An Australian film crew travelled to Sweden to film five one-minute commercials featuring ABBA for the Japanese electronics manufacturer National (now known as Panasonic).

ABBA recorded new lyrics, written by the advertising agency George Pattson Pty Ltd, to the tune of Fernando, stating how wonderful National was.  There had been a competition where the public were invited to re-write two lines for the campaign. First prize was a trip to Sweden to visit ABBA in the studio. The jingle lasted for one verse and one chorus. The winner of the compeition wrote the first two lines of the chorus, "There are many things we share with you, Together you and National."

One of the many things different about re-recording the Fernando backing track is that the girls switch the lead vocals on the verse.  For Fernando, Frida takes the lead for the first couple of lines before Agnetha harmonises.  For National, Agnetha sings the lead with Frida harmonising for the first couple of lines. They then revert back to the normal 'order'.

The initial screenings of the commercials were advertised in the newspapers first so that people knew when to catch them on the TV ("Watch the Special to see the ads"). ABBA-dabba-dooo!! (renamed ABBA From the Beginning in Australia) had 5 advert breaks, one for each of the commercials.

Commercial 1
Filmed: Ballroom of The Grand Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: For the first and only time, the blue and yellow cat outfits were matched with white trousers, rather than with either the short or long white skirts. This would appear to be the first appearance of the kimonos - as worn by Benny and Björn only.
Description: With Benny at the piano and Björn on the guitar, Agnetha and Frida we see ABBA sing the National jingle.
No voiceover.

Commercial 2
Filmed:Grounds of Drottningholm Palace & Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: Casual clothing

Description: ABBA are seen riding bikes; Frida takes a photo of Agnetha on a bike; shot of a portable radio/cassette player; larger cassette player; Agnetha wearing headphones; Frida laughing on a walkie-talkie with Benny in the background; Benny loads up a cassette player; ABBA walk along a path singing with Benny and Björn on guitars; Agnetha puts a (Polar) record onto a record deck; Benny vacuums under Frida's raised feet; toaster; Agnetha plays with a camera and then a toy donkey; Frida uses an electric orange juicer; portable TV set.
Voiceover: "ABBA is right. National create and develop many things for better living - like batteries and flash guns to capture memories; like a complete range of excellent sound equipment for news and views, music and good fun and National can go with you anywhere, any time you wanna go. National can play your favourite ABBA records, help keep your house in order or get your day started right. Whatever you're looking for, look to a National product - sound equipment, home appliances and television."
Agnetha: "Remember this whenever you see their name." 
Björn: "National - just slightly ahead of our time".

Commercial 3
Filmed:Ballroom of The Grand Hotel and Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: This was the first appearance of the kimono costumes for all four of them; casual clothing
Description: Agnetha and Frida sing National; Björn puts his passport, calculator, shaver and batteries into a briefcase.  Agnetha plays with a toy donkey; Frida blows a kiss into a walkie-talkie; Agnetha and Frida sing National; Benny vacuums under Frida's raised feet; Benny playing the piano, turns up the portable cassette player while Frida brings him a drink and he kisses her hand; Benny has his breakfast toast while reading the paper; large television set; all four sing National.
Voiceover: "National is more than calculators that add up or a shave away from home. National is more than batteries to power everything from big radios right down to little toys.  National is more a way of living better - sooner."

Commercial 4
Filmed: Grounds of Drottningholm Palace & Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: Casual clothing
Description: ABBA are havig a picnic, with a portable radio/cassette player and singing National; Agnetha puts on headhones and is surprised by what she hears; then she's seen with Benny and Björn, still wearing the headphones; , Frida laughing walke-talkie, then Benny in the background; portable TV; ABBA walking/singing; Agnetha puts a (Polar) record onto a record deck; Agnetha and Frida walking and singing; large TV set; close-up on controls, then Agnetha and Björn appear on the TV set; ABBA having a picnic/singing.
Voiceover: "National is a leader in world electronics and technology and National understands what it's all for - it's so we can all communicate better, so we can get the most out of our living, our laughter, our songs, our work and our leisure. In a way, enjoyment is a National product."
Agnetha (on the TV): "Remember this whenever you see their name." 
Björn (on the TV): "National - just slightly ahead of our time".

Commercial 5
Filmed: Grounds of Drottningholm Palace & Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: Casual clothing
Description: ABBA having a picnic and singing National; close-up Agnetha; close-up Benny, then Frida, National products: music centre, portable TV, portable radio/cassette player; Benny vacuums under Frida's raised feet; Björn turns on the music centre with headphones; Frida squeezes an orange; toaster; Agnetha plays with a toy donkey; large TV set; close-up on controls, then Frida and Benny appear on the TV set; ABBA having a picnic/singing.
Voiceover: 
Frida (on the TV): "Remember this whenever you see their name"
Benny (on the TV): "National - just slightly ahead of our time".

1. Commercial 1 - The blue and yellow cat outfits were matched with white trousers, rather than the usual long or short white skirts.
2. Commercial 2 - Frida and Benny playing walkie-talkies. Benny is blurred in the background but you see him very briefly when Frida is blurred instead.
3. Commercial 5 - Benny is playing the guitar from the Fernando PROMO

National Sings Out

(verse)
There is so much more to National
So much more than just
The many, many things we make for you
There is so much more to National
And we feel a part of you
And all the many things you do
And as years go by
We’ll still be there to work and care
And see you make it through

(chorus)
There are many things we share with you
Together you
And National
We grow closer like the sand and seas
Like flowers and trees
And National
And you’ll find us there wherever you
Chose to wander
Together we can make the future shine
Slightly ahead of our time
It’s National


Original tune Fernando by Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson, Björn Ulvæus
New lyrics by George Patterson Pty Ltd advertising agency
Additional voiceovers by Phil Halderman.

Thanks to the ABBA Phenomenon in Australia

National TV Commercials x5, 1976;
Making the National Commercials, 1976

Archive data from National Film & Sound Archive of Australia:
1.
Title No: 638398
Title: [NATIONAL PANASONIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES TV ADVERTISEMENTS : ABBA]
Alternative Title: [ABBA : TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS]
Production Date: 15 October 1976
Produced as: Advertisement (includes promotional)
Media: Television
Summary: Five 60 second advertisements for National electronic goods, featuring ABBA singing a National promotional song to the tune of their hit 'Fernando' and using various National products including radios, tape recorders, vacuum cleaners, toasters, television sets, headphones, juicers, calculators and batteries. Advertisements are titled: 'National' - 'Singing', 'Bicycle', 'Calculator', 'Radio and Glasses' and 'Park and Glasses'. Slogan used in all advertisements is 'National - just slightly ahead of our time' (0:7:15).
Duration: 00:07:15
Country of Origin: Australia
Language: English
Credits
Cast: ABBA
Cinematographer/Director of photography: Gary Hansen
Director: Harvey Spencer
Producer: Graham Jennings
Production company: Filmscripts
Video-Tape Corporation

2.
Title No: 66010
Title: [NATIONAL PANASONIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES TV ADVERTISEMENTS : ABBA IN AUSTRALIA : OFFCUTS]
Alternative Title: [ABBA IN AUSTRALIA : ADVERTISEMENTS : OFFCUTS]
Production Date: 1976
Produced as: Advertisement (includes promotional)
Media: Television
Summary: Selected takes for advertisements for National electronic goods featuring ABBA singing a promotional song to the tune of their hit 'Fernando' and using various National products including radios, vacuum cleaners, toasters, television sets, tape recorders, juicers, headphones, calculators and batteries. Slogan used for the advertisements is 'National - just slightly ahead of our time'.
Country of Origin: Australia
Language: English
Credits
Cast: ABBA
Cinematographer/Director of photography: Allen Grice
Director: Harvey Spencer
Producer: Graham Jennings
Production company: Filmscripts

3.
Title No: 2113
Title: [NATIONAL PANASONIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES TV ADVERTISEMENTS : ABBA : OFFCUTS]
Alternative Title: [ABBA : TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS : OFFCUTS]
Production Date: 1976
Produced as: Advertisement (includes promotional)
Media: Television
Summary: Various takes for advertisements for National electronic goods, featuring ABBA singing a National promotional song to the tune of their hit 'Fernando' and using various National products including radios, vacuum cleaners, toasters, televisions, shavers, calculators and batteries. Slogan used in all advertisements is 'National - just slightly ahead of our time'.
Country of Origin: Australia
Language: English
Credits
Cast: ABBA
Cinematographer/Director of photography: Gary Hansen
Director: Harvey Spencer
Producer: Graham Jennings
Production company: Filmscripts
Video-Tape Corporation

Enormous thanks to Ian Cole. Extra thanks to Phillippe Dupont, Eamon Moore c/o ABBAMAIL (no longer online). Thanks also to Jun Seo, Steve Layton, Jozsef, Ángel Herrera, and Rod Kirkman.
Youtube clip c/o ABBA fan