I Wonder (Departure)
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"I Wonder (Departure)" is a song by
ABBA ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...
, released on their 1977 album '' ABBA: The Album''. It was originally part of the ABBA-produced mini-musical ''
The Girl with the Golden Hair ''ABBA: The Album'' (also known as simply ''The Album'') is the fifth studio album by the Swedish Pop music, pop group ABBA. It was released in Scandinavia on 12 December 1977 through Polar Music, but due to the massive pre-orders the UK pressing ...
'', which they performed at the end of each of their 1977 concert tours.


Usage in ''Mamma Mia!'' film

In a hypothetical sequel to '' Mamma Mia!'' put together by the British newspaper, ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'', the song is sung at a point in the musical where Sophie "dreams of cutting loose rom Skyand heading abroad". In the film ''
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again ''Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'' is a 2018 jukebox musical romantic comedy film written and directed by Ol Parker, from a story by Parker, Catherine Johnson (playwright), Catherine Johnson, and Richard Curtis. It is the sequel and prequel to t ...
'', the song is performed by Young Donna (played by
Lily James Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson (born 5 April 1989), known professionally as Lily James, is an English actress. She studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and began her career in the British television series '' Just Wi ...
) on the
soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( ...
; however, the performance (early in the film prior to Donna leaving her friends) was deleted. The performance was included as an extra on the DVD release.


Synopsis

The song is about whether the narrator should leave behind everything she knows in order to pursue something greater. The book ''ABBA: Let The Music Speak'' argues that the song parallels Frida's own life story, in regard to the "momentous decision she took in her early 20s to leave her young family in pursuit of singing stardom".


Release

A live recording of the song served as the flip side to the single " The Name of the Game", recorded during the Australian leg of the tour.


Composition

The lead vocal of the song is
Frida Frida, Frieda, or Freida may refer to: People and fictional characters *Frida (given name), any of several people or characters ** *Frieda (surname), any of several people or characters *Afroditi Frida (born 1964), Greek singer *Frida (singer) ...
. ''The Chicago Tribune'' notes that Frida stutters the line "I wonder ... it scares me". The song has a string arrangement that is laced with the harp, French horn, and oboe.


Critical reception

''ABBA: Let the Music Speak'' says that Frida provides the song with "maximum emotional leverage", making it "the most intimate personal portrait" out of the three mini-musical tracks to be featured on ''ABBA: The Album''. It adds that the song would "translate beautifully to the stage" and become a tearjerker. It goes on to mention that her internal conflict is handled well, concluding that "from wistful reflection to strident defiance and back again, Frida's performance...is up there with the greats of the genre".


References

{{Authority control 1970s ballads 1977 singles 1977 songs ABBA songs Polar Music singles Pop ballads Songs written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus