Mamma Mia- ABBA?

Question

When they came up with the Broadway Show "Mamma Mia!" did they just decide to use all of ABBA's songs? I mean why did they use only ABBA songs for the musical? Was the play like doing a dedication to the band or something?

Answer 1

The group was either alerted, or RIGHTS were questioned, and paid for/ released, and just FIT the piece. NO it was not a dediction.

   I really suggest you see the movie/DVD. It is a subtle piece, but is soooooo to the point in the film version of being FUN. Loose, teasing, sarcastic, well represented in analogies to CHEESE,,, a most enjoyable film.

   The film version is nearly a parody, a take off, a compilation of soooo many similar pieces, one can hardly NOT notice and still have fun with it.

Answer 2

The show was based on ABBA songs, much like "Movin' Out" was based on Billy Joel songs, "All Shook Up" was based on Elvis songs, and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" is based on the songs of Lieber and Stoller.  There are several other jukebox musicals.

Answer 3

"Mamma Mia" falls into a genre called Jukebox Musicals. Jukebox musicals are when a film or stage musical uses popular songs as the score.

It is not really a dedication it is just another style of show. "We Will Rock You" is another example as they used the music of Queen. In the case of "Mamma Mia" Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who were the composers of ABBA's original music were involved in the development of the show from the get go.