Earlier today, Swedish social media lit up unexpectedly — not because of a political moment or a celebrity scandal, but because of a song. A particular clip of ABBA, performing “The Winner Takes It All”, began to resurface across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
And in the space of just a few hours, that one performance — poignant, powerful, unmistakably ABBA — brought with it a wave of memories, tears, and surprising joy.
“I watched it five times in a row,” one Swedish user posted. “It’s just… the emotion in her face, and knowing what came after.”
But unlike the usual focus on heartbreak tied to the song, this time the attention turned toward the moments of light — the smiles, laughter, and closeness the band shared even as their final chapter approached.
A Song That Meant More Than Most Realized
“The Winner Takes It All” was released in 1980, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and sung with devastating emotion by Agnetha Fältskog. It told the story of a breakup — one that, in many ways, paralleled the real-life split between Agnetha and Björn.
“I don’t wanna talk / About the things we’ve gone through…”
It was haunting. But what made the recent viral clip so unique was that it included behind-the-scenes footage surrounding the performance — moments of happiness, of warmth between the four friends who had created something legendary.
Agnetha smiling backstage.
Björn cracking a quiet joke.
Frida adjusting Benny’s collar playfully before stepping on stage.
They were saying goodbye. But they were also celebrating what they had built.
Why It Resonated Again Today
In a time where nostalgia meets digital rediscovery, Swedish fans — and global ABBA lovers — found themselves struck not just by the pain in the lyrics, but by the beauty of four people who had once shared everything.
“We always saw this song as sad,” a fan commented. “But today it felt like a tribute — to love, to friendship, to endings handled with grace.”
A Final Song, A Final Smile
Before disbanding in 1982, ABBA recorded one of the most emotional catalogs in pop music history. But in “The Winner Takes It All”, and in the newly resurfaced footage, we’re reminded of the human story behind the harmonies — of friends who shared the stage, the spotlight, and each other’s lives.
And somehow, even in the sadness, there’s something strangely joyful in remembering it all.