Two Back-to-Back 1976 Hits, From Two Different Bands, Somehow Had the Same Lyrics

How often do you use the phrase "mamma mia!" to express yourself? If you're Italian or the Nintendo protagonist Mario, the answer might be slightly higher than the average person. But, for some strange reason, in the early months of 1976, exactly 50 years ago, according to the U.K. hit singles charts, the top two songs for January and February, oddly both used the phrase "mamma mia" in the lyrics, and one of the songs was actually called "Mamma Mia."

Today, Americans probably think about the musical (and musical film) Mamma Mia! when they hear the phrase. But, it of course, comes from the 1976 song from the band ABBA called "Mamma Mia," which was a number one U.K. single from January 31 1976 to February 7 1976. What was the number one single in the U.K. just prior to that? The answer is Queen's epic "Bohemian Rhapsody," which, at one point, has a chorus that involves the repetition of the phrase "Mamma Mia." Did ABBA and Queen get together to create this strange echoing of pop song lyrics, 50 years ago?

Unlikely. But it is, if not a glitch in the Matrix, a strange coincidence. Like two asteroid movies coming out in 1998 (Deep Impact, and Armageddon) or the fact somehow, the film Antz and A Bug's Life are not the same movie (also 1998!) pop culture often produces a strange kind of echoing effect. None of the members of Queen or ABBA were Italian, though the phrase is clearly borrowed from that language. None of them were big fans of the digital plumber Mario, because that gaming franchise didn't exist until 1983. (And Mario didn't even say "mamma mia!" until 1996.)

Interestingly the top hit songs in the U.S. in January and February 1976 weren't from ABBA or Queen; instead Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover," and "Love Rollercoaster" from the Ohio Players were on top. But, of course, over the years, Americans, and people from all over the world associate "mamma mia!" with ABBA. Or Queen. Or maybe Mario.

Either way, in early 1976, something was in the air making pop and rock singers shout for their mothers.