Arrival (composition)

"Arrival"
Single by Mike Oldfield
from the album QE2
Released	12 September 1980
Recorded	1980
Genre	Folk rock
Length	2:46
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Benny Anderson Björn Ulvaeus
Producer(s)	Mike Oldfield David Hentschel
Mike Oldfield singles chronology
"Blue Peter" (1979) "Arrival" (1980) "Sheba" (1980)

In 1980 Mike Oldfield recorded a cover version of the song, which is found on his QE2 album. The artwork for Oldfield's single is a recreation of ABBA's Arrival album artwork depicting the artist flying in a Bell 47G helicopter (Oldfield is indeed titled as helicopter pilot).

1. "Arrival" – 2:46
2. "Polka" (live on European tour 1980) – 3:34

• "Polka" consists of a medley of one and a half traditional Irish polkas— the first part of "The 42 Pound Cheque" and the first and second parts of "John Ryan's Polka". Mike Oldfield rearranged the parts so that he is going from the A part of "42 Pound Cheque" to the B part of "John Ryan's", then to the A part of "John Ryan's", then back to the B part of "John Ryan's". He plays through the entire medley 3 times in all, with increasingly more backup and percussion each time. Also, he has transposed these tunes to the key of G, whereas they are more commonly played in D.

• Mike Oldfield: Electric Guitars, African Drums, Celtic Harp, Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Spanish Guitar, Synthesizers, Vocoder, Aboriginal Rhythm Sticks, Vocals[1]
• David Hentschel: Synthesizers, Drums, Vocals
• Maggie Reilly: Vocals
• Strings and Choir arranged by David Bedford
• Leader of Strings: Dick Studt
• Choir English Chorale

As part of the French musical ABBACadabra, Daniel Balavoine and ABBA member Frida recorded a French-language cover of Arrival, under the title “Belle” in September 1983. The single sold 80,000 copies in France,[2] and peaked at No. 28 in the French Top 50 charts.[3]

Shortly after Belle, Frida and B.A. Robertson recorded an English-language version called “Time” for the UK musical ABBACadabra. A music video was created to promote the single. The single entered the UK charts and peaked at No. 45.[4]

• French singer Michèle Torr covered the song and added lyrics, under the title "J'aime".
• Petula Clark also covered the song with lyrics in French, as "La Vallée".
• German dance group Scooter sampled "Arrival" in the song "Roll Baby Roll" on their 2003 album The Stadium Techno Experience, although some chords are slightly altered. For copyright reasons, they had to rewrite the track later, which sounds completely different, under the name of "Swinging In The Jungle". They can, however, play the original track in concerts.
• British rock band The Darkness have played "Arrival" as their opening song on headlining tours since 2003.
• Sarah Brightman recorded a vocal version for her 2008 seasonal album A Winter Symphony, with previously unused lyrics from Björn Ulvaeus, which he wrote in 1999 for possible inclusion in the Mamma Mia! musical.
• ABBA tribute act Björn Again have used this as their entry music when starting a gig for many years.
• The German band Gregorian made a cover of this song, using the lyrics from the Sarah Brightman version, on their album Masters of Chant Chapter VII in 2009.
• "Arrival" was used as the theme tune for the BBC TV series Robbie, presented by Fyfe Robertson.[5]
• German singer Annegret Behrend recorded a cover of this song in 1977 with the title "Wie ein Vogel auf dem Wind". The single was published on the label Elektra – ELK 12 253.
• Russian dance band "Section 1" covered the track in 2015 on their track "Roll & Ride".
• The Swedish metal band Ghost played this theme during their "A Final Gig Named Death" concert. Following the on-stage death of Papa Nihil during his final musical performance, front-man Cardinal Copia was subsequently anointed Papa Emeritus IV as several nuns fitted him with papal robes.