"Knowing Me, Knowing You" was recorded in 1976 at the Metronome studio in Stockholm and was released as a single in February 1977, becoming one of the group's more successful hits. The B-side was "Happy Hawaii", an arrangement of another ABBA song, "Why Did It Have to Be Me?", but with a different lead vocalist and lyrics. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was one of the early ABBA songs to deal with the break-up of a relationship. It predates the divorces of the ABBA members as well as further break-up songs to come: "The Winner Takes It All", "One of Us" and "When All Is Said and Done". Group member Benny Andersson named "Knowing Me, Knowing You" as one of ABBA's best recordings in a 2004 interview, along with "Dancing Queen", "The Winner Takes It All" and "When I Kissed the Teacher". "Conociéndome, Conociéndote" is the Spanish-language version of the song. It was included in the compilation released in 1993 and Gracias Por La Música released in 1980.
Music video
The music video depicts the band against various colored backdrops singing while facing each other, turning away as a new line is sung. At the end of the video, the band's female members are seen walking away through thick snow. The video was directed by future Academy Award nominee Lasse Hallström and is a landmark in his career alongside most other videos of the band which were directed by him.
Reception
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" proved to be one of ABBA's more successful singles, hitting #1 in West Germany and the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico and South Africa, and reaching the top 3 in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It was a top 10 hit in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand and Norway. In the United States, it became ABBA's sixth top 20 single, peaking at #14 on the Hot 100 and reaching #7 on Billboard's AC chart. In the UK, "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was the biggest single of 1977. It also began a second run of three consecutive #1 singles for ABBA, the group having had three consecutive #1 hit singles in 1976. In September 1979 in Germany "Knowing Me, Knowing You" sold over 300,000 units. Billboard reviewed the song and described it as a "melodically energetic but sad worded ditty about a romantic breakup."
Danny Wilson recorded a live version of the song, which was released on their bonus album Three-In-A-Bed Romp in 1991. The instrumental solo is played on an accordion.
Live cover performances and appearances in other media
Brief clips from the original ABBA recording features in the film when Ashley is stuck in a traffic jam; it is presumably coming from the radio of another car.
The song is performed in the musical Mamma Mia! by the character of Sam. In the context of the musical, the song is used as Sam's description of his failed marriage.
* It is featured in the film adaptation's sequel, performed by younger versions of Sam and Donna, as well as the present-day Sam and Sophie.
The song is the theme of the Steve Coogan 1990's comic vehicle Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge.
