Madonna�s revealed that she wrote a letter to ABBA begging them to let her sample their �Gimmie Gimme Gimme� on her new �Hang Up� single.
ABBA�s songwriters Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are renowned for refusing artists rights for sampling their records. The only other band granted rights are The Refugees who sampled ABBA�s �The Name Of The Game� on their �Rumble in the Jungle� track from 1996.
Madonna tells �Attitude� the tale; "I had to send my emissary to Stockholm with a letter and the record begging them and imploring them and telling them how much I worship their music, telling them it was an homage to them, which is all true. And they had to think about it, Benny and Bjorn. They didn't say yes straight away. They never let anyone sample their music. They could have said no. Thank God they didn't.�
Andersson had previously said; "We get so many requests from people wanting to use our tracks but we normally say no. This is only the second time we have given permission. We said yes this time because we admire Madonna so much and always have done. She has got guts and has been around for 21 years. That is not bad going. If it wasn't any good we wouldn't have said yes. It is a wonderful track, 100% solid pop music.�
Madonna gave her first interview promoting her new album, �Confessions On A Dance Floor,� to gay mag �Attitude�.
Attitude�s editor Adam Mattera said: "Madonna is without doubt the biggest gay icon of all time and this album is set to be the biggest of her career. We are thrilled she has chosen to speak to Attitude. She opens her heart like never before and had a real laugh with us. Her fans will be back-flipping through Soho when they read it.�
Madonna said of her �Hang Up� track, "I'm not in the mood for a ballad. I can't be bothered."
We can�t be bothered either.
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