ANNI-FRID LYNGSTADT - I KNOW THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON

    I KNOW THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON

ANNI-FRID LYNGSTADT

SONGWRITER: Russell Glyn Ballard

COUNTY: NORWAY

ALBUM: I KNOW THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON

LABEL: POLAR

GENRE: HARD ROCK

YEAR: 1982

 

        Princess Anni-Frid Reuss, Dowager Countess of Plauen(Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad; born 15 November 1945), widely known as Anni-Frid Lyngstad and also known by her nickname "Frida", is a Norwegian-born Swedish singer, songwriter and environmentalist, who is best known as one of the founding members and lead singers of the Swedish pop band ABBA. Born in Bjørkåsen (Ballangen), Norway, to a Norwegian mother and a German father, she grew up in Torshälla, Sweden, and started her first solo career there, as a jazz singer in 1967, through a talent competition called New Faces.

          She won the competition with her song, "En ledig dag", leading to a television appearance on Hylands Hörna on Dagen H; as a result, she was signed by EMI, and in turn was signed by Stig Anderson's record label, Polar Music, after years of releasing several singles and an album, Frida under the earlier record label. Although she had moderate success in Sweden, as she was a contestant for Melodifestivalen 1969 with her song "Härlig är vår jord", she did not reach international fame until she joined ABBA, which has sold over 150 million albums and singles worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music acts in history.

      After the break-up of ABBA, she continued an international solo singing career with mixed success, releasing the albums Something's Going On(1982) and Shine (1984); the latter being her last international album. In 1996, Lyngstad recorded her final album in Swedish, Djupa andetag(Deep Breaths), released by Anderson Records, before retiring from music.

      "I Know There's Something Going On" is a song recorded in 1982 by ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad(Frida). It was the lead single from her solo album Something's Going On. The song was a hit around the world during 1982 and 1983.

       Recording began in ABBA's Polar Music Studio, Stockholm, in February 1982. Frida recorded the album during the last year of ABBA in the 20th century. At the time of recording this song/album, Frida wanted to distance herself from "the typical ABBA pop sound". "I Know There's Something Going On" was written by Russ Ballard and produced by Genesis drummer and singer Phil Collins, who also played drums on the song. The backing vocals are sung by Lyngstad herself and Collins.

         "I Know There's Something Going On" was released in the summer of 1982 and became a major success for Frida. It hit #1 in Flemish Belgium and Switzerland, and was a Top 10 hit throughout most of Europe, as well as in Australia and South Africa. The song reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1983, where it had a total chart run of 29 weeks. Though the song did not reach the top ten, Billboard's Year-End chart ranked it as the 20th most popular song of 1983. However, in the UK, traditionally a popular market for ABBA, the song failed to reach the Top 40, peaking at #43 (and spending seven weeks inside the Top 75).

           A one-hour TV documentary about the making of the album and this song is included in Frida - The DVD. The whole recording process, from day one in the studio to the release party, was filmed by Swedish TV SVT. This documentary includes interviews with Lyngstad and Collins, Björn and Benny from ABBA, as well as all the musicians involved with the album.

I can see that it won't be long
You grow cold when you keep holding on
You know you've changed and your words, they lie
That's something you can't deny
 
I call, you're not at home
You're home, but you're not alone
If you wanna leave then why don't you say it
Your love has gone anyway
 
I know there's something going on
I know there's something going on
I know it won't be long
Won't be long before you're gone
There's something going on
There's something going on
 
I know a good thing must come to an end
But it's hard to take losing a friend
I know what you think and what's in your mind
So darling, look, why pretend?
 
I know there's something going on
I know there's something going on
I know it won't be long
It won't be long before you're gone
There's something going on
There's something going on
There's something going on
There's something going on
 
I know there's something going on
I know there's something going on
I know it won't be long
It won't be long before you're gone
There's something going on
There's something going on
There's something going on
There's something going on
 
I know there's something
I know there's something
I know there's something
I know there's something
I know there's something
I know there's something
I know there's something.