Madonna says she wrote a grovelling letter to the members of Abba to ask if she could sample 'Gimme' for her new single 'Hung Up.' Songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus have only once allowed an act to sample their work - back in 1996 they let The Fugees use part of 'Name Of The Game' on 'Rumble In The Jungle'.
Madonna told Attitude magazine "I had to send my emissary to Stockholm with a letter begging them and telling them how much I love their music. They never let anyone sample their music. Thank God they didn't say no."
Andersson told the Sunday Telegraph that they agreed 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. 'Hung Up' is really good. If it wasn't any good we would not have said yes. It is a wonderful track - 100 per cent solid pop music.''