By Danielle Bettendorf, Living & Arts Editor
With the release of “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” this past summer, ABBA fans have a whole other album to stream over and over again.
However, some of the songs from the sequel have been covered before: that is, in the original film. I’m going to compare and discuss which movie did which song better and why.
“Waterloo,” which is actually not on the original soundtrack but is performed at the end of the movie, shines more in end-credit silliness in the first film than as an actual dance number in the second.
Maybe it’s because we know Harry, who performs “Waterloo” in the second movie, isn’t a fit for Donna, so the performance comes off as superfluous. The choreography is impressive, but it doesn’t have the same spark that the cast produces in the first “Waterloo,” especially when it comes to vocals.
Speaking of end-credit songs, “Super Trouper” is a real classic: and one that shines in both movies. Between the return of the Dynamos in the first film and the entire cast at the end of the second, when compairing the two, both versions are superb, but the sequel version is the one that knocks it out of the park.
The return of the Dynamos is heartwarming, but it’s the come-together at the end of the second movie that’s iconic. As soon as Cher begins the first verse and we get to see the cast perform with both the younger and older versions of their characters, the scene captures everything about the franchise that makes it memorable.
“The Name of the Game” and “I Have a Dream” are similar that both were originally sung by Sophie, Donna’s daughter, in the first movie and by Donna in the second movie.
These picks have a little bit of a personal bias: I like Amanda Seyfried as Sophie, but I think Lily James killed it as young Donna.
Both sequel versions were stronger than in the first movie on the strength of James’ vocal talent. I’d say this is in part because Lily James had such a strong role and completely matched Meryl Streep in emotion.
The last two songs to compare are arguably ABBA’s most famous – and the ones that everyone expects to hear in the movie.
“Dancing Queen,” which was prominently featured in advertising for the franchise, is a hit in both movies.
In the first film, however, the song has more meaning for the plot. Donna’s friends sing it to her as a form of empowerment and all the women in town get in on the song.
In the second film, it’s a group number that’s mostly playing off of the notoriety of the song. It’s still fun, but not as strong as in the original movie. It’s included because everyone expects “Dancing Queen” to be included, but there isn’t any meaningful connection to the story.
The final song to analyze comes up in a tie: the titular “Mamma Mia.”
In the first movie, the song comes up early when Donna first finds out that three of her past flings are on the island.
It’s full of fun and seeing Meryl Streep jump around the island trying to figure out what she’s going to do is mesmerizing– she dominates the screen.
In the sequel, “Mamma Mia” is performed by young Donna after she’s been spurned by Sam. It’s the moment when the Dynamos really become the iconic girl group that rocked the island and Donna we see the trio light a spark.
Overall, both movies form a fantastic franchise full of feminism and love. Women supporting each other and the importance of found families are prevalent throughout, so even if you aren’t an ABBA fan, there’s a lot to love about this musical series.