That a-ha Moment

I watched some DVDs recently of a-ha in concert and I just gotta say they are a great live band. There is something special about Morten Harket, Pal Waaktaar-Savoy & Magne Furuholmen getting together on stage for a live show. It could be their chemistry, earnestness or just their magnificent set-play of songs that just rain down on you one-by-one.

a-ha has had such an impact on my life that I still remember the first time my church friend Alex told me in my room excitedly that there was this big new band a-ha that was taking the world by storm with their brand-new hit 'Take On Me'. It was 1985 my friends. 34 years ago. And I still remember that moment vividly in my mind. I was thinking to myself: what is this group with this name a-ha? Sounds funny...

Well before you know it, 'Take On Me' has taken the world by storm, becoming ubiquitous in almost every chart show and radio playlist... and if the song was not enough, the video was breathtakingly good... ahead of its time by 34 years... and ranks 2nd in my all-time video list; only behind 'It's My Life' by Bon Jovi and above 'Going Under' by Evanescence.

The best thing is that a-ha has this unique, gloomy, almost-depressing feel to their songs, which is unique; considering their biggest hit 'Take On Me' does not really sound in that direction... and I just love the wistful keyboard melodies of 'Stay On These Roads' and 'Hunting High & Low'... (yes you know the part). This gloominess would be a theme throughout their career; in early songs like 'Train Of Thought', 'Manhattan Skyline' and on to 'Lifelines', 'Birthright' and 'Forever Not Yours'. There is something about the band's culture and Harket's beautiful, brooding voice that brings out an almost melancholic, mournful mood.