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    Taking a Chance on Love With Ace of Base’s “Wheel of Fortune

    Scott BolandBy Updated:No Comments6 Mins Read
    Post authorIt is #SongLyricsSunday! Today’s prompt is to find a song with the words “Fate”, “Fortune”, or “Luck” in the title or lyrics. Recently, I have been listening to Ace of Base’s debut album Happy Nation (known as The Sign in the US) during my morning train commute to work. One reason why is because I have been watching the Netflix series This Is Pop! that talks about the various aspect of music during the decades. One episode talks about the explosion of Swedish Pop in the 90s with Denniz Pop (primarily), Max Martin ), and Ace of Base(You have to check out this episode as well as the whole season of This Is Pop! as it is very informative with a lot of behind scenes about various acts.I have loved Ace of Base’s Happy Nation since I was a little kid. I remember when Ace of Base was huge on the radio back in the early to mid-90s. One of my favorite tracks off the album is “Wheel of Fortune”. Let’s explore the song a little more down below!

    What You Gonna Tell Your Dad

    Ace of Base in 1992

    “Wheel of Fortune” is the first single off the band’s debut album, being released in 1992. It is described as a reggae-fusion dance-pop tune. That type of sound was the primary sound in the band’s debut album, which made them very popular around the world in the 90s. It was written by bandmates Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, who are the only members left in the band today.

    It took the single three chances to enter any type of chart. It failed to get any traction in the music charts when it was first promoted in Denmark (Yes, Ace of Base is a Swedish group, but they did promotion across Europe to see if they could be worthy to be an international hit). After the third time in promoting the single, it entered #2 in the Danish single charts. The band’s debut single was also a Top 10 hit also in Austria, Belgium, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland.

    Funny thing is that “Wheel of Fortune” was not promoted anywhere in North America. The band’s record label decided to release “All That She Wants” as the band’s first single in the United States. And that strategy worked as the single went platinum and was one of the biggest selling singles of 1992. Happy Nation / The Sign was named the LP the best-selling debut studio effort in music history by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995. It went on to sell over 21 million worldwide, being one of the top-selling albums of all time.

    But back to “Wheel of Fortune”. The lyrics, like all Ace of Base songs, are open-ended and can be interpreted in any way you want it. Yes, they are a bit weird with lines like “My love is my engine” and “And you might be fuel “. But hey, it is a song to basically lure people on the dance floor. Dance songs never had lyrics that never made much sense, right?

    I really love Linn Berggren’s unique vocals with that colorful vibrato and contralto notes. Just check out that opening, it gives me the chills due to how she performs those lines. Even though it is a dance-pop song, it is at a slower tempo, which highlights the fantastic reggae-fusion beats more. Because of this and Linn Berggren’s unique vocals, I just love Ace of Base’s “Wheel of Fortune” a lot!

    Check out Ace of Base’s “Wheel of Fortune” down below and let me know what you think in the comments!

    Seventeen years later, the band decided to remake the song with Jenny Berggren as lead vocals:

    Lyrics to Ace of Base’s “Wheel of Fortune”

    What you gonna tell your dad
    It’s like a wheel of fortune
    What you gonna tell your dad
    If this wheel lets you down
    My love is my engine
    And you might be fuel
    Stop acting cool
    Just bet you might win
    I’m not too cool

    We’re gonna make your move

    Don’t push me
    I don’t want to, can’t you see it
    Hasten slowly
    And don’t count your chicks
    Before they’re hatched baby

    What you gonna tell your dad
    It’s like a wheel of fortune
    What you gonna tell your dad
    If this wheel lets you down
    My love is my engine
    And you might be fuel
    Stop acting cool
    Just bet you might win
    I’m not too cool

    Hey you
    We’re gonna make your move
    It tastes like steel
    Like a stab from a knife

    Ooh what you gonna tell your daddy
    Ooh whoa whoa
    What you gonna tell your daddy
    Ooh whup
    Say what you gonna tell your daddy
    Mmm oh what you gonna tell your daddy
    Ooh what you gonna tell your daddy
    I’m in love with another fool

    I’m in love with you, I like your style
    I want you, I’m in love
    I’m in love with you, I like your style
    I want you, I’m in love

    What you gonna tell your dad
    It’s like a wheel of fortune
    What you gonna tell your dad
    If it lets you down yeah
    What you gonna tell your dad
    It’s like a wheel of fortune
    What you gonna tell your dad
    If this wheel lets you down

    My love is my engine
    And you might be fuel
    Stop acting cool
    Just bet you might win
    I’m not too cool
    I’m in love with another fool

    Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
    I’m in love with another fooooool
    Tell tell tell ya, bad
    Ooh I’m in love with you, I like your style
    I want you I’m in love

    The Rules for #SongLyricsSunday

    (This challenge is currently hosted by the generous.)

    Anyone can participate in #SongLyricsSunday, even if you aren’t a music blogger! If you want to participate, here are the rules:

    • Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
    • Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
    • Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
    • Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song. will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
    • Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
    • Feel free to suggest future prompts.
    • Have fun and enjoy the music.

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