Frida – “I Know There’s Something Going On”
A thunderous break from pop perfection
Released on 6 August 1982, “I Know There’s Something Going On” marked a bold new chapter for Anni-Frid Lyngstad, better known as Frida of ABBA. It was the lead single from her third solo album, Something’s Going On, and a complete sonic departure from the glossy pop she helped define with her former band. With Phil Collins behind the drums and production board, the track ventured into darker, rock-infused territory — raw, moody, and unflinchingly intense.
Breaking from the Past
Following the release of ABBA’s final album, The Visitors, in 1981, the group had quietly disbanded. Frida sought to reinvent herself musically and emotionally, gravitating toward grittier material and collaborators who would help her shed the glittering pop image. Enter Phil Collins, whose solo career was exploding thanks to the emotionally charged Face Value. His signature gated reverb drum sound gave “I Know There’s Something Going On” its thunderclap of an intro — aggressive, relentless, and impossible to ignore.
Written by Russ Ballard, the song offered the perfect blend of suspicion and emotional vulnerability, delivered with Frida’s powerful, aching vocal. Collins not only produced and arranged the track but also played drums and added subtle backing vocals, giving the single a darker, layered sound that brought new edge to early ’80s pop.
Sounding the Alarm
The track’s production is all tension and texture: pounding drums, shadowy guitar riffs, swirling synths. Frida’s vocal is a revelation — restrained in places, explosive in others, perfectly embodying the confusion and creeping paranoia that define the lyrics. “I see the look in your eyes, I call your bluff,” she sings, steely and hurt. It’s a performance that told listeners: this wasn’t ABBA anymore.
The music video, directed by Stuart Orme, matched the song’s atmosphere — following Frida as she uncovers her partner’s betrayal through a series of photographs. Stylish, moody, and drenched in suspicion, it became an MTV favorite, elevating the song’s exposure across the U.S. and Europe.
Chart Success & Solo Spotlight
“I Know There’s Something Going On” became a global hit, spending a remarkable 29 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 13 — longer chart longevity than many bigger hits. It reached No. 1 in Switzerland and Belgium, Top 5 in Australia, South Africa, and Austria, No. 3 in Sweden and Norway, and cracked the Top 20 across much of Europe. Interestingly, it stalled at No. 43 in the UK, despite ABBA’s consistent popularity there.
Though the Something’s Going On album didn’t reach ABBA-level sales, it earned critical praise and commercial respect, especially given Frida’s complete genre pivot and the boldness of her solo vision.
“I Know There’s Something Going On” remains one of the most daring solo turns from a former pop megastar. It captured the emotional fallout of change — personal and artistic — wrapped in one of the most distinctive productions of the era. For Frida, it wasn’t just a hit. It was a statement.