The origin of the name a-ha comes from the lyric of an early song. After checking dictionaries in several languages, they found out that 'a-ha' was an international way of expressing recognition, with positive connotations. It was short, a-ha was easy to say and somewhat unusual.
"Take on Me" was the first song Morten Harket heard Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy created. At that time the song was called "Lesson One." After multiple re-recordings and two failed releases, "Take on Me" became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1985. Although their first release of the song in 1984 was not a major success, it was remixed by producer Alan Tarney a year later, and sold 1.5 million copies worldwide in one week. Eventually the single "Take on Me" is estimated to have sold 7-9 million copies worldwide; it peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the UK Singles Chart. Sales were aided in the U.S. by a music video on MTV that mimicked the truck chase from Terry Gilliam's movie Brazil and the climactic scene from the Ken Russell film Altered States. The video used a sketchy animation / live action combination called "Rotoscoping" that tells a fantasy thriller story to the song. At the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards "Take on Me" won in six categories. It was also nominated for Best Video of the Year at 1986 American Music Awards. As of February 2020, the official video has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube.
The follow-up single to "Take on Me" was "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.". In the U.S., the song peaked at number twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number seventeen on Radio & Records airplay chart. In addition, the music video for the song won in two categories at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.
a-ha's American success culminated in their 1986 Grammy nomination in a coveted Best New Artist category which was eventually won by Sade.
"The Sun Always Shines on TV" turned out to be A-ha's last Billboard Top 40 single, and to this day in the United States a-ha is mostly remembered by the general public only because of the singularly huge success of "Take on Me". Hunting High and Low (1985), which contained "The Sun Always Shines on TV" and "Take on Me," was a worldwide bestseller. In the U.S., it sold more than a million copies and acquired platinum certification by RIAA. As of 2005, Hunting High and Low has sold 8 million copies worldwide.
a-ha's second album was Scoundrel Days (1986) and represented a move towards alternative rock as synthpop began to fall out of style. In 1987, they provided the title song for the James Bond film The Living Daylights. Stay on These Roads (1988) received more mixed reviews than the previous albums. In spite of a drastic decline in sales in the next few years, a-ha continued to record two more albums, East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990) and Memorial Beach (1993). East of the Sun, West of the Moon featured a cover version of The Everly Brothers 1963 single, "Crying in the Rain".
Because of apparent internal conflicts between the band members and conflict with the record label at the time, A-ha split in 1994 and their members started focusing on solo activities, but came together in 1994 to perform for the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. This performance included their song composed for the Winter Paralympics, "Shapes That Go Together".
After a very well-received performance of "The Sun Always Shines on TV" and a new song, "Summer Moved On", at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 1998, the band returned to the studio and recorded 2000's Minor Earth Major Sky, which resulted in a new tour, and a videocast performance of a-ha (with Briskeby) opening the new Vallhall stadium in Oslo. Sales of this album and 2002's Lifelines showed that their fanbase was still there, and also that they were able to attract new audiences, especially in Central Europe and Scandinavia, where the albums sold extremely well. They appeared again at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2001. a-ha's music video for the song, "I Wish I Cared" was the first fully web-based animated flash music video to be made available.
A live album (from their 2002 tour) with the title How Can I Sleep With Your Voice in My Head? was released in March of 2003, preceded by a live single of the 1986 classic "The Sun Always Shines on TV".
In 2004, an in-depth book entitled "The Swing Of Things" was published, also featuring a CD of early demo material. In 2004, a-ha celebrated their twentieth anniversary with the release of a new singles collection: The Definitive Singles Collection 1984-2004. This compilation brought them back into the UK Top 20 Album Charts, where they reached number thirteen. Over their career, a-ha have officially released 32 singles. 13 of these became top ten singles in the UK, and 14 singles have been number one on the radio lists over the world. The compilation included some of the highlights from a-ha’s last 20 years.
In September, a-ha returned to the U.S. (at Irving Plaza in New York City) for the band's first concert on American soil since 1986. A short impromptu performance of "Take on Me" occurred on September 11 in Times Square. On August 27, 2005, the band played a concert for 120,000 people in Frognerparken in Oslo, the largest concert ever in Norway.
On November 4, 2005, the band released its new studio album, Analogue. The first single "Celice" was released on October 4 in mainland Europe. Later that same month, a tour followed, with concerts in Brussels, France, Germany and the UK. The release of the track, "Analogue (All I Want)" followed in the UK in January 2006, giving a-ha its first top ten hit in the UK since 1988. The third single in Europe (second in the UK) from the album was the Magne Furuholmen penned "Cosy Prisons", already a live-staple in the band's set.
On the 30 October 2006 in London a-ha received the prestigious Q Inspiration Award for its long contribution to music and for inspiring many of their younger colleagues in the business.
In 2007 a-ha recorded a cover of John Lennon's "#9 Dream" for Amnesty International.
A ninth studio album, Foot Of The Mountain, was released in the summer of 2009. This more synth oriented album got a number five position in the UK in August 2009, and was No. 11 on the European album charts.
"Norway's most successful band through the years is splitting up for good!
After 9 studio albums with over 35 million albums sold, it`s over for the band."
A-ha had a press conference in Cologne 26.10.09, the day before their last world tour kick-off in Lanxess Arena. The last concert was in Oslo Norway. The concert ion 4 December 2010 at the Oslo Spektrum.
On March 21, 2015, it was confirmed in national Norwegian newspapers that a-ha has reunited. Their tenth studio album, Cast in Steel, was released in 2015.
October
a-ha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard they had some envy
They keep my songs on repeat
Cause' we ain't on speaking terms
I just had to watch 'em all cross me
So ain't no more talking
I just watch them bridges burn
Niggas swear they gone see me
They keep my songs on repeat
Cause' we ain't on speaking terms
I just had to watch 'em all cross me
So ain't no more talking
I just watch them bridges burn
They say they gonna see me, but don' ever talk
Wrote my name upon the board then smudge it down like chalk
Cause they couldn't find the way to pull up on the lot
Have your ass leaking on the ground like Vegas slot
Pulling strings just to keep in contact
I can't even move niggas on attack
Watch me smile while I hit the jackpot
You would think I'm harden cause I cook with the step back
Tryna pushup on the Don
Get yo ass clapped on
Stones to rock
Block to block
Bitch you know I put this on
We are not on speaking terms
So keep your ears open listen to the 3rd party hoe
Niggas say they gone see me
I heard they had some envy
They keep my songs on repeat
Cause' we ain't on speaking terms
I just had to watch 'em all cross me
So ain't no more talking
I just watch them bridges burn
Niggas swear they gone see me
I heard they had that envy
They keep my songs on repeat
Cause' we ain't on speaking terms
I just had to watch 'em all cross me
So ain't no more talking
I just watch them bridges burn
They the type to burn a bridge walk off the ledge and say you did it
Flip the script and always tripping, be falling for basic bitches
Probably make you wash the dishes, scrub that shit until it's glisten
I don't see the problem with it but when it come up they act like children
Fuck 'em if they on some other shit I won't miss 'em
If they dead to me they a zombie when they in my vision
Words are nothing your actions defined you with precision
And I can't see you in my visions of some money missions
Yeah
When I'm on the beat just know I'm gonna fuck it up
Ideas in my mental and they just keep on building up
Shout out to my dawgs feel no ones realer than us
Gonna keep filling our pockets until these bitches bust
The song October by a-ha is a melancholic piece that reflects on the end of summer and the loneliness felt by the singer in an English town. The opening lines set the dreary tone of the song, describing the city as "colored gray" and the singer as sleepless. The absence of the singer's loved one is accentuated as he wanders the streets alone, yearning for their presence. The repetition of the line "Down in the city at nights" reinforces the sadness and solitude that the singer feels.
The second verse further establishes the separation between the singer and his loved one. The line "Wherever you may be right now" suggests that the two are geographically distant, and the contrast between their states - with the singer awake and the loved one presumably asleep - highlights the separation they're experiencing. However, the song does offer some degree of solace, as evidenced by the refrain "Don't be lonely / So you've told me." This is a reminder from the loved one that while they may be physically apart, they are still emotionally close. The song concludes with the singer admitting his deep longing for his loved one, a feeling made especially poignant by the lonely setting of the English city.
Overall, the song October is a testament to the power of loneliness and how it can be heightened during specific times of the year. While the separation between the singer and his loved one is a temporary one, its impact on his emotional state is deep and lasting.
Line by Line Meaning
Dawn awaits a sleepless, English town
The start of the day is coming to a town that is devoid of sleep and unknown in England.
Of colored gray
The color theme of the city is all a gray toned.
Here I roam the streets without you
Without the singer's companion, he aimlessly wanders the streets.
As summer fades away
The season of summer is going to come to an end soon.
Down in the city at nights
The artist mentions that he is at the streets of the city during the night.
The cold wind blows
A cold breeze is present in the city.
Wherever you may be right now
The singer doesn't know the location of the person he's addressing.
It must be getting late
The artist assumes that it's getting late where the addressed person is.
You're probably asleep already
The artist assumes that the addressed person is already asleep.
I am wide awake
The artist states that he is awake.
Don't be lonely
An advice given by the addressed person.
So you've told me
The artist acknowledges that the addressed person has given him the advice before.
But don't you worry now
The addressed person shouldn't be worried.
Loneliness can be ignored
The singer mentions that loneliness can be disregarded.
And time has shown me how
The singer knows how to ignore loneliness from past experiences.
I'm missing you so much
The artist misses the addressed person.
Down in the city
The artist is still in the city while singing the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Alexavier Jackson, Ezra Cheatom, Tomi Adedayo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Silva
Dawn awaits a sleepless, English town
Of colored gray
Here I roam the streets without you
As summer fades away
Down in the city at nights
The cold wind blows
Wherever you may be right now
It must be getting late
You're probably asleep already
I am wide awake
Down in the city at nights
"Don't be lonely"
So you've told me
But don't you worry now
Loneliness can be ignored
And time has shown me how
Down in the city at nights
I'm missing you so much
Down in the city
Down in the city
Traduzir para o português
Rolandas Mikalauskas
Dawn awaits a sleepless English
Town of coloured grey
Here I roam the streets without you
As summer fades away
Down in the city at nights
Oh, the cold wind blows
Wherever you may be right now it
Must be getting late
You're probably asleep already
I am wide awake
Down in the city at nights
"Don't be lonely", so you've told me
But don't you worry now
Loneliness can be ignored
And time has shown me how
Down in the city at nights
I'm missing you so much
Down in the city
Down in the city
Floaka missa
No vocal demonstration, every feeling is in Morten's breathy voice, it is sooo perfect!
Girl The Beast 103
I was 12 years old, it was in 1986 and I was sitting by the river, it was a beautiful day and someone turned on the radio and since this song was on ... I was enchanted and everything went like in a video clip from --- it was my childhood , no critical problems, my parents were young and this SОNG ... I love it so much and miss that time in 1986
angrypostmanfilms
+Artur Meier Hope my video reminded you of some happy memories.
Bio Labs
I was 12 too. Very good Memories
Mario Moreno
80s was real magic for everyone who lived them, I am one of those lucky people
Sophia Jao
When I was 17 .....
Maurino Júnior
I was 15 by this time!!!
Sônia São Pedro
Cantores maravilhosos, que fizeram um brilhante trabalho na década de 80, essa música é uma das minhas favoritas. Sempre amei esse grupo. Obrigado quem postou!!!!!!!
Camila de Campos Pereira
Não passa um dia sem que eu escute essa obra de arte pelo menos uma vez. Uma das minhas favoritas do A-ha 💚
Gustavo Perdiguera
Awesome classic 80s