ABBA released the New Year’s song “Happy New Year” in 1980.
The Swedish pop group recorded the song for its album Super Trouper, released in November 1980. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote it, and the recording features Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad as vocalists. Its reflective lyrics look beyond party celebrations toward uncertainty, hope, and the possibility of a better future.
The song was not initially a major global chart single in the same way as ABBA’s biggest hits, but it became a recurring seasonal favorite and was reissued in several markets. It is sometimes confused with other holiday recordings because its title is direct and its chorus sounds celebratory. The song’s mood is more thoughtful than a simple party anthem, which helps explain its continuing appeal in end-of-year playlists.