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{{Infobox album
| name = The ABBA Generation
| type = studio
| artist = [[A-Teens]]
| cover = Theabbagenerationinternational.jpg
| border = yes
| released = 25 August 1999
| recorded = January–March 1999
| studio = {{hlist|Jam Lab Studio 3 ([[Gothenburg]])|Hitsville Studios ([[Halden]])|RNT Studios ([[Varberg]])|Janglers Inn ([[Stockholm]])|[[Polar Studios]] (Stockholm)|Recordia Studio (Varberg)|Stockhouse Studios (Stockholm)}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Europop]]}}
| length = 42:50
| label = {{hlist|[[Stockholm Records]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]}}
| producer = {{hlist|Ole Evenrude|Johan S|Thomas Johansson|Ronald Malmberg|Hartmann|Langhoff}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = [[The ABBA Generation Remix]]
| next_year = 2001
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = cover
| cover = ABBA Generation US.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = 2000 North American edition
}}
{{Singles
| name = The ABBA Generation
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Mamma Mia (ABBA song)#A-Teens version|Mamma Mia]]
| single1date = 30 April 1999
| single2 = [[Super Trouper (song)#A-Teens version|Super Trouper]]
| single2date = 2 August 1999
| single3 = [[Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)#A-Teens version|Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)]]
| single3date = 25 October 1999
| single4 = [[Dancing Queen#A-Teens version|Dancing Queen]]
| single4date = 7 March 2000
}}
}}

'''''The ABBA Generation''''' is the debut studio album by Swedish pop group [[A-Teens]]. It was released on 25 August 1999 by [[Stockholm Records]]. The album is composed of cover versions of well-known [[ABBA]] songs. The album spawned four singles, "[[Mamma Mia (ABBA song)#A-Teens version|Mamma Mia]]", "[[Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)#A-Teens version|Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)]]", "[[Super Trouper (song)#A-Teens version|Super Trouper]]", and "[[Dancing Queen#A-Teens version|Dancing Queen]]".

The album reached number one in Sweden and Argentina. In the United States, the album peaked at seventy-one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] Albums Chart and was certified Gold.<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp RIAA: Gold Certificate for "The ABBA Generation" 29 September 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519171716/http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp |date=19 May 2007 }}</ref>

==Background==
In 1998, Marie, Sara, Dhani, and Amit came together to form the ABBA-Teens and began recording their debut album which would consist entirely of [[Cover version|covers]] of [[ABBA]] songs. Their first single, "[[Mamma Mia (ABBA song)|Mamma Mia]]", was first released in April 1999 in their native Sweden where it stayed at number one for eight consecutive weeks. Following this release, the group's name was changed to the A-Teens to avoid litigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weeklywire.com/ww/05-08-00/boston_music_4.html|title=How Swede It Is|access-date=14 October 2007|author=Douglas Wolk|date=8 May 2000|publisher=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|Boston Phoenix]]|archive-date=21 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621103329/http://weeklywire.com/ww/05-08-00/boston_music_4.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An Oral History Of The A*Teens, The ABBA Cover Band That Defined Y2K Pop |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/u6aip0/a-teens-teen-spirit-oral-history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807164741/https://www.mtv.com/news/u6aip0/a-teens-teen-spirit-oral-history |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref> "Mamma Mia" was released internationally following their name change and topped the charts in over ten countries.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Further singles from the album were hits in Sweden: "[[Super Trouper (song)#A-Teens version|Super Trouper]]" peaked at number two and "[[Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)#A-Teens version|Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)]] peaked at number ten; both songs charted moderately worldwide. "[[Happy New Year (song)#A-Teens version|Happy New Year]]" was released as a standalone single in Sweden at the end of 1999 and peaked at number four.

In March 2000, the group released the single "[[Dancing Queen]]". The single reached ninety-five on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone, being certified Gold.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Coinciding with this release, the band embarked on a promotional tour of the United States and was an opening act for the [[Britney Spears]] tour later that summer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2001 |title=A-Teens - Interview @ Designer Magazine |url=https://designermagazine.tripod.com/ATeensINT1.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=Designer Magazine}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| noprose = yes
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r444608}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = B+<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/05/19/abba-generation/|title=The ABBA Generation - EW.com|work=Entertainment Weekly's EW.com|access-date=2024-07-13|archive-date=2024-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730195255/https://ew.com/article/2000/05/19/abba-generation/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev4 = laut.de
| rev4Score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laut.de/lautstark/cd-reviews/a/a_teens/the_abba_generation/index.htm|title="The Abba Generation" von A*Teens – laut.de – Album|work=laut.de}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=22020&cf=10709|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010804211916/http://rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=22020&cf=10709|title=RollingStone.com: Recordings: A*Teens, The Abba Generation, 1.5 Stars|archive-date=4 August 2001|url-status=dead|work=rollingstone.com}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''
|rev2score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2000/05/25/whitney-houstonthe-greatest-hits-arista-07822-14626a-greatest-hits/ |title= The Abba Generation |author=J. D. Considine |date=May 25, 2000 |work=The Baltimore Sun |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211110635/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-05-25/entertainment/0005240312_1_whitney-houston-greatest-hits-wanna-dance |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

Despite its commercial success around the world, the album received generally negative reviews from music critics. Alex Henderson of [[AllMusic]] said that the group's "versions of ABBA gems like "Take a Chance on Me", "Mamma Mia", "Dancing Queen", and "Voulez-Vous" aren't brilliant, but they're enjoyable—and they show just how well the songs have held up over time." He concluded his review by saying, “All things considered, ''The ABBA Generation'' is a pleasing, if unremarkable, testament to the durability of ABBA's songs." In an average review for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', Steven Thompson wrote, "Pop music doesn't get more marginal than a collection of overdriven dance-pop covers, but ''The ABBA Generation'' succeeds on its own modest terms."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/a-teens-the-abba-generation-1798192374|title=The ABBA Generation · Music Review · The A.V. Club|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=11 May 2000 }}</ref>

David Hiltbrand of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the album a B+, saying that the group "look and sound better than their supergroup heroes; even the music is spruced up, thanks to a cast of savvy Swedish producers." Writing for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Arion Berger gave the album one and a half out of five stars, saying that "all the keyboard doodling and note-for-note diligence in Scandinavia wouldn't help these poseurs bring the pure-pop greatness of the real ABBA to life."

== Track listing ==
All tracks written by [[Benny Andersson]] and [[Björn Ulvaeus]], except as noted.
{{track listing
| title1 = [[Mamma Mia (ABBA song)|Mamma Mia]]
| writer1 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, [[Stig Anderson]]
| length1 = 3:47
| title2 = [[Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)#A-Teens version|Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)]]
| length2 = 3:57
| title3 = [[Super Trouper (song)#A-Teens version|Super Trouper]]
| length3 = 3:52
| title4 = [[One of Us (ABBA song)#A-Teens version|One of Us]]
| length4 = 3:55
| title5 = [[Voulez-Vous (song)|Voulez-Vous]]
| length5 = 3:42
| title6 = [[SOS (ABBA song)|S.O.S.]]
| length6 = 3:12
| title7 = [[Dancing Queen#A-Teens version|Dancing Queen]]
| writer7 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, Anderson
| length7 = 3:50
| title8 = [[Take a Chance on Me#A-Teens version|Take a Chance on Me]]
| length8 = 3:53
| title9 = [[Lay All Your Love on Me]]
| length9 = 4:03
| title10 = [[The Name of the Game (ABBA song)|The Name of the Game]]
| writer10 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, Anderson
| length10 = 4:22
| title11 = [[Our Last Summer]]
| length11 = 4:28
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela edition bonus tracks
| title12 = Mamma Mia
| note12 = Versión en español
| writer12 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, Anderson
| length12 = 3:43
| title13 = ¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame! (Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!)
| note13 = Versión en español
| writer13 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, Anderson, Buddy McCluskey, Mary McCluskey
| length13 = 3:54
}}

{{track listing
| headline = Japan edition bonus tracks
| title12 = [[Knowing Me, Knowing You]]
| writer12 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, Anderson
| length12 = 4:28
| title13 = Mamma Mia
| note13 = Jam Lab Remix
| writer13 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, Anderson
| length13 = 3:56
| title14 = Super Trouper
| note14 = Pinocchio Remix
| length14 = 5:08
}}

{{track listing
| headline = US Target edition bonus track
| title12 = A-Teens Mega Mix
| writer12 = Andersson, Ulvaeus, Anderson
| length12 = 7:36
}}

==Personnel==
Adapted from the album liner notes.

'''Musicians'''
*Anneli Axon
*Anders Barrén
*Tee
*Image
*Ronald Malmberg
*Annika Sjölin
*Katarina Sjölin

'''Production'''
*Per Adebratt – vocal production
*Stefan Boman – engineer
*Tommy Ekman – vocal production
*Björn Engelmann – mastering
*Ole Evenrude — producer
*Tommy Gustavsson — programming
*Hartmann & Langhoff – producer
*Johan S. – producer
*Thomas Johansson — producer, vocal production
*Fredrik Larnemo – engineer
*Hugo Lira — programming
*Ronald Malmberg — producer, vocal production
*Christer Sandelin – vocal production
*Joakim Styrén – mixing, programming

'''Other personnel'''
*Niklas Berg – concept
*Todd Gallopo – design
*Anders Johansson – A&R
*Christer Mellström – product coordinator
*Mats Oscarsson – photos

==Charts==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!Chart (1999–2000)
!Peak position
|-
{{album chart|Austria|2|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|14|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|1|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|2|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|France|39|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany|2|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|id=3122|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Hungary|7|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|week=2|year=2000|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref name=jap>{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref>
|align="center"|18
|-
{{album chart|Norway|2|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|Promusicae]])<ref name="spain">{{cite book |last=Salaverri| first=Fernando| title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002| edition=1st| date=September 2005| publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE| location=Spain| isbn=8480486392|trans-title=Only hits: year by year, 1959–2002}}</ref>
|align="center"|19
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|1|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|12|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 July 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|85|artist=A Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|accessdate=21 May 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|71|artist=A*Teens|album=The ABBA Generation|accessdate=21 May 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (1999)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1999&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 1999|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref>
|92
|-
!scope="row"|Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1999&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1999|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>
|27
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2000)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=a&id=2000|title=Jahreshitparade Alben 2000|website=austriancharts.at|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>
|17
|-
! scope="row"| European Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-12-23.pdf |title=Year in Focus – European Top 100 Albums 2000 |magazine=Music & Media |volume=17 |issue=52 |date=23 December 2000 |page=9 |oclc=29800226 |via=American Radio History|access-date=19 January 2019}}</ref>
|44
|-
!scope="row"|German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-2000 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de |publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|access-date=8 September 2016}}</ref>
|21
|-
!scope="row"|Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2000|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>
|39
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|artist=A teens|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|award=Platinum|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|artist=A teens|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1997|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Chile|salesamount=95,000|type=album|artist=A teens|relyear=1999|nocert=yes|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA42 |publisher=Billboard|title=Chilean Sales Spikes Credited To Festival|date=29 April 2000|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|type=album|title=Abba Generation|artist=a-teens|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|salesamount=43,628|access-date=14 October 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=album|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|title=The ABBA Generation|artist=ABBA Teens|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=1999|relyear=1999|access-date=2011-09-28|refname="Norway Certification"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=album|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|access-date=6 January 2014|relyear=1999|relmonth=5|certyear=1999|award=Platinum|salesamount=148,000|salesref=<ref name=Polandsales>{{cite journal|last=Zelortini|first=Fernando|date=February 4, 2000|title=Bestseller|url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/364568_19/1343|journal=[[Jornal do Commercio]]|language=pt|access-date=January 25, 2023|page=23}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certref=<ref name="Spanish certifications 2000-2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf|title=Exitos 1959-2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 2000-2002|publisher=Solo Exitos 1959-2002 Ano A Ano}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist= teens|title=Abba Generation|award=Gold|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|salesamount=582,000|salesref=<ref name=billsales-sc>{{cite magazine |last1=Taylor |first1=Chuck |title=Preteens a lucrative, if vulnerable, market|page=5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FikEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA5 |access-date=20 September 2022 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date=12 May 2001 |language=en}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|type=album|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|award=Platinum|certyear=2000}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=album|artist=A teens|title=Abba Generation|access-date=25 July 2012|relyear=1999|award=|certyear=|nocert=true|salesamount=3,000,000|salesref=<ref name="WWsalesat">{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/285474475 |title=Teen group leaves ABBA behind|date=July 27, 2001|access-date=September 20, 2022|work=[[Morning Star (British newspaper)|Morning Star]]|first=Kristi|last=Singer|id={{ProQuest|285474475}} |url-access=subscription|page=10}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

== Release history ==
* August 25, 1999 ([[Sweden]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/noje/9909/02/ateens.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613041937/http://www.aftonbladet.se/noje/9909/02/ateens.html |title=Aftonbladet nöje: A Teens: Våra framgångar är mycket tack vare ABBA |archive-date=13 June 2007 |work=aftonbladet.se |url-status=dead }}</ref>)
* May 16, 2000 (USA<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-abba-generation/id102892|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131135411/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-abba-generation/id102892|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2010|title=iTunes - Music - The Abba Generation by A*Teens|work=iTunes}}</ref>)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{A*Teens}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abba Generation, The}}
[[Category:A-Teens albums]]
[[Category:1999 debut albums]]
[[Category:ABBA tribute albums]]

The ABBA Generation - Revision history

imported>InternetArchiveBot: Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5