Fernando (song)

"Fernando" is a song written by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and their manager Stikkan Anderson. It was originally recorded for their fellow group member Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who included it on her second album Frida ensam (1975). Anderson wrote the Swedish lyrics to Lyngstad's version. It was released in January 1976 via Polar Music as a radio-only single in Sweden and a physical release in Norway. In 1976, ABBA would later re-record "Fernando", with re-written English lyrics provided by Ulvaeus. This version was released on 12 March 1976, initially as a standalone single, but was later included on re-issues of their 1975 compilation album Greatest Hits, as well as the Australasian version of their fourth studio album Arrival (1976). It is also included on ABBA Gold. Both versions of "Fernando" would become major successes in their own right. Lyngstad's Swedish version spent nine weeks atop the important Svensktoppen radio chart, and was voted the favorite song of the year. ABBA's English version would become one of their best-selling hits of all time, selling six million copies alone in 1976, and most notably spent a then record breaking 14 weeks atop the Australian Kent Music Report chart. It is one of fewer than forty singles to have sold at least 10 million physical copies worldwide.