Madonna has said in an interview that she wrote a letter to the members of Abba begging to use their music on one of her tracks.
The pop singer wanted permission to sample Abba hit 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme' for her latest single 'Hung Up'.
Songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus very rarely allow other artists to use their tracks.
Speaking to Attitude magazine, Madonna said: "I had to send my emissary to Stockholm with a letter and the record begging them and imploring them and telling them how much I worship their music, telling them it was an homage to them, which is all true."
"And they had to think about it, Benny and Bjorn. They didn't say yes straight away. They never let anyone sample their music. They could have said no. Thank God they didn't," she said.
Andersson was recently quoted as saying: "We get so many requests from people wanting to use our tracks but we normally say no. This is only the second time we have given permission."
"We said yes this time because we admire Madonna so much and always have done. She has got guts and has been around for 21 years. That is not bad going."
Abba previously gave The Fugees permission to use a sample from their track 'The Name of the Game' on their single 'Rumble In The Jungle'.
