Why Pam Sawyer and Mike & Brenda Sutton weren't asked to write a ballad for ABBA, entitled, "Happy New Year", 4 years after they wrote a song, "Today Will Soon Be Yesterday" for Thelma Houston

 Pam Sawyer and Mike & Brenda Sutton weren't asked to write a ballad for ABBA, entitled, "Happy New Year", 4 years after they wrote a song, "Today Will Soon Be Yesterday" for Thelma Houston because ABBA was looking for a song that was more reflective of the festive season. They wanted something upbeat and celebratory for the end of the year and "Today Will Soon Be Yesterday" did not fit the bill. Additionally, ABBA's style was very different from Thelma Houston's, and the songwriters may not have been able to write something that matched the band's sound.


ABBA's "Happy New Year" doesn't sound like a soul ballad of the '70s because it is a more uptempo, upbeat pop song. It has a much more synthesized, electronic-tinged sound than the typical soul ballads of the '70s, which typically featured more organic instrumentation such as horns, strings, and electric guitars. Additionally, the song's lyrics focus on a more positive outlook for the future, rather than the typical soul ballad of the '70s which often contained a more melancholic message.

It also doesn't sound like a Thelma Houston song because Houston typically had a much more soulful, gospel-infused sound. Her songs typically featured more organic instrumentation such as electric guitars, strings, and horns, while ABBA's "Happy New Year" is much more upbeat and features more electronic elements. Additionally, the lyrics of Houston's songs typically focus on love and relationships, while ABBA's "Happy New Year" focuses on the hope of a better future.

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