Mitha Maze Dar

HOW OLD???!!

It's our friend John-John's birthday today!

Our "gang" is gathering once more, as we do, for another all-day session at the Wetherspoons in High Holborn - which should be fun and games as always.

John-John's fanaticism about all things Abba is well-documented - so here, for his (and our) listening pleasure, is a selection of their classic hits...

...IN HINDI!

Salma and Sabina Agha - Mitha Maze Dar (Dancing Queen)

Salma and Sabina Agha - Hum Rahi (Fernando)

Salma and Sabina Agha - Ho Jayegi Badnami (Money Money Money)

Salma and Sabina Agha - Toba Toba (Mamma Mia)

Salma and Sabina Agha - Pehli Pehli Preet (Super Trooper)

Inevitably, we do have this album in our collection here at Dolores Delargo Towers [and I have, of course, featured the marvellous Agha sisters here before]...

Happy birthday, John-John!

Hum Rahi

Thirty-five years ago this week the long hot summer of 1976 was beginning, and Abba had just broken the seemingly eternal reign of Brotherhood of Man's Save Your Kisses For Me at the top of the UK charts with their classic Fernando.

Rather than play the original, which no doubt everyone knows off by heart by now, I thought I'd revisit a house favourite duo - the ever-lovely Salma and Sabina Agha! I think the song is even better in Hindi...

Salma and Sabina Agha - Hum Rahi (Fernando)

At Dolores Delargo Towers, we love Salma and Sabina!

Feliz Compleaños, Señora John!

As it is John-John's birthday, we thought we'd put together a little tribute blog to his all-time favourite band - nay, obsession - Abba!

Teamwork between Madame Acarti and I came up with some most unusual stuff...

Let us first feature a long-time favourite of ours here at Dolores Delargo Towers. It is a cover version of Dancing Queen, and there have been many - but when it is sung in Hindi by the fantabulosa Salma and Sabina Agha, how could we resist (ya)?

Salma & Sabina - Mitha Maze Dar (Dancing Queen)

Sticking rigidly with the queeny favourite, let's have Kylie's triumphant version from the Sydney Olympics closing ceremony in 2000!

Kylie Minogue - Dancing Queen (Sydney Olympics 2000)

Enough of the "dancing queens" - let's try something a little more subtle. How about French icon Mireille Mathieu's tribute to Abba?

Mireille Mathieu sings Abba - The Winner Takes It All

And to close, we have found something absolutely brilliant... There is always time for a bit of Nina Hagen at Dolores Delargo Towers! Yet who knew she covered Abba as well..?

Nina Hagen - Like An Angel Passing Through My Room

Happy birthday, dearest!