Abba see Madonna sample as a 'tribute'

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Abba see Madonna sample as a 'tribute'

The Swedish legends are fond of 'Hung Up'

Abba stars Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus have revealed they thought the recent sampling of their group by Madonna was a "tribute" to them.

Madonna had a UK number One with 'Hung Up' last month - the hook being a sample from the Swedish pop titans' massive 1979 disco hit 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight)'.

The star revealed that she wrote a letter to the members of Abba begging to use their music on one of her tracks.

Abba had only previously gave The Fugees permission to use a sample from their track 'The Name Of The Game' on their 1996 single 'Rumble In The Jungle'.

Ulvaeus told Reuters of the Madonna sample: "I see that as a tribute."

He added: "We almost always say no to these things. Madonna's assistant came over to Sweden and played the track, and it was so catchy that Benny and I immediately said 'Yes'. We have loads of offers like that but we never say yes, but in this case it was so cleverly done(nme)