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NBC Insider That's My Jam

Rita Ora's "Dancing Queen" Cover Showcases Jaw-Dropping Vocals

Mamma mia, she sounds great!

By Elizabeth Logan

If you need an instant pick-me-up, look no further than Rita Ora's mini cover of ABBA's hit "Dancing Queen."

How to Watch

Watch That's My Jam on NBC and Peacock

 

Ora's performance absolutely stunned the audience during a January 10, 2022, episode of NBC's musical game show That's My Jam. The singer competed alongside her husband, actor and director Taika Waititi

She belted out the banger during the "Slay It, Don't Spray It" game, in which contestants must complete a song lyric or are else sprayed with water. In the first half of the segment, Taraji P. Henson and Normani react absolutely hysterically to getting sprayed. By the end, they're leaving their booth to run into the open arms of Host Jimmy Fallon. But the best part is still Ora singing "Dancing Queen," a song she knows so well and loves so much that she even adds a few riffs. Need her to record a full-length version ASAP. 

What to know about "Dancing Queen" by ABBA

The pop group's signature hit is an ode to a fun night out on the town. A seventeen-year-old girl is the queen of the dance floor, having the time of her life.

Released in 1976, it topped the charts worldwide and has enjoyed massively popularity ever since, regularly making appearances on lists of the best pop songs, best singles, and best songs of the 1970s. It's been covered by other artists, used in movie soundtracks and Broadway musicals, and is considered a gay anthem. Following the That's My Jam episode, Ora called it "one of [her] favorite songs" on X (formerly known as Twitter).

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Rita Ora attends the Fendi Spring Summer 2021 Show

The lyrics to "Dancing Queen" by ABBA

Ooh
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music
Getting in the swing
You come to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music
Everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance

You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen

You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave 'em burning and then you're gone
Looking out for another
Anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance

You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen
Digging the dancing queen

ABBA Christmas