In the movie "Mamma Mia!"... were the songs written for the screenplay, or the screenplay for the songs?

Question

I thought that these songs were old, and written long before there was ever a thought to a screenplay. But the music just seems to fit "too good." It's almost like the screenplay was written first, and then ABBA wrote the music to fit the story.

So which came first... the songs or the story?

Answer 1

The songs came first, then the stage show... then the movie.

Answer 2

screenplay for the songs

songs first

Answer 3

Songs came first.

Answer 4

The songs were written first (like in the 70s-early 80s)

ABBA is no longer together

Just like with the movie Across the Universe, the songs were first then the movie

Answer 5

mama mia was a old broadway play and the album was out before the movie.

my mom has been to the broadway play and has the cd