ABBA's classic "The Winner Takes It All" has reached a milestone by passing one billion streams on Spotify. With this achievement, the emotionally charged ballad joins an exclusive group of the band's songs to have accomplished this, alongside "Dancing Queen" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". These three ABBA hits have now been streamed over four billion times in total, underlining the band's continued global impact.
"The Winner Takes It All" was originally released in 1980 on the album "Super Trouper" and has long been regarded as one of ABBA's most striking and moving songs. Themes of heartbreak, breakups, and personal strength, delivered through Agnetha Fältskog's powerful vocal performance, have kept the song relevant long after its release. Nearly five decades later, the song's ability to reach listeners remains undiminished.
In 2025, nearly 45 years after its debut, "The Winner Takes It All" experienced renewed resonance as its lyrics were reused in various digital trends, sparking interest among a younger audience. This viral spread contributed significantly to the song achieving its latest streaming record. As a result, the song now has more monthly listens than ABBA's other major works such as "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"—a remarkable feat considering the stiff competition from the group's renowned song catalog.
The emotional power and timeless attraction of "The Winner Takes It All" have thus been reaffirmed, further demonstrating ABBA's ability to engage new segments of the audience. The group’s cross-generational impact is reflected in the fact that the song is now ABBA's most streamed track per month globally.
Agnetha Fältskog, whose expressive vocal performance is central to the song's impact, expressed her gratitude for its enduring reception in September 2026: “This is a big favourite, and it makes me so touched to hear that the song is so appreciated! It means a lot, to me.”
"The Winner Takes It All" not only demonstrates ABBA's strength in songwriting and their abilities as performers, but also how older hits can gain renewed life in the streaming era. The group continues to build on its musical legacy, making the music just as vibrant and appreciated today as ever before.
