An English-language lyrical version recorded by Frida and B.A. Robertson in 1983.
The connection between and Mike Oldfield regarding "Arrival" centers on Oldfield's 1980 cover of the Swedish group's 1976 instrumental masterpiece . While ABBA's original set the standard for their "classic era," Oldfield's version brought a progressive rock sensibility to the track, even paying tribute to ABBA's iconic visual style on his single's artwork. The Original: ABBA's "Arrival" (1976) Abba & Mike Olfield - Arrival
In a deliberate nod to ABBA, the artwork for Oldfield's single is a recreation of the original Arrival album cover. Instead of the four ABBA members in a Bell 47G helicopter, it features Oldfield alone—fittingly, as he is a licensed pilot. He even mirrored the "K" in "MIKE" to mimic ABBA's famous ambigram logo. Key Comparisons ABBA (Original) Mike Oldfield (Cover) Release Year Primary Genre Folk-inspired Pop / Eurodisco Progressive Rock / Pop Vocal Style Wordless choral harmonies Synthesized and multi-layered instrumental Album Arrival QE2 Other Notable Versions An English-language lyrical version recorded by Frida and B
Released on his sixth album, QE2 . Oldfield's version reflects his transition toward shorter, pop-influenced songs in the early 1980s. While ABBA's original set the standard for their
Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, "Arrival" was the closing title track of ABBA's fourth studio album. It is a wordless, choral-driven piece deeply influenced by traditional Swedish folk music, particularly from the Dalecarlia region.