As if her lacklustre performance in this summer’s Mamma Mia 2! Here We Go Again, wasn’t enough, Cher has released an album of ABBA covers. The A&E team is here to deliver the verdict: Does Dancing Queen redeem the Goddess of Pop? Does the diva do justice to her ‘70s-disco Swedish counterparts? Take a chance on us and read on.
Kevin Vogel
Contributor
When I first started to listen, Dancing Queen seemed like an album with some fun bops that I could really get into, even if the original ABBA vocals were missing. But, the longer I listened, the wackier the album got. From robot auto tuning in “Mama Mia” to weepy opera-like singing in “Fernando,” I just couldn’t support the album’s creative decisions. Not only were the songs missing ABBA’s classic harmonies, but they failed to properly showcase Cher’s powerful voice. Sorry, Cher. You’re awesome, but I’m not impressed.
Matthew Hawkins
Contributor
Cher’s Dancing Queen is everything that Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again should have been. Despite being a diehard Cher fan, I found myself extremely disappointed by her performance in the summer sequel. Cher singing ABBA seemed like a dream come true, but Here We Go Again does both Cher and ABBA an injustice. With Dancing Queen, however, Cher makes up for it. She takes the classic ABBA tracks, “Waterloo,” “Mamma Mia,” and of course, the titular anthem, “Dancing Queen”, and pays homage to their legacy, all while adding her own electrifying energy, iconic auto-tune, and synth beats. While the introduction to the Cher/ABBA fusion was disappointing, this album showcases the best of the hybrid.
Katia Innes
Arts & Entertainment Editor
After watching “Cher: The Unauthorized Rusical” episode of Season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I assumed that it would be the one and only time Cher would cross my mind this year. Boy, was I wrong. Her dubious appearance in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the premiere of biographical musical The Cher Showin Chicago, and the release of Dancing Queen have further solidified my theory that we have reached peak Cher. Dancing Queen is the cherry on top of this Cher-shaped sundae. Give this woman a Kennedy Center Honours Prize—oh wait! They already have!
Ariella Garmaise
Managing Editor
Unlike most fans, I discovered Cher neither through her music, nor from her prolific stint as a variety show host. Rather, I stumbled across the Goddess of Pop on Twitter, where her experimental work with emojis, capitalization, and punctuation far outshines any movie or album she’s ever made. I enjoyed Dancing Queen just fine, but not nearly as much as I liked her promotional tweeting for the occasion. In less than 280 characters, she says more than “Waterloo” ever could.
I’m thrilled if the music lifts you up, makes you want to sing & dance around your room….Or helps you cry & not feel completely alone.
These can be strange times.
I was beyond excited singing these songs, & I hope You’re HAPPY🎉listening to them
💋
Me— Cher (@cher) September 28, 2018
