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 studio 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.

"Fernando" was not originally released as an ABBA song but as a solo single by band member Anni-Frid Lyngstad. It was featured on her No. 1 Swedish solo album Frida ensam (1975). The song was composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and carried the working title of "Tango". Preparations for recording began in August 1975. The writers made last-minute changes to the title before recording. The name "Fernando" was inspired by a bartender of that name who worked at a club the band frequented in Stockholm, Sweden. The beach and campfire setting for the music video was inspired by the band after visiting Ayr Beach in Scotland.

For ABBA's version of "Fernando", Anni-Frid Lyngstad is the sole vocalist for approximately the first minute of the finished recording. Thereafter, she is joined by Agnetha Fältskog who sings with her in harmony for the rest of the song.

The original Swedish-language version's lyrics were written by ABBA's manager Stig Anderson, and differ substantially from the English-language version. In the original, the narrator tries to console the heartbroken Fernando, who has lost his great love.

The English version, with completely different lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus, presents a vision of nostalgia for two veterans reminiscing in old age about a long-ago battle in which they participated. "I wrote all the songs as little stories. 'Fernando' was about two old freedom-fighters from the Mexican Revolution. I was lying outside one summer night, looking at the stars and it suddenly came to me". "I knew that the title 'Fernando' had to be there, and after pondering a while, I had this vivid image in my mind of two old and scarred revolutionaries in Mexico sitting outside at night talking about old memories".

The B-side to "Fernando" was the song "Hey, Hey, Helen", a track from the group's self-titled third studio album (1975), although in some countries other tracks from the album were used instead, namely "Tropical Loveland", "Rock Me" or "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)".