There is a new Madonna song out called "Hung Up" and the musical intro is extremely familiar to me. It can also be heard at the beginning of the chorus. Right now it is available as a featured download so I would greatly appreciate it if someone could listen to it and let me know what other song used that same music. I'm thinking an 80s song...

To be clear, we're talking about that sharp synth. It starts low, then goes into the first sharp note, then returns to low, then goes into another sharp note, although not as sharp as the first one.

The synths are so heavy in the Madonna song, I can't doubt that what you're thinking of is definitely most likely a synth-pop song (most likely from the 80s).

But also, Madonna's synths could be making you think of any number of synth songs. So what is it that reminds you of another specific song? The synths in Hung Up are particularly sharp. Does what you're thinking of have synths as sharp as hers? Or is it the arrangement? The structure in the madonna song is dynamic, going from high pitched to low pitched. Does the song you're thinking of move similarly, rising sharply and then falling like that? Her version feels kind of stop-start, too. Is the one you're thinking of the same? Is it smoother and have more flow at all?

I haven't thought of or found any songs that seem similar enough for you to think they're the same song. There are a lot of songs with heavy, prominent synths. For example, Enola Gay by Orchestral Movements in the Dark has some synths that are somewhat similar. How close would you say that is to the one you have in your mind?

Guess it is the sharp synth...whatever that is. And the melody is exactly the same in another song - one from the 80s I believe. Actually not the melody of the song...just the trill like portion at the intro and during the chorus. Musicians often times incorporate music from another song and this one is driving me crazy.

As for the similiarity between Madonna's song and the one on the link - what am I suppose to be comparing? The sound is the same pitch, the music has nothing in common.

Never mind...I figured it out. It is the exact music from ABBA's "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme"...the exact music! So exact, in fact, that Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are included in the songwriting credits. LOL
I know ABBA was way before your time but if you can find that song online somewhere you will hear what I was talking about

Hey Justin - just found an interesting article about this song:

ABBA TO EARN MILLIONS FROM MADONNA SAMPLE
Swedish pop sensations ABBA will earn millions in royalties from MADONNA's new single HUNG UP, because it heavily samples their 1979 hit GIMMIE, GIMMIE, GIMMIE.

The new track will premiere simultaneously on national radio stations across the world tomorrow (17OCT05), and is expected to shoot to number one across the globe - outselling Abba's original, which only reached number three in the UK chart and was never released in America.

Songwriters BENNY ANDERSON and BJORN ULVAEUS only gave permission for their material to be used because they are both avid Madonna fans.

Anderson says, "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie is the essence of the new song and we have agreed to split the copyright with Madonna and her co-writer.

"We get so many requests from people wanting to use our tracks but we normally say no.

"We said yes this time because we admire Madonna so much and always have done.

"She has got guts and has been around for around 21 years. That's not bad going."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looks like a win/win situation all around!

Woah, it is the same! Did it just come to you? I've probably even heard that song before.

Yeah, the trill thing is that sharp synth that I'm talking about. Yeah, I didn't mean the song itself was anything like Enola Gay. Just the synth.

I did find a couple other songs that have sampled ABBA songs so they must've said yes to a few. The songs weren't as noted as Madonna's I guess though. And Madonna shares the copyright now? So she half-owns the song now it seems? That seems weird.

Actually ABBA has only granted permission to one other group to use a sample from a song.

"Andersson was recently quoted as saying: "We get so many requests from people wanting to use our tracks but we normally say no. This is only the second time we have given permission."

Abba previously gave The Fugees permission to use a sample from their track 'The Name of the Game' on their 1996 single 'Rumble In The Jungle'.

Are you sure you found other songs that sampled ABBA? You're not thinking of Erasure which was an ABBA cover band in the 90s are you? I'd be very interested in knowing what songs you found.

And no, I didn't think of it...ironically last night I got out an ABBA CD to listen too and there it was! Track 14. Talk about perfect timing.

Yeah, The Fugees was one of them I found.. The other one I found was someone named JAM that I've never heard of.

Ok, I've done some furthur research on allmusic and it turns out the JAMS didn't get permission to sample it. The groups full name is Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, and it's actually The KLF under a different name. They made an album that was very sample-heavy and entirely pirated and they sampled Dancing Queen on one of the songs. When ABBA objected and wanted all the copies recalled, KLF went to Sweeden hoping for a chance to personally resolve it. When they couldn't get in, they decided to burn 500 copies of the sample album in a Sweedish field before they left. Then they advertised that they would sell five surviving copies of the album. They ended up giving three away, giving one to a friend, and keeping one for themselves.

But what's this about Erasure being an ABBA cover band?

Thanks for the info Justin.Seems like JAMS got into a JAM with ABBA! lol

And Erasure was considered a tribute band in 1992 when they released
Abba-esque, an album consisting of 4 ABBA songs.


Trivia: Synth-pop duo Erasure had success in 1992 with an EP of ABBA covers, "Abba-esque". The music video for their cover of "Take A Chance On Me" featured the group members dressed in drag as Agnetha and Anni-Frid.

Ah, and thanks for your info.

And then....
Abba cover group Bjorn Again released a covers EP of Erasure songs called Erasureish

Well that's interesting! Thanks, Ram. And welcome to the pool.