtrack and absolutely love it!!
I think Meryl Streep sings with such passion and feelings that I had to have a copy of the soundtrack and my 9 yearold son and I play it over and over.
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