a-ha - Take On Me

  • Thread starter Thread starter AGinAg (37)
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Better to be safe than sorry

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AGinAg (37)

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An utter 80s staple, so much so I'm not gonna post a video. I know a-ha have a few fans on Moopy, but twas wondering what we all thought of their most ubiquitous hit?
 
I THINK IT'S GREAT even WITHOUT the video. God the amount of FUSS people used to make about VIDEOS
 
Absolutely. There's no doubt that the video made it a hit, but the song is an absolute CORKER regardless.
 
Obviously it's a ten, but a bit too ubiquitous for me to ever get really excited about it.

Summer Moved On, Lifelines, The Sun Always Shines on TV and Dark Is The Night are my A-Ha faves.
 
It's one of those songs that I think IS probably too ubiquitous, but when I do hear it, I just get swept up in its fabulousness all over again.
 
10/10.

Can't believe the #1 version of this song is the A1 cover, awful.
 
Shirley said:
They were on THE TOTP STORY OF 1985 recently weren't they? MAGS is now the most :horny: NOT THAT I CONTEMPLATE SUCH BASE NOTIONS :lolly:
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I think it was Sharla (RIP from unpopular political opinions xxx) who said that Mags always had the air of someone with an unfeasibly large penis, and I rather suspect he was right.
 
Poor Pål :(

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Although even Morten has a look of a middle-aged lesbian in that photo.
 
VoR said:
Poor Pål :(

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Although even Morten has a look of a middle-aged lesbian in that photo.
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Pål looks like a tortoise freshly ripped from its shell these days.

Morten looks to be morphing into Frida to these eyes. Obviously I still would, though.
 
a-ha singles (because there may be some album tracks I'm forgetting) top ten

1 The Sun Always Shines On TV
2 Take On Me
3 Lifelines
4 Minor Earth Major Sky
5 Foot Of The Mountain
6 Summer Moved On
7 Manhattan Skyline
8 Hunting High And Low
9 I've Been Losing You
10 Velvet
 
'Foot Of The Mountain' started life as a Mags (sorry, Magne F) solo track 'The Longest Time' from his album 'A Dot Of Black In The Blue Of Your Bliss'. It seems that they realised that the verses were strong, but gave the track a completely new chorus (courtesy of Pål presumably, looking at the credits), and kept the keyboard riff.

 
dear everyone
morten has just shared the painful news that he has parkinson’s disease.
for more information go to a-ha.com

having known about morten’s diagnosis for some time does not take the force out of the blow,
nor diminish the impact it has had, and will continue have, on us - as people and as a band.

our thoughts are first and foremost with morten and his family at a difficult time adjusting
to the changes that this condition has brought into their lives.

the news brings sadness, but it is worth it to remember through the hurt that there is also
a lot of gratitude: for all the amazing memories, for how our combined creative efforts
as a band have been so generously embraced by the world, and for how lucky we are
that people continue to find meaning, hope and joy in our shared musical legacy.

all future a-ha-related activities will of course be tuned to suit morten’s situation, but together we will work to try and find ways to give you the best of ourselves.

thank you everyone for all your support, your kind words, and consideration.
💙🫶💙
magne
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God that man is gorgeous. I've been listening to Tears for Fears (I don't recognise myself anymore), but then just had to put the 2 big a-ha global blockbuster pop parade hits on and that was me all a-glow. I should probably indicate whether I like Take On Me though.

10.
 
Actually, in all seriousness I didn't realise they had a UK top 10 in 2006. I fear listening to their albums might not unearth much treasure for me, but I will at some point.
 
Is #20 really minor? This could effect how big I have in my head Kim Wilde's You Came (#30) and Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill (same position) were over there.
 
straightorbroken said:
Is #20 really minor? This could effect how big I have in my head Kim Wilde's You Came was (#30) and Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill (same position).
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It’s all relative isn’t it. Take on Me was huge so #20 was a relative disappointment. And in the 80s, singles kind of came and went very quickly so very different from a top 20 these days that can languish for 6 months to a year.
 
Ah(ha). I guess I've always thought in the US getting a hit took time and that to peak involved a lengthy climb of sorts. I always go to Cyndi of all people, with Girls releasing in 1983 and not peaking until further into '84.
 
straightorbroken said:
Ah(ha). I guess I've always thought in the US getting a hit took time and that to peak involved a lengthy climb of sorts. I always go to Cyndi of all people, with Girls releasing in 1983 and not peaking until further into '84.
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Yeah there were occasional breakthrough hits that bucked the trend like Girls or Borderline but generally the charts moved fast.
 
I don't have it in me to keep searching for an a-ha thread, but I am finally digging into their albums.

Hunting High & Low (1985). The 2 ubiquitous singles soar so high at a level not matched again, but I enjoyed what is here: when the energy is more on the pulsating side (Train of Thought and The Blue Sky especially) things get really dazzling, and I don't think a single track falls into filler. I give it a better safe than sorry B. If only they'd found another lightning bolt single or 2 and I'd consider it a classic.

The Sun Always Shines On TV is of course majestic and unbeatable in its original form, but I really did enjoy this update:

 
Scoundrel Days (1986) is even better! I really like that they're not scared of experimenting with structure. The title track is a skattery arena pop swing of its own accord, and single Manhattan Skyline is a menacing interruption I didn't see coming. I'm surprised Maybe, Maybe wasn't a worldwide single, but more so that The Weight of the Wind wasn't the lead single - it's immense. October a low key highlight. Tempted to give it an A. I loved this.

 
I do think Hunting High and Low is better of the two and the best of their first flurry of work, but Minor Earth Major Sky is their best album overall.
 
Sheena said:
I do think Hunting High and Low is better of the two and the best of their first flurry of work, but Minor Earth Major Sky is their best album overall.
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Yes, I'd agree with that. I can find something to love on all their albums though. It's just a matter of degree.
 
lolly said:
Yes, I'd agree with that. I can find something to love on all their albums though. It's just a matter of degree.
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Oh, absolutely. And depending on what level of NORDIC GLOOM I need :D
 
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