Sunday, April 1, 2012

A is for A-Ha


“So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry”

- “Take On Me” by A-Ha


A-Ha was a band from Norway with a very cute lead singer. So what if the title didn’t make sense? It had a catchy beat, synthesizer, and a clever video. In the 80s, it was all about beat, synthesizer, and video.

I saw them perform at Radio City Music Hall. I thought I was younger, but I found this ARTICLE:

So I guess I was part of, “the enthusiastic shrieks of hundreds of teen-age girls gathered to adore the young Norwegian pop group A-ha.”

Can you blame me?


This must’ve been near the end of me listening to pop. Soon after, I started dying my hair black, wearing liquid eyeliner and red lipstick, and started sporting a pair of combat boots. After that, it became mostly about punk/alternative music. (I know, you’re thinking about how cool I was.)


Clever video:


I loved when “Family Guy” had a Take On Me video reference:


After “Take On Me”, A-Ha had one more song, “The Sun Always Shines on TV”, but it never had the same impact.


Honorable Mention: Animotion


115 comments:

  1. nice blog

    here is my A
    http://pa-ul.blogspot.com/search/label/GAC%20A-Z%20Artists

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  2. Oh Theresa - that posts brings back memories! Wasn't it just a brilliant song, marketed with a brilliant video. And IMHO it hasn't lost it's magic tough at all, i still like to turn up the volume and listen to it! Great start I think for your A-Z challenge :-)

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  3. I absolutely loved A-Ha and was smitten with the Take on Me video. This post has definitely brought back memories.

    Have a great A to Z month!

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    1. Rebecca, it was one of the best videos from the 1980s, I think.

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  4. Haha love Family Guy. Every tome I here this song it always gets stuck in my head, I don't even like it lol :)

    Universal Gibberish

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  5. hehe "Soon after, I started dying my hair black, wearing liquid eyeliner and red lipstick, and started sporting a pair of combat boots. After that, it became mostly about punk/alternative music" You sound like me! :)

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    1. Jessica, we'll have to compare pictures. I plan to dig through and scan a few for future posts.

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  6. a-ha is actually one of my favorite bands of all time and they went on to have many number one hits in just about every country in the world except for the US! They just broke up last year *sob* and if you haven't seen their farewell video it is on youtube and pays tribute to Take On Me. It is called Butterfly. They recorded so many good cds after Hunting High and Low.

    They still look amazing. I saw them live when I was fifteen and they never toured here again...

    bru

    PS "Pipe Wrench Fight" (or "Take on me the literal translation" is my favorite parody, it is priceless.

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    1. Bru, I didn't know their career lasted so long. I've seen recent pictures, but obviously I haven't followed their career, or I would've known! Now I'm going to have to listen to what they did after the one album.

      And I'll have to look up "Pipe Wrench Fight". Yeah, why were wrenches their weapons???

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    2. Ha, I just found it! http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/e062d7b4d5/take-on-me-literal-video-version-from-dustfilms

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  7. I discovered this song way way way after everyone else... Sometime in the late nineties. The crossover fantasy music video grabbed me and reminded me of the never ending story, not to mention the catchy nonsensical song.
    Is it just me, or does the lead singer kinda look like a taller and finer-featured version of Patric Swayze? ; j

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    1. Alesa, I thought you found videos BEFORE everyone else. I have to disagree about the lead singer. Patrick Swayze was never my types. This guy is much hotter!

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    2. LoL... Sssh. Don't let anyone know, I'm pretty woefully ignorant in the fields of 80s music and classic rock. I expect that your A-Z posts are going to be somewhat of an education for me.

      Neither are really my type... But I agree they were cute. : j

      Not to belabor my point, but clearly I'm not the only person to have been struck by the similarities: as seen here!

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    3. Alesa, it's hard to know much if you don't grow up through a decade of music. Some of my posts have fun bands while other posts are more serious.

      I'll have to check the link, but I won't be convinced!

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    4. Not convinced. Just similar hair and angle.

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  8. I loved that song an film clip! What a brilliant blast from the past-thank you!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

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  9. I remember thinking how innovative and original that video was. I was glued to MTV for days. I think it was so before it's time.

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    1. Ciara, I spent HOURS in front of MTV too. The videos were one of the best parts of the 80s.

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  10. What girl doesn't want a guy to walk out of a sketchpad just for them? LOL Love it!

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    1. Creepy Query Girl, I definitely wanted that guy to walk out of a sketchpad and land in my house!

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  11. Now I have a brain worm for the day. Thanks?

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    Replies
    1. Jaye, I'm really sorry! There are worse songs to have in your head, right?

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  12. I didn't know about the band but if was fun reading about your experiences, especially the dying the hair part.

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    Replies
    1. Natalie, I hope to post a few pictures of me back then during the challenge. Got to dig them out.

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  13. I loved the Take On Me video! So innovative for the day

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  14. LOVE your theme. Love this song - I totally remember that music video, too, although I never went to see the band live...
    Can't wait to read the rest of your alphabet ;-)

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    Replies
    1. KatieO, it was fun remembering the bands and the videos as I pre-wrote these posts. Thanks for visiting!

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  15. I remember so so so well when the Take on Me video was first shown on Top of the Pops!! It was sooooooooooooooooooooo new and different and we girlies just fell over backwards for Morten!! Yay! Take care
    x

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    1. Old Kitty, Morten was definitely a hot guy! Wasn't there a song called "Top of the Pops"? I don't think we had that TV show.

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  16. Aaaaaaah....memories! I so loved A-ha and LOVED that video. Seems like yesterday. :-) Great post and thanks for putting a smile on my face!

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    1. Tracy Jo, it seems long ago and not that long ago at the same time. Glad I got you to smile!

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  17. I remember them! Great way to start the A -Z :D

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  18. Hi! I'm hopping over from the A to Z challenge and I remember Take On Me and that band! I was a young adult in the 80's and would love to relive that time through this challenge! Good luck...

    Donna Martin
    www.donasdays.blogspot.com

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  19. I remember the song but not the band Probably why don't join music blogfests.

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    Replies
    1. Mary, I don't join music blogfests either. Why I'm doing this one, I have no idea.

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  20. Ha. I never knew those were the lyrics at the beginning. I don't know what I thought he sang. Something like "So let away, ups and ins, blah bla" haha.

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  21. I can't play the video because if I do, that dang song will be stuck in my head all day long. I distinctly remember the song and the video because my ass was firmly planted in front of the boob tube tuned to MTV. At the time, my heart belonged to Billy Idol and later Michael Hutchence, until I saw INXS in concert and discovered that he was short.

    Thanks for the blast from the past!

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    1. Deathwriter, I wish I'd seen INXS in concert.

      You're smart not to click the video. The song' been in my head all morning!

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  22. Uh, er what a name! However I can definitely SEE what you saw, pal. Ha! And hey! You're still cool, woman! I wanna be as cool as you when I grow up. *waving*

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    1. Robyn, I'm glad someone thinks I'm cool! He's cute, right?

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  23. Love it! Great choice for the first band. Can't wait to see what else you've got hidden up your lace cuff...

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    1. Deniz, my lace cuff is very itchy. I wonder if Madonna's were made out of polyester too.

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  24. I never grew tired of watching that video on MTV. Eye candy, for sure. I think I had the album, too.

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    1. Susan, that's funny, I just came back from your blog before I saw your comment. I had the A-Ha album also. But no other song compared to that one.

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  25. I still love the video for Take on Me (and of course the Family Guy version). My friend married an Englishman who adores A-ha (still, and knows all their songs) so my husband and I recorded a version of Take on Me for their first anniversary with different lyrics about how they met. Let me tell you, Take on Me is a strange song to begin with. I'd never paid much attention to the words until I had to rewrite them!

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    1. Stephsco, as cool as the video is and as good looking as the lead singer is, my friends and I used to make fun of the lyrics. They're odd!

      That's cool you did a first anniversary song. I'm sure it was challenging!

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  26. I love A-HA. Even my husband, who is a hardcore metal fan likes Take On Me.
    I'm a child of the 80's too.

    welcome to me

    yummy stuff

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    1. Ruth, nice to meet another child of the 80s, even if you were a metal fan. ; )

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  27. Theresa!
    I love your theme! And I love Take On ME. Never knew the singers til today but I'm glad you introduced them to me. :) I'm wishing us both good luck in this crazy challenge :P
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. Nutschell, thanks. I wish you luck in this crazy challenge too. I've already given up the idea of commenting on each and every participator.

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  28. Can't blame you at all! I'm now going to have TAke On Me stuck in my head for the rest of the day!!! :)

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    1. Jemi, Take on Me has been stuck in my head all day. I have a feeling it's going to be like this all month!

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  29. I love this song. I learned to on Dance Dance Revolution. In fact, it makes me want to go down and do it right now. lol

    http://weavingataleortwo.blogspot.com/

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  30. Actually, I was thinking how cool you are, to have seen them live. My life was so sheltered I think I saw my first rock concert when I was 28 (Duran Duran at Jones Beach, NY). On the bright side, I think they (and many other 80s bands) are touring again, so I may yet get a chance to see 'em. :-)

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    1. Mina, there are a few bands I never saw, which I regret now. I somehow missed REM, and they just broke up. I had over 30 years to see them.

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  31. Not only have I always liked this song, I think it's one of the best videos ever made.

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    1. Bish, I think it's one of the best videos ever made too.

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  32. Great choice for your kick-off post! "Take on Me" is one of the classic Eighties music videos. I wish they still made music videos with that kind of creativity and a miniature story.

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    1. Carrie-Anne, I agree. MTV stopped supporting videos like they did before, which is when I think the creativity went down.

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  33. The 80's - that is a truly AMAZING challenge theme. I cannot wait to see what you'll write about over the course of the letters. I've never heard of A-Ha before, but I will definitely be checking into them. I friggin love 80's music. Awesome post and Happy A-Z challenge!

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    1. S.L. Hennessy, I'm happy to know you love 80s music. I hope you like the future posts as well.

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  34. So I was born at the end of the 70's but I don't know 80's music nearly as well as I should. I think it's because I am the oldest and so I just listened to my parents music for a long time, something that drives my hubby crazy. Planning on coming by and getting a quality 80's music education :) New follower.

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    1. Tasha, thanks for following. I hope you enjoy getting an 80s education.

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  35. Ah yes, the lovely Morten and THAT video. The 80's is my era, I can't wait to see who else you have lined up :-)

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    1. Sarah, Morten might be the best looking of all the posts I have planned. Hmm, let me think about this. Actually, one near the end is pretty hot too.

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  36. This song is SO addicting. I still love it. :)

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  37. They might have been one hit wonders, but everyone loved that video...and those abs!

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    1. L.G.Smith, they were certainly one hit wonders here. But Bru said they've had a long and successful career in other countries. Who knew? Yes, great abs!

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  38. My brother's friend was obsessed with that video. He was a bit of an artist, so it spoke to him.

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  39. Oh, they had so many more songs than that Theresa, including a James Bond theme song! They went on for years in Britain - I can point you to some great songs, if you like.

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    1. Annalisa, February Grace said the same thing. In the US, they only released the two songs, and then disappeared. I'm glad they thrived after that. I thought A-Ha was talented.

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  40. So, is the theme '80s artists or crushes?

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  41. I can get a perfect score in Karaoke on that song!

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    1. Alex, I want to see some video evidence of that! Too funny!

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  42. Happy A to Z! Looks like you are off to a good start.

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  43. Hey, Theresa, I'm not familiar with this group. I'll pop in to see what you got tomorrow.

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    1. J.L. Campbell, I think you'll tomorrow's group. They had more hits.

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  44. I've never heard of A-ha before--thanks for sharing the videos!


    The Golden Eagle
    The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

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  45. never heard of them before but sounds like somewhere around then you got to discover your wild side, good for you!

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    1. Sandra, hopefully you'll know musicians on other days.

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  46. I remember these guys. Where are they now?

    Two things I never understood were: 1. guys whistling at girls; and 2. girls (and effeminate boys) shrieking at lead singers.

    I wonder if the cavemen bands had that back in the stone age?

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    1. Jeremy, according to those who have followed them, they've had lots of hits in places other than the US and even had a James Bond song. They broke up last year.

      I may or may not have done some shrieking for Duran Duran when I was 14.

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  47. Oh yes. Loved that video. Aha were big in New Zealand at that time, too.

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  48. What a great video! I loved the artwork. And I've always liked that song. :D Thanks--fun stuff.

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  49. Ha, I guess this where I confess that I know the words to that song. I mean the not complex words...

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  50. I absolutely love 'Take On Me'. Thanks Theresa.

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  51. The Sun Always Shines on TV was my favorite song from that album, but it might have been because Take On Me was so overplayed. But as a diehard Duranie, I might be shot for saying this, but The Living Daylights was my favorite Bond song (well, that and The World Is Not Enough, but different gen than we are talking about here)!

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    1. Keebles, I was so excited when I'd heard Duran Duran was doing a Bond song.

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  52. They just put out a new album a couple of years ago. I'm such a nerd that I bought about five of their CDs just last month when I found them at a CD store for a couple bucks each. Not bad, but not as good as Hunting High and Low. "Take on Me" sounds a bit cheesy now, but it's still a catchy tune and the video actually mattered.

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    1. Brent, I think it's a catchy tune with a video that mattered too. I have to check out their other music.

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  53. I totally remember that video! I didn't appreciate at the time what a hotty he was!

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  54. Missed Periods, that's because you're younger than me. I wanted him to show up at my house!

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