If you’ve ever wondered about the last song you might hear as you step off this mortal coil, chances are you imagined something grand and emotional—a symphonic masterpiece or an evocative ballad that tugs at the heartstrings. But Michael Fassbender’s experience might just have you reconsidering that choice, especially if it involves ABBA’s Dancing Queen.
While on The Tonight Show, Fassbender shared a hilarious yet profound story from his time in Ibiza. During a stormy boat ride back after a late lunch, with the winds howling and plates flying, he found himself hanging on for dear life with ABBA blasting on the speakers. In that surreal moment, he thought, “If we have to die tonight, this is a good soundtrack to die to.” There’s something oddly fitting about ABBA’s upbeat tunes accompanying such a wild, almost life-or-death scenario.
This moment of stormy revelation wasn’t just a passing thought. ABBA’s music has a lasting power that transcends extreme circumstances. The Swedish band, which formed in 1973 and split up in 1982, created some of the most iconic songs in pop history. Their influence is so immense that they’ve not only graced the airwaves but also inspired a massively successful musical, which in turn became a hit movie franchise (and even a sequel!).
While Fassbender might not have expected Dancing Queen to provide a soundtrack for a near-death experience, it does speak to the universal appeal of the band. Their music seems to play in just about every celebration—from weddings to parties to boat rides in the storm. Fassbender himself has likely heard ABBA more times than he can count, especially at Irish weddings where it’s practically a ritual.
On top of sharing his newfound appreciation for ABBA, Fassbender is also back in the acting scene. After a few years of indulging his love for motor racing, he’s now promoting The Agency, a CIA drama that features an all-star cast including Richard Gere and Jeffrey Wright. He’s also basking in the success of Kneecap, a biopic about an Irish-language hip-hop group, which has garnered critical acclaim for its unique blend of humor, music, and social commentary.
While it remains to be seen how much more music will shape Fassbender’s career, for now, he might think twice before boarding another stormy boat ride, just in case it’s another impromptu ABBA soundtrack to his life.
