ABBA to Fred Astaire: A look at Queen Elizabeth II's favourite tunes

ABBA to Fred Astaire: A look at Queen Elizabeth II's favourite tunes I always try to dance when this song comes on': Queen Elizabeth II was a big fan of ABBA's legendary hit, Dancing Queen'.

by Naledi de Wee

12-09-2022 16:06

in Music

Queen Elizabeth II said ABBA's legendary hit, Dancing Queen', was one of her favourite songs. Image via AFP Photographer: Andrew Matthews

Queen Elizabeth II was a bubbly and comedic woman who managed to put a smile on everyone's faces. The Queen, who passed away on Thursday 8 September was a big fan of music. According to Reader's Digest Canada, in 2009 the Obama family gifted her an iPod.

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Here are five of the Queen's favourite songs.

ALSO READ: In pictures: A look at the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II

1. ABBA DANCING QUEEN' In 2008, BBC Radio 1 presenter Chris Evans was invited to a banquet at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. As per Metro, after dinner was concluded, a DJ played disco music and Queen Elizabeth II told the audience how much she loved ABBA's legendary hit, Dancing Queen.

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I always try to dance when this song comes on, because I am the Queen and I like to dance, she reportedly said.

WATCH THE DANCING QUEEN' MUSIC VIDEO HERE

2. FRED ASTAIRE CHEEK TO CHEEK' Cheek to Cheek was written by Irving Berlin in the 1930s for Fred Astaire's role in the musical, Royal Wedding. As per the Evening Standard, the stage production was set at the time of the Queen's marriage to Prince Phillip.

Since its original release in 1935, singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra have all released their own versions of Cheek to Cheek. The most recent version was recorded by Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga in 2014.

LISTEN TO CHEEK TO CHEEK' HERE

3. VERA LYNN THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER' Queen Elizabeth II and singer British singer Vera Lynn had a close relationship. The Queen honoured Lynn when she quoted lyrics from her song The White Cliffs of Dover in a 2020 address shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the United Kingdom.

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We should take comfort that while we may have more to still endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again, she said.

LISTEN TO THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER' HERE

ALSO READ: Queen Elizabeth II: Latest news about the Queen of the United Kingdom

4. PRAISE, MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN' Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed traditional Christian hymns but Praise, My soul the King of heaven, was one of her favourites. The hymn was written by Henry Francis Lyte and first published in The Spirit of the Psalms.

Earlier this year, British professional soprano Alexandra Stevenson sang the hymn at the Platinum Jubilee, a celebration which marked the Queen's 70 years as a monarch.

LISTEN TO THE HYMN HERE

5. HOWARD KEEL OKLAHOMA!' American actor and singer Howard Keel starred in the popular Broadway musical Oklahoma! in 1943. The play was a hit in the United States and travelled to the United Kingdom's Theatre Royal in April 1947. Queen Elizabeth II loved Oklahoma, more specifically the title track of the stage play.

WATCH HOWARD KEEL PERFORM OKLAHOMA' HERE

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