New Books Network Kay Dickinson, "Fernando: A Song by ABBA" (Duke UP, 2025)
Jan 26, 2026
Kay Dickinson, Programme Convenor at the University of Glasgow and author exploring global music and politics, unpacks ABBA's 'Fernando' as both pop commodity and political narrative. She traces its travels from Sweden to Chile, its queer and female followings, and its musical mashups. Short, lively conversations probe lyrics, production choices, and why a song about freedom became a worldwide sing-along.
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Revolutionary Story, Pop Hit
- ABBA's "Fernando" mixes a revolutionary narrative with mainstream pop appeal.
- Kay Dickinson argues this tension explains how a politically tinged song became a global commodity.
1970s Revolutions Shaped The Song
- Latin American uprisings in the 1960s–70s shaped the song's ambience and public resonance.
- Dickinson links Fernando's themes to events like Chile's socialist moment and countercoups.
Pop's Political Value Overlooked
- Critics from Sweden's progt movement rejected ABBA as commercially compromised and politically suspect.
- Dickinson counters that ABBA's mass appeal can popularize causes and serves queer and working-woman politics.
