When love’s golden glow turns to a fiery red, the true face of betrayal is revealed.
As the 1980s dawned, the world was already bracing for a new sound. But no one expected the kind of raw, unflinching emotion that would pour out of the usually serene Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad) of ABBA. After a decade of crafting some of pop’s most meticulously joyful and heartbroken melodies with her bandmates, she was ready to step out on her own. The result was the 1982 album Something’s Going On, a sonic departure and an emotional reckoning. It was an album born from personal upheaval, a post-divorce journey that saw her trade the polished Scandinavian pop sound for something grittier, heavier, and more introspective. She enlisted legendary Genesis drummer and producer Phil Collins, whose own solo work at the time was steeped in a similar kind of post-divorce anguish, to help her navigate this new musical landscape.
While the lead single, “I Know There’s Something Going On,” became an international smash, its B-side, “I See Red,” is the hidden gem, the emotional core of the album, a blistering, cathartic release. The song, written by Jim Rafferty, brother of Gerry Rafferty, didn’t chart in most places, but it became a cult favorite, particularly in South Africa, where it reached No. 15 on the 702 Radio Top 20 charts. It’s a song that speaks to a universal, yet deeply personal, experience: the moment of sudden, overwhelming rage that follows the realization of betrayal.
“I See Red” is a powerful piece of musical theater, a journey from quiet contemplation to explosive fury. It’s a song for anyone who has ever felt their world upended by a lover’s deceit. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who has been pushed to her limit, her calm façade shattered by a single, unforgivable act. The metaphor of seeing red is not just a passing expression; it’s a visceral, almost physical sensation of anger and pain. The song’s raw energy is palpable, from the pulsing bassline to Collins’ powerful, driving drum work. It’s a sound that stands in stark contrast to ABBA‘s usual pop perfection, proving that Frida was more than just a pop star—she was an artist with a complex emotional range and a willingness to explore the darker side of human experience.
For those of us who grew up with ABBA, hearing Frida sing “I See Red” was a revelation. We knew her as the voice of sweet melodies and poignant ballads, but here she was, spitting fire, her voice filled with a raw power that we had only glimpsed before. This song is a testament to the power of music as a vehicle for emotional processing, a way to transform pain into art. It’s a song that captures a fleeting, but intense, moment in time, a moment when all of the composure and grace of a lifetime give way to pure, unadulterated fury. And in that fury, we see a side of Frida that is both familiar and entirely new, a woman who is not afraid to show us the beautiful mess of her heart.
The accompanying music video is a quintessential 80s time capsule, featuring a montage of acrobats, pinball machines, and a dynamic, high-energy performance from Frida. While the visuals may seem a little quirky today, they capture the restless, kinetic energy of the song, a feeling of being in a whirlwind of emotion with no clear end in sight. It’s a perfect visual representation of the song’s chaotic, yet controlled, energy, a piece of art that remains as compelling today as it was over 40 years ago.
Frida‘s solo work on Something’s Going On was a brave step, a decision to shed the comfortable and familiar for the unknown. “I See Red” is the most potent example of this courage. It’s not a song about sadness or longing; it’s about righteous anger, the kind that empowers and frees you from the grip of a hurtful past. And for that, it remains one of her most enduring and unforgettable tracks.