a-ha to split up

[levyguy]

But not here in the States. Thus the reason I called them a one-hit wonder. That's the thing with music. You could have hundreds of hits in Europe,Australia,Japan,wherever,you only have the one-hit here and everyone pretty much forgets about you. Unless you show up on one of those VH-1 flashback shows.

Unfortuntatly that is true. There are people from India and other countries who have sold a reported 100 million records who never had a single hit here!Its due to poor promotion in the USA by the record labels (WEA and Universal) that many are not aware that a-ha have been active and successful all this time. You can see most of their videos on youtube fortunetly!

[levyguy]

Same as most, thought they split up long ago. I loved 'Hunting high and low" I'll check some of their recent stuff on youtube.

There's alot on a-ha on youtube! Also on Morten Harket! Their must recent videos are Foot of the Mountain and Shadowside, and a new one for Nothing is Keeping You Here is due out soon too!

[levyguy]

But not here in the States. Thus the reason I called them a one-hit wonder. That's the thing with music. You could have hundreds of hits in Europe,Australia,Japan,wherever,you only have the one-hit here and everyone pretty much forgets about you. Unless you show up on one of those VH-1 flashback shows.

Most people don't seem to remember this, but Take on Me was not a-ha's ONLY hit here. While it was the biggest by far, they also charted with:
The Sun Always Shines On TV (#20), Cry Wolf (#50), The Living Daylights(#113) and Dark Is The Night (#111). They also charted on the Adult contemporary chart and on the Dance chart.

[Bones]

Man, that was a rush, watching that "Take On Me" video again after so many years. I'm so OLD!!!

Levyguy, I'd forgotten that they did the title song from the Bond movie "The Living Daylights." I actually had the cassette soundtrack for it, which also had some stuff by the Pretenders, if I remember correctly.

[CoolLou]

It reminded me of pulling hairs one at a time our of my pubic region..absolutely painful

[grayhank]

Sorry to hear that. Was a huge fan. It's too bad that they didn't get the reconition they deserved here in the US. Some of their later albums were great. "Memorial Beach" is one of my favorite albums. The album could have been a sequel to U2s Joshua Tree. "Minor Earth Major Sky" and "Lifelines" also excellent. Didn't get into their last album "Anologue" as much but I'm sure if I gave it few more listens I would probably enjoy it very much.

Most here in the US don't realize that alot of these 80s bands have never left because they just don't get the radio airplay. Tears for Fears is another example. They've been making albums since they first came on the scene (although Curt left for awhile). Any Tears for Fears fan that has not heard "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" is missing out an excellent "Sgt Pepper" inspired album... Good Stuff!

[censy]

In case you did not see it there is a recent interview with Morten and Mags on youtube. Enter: a-ha interview on UK MusicTV part 1 and part 2 in the search -it should come up! also the video for the single Shadowside is now on youtube!There is also a 25 minute EPK on a-ha the story of success on youtube!

Thanks for the heads up, I really enjoyed the interviews. I think its a safe bet they will play in NY, so you should definitely go.

Chris

[censy]

Sorry to hear that. Was a huge fan. It's too bad that they didn't get the reconition they deserved here in the US. Some of their later albums were great. "Memorial Beach" is one of my favorite albums. The album could have been a sequel to U2s Joshua Tree. "Minor Earth Major Sky" and "Lifelines" also excellent. Didn't get into their last album "Anologue" as much but I'm sure if I gave it few more listens I would probably enjoy it very much.

Most here in the US don't realize that alot of these 80s bands have never left because they just don't get the radio airplay. Tears for Fears is another example. They've been making albums since they first came on the scene (although Curt left for awhile). Any Tears for Fears fan that has not heard "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" is missing out an excellent "Sgt Pepper" inspired album... Good Stuff!

hey grayhawk,

Analogue is good, but not as strong start to finish as some of the others. Though it has a few brilliant tracks, the title track, Analogue and Cosy Prisons. I think Minor Earth, Major Sky is my favorite album.

I am also a Tears for Fears fan : )

CC

[levyguy]

Thanks for the heads up, I really enjoyed the interviews. I think its a safe bet they will play in NY, so you should definitely go.

Chris

Hi Chris! glad you enjoyed those interviews! Theres really alot of interviews with Morten and a-ha on you tube. Some is not in English but alot are. it makes me feel like I know the guys!
I don't drive so its going to be hard for me to get to a concert. But if I can get my friend to go that would be great!

[levyguy]

Sorry to hear that. Was a huge fan. It's too bad that they didn't get the reconition they deserved here in the US. Some of their later albums were great. "Memorial Beach" is one of my favorite albums. The album could have been a sequel to U2s Joshua Tree. "Minor Earth Major Sky" and "Lifelines" also excellent. Didn't get into their last album "Anologue" as much but I'm sure if I gave it few more listens I would probably enjoy it very much.

Most here in the US don't realize that alot of these 80s bands have never left because they just don't get the radio airplay. Tears for Fears is another example. They've been making albums since they first came on the scene (although Curt left for awhile). Any Tears for Fears fan that has not heard "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" is missing out an excellent "Sgt Pepper" inspired album... Good Stuff!

Hi Grayhank! I wish a-ha did get the recognition they deserve in the USA. Its inconceivable to me why the record label did not promote them here, especially seeing how huge they've been in Europe, Brazil and Japan. They would have been among the bands who have passed the 100 million records sold mark had their albums and singles continued to be released here and properly promoted. Its strange but here in the USA everyone got so caught up with Take on Me and only focused on that song, they overlooked all of the great songs a-ha have done since then.
I love all of their albums, but right now I'd probably list Scoundrel Days, Minor Earth/Major Sky and Foot of The Mountain as my favorites. But I love East of The Sun and Memorial Beach which were the last 2 to be released here. Everyone loved Take On Me ( and I do too) but it is only one song out of 40 singles by a-ha. Many others are just as good or better. Summer Moved On was such a big hit for them in Europe- #1 in 17 countries, 2.5 million copies sold there. If only it had been released here.
I have a feeling that a-ha will be getting alot of attention here next year due to their 25th anniversary tour and the news of there splitting up. Hopefully it will cause many more here to listen to a-ha and discover all of the great music they've been missing.
By the way, do you have any of Morten's solo albums? I have all four and really enjoy them. They are much different then a-ha's music, but Morten's voice is incredible. He also composed most of the music on three of them. Don't be afraid to get Poetenes Evanglium or Vogts Villa because they are in Norwegian. They are great albums! And I can send you a translation of the lyrics into English if you want. The two English albums are Wild Seed and Letter From Egypt. Its not the same music as a-ha. Very different from a-ha, but very good albums on their own. Basically its acoustic rock and no one sings like Morten Harket!

[ctc]

A-ha breaking up.....? NNNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!!

*ahem*

>There are people from India and other countries who have sold a reported 100 million records who never had a single hit here

Yeah. Entertainment-wise N. America is INSANELY insular. There are TONS of bands, books, movies.... all sorts of things that have huge numbers that we never hear of. Which is a shame, 'cos it'd all provide an infusion of NEW into our horribly inbred stuff.

Don C.

[alex]

Their original single "take on me" was a complete flop released first time round, released like six months later, and u have a number one. I remember the video for this, it was ground breaking at the time.They are actually playing here in Poland, in a couple of weeks.

[levyguy]

Their original single "take on me" was a complete flop released first time round, released like six months later, and u have a number one. I remember the video for this, it was ground breaking at the time.They are actually playing here in Poland, in a couple of weeks.

You can find that original 1984 version of Take On Me on youtube! They rerecorded it with a different producer and released the new version with that great video and it was a huge hit worldwide. ( 9 million copies sold). While that one is their biggest hit they also had several others which sold really well: The Sun Always Shines on TV topped 6 million, and The Living Daylights and Stay On These Roads each passed 4 or 5 million. Ten of their singles sold 2 million or more each.They will be in Poland, Russia, Japan, Belgium, France, UK, Germany and Norway this year and next year in many countries including the USA (in May) during their year long Ending On A High Note farewell tour. I really wish they would change their minds regarding splitting up.