"The Swing Of Things" is the perfect a-ha song.
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 20:52 (fifteen years ago) link
I equate them to a much, much better Coldplay - seriously.Understatement of the decade, perhaps. ;-)
Coldplay are the better Coldplay. a-ha were better back when they were a-ha. :)
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 20:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Wah!:
Pop group A-ha have announced they are to call it a day, just months after scoring a top 10 album in the UK."We've literally lived the ultimate boy's adventure tale," the group said in a statement.The trio added that the split would allow them to pursue "other meaningful aspects of life, be it humanitarian work, politics, or whatever else."
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:47 (fourteen years ago) link
There is always a time for everything and splitting now may be wise.
That being said, the four albums they have released after the reformation (because they did break up in the 90s too, after all...) have all been surprisingly good. Other than the "Scoundrel Days" album and part of the debut, I'd say that the noughties may well have been their best era from an artistic point of view.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 15 October 2009 19:43 (fourteen years ago) link
First few albums are classic, but they should've broken up about 15-20 years ago. I'm okay with this.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Thursday, 15 October 2009 20:09 (fourteen years ago) link
Someone call up the Big C, tell him it's another sign that David Cameron is bring down the European social democrat pop dream.
― "i find your antics mirthful and infectious" (King Boy Pato), Thursday, 15 October 2009 21:53 (fourteen years ago) link
Unfortunately, as their best work was down about two decades ago, an awful lot of people probably believe they already has broken up.
Then again, an awful lot of people don't appreciate "The Sun Always Shines On TV".
― "i find your antics mirthful and infectious" (King Boy Pato), Thursday, 15 October 2009 21:55 (fourteen years ago) link
Speaking of "TV," I could use an excuse to post this cover version...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTdq-tMkayo
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Thursday, 15 October 2009 22:06 (fourteen years ago) link
Well, their latter albums are not at all bad. They were starting to lose it in the 90s, and their two 90s albums, plus their last 80s album, "Stay On These Roads" were their three weakest albums by quite a stretch. But then, they broke up and reformed, and after that they have been great. "Minor Earth Major Sky" from 2000 was particularly good, IMO even better than "Hunting High & Low", and the rest have also been quite good if quite not up there. Of course their best album remains "Scoundrel Days" and always will, but there were a couple of more recent albums that came close too.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Friday, 16 October 2009 10:38 (fourteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRlAjPjazM
Here's another cover of "TV" by Delays.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 16 October 2009 10:56 (fourteen years ago) link
Their best noughties moment:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUB9Rq8FcEQ
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Friday, 16 October 2009 14:20 (fourteen years ago) link
Playing North America next month! Or at least NYC, Toronto, Chicago and LA.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 April 2010 18:07 (fourteen years ago) link
Sondre Lerche opening in NYC.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 April 2010 18:08 (fourteen years ago) link
Texas, guys... Texas!
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 28 April 2010 18:11 (fourteen years ago) link
*hinthinthinthinthint*
"And You Tell Me" is one of my all time favorites of ever.Hits that perfect twee pop nerve that I'm such a sucker for
― rentboy, Wednesday, 28 April 2010 21:23 (fourteen years ago) link
Lerche is a huge a-ha fan so no wonder. I guess Donkeyboy are too busy setting Germany on fire to be able to warmup for a-ha in the US like they did in the UK.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Wednesday, 28 April 2010 22:50 (fourteen years ago) link
Hello:
http://www.rhino.com/shop/product/a-ha-hunting-high-and-low-deluxe-edition
http://www.rhino.com/shop/product/a-ha-scoundrel-days-deluxe-edition
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:11 (fourteen years ago) link
*drool*
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:23 (fourteen years ago) link
Old news, Ned... these were announced a few weeks ago. ;-)
Brilliant albums, nonetheless.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 26 May 2010 13:08 (fourteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urFtSadL42o
I think this is my first exposure to solo Morten material? It's not terribly different from latter day a-ha, actually. How does he hold on to that voice?
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 11 November 2012 06:46 (eleven years ago) link
There are not enough pics of Morten Harket itt.
― The Most Typical and Popular Girl Rider (Crabbits), Sunday, 11 November 2012 15:10 (eleven years ago) link
"Stay On These Roads" is lovely!
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 8 February 2013 01:24 (eleven years ago) link
It is indeed.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 February 2013 01:24 (eleven years ago) link
an amazing album too (aside from Touchy lol).
― piscesx, Friday, 8 February 2013 01:26 (eleven years ago) link
"The Blood That Moves the Body" would have been a way better Bond theme than "The Living Daylights." Those strings!
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 February 2013 01:29 (eleven years ago) link
I must buy it.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 8 February 2013 01:29 (eleven years ago) link
especially Bond-y here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jiEgyZeN-4
― piscesx, Friday, 8 February 2013 01:33 (eleven years ago) link
Reuniting for an album and world tour.
http://www.classicpopmag.com/2015/03/ha-reunite-album-world-tour/
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 16:09 (nine years ago) link
Currently blasting the first two albums, particularly Scoundrel Days. Superb album.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 19:52 (nine years ago) link
Indeed.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 21:22 (nine years ago) link
Scoundrel Days is the best
― DJP, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 21:23 (nine years ago) link
This is cool, but it's also one of the fastest reunions post-farewell that I can remember.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 21:26 (nine years ago) link
Tell that to the Damned! (Or Fall Out Boy or...)
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 21:33 (nine years ago) link
From what I can gather, the plan is to do this album and tour and that's pretty much it, but you never know... the first time they broke up, it only lasted about 4 years before they got back together again, this time it's been 5...
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 21:51 (nine years ago) link
It seems that anyone who is familiar with Scoundrel Days rates it quite highly, but I can't help but feel that the album is incredibly underrated in the big scheme of things. For me it's definitely up there with the best records of the '80s.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 21:53 (nine years ago) link
In the US, for the most part, they ceased to exist the last time "The Sun Always Shines on TV" was aired on MTV. People don't even remember they did a Bond theme, because people never think about the Timothy Dalton movies.
I imagine they have a slightly higher profile in Europe.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 22:18 (nine years ago) link
I don't know about a-ha's chart performance elsewhere in Europe, but Hunting High and Low, Scoundrel Days and Stay On These Roads all made it to #2 on the UK album chart. East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon made it to #12, which is a bit of a drop.
As far as I'm aware, all of their singles up until and including 'Stay On These Roads' went Top 10 here except for 'Manhattan Skyline', which made it to #13.
However, even though they had a great deal of success here in the '80s, 'Take On Me' and 'The Sun Always Shines On TV' seem to be the ones that most people are familiar with, with possibly 'Hunting High & Low' and 'The Living Daylights' after that. It often feels like a lot of their '80s work, for all its success, has been forgotten about in comparison to other bands/tracks of the time, which is a huge shame.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 22:40 (nine years ago) link
Oh man, I am all about this.
http://theseconddisc.com/2015/07/17/take-on-me-a-has-hunting-high-and-low-goes-super-deluxe-with-new-box-set/
CD 1: The Original Album (Warner Bros. 25300, 1985)1. Take on Me2. Train of Thought3. Hunting High and Low4. The Blue Sky5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V.7. And You Tell Me8. Love is Reason9. I Dream Myself Alive10. Here I Stand and Face the RainCD 2: The Demos 1982-19841. Lesson One (Autumn 1982 “Take on Me” Demo)2. Presenting Lily Mars (Naersnes Demo)3. Na Blaser Det Pa Jorden (Naersnes Demo)4. The Sphinx (Naersnes Demo)5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale (Naersnes Demo)6. Dot the I7. The Love Goodbye8. Nothing to It9. Go to Sleep10. Train of Thought (Demo)11. Monday Mourning12. All the Planes That Come In on the Quiet13. The Blue Sky (Demo)14. You Have Grown Thoughtful Again15. What’s That You’re Doing to Yourself in the Pouring Rain16. Take on Me (Demo)17. I Dream Myself Alive (Demo)18. Hunting High and Low (Demo)19. And You Tell Me (Demo)20. Here I Stand and Face the Rain (Demo)21. Love is Reason (Demo)22. The Blue Sky (Second Demo)23. Never, Never24. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Demo)25. Presenting Lily Mars (Rendezvous Demo)CD 3 – Singles, Extended Versions and B-Sides1. Take on Me (Original 7-Inch Version, 1984)2. Take on Me (12-Inch Mix, 1984)3. Stop! And Make Your Mind Up4. Take on Me (12-Inch Version, 1985)5. Take on Me (Instrumental Mix)6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (7-Inch Mix)7. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Extended Version)8. Driftwood9. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Extended Version No. 2)10. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Instrumental)11. Train of Thought (7-Inch Mix)12. Train of Thought (U.S. Remix)13. Train of Thought (Dub Version)14. Hunting High and Low (7-Inch Remix)15. Hunting High and Low (Extended Remix)CD 4: The Alternate Mixes (previously unreleased)1. Take on Me (Video Version)2. Train of Thought (Early Mix)3. Hunting High and Low (Early Mix)4. The Blue Sky (Alternate Long Mix)5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale (Early Mix)6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Alternate Early Mix)7. And You Tell Me (Early Mix)8. Love is Reason (Early Mix)9. Dream Myself Alive (Early “N.Y.C.” Mix)10. Here I Stand and Face the Rain (Early Mix)DVD: The Videos1. Take on Me (1985 Version) – directed by Steve Barron2. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – directed by Steve Barron3. Train of Thought – directed by Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson4. Hunting High and Low – directed by Steve Barron5. Take on Me (1984 Version) – directed by Stevie Price6. Take on Me (1985 Alternate Cut) – directed by Steve Barron
1. Take on Me2. Train of Thought3. Hunting High and Low4. The Blue Sky5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V.7. And You Tell Me8. Love is Reason9. I Dream Myself Alive10. Here I Stand and Face the Rain
CD 2: The Demos 1982-1984
1. Lesson One (Autumn 1982 “Take on Me” Demo)2. Presenting Lily Mars (Naersnes Demo)3. Na Blaser Det Pa Jorden (Naersnes Demo)4. The Sphinx (Naersnes Demo)5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale (Naersnes Demo)6. Dot the I7. The Love Goodbye8. Nothing to It9. Go to Sleep10. Train of Thought (Demo)11. Monday Mourning12. All the Planes That Come In on the Quiet13. The Blue Sky (Demo)14. You Have Grown Thoughtful Again15. What’s That You’re Doing to Yourself in the Pouring Rain16. Take on Me (Demo)17. I Dream Myself Alive (Demo)18. Hunting High and Low (Demo)19. And You Tell Me (Demo)20. Here I Stand and Face the Rain (Demo)21. Love is Reason (Demo)22. The Blue Sky (Second Demo)23. Never, Never24. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Demo)25. Presenting Lily Mars (Rendezvous Demo)
CD 3 – Singles, Extended Versions and B-Sides
1. Take on Me (Original 7-Inch Version, 1984)2. Take on Me (12-Inch Mix, 1984)3. Stop! And Make Your Mind Up4. Take on Me (12-Inch Version, 1985)5. Take on Me (Instrumental Mix)6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (7-Inch Mix)7. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Extended Version)8. Driftwood9. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Extended Version No. 2)10. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Instrumental)11. Train of Thought (7-Inch Mix)12. Train of Thought (U.S. Remix)13. Train of Thought (Dub Version)14. Hunting High and Low (7-Inch Remix)15. Hunting High and Low (Extended Remix)
CD 4: The Alternate Mixes (previously unreleased)
1. Take on Me (Video Version)2. Train of Thought (Early Mix)3. Hunting High and Low (Early Mix)4. The Blue Sky (Alternate Long Mix)5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale (Early Mix)6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Alternate Early Mix)7. And You Tell Me (Early Mix)8. Love is Reason (Early Mix)9. Dream Myself Alive (Early “N.Y.C.” Mix)10. Here I Stand and Face the Rain (Early Mix)
DVD: The Videos
1. Take on Me (1985 Version) – directed by Steve Barron2. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – directed by Steve Barron3. Train of Thought – directed by Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson4. Hunting High and Low – directed by Steve Barron5. Take on Me (1984 Version) – directed by Stevie Price6. Take on Me (1985 Alternate Cut) – directed by Steve Barron
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 17 July 2015 16:43 (eight years ago) link
Take on Me (1985 Alternate Cut) – directed by Steve Barron
Having watched the commonly available version about, oh, a zillion times, I think an alternate cut might fuck up my whole world.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 17 July 2015 17:12 (eight years ago) link
Here's hoping they do a similar thing with Scoundrel Days!
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Saturday, 18 July 2015 22:02 (eight years ago) link
Morten Harket is 60 today.
― ban golf (jed_), Sunday, 15 September 2019 17:28 (four years ago) link
"I Dream Myself Alive" by A-ha, performed by a student accordion trio of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Pyongyang 💙 pic.twitter.com/etiKiSHvEa— Comrade Natalie 🇰🇵 (@NatalieRevolts) September 17, 2020 ― xyzzzz__, donderdag 17 september 2020 21:48 bookmarkflaglink
"I Dream Myself Alive" by A-ha, performed by a student accordion trio of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Pyongyang 💙 pic.twitter.com/etiKiSHvEa— Comrade Natalie 🇰🇵 (@NatalieRevolts) September 17, 2020
― xyzzzz__, donderdag 17 september 2020 21:48 bookmarkflaglink
would have never dreamt it possible I would be rinsing an a-ha song to start my day when there's a new Wizkid single waiting for me, but here we are. I only knew them from their 80s singles, many of which I loved, but never went further than that. who knew there was an Italo track sitting on their first album!
(reposted from the North Korea thread, minus any of the tankie intent that may have been involved in this)
― No mean feat. DaBaby (breastcrawl), Friday, 18 September 2020 06:49 (three years ago) link
Propaganda is...good again!
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 18 September 2020 11:14 (three years ago) link
never look back (back, back)!
― No mean feat. DaBaby (breastcrawl), Friday, 18 September 2020 11:35 (three years ago) link
Was in on ILX that someone noted "Take On Me" and "Maria" from "West Side Story" feature the same unusual key change? Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 30 October 2020 19:03 (three years ago) link
Goddamn YES PLEASE
https://tribecafilm.com/films/a-ha-the-movie-2021
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 21 May 2021 14:27 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOhiDxuOEuI
― aegis philbin (crüt), Thursday, 12 May 2022 21:36 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc6MumuychA
― aegis philbin (crüt), Thursday, 12 May 2022 21:39 (two years ago) link
the first album is great then they went downhill quick!
― xzanfar, Thursday, 12 May 2022 21:52 (two years ago) link