HISTORIC REVEAL: Madonna Personally Wrote to ABBA for Permission to Sample “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” on “Hung Up”
It was a meeting of musical generations — a moment where pop royalty reached out to legends of the past. In a revelation that continues to fascinate music fans, Madonna once confirmed that she personally wrote a letter to ABBA, humbly requesting permission to sample their 1979 classic “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” for her 2005 global hit “Hung Up.”
The story, which Madonna shared in several interviews during the promotion of her album Confessions on a Dance Floor, revealed a side of the Queen of Pop that few had seen — respectful, sincere, and genuinely awed by the Swedish icons whose melodies had influenced so much of modern music.
“I had to write to them myself,” Madonna said at the time. “ABBA never lets anyone use their music, so I wanted to make sure they knew how much I admired them — and how much that song meant to me.”
The members of ABBA — Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, known for their strict control over the group’s musical catalogue — rarely grant permission for sampling. Their songs, cherished as national and global treasures, are typically considered off-limits to reinterpretation. In fact, Madonna became only the second artist in history ever to receive their official approval.
The first was The Fugees, who were allowed to use a portion of “The Name of the Game” for their 1996 track “Rumble in the Jungle.” Beyond that rare exception, ABBA had turned down numerous requests from other high-profile artists — a decision that reflected both their protective stance and their deep respect for the integrity of their original recordings.
But when Madonna’s handwritten letter arrived, something resonated. Both Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus reportedly admired the sincerity of her request and the creative vision behind her idea. “We liked the energy she wanted to bring to it,” Benny later admitted. “And we felt that she would treat it with respect — not just use it, but build something new around it.”
Their instinct proved right. Released in October 2005, “Hung Up” became one of Madonna’s biggest hits, topping charts in over 40 countries and reigniting the global love for disco-infused pop. Built around the instantly recognizable synth riff from “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, the song was both a tribute and a transformation — merging the pulse of 1970s dance music with Madonna’s unmistakable contemporary flair.
For ABBA, the collaboration was a bridge between eras. It reintroduced their sound to a new generation who had grown up long after their original reign, reminding the world why their songwriting remains timeless. For Madonna, it was both a creative triumph and a personal homage to artists she deeply admired.
The success of “Hung Up” also sparked renewed interest in ABBA’s original recordings, leading to a surge in global sales and streaming of their catalogue. It was an early glimpse of the revival that would later explode with the Mamma Mia! musical and film series — proof that the Bee Gees of Sweden, as they were once affectionately called, still had the power to move the world.
Looking back, the story stands as a rare example of humility and mutual respect in the music industry. Two generations of pop icons — one who helped define the sound of the 1970s and one who ruled the 1980s and beyond — joined forces not through business negotiations, but through a simple letter written from one artist’s heart to another’s.
Today, nearly two decades later, “Hung Up” remains one of Madonna’s most beloved songs and a shining example of how timeless melodies can be reborn. And for fans of both artists, it’s a reminder that great music doesn’t belong to an era — it belongs to everyone who dares to listen, love, and create anew.
As Madonna once said with a smile, “That little bit of ABBA magic — it made the song immortal.”