When I Kissed The Teacher - Wikipedia

1976 song by ABBA

"When I Kissed the Teacher"
Brazilian EP cover, featuring "Money, Money, Money", "That's Me", and "Happy Hawaii"
Song by ABBA
from the album Arrival
Released	11 October 1976 (1976-10-11)
Recorded	14 June 1976[1]
Genre	Pop[2] bubblegum pop[3]
Length	3:01
Label	Polar
Songwriters	Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson
Producers	Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson
Audio video
"When I Kissed the Teacher" on YouTube

"When I Kissed the Teacher" is a song by the pop band ABBA. It is the opening track on their 1976 album Arrival.

Synopsis

[edit]

The song's recording sessions began on 14 June 1976 with the name "Rio de Janeiro". Eventually, the track was renamed "When I Kissed the Teacher".[4] The song's light-hearted lyrics tell the story of a student who has a crush on her teacher, one day cannot restrain herself and kisses him.[5] The lyrics are set to spirited music.[6] Benny Andersson considered this one of his favourite ABBA songs.[1][5]

The video clip "goes from a female student longing for her teacher to her taking direct action by kissing him as he leans over her in class."[7] The actor playing the part of the teacher was Magnus Härenstam.[8]

Release

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The song was also released on the compilation album More Gold: More Hits and the video was included on The Definitive Collection.[9][10]

Composition

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Lyrically and musically, the song is filled with "schoolgirl imagery".[11] Agnetha Fältskog is the lead vocal.[12]

Critical reception

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Buffalo News describes it as "bouncy".[13] The Daily Telegraph lists the song as one of ABBA's hidden gems, offering it as an alternative to "Waterloo". It says the song "Starts off slow, but quickly turns into a surreal, pop homage to low level sexual harassment".[2] Robert Hilburn of the Malaysian Star said "My nomination for the best ABBA track that wasn't a hit in the U.S.: "When I Kissed the Teacher", a zestful number that recalls the teen passion of such Phil Spector productions as the Ronettes' 'Be My Baby'".[14] In a Voulez-Vous review, "When I Kissed the Teacher" is listed alongside "Dancing Queen" as an example of the group's "soaring female harmonies, uplifting melodies, and festive instrumental touches" in their earlier hits.[15] Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, in a review of the Mamma Mia musical, noted "A soundtrack has become a discography. I've even almost forgotten my favorite ABBA ditty, 'When I Kissed the Teacher', just because it's not in the show."[16] The Los Angeles Times said "'When I Kissed the Teacher' is the most convincing thing Abba has done because it injects some sly, mocking humor and passion that offsets the group seriousness".[17] Abba – Uncensored on the Record cites the song as an example of what was "expected of ABBA".[12] The Teacher in American Society: A Critical Anthology lists "When I Kissed the Teacher" with the Van Halen song "Hot for Teacher" and the Jethro Tull song "Teacher" as examples of "how teachers are viewed by [students] as sexual objects.[18]

Certifications

[edit] Certifications for "When I Kissed the Teacher" by ABBA

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again version

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Lily James, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies and Celia Imrie recorded When I Kissed the Teacher, with a slightly changed lyric, as the first single from the soundtrack of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Their version was released on 8 May 2018 by Capitol[20][failed verification] and Polydor Records. It was produced by Benny Andersson, and Björn Ulvaeus plays one of the teachers in the clip.[21]

Charts

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Chart (2018)	Peakposition
Hungary (Single Top 40)[22]	15
Ireland (IRMA)[23]	38
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[24]	17
Scotland Singles (OCC)[25]	31
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26]	78
UK Singles (OCC)[27]	40

Certifications

[edit] Certifications for "When I Kissed the Teacher" by Lily James, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies, and Celia Imrie

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[29]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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1. ^ a b Palm, C. (2005). Abba: The Complete Guide to their Music. p. 36. ISBN 1844495051.
2. ^ a b McNulty, Bernadette (9 July 2008). "Abba: take a chance on these". Telegraph.co.uk.
3. ^ Sheffield, Rob (September 2, 2021). "The 25 Best ABBA Songs, Ranked". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 8, 2024. But in "When I Kissed The Teacher," they take on the Swedish educational system. It's an innocent bubblegum tune...
4. ^ "Rio de Janeiro". Abbaomnibus.net.
5. ^ a b Scott, R. (2003). ABBA Thank You for the Music. p. 74. ISBN 1842227939.
6. ^ "Arrival". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
7. ^ Roy Fisher; Ann Harris; Christine Jarvis (2008). Education in Popular Culture: Telling Tales on Teachers and Learners. Routledge. ISBN 9780415332422. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
8. ^ "Rafaels and Stefans pictures". Raffem.com. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
9. ^ "More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
10. ^ "The Definitive Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
11. ^ Louise FitzGerald; Melanie Williams (2013-04-15). Mamma Mia! The Movie: Exploring a Cultural Phenomenon. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781848859425. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
12. ^ a b Tobler, John (2012-01-04). Abba - Uncensored on the Record. Coda Books. ISBN 9781908538239.
13. ^ [1] [dead link]
14. ^ Hilburn, Robert (24 March 2009). "ABBA set reveals more than one-hit wonder". Articles.latimes.com.
15. ^ Robert Hilburn (Jul 19, 1979). "Abba to start U.S. tour in Seattle". The Spokesman-Review.
16. ^ "Review: 'Mamma Mia!' at the Oriental Theatre - Chicago Tribune". Archived from the original on 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
17. ^ "British Regress to Innocent '50s". Los Angeles Times. Feb 1, 1977.
18. ^ Eugene f. Provenzo, Jr (2010-02-02). The Teacher in American Society: A Critical Anthology. SAGE Publications. ISBN 9781412965934.
19. ^ "British single certifications – ABBA – When I Kissed the Teacher". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
20. ^ "ABBA's 'When I Kissed the Teacher' Receives Modern Makeover in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again': Watch". Billboard. 27 July 2018.
21. ^ Lenker, Maureen Lee (August 3, 2022). "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: Everything you need to know about the ABBA cameos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
22. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
23. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart on 3/8/2018 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
24. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 30, 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 3/8/2018 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
26. ^ "Lily James, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies & Celia Imrie – When I Kissed The Teacher". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
27. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 17/8/2018 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
28. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Lily James, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies and Celia Imrie – When I Kissed the Teacher". Radioscope. Retrieved February 13, 2026. Type When I Kissed the Teacher in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
29. ^ "British single certifications – James/Keenan Wynn/Davies/Imrie – When I Kissed The Teacher". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 1, 2024.

v t e ABBA
Agnetha Fältskog Björn Ulvaeus Benny Andersson Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Studio albums	Ring Ring Waterloo ABBA Arrival ABBA: The Album Voulez-Vous Super Trouper The Visitors Voyage
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Gracias Por La Música The Singles: The First Ten Years Thank You for the Music ABBA Gold Oro: Grandes Éxitos More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits Love Stories 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection The Definitive Collection The Name of the Game 18 Hits Number Ones The Albums The Essential Collection
Live albums	ABBA Live Live at Wembley Arena
Box sets	Thank You for the Music The Complete Studio Recordings
Concerts and tours	ABBA: European & Australian Tour ABBA: The Tour ABBA Voyage
Films and musicals	ABBA: The Movie The Girl with the Golden Hair ABBAcadabra Mamma Mia! (1999 musical) Mamma Mia! (2008 film) Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018 film)
TV specials	Dick Cavett Meets ABBA ABBA: Thank You for the Music, An All-Star Tribute
Video games	SingStar ABBA ABBA: You Can Dance
Related articles	Discography Awards and nominations Songs Unreleased songs Tribute albums Abba-esque Abbasalutely The ABBA Generation ABBAmania Dancing Queen Agnetha & Frida: The Voice of ABBA "Just Like That" "Thank ABBA for the Music" Eurovision Song Contest 1974 ABBA The Museum Music of Sweden
Related individuals	Stig Anderson Ola Brunkert Rutger Gunnarsson Janne Schaffer Lasse Wellander Michael B. Tretow Lasse Hallström A-Teens Björn Again Linda Ulvaeus Catherine Johnson Carl Magnus Palm Graham Tainton
Category

v t e ABBA songs
Discography Unreleased songs
Ring Ring	"Ring Ring" "Another Town, Another Train" "Disillusion" "People Need Love" "I Saw It in the Mirror" "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)" "Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother" "He Is Your Brother" "She's My Kind of Girl" "I Am Just a Girl" "Rock'n Roll Band"
Waterloo	"Waterloo" "King Kong Song" "Hasta Mañana" "My Mama Said" "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)" "Honey, Honey" "What About Livingstone"
ABBA	"Mamma Mia" "Hey, Hey Helen" "SOS" "Bang-A-Boomerang" "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" "Rock Me" "Intermezzo No. 1" "I've Been Waiting for You" "So Long"
Greatest Hits	"Fernando"
Arrival	"When I Kissed the Teacher" "Dancing Queen" "My Love, My Life" "Dum Dum Diddle" "Knowing Me, Knowing You" "Money, Money, Money" "That's Me" "Why Did It Have to Be Me?" "Tiger" "Arrival"
ABBA: The Album	"Eagle" "Take a Chance on Me" "One Man, One Woman" "The Name of the Game" "Move On" "Hole in Your Soul" "Thank You for the Music" "I Wonder (Departure)" "I'm a Marionette"
Voulez-Vous	"As Good as New" "Voulez-Vous" "I Have a Dream" "Angeleyes" "The King Has Lost His Crown" "Does Your Mother Know" "If It Wasn't for the Nights" "Chiquitita" "Lovers (Live a Little Longer)" "Kisses of Fire"
Greatest Hits Vol. 2	"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" "Summer Night City"
Super Trouper	"Super Trouper" "The Winner Takes It All" "On and On and On" "Andante, Andante" "Me and I" "Happy New Year" "Our Last Summer" "The Piper" "Lay All Your Love on Me"
The Visitors	"The Visitors" "Head over Heels" "When All Is Said and Done" "Soldiers" "I Let the Music Speak" "One of Us" "Two for the Price of One" "Slipping Through My Fingers" "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room"
The Singles:The First Ten Years	"The Day Before You Came" "Under Attack"
Voyage	"I Still Have Faith in You" "Don't Shut Me Down" "Just a Notion" "Little Things"
Other songs	"Hej gamle man!" "Det kan ingen doktor hjälpa" "På Bröllop" "Merry-Go-Round" "Man vill ju leva lite dessemellan" "Elaine" "Put on Your White Sombrero" "Should I Laugh or Cry" "You Owe Me One" "Just Like That"
Category