It is #SongLyricsSunday! Today’s prompt is to find a song with the words “Fate”, “Fortune”, or “Luck” in the title or lyrics. Recently, I have been listening to Ace of Base’s debut album Happy Nation (known as The Sign in the US) during my morning train commute to work. One reason why is because I have been watching the Netflix series This Is Pop! that talks about the various aspect of music during the decades. One episode talks about the explosion of Swedish Pop in the 90s with Denniz Pop (primarily), Max Martin (think Britney Spears), and Ace of Base.
(You have to check out this episode as well as the whole season of This Is Pop! as it is very informative with a lot of behind scenes about various acts.)
I have loved Ace of Base’s Happy Nation since I was a little kid. I remember when Ace of Base was huge on the radio back in the early to mid-90s. One of my favorite tracks off the album is “Wheel of Fortune”. Let’s explore the song a little more down below!
What You Gonna Tell Your Dad
“Wheel of Fortune” is the first single off the band’s debut album, being released in 1992. It is described as a reggae-fusion dance-pop tune. That type of sound was the primary sound in the band’s debut album, which made them very popular around the world in the 90s. It was written by bandmates Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, who are the only members left in the band today.
It took the single three chances to enter any type of chart. It failed to get any traction in the music charts when it was first promoted in Denmark (Yes, Ace of Base is a Swedish group, but they did promotion across Europe to see if they could be worthy to be an international hit). After the third time in promoting the single, it entered #2 in the Danish single charts. The band’s debut single was also a Top 10 hit also in Austria, Belgium, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland.
Funny thing is that “Wheel of Fortune” was not promoted anywhere in North America. The band’s record label decided to release “All That She Wants” as the band’s first single in the United States. And that strategy worked as the single went platinum and was one of the biggest selling singles of 1992. Happy Nation / The Sign was named the LP the best-selling debut studio effort in music history by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995. It went on to sell over 21 million worldwide, being one of the top-selling albums of all time.
But back to “Wheel of Fortune”. The lyrics, like all Ace of Base songs, are open-ended and can be interpreted in any way you want it. Yes, they are a bit weird with lines like “My love is my engine” and “And you might be fuel “. But hey, it is a song to basically lure people on the dance floor. Dance songs never had lyrics that never made much sense, right?
I really love Linn Berggren’s unique vocals with that colorful vibrato and contralto notes. Just check out that opening, it gives me the chills due to how she performs those lines. Even though it is a dance-pop song, it is at a slower tempo, which highlights the fantastic reggae-fusion beats more. Because of this and Linn Berggren’s unique vocals, I just love Ace of Base’s “Wheel of Fortune” a lot!
Check out Ace of Base’s “Wheel of Fortune” down below and let me know what you think in the comments!
Seventeen years later, the band decided to remake the song with Jenny Berggren as lead vocals:
Lyrics to Ace of Base’s “Wheel of Fortune”
What you gonna tell your dad
It’s like a wheel of fortune
What you gonna tell your dad
If this wheel lets you down
My love is my engine
And you might be fuel
Stop acting cool
Just bet you might win
I’m not too cool
We’re gonna make your move
Don’t push me
I don’t want to, can’t you see it
Hasten slowly
And don’t count your chicks
Before they’re hatched baby
What you gonna tell your dad
It’s like a wheel of fortune
What you gonna tell your dad
If this wheel lets you down
My love is my engine
And you might be fuel
Stop acting cool
Just bet you might win
I’m not too cool
Hey you
We’re gonna make your move
It tastes like steel
Like a stab from a knife
Ooh what you gonna tell your daddy
Ooh whoa whoa
What you gonna tell your daddy
Ooh whup
Say what you gonna tell your daddy
Mmm oh what you gonna tell your daddy
Ooh what you gonna tell your daddy
I’m in love with another fool
I’m in love with you, I like your style
I want you, I’m in love
I’m in love with you, I like your style
I want you, I’m in love
What you gonna tell your dad
It’s like a wheel of fortune
What you gonna tell your dad
If it lets you down yeah
What you gonna tell your dad
It’s like a wheel of fortune
What you gonna tell your dad
If this wheel lets you down
My love is my engine
And you might be fuel
Stop acting cool
Just bet you might win
I’m not too cool
I’m in love with another fool
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
I’m in love with another fooooool
Tell tell tell ya, bad
Ooh I’m in love with you, I like your style
I want you I’m in love
The Rules for #SongLyricsSunday
(This challenge is currently hosted by the generous Jim Adams.)
Anyone can participate in #SongLyricsSunday, even if you aren’t a music blogger! If you want to participate, here are the rules:
- Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
- Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
- Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
- Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
- Pingback to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
- Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
- Feel free to suggest future prompts.
- Have fun and enjoy the music.
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I’ve heard and liked a few of this group’s songs, but this was a new one for me. I like that their songs have that strong musical beat. Of these two videos, I like the updated one best. 🙂
I love I Saw The Sign by this group.
I listened to them both because I could use a reminder of the older version, which I still like best
I’ve never heard this song before so it was nice to hear something new. I liked the original, slower, version much more than the remake. Like you pointed out, the vocals were great and I liked the reggae rhythm more than the techno rhythm.
I loved Ace of Base in the 90s when I was at school. I still really like All that She Wants – they still have a really great sound.
This song was my jam in elem school! I loved this entire album!
I’ve heard Ace of Base before but never this song! Both of these versions are great but I like the older one better.
Beautiful song and I love Ace of Base. But then I moved on. I still listen from time to time though
Beautiful new song for me. Music is really important to us without music i think it’s too much boring
I guess I never though of it but the Ace of Base lyrics are subjective. I like them. They have a pleasant sound.
Love the lyrics of this song! And I completely agree with this statement – Dance songs never had lyrics that never made much sense! LOL😛 Well, I liked the older version more than the remake one 🙂
Oh! I remember Ace of Base. I remember the song, The Sign. It was one of my favorites when I was a kid. Would love to check “Wheel of Fortune” Thank you for reminding me about them.
This song is so unique. The sound is different, but a good kind of different. I may have to download this song for myself.