Stephanie Butland

Blogging. Telling stories. Thriving.

In which Abba writes a song for me

One of my most vivid birthday memories ever.

I think I might have been 8. We had opened presents in Mum and Dad’s room, as usual, and I was in my bedroom – playing with a Sindy hairdryer, I think, the sort of hairdryers that you sit under and, by the way, RUIN a Sindy’s hair – when Mum called me in to the kitchen.

“Listen!” she said.

Tony Blackburn was doing his request show on the radio. I hear him saying, “Her Mum says she loves ABBA and dancing, so this is the perfect song for her.”

And then he played this.

Yes, my Mum had Written In To The Radio and had a song played for me.

Ever since, whenever I’ve heard it, I’ve filled up again with the emotions of that birthday morning – surprise, excitement, gratitude, disbelief, all adding up to a feeling of tight, hot, happiness sitting just under my collarbone.

And I’ve always felt that this song belongs to me. Every wedding, party, late night car journey I’ve heard it on has taken me right back to that birthday morning.

Which song is your song?

2 Responses

  1. BucksWriter says:

    It would have to be either ‘Thank you for the music’ or ‘I will survive’. Two classics with a lot of memories attached.

  2. Jo Carroll says:

    “I want to break free” – by Queen. And yes, there’s a story attached. I still have to prance round the kitchen and sing very loud whenever I hear it.