In 1980, three Norwegian dreamers—Morten Harket, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, and Magne Furuholmen—came together in Oslo with a shared vision: to make music that would resonate worldwide. By 1982, they took a leap of faith, moving to England to pursue a record deal. It wasn’t easy. They faced rejection after rejection, but the trio didn’t back down.
In 1983, they relocated to London and doubled down on their dream, living in a modest flat and creating demos. Their persistence paid off when manager Terry Slater spotted their talent. By the end of the year, Warner Brothers had signed them to a global deal.
Their first single, “Take On Me,” released in 1984, flopped in the UK, selling just a few hundred copies. But they weren’t giving up yet. Warner Bros. took another chance in 1985, pairing the song with a revolutionary music video that combined live-action with rotoscope animation. The gamble paid off big-time. The video became an MTV sensation, catapulting “Take On Me” to #1 in the U.S. and #2 in the UK.
The debut album, Hunting High and Low, cemented A-ha’s place in the 80s music scene. With Harket’s soaring falsetto and their synth-driven melodies, they stood out from the crowd. The hits kept coming, including their unforgettable James Bond theme, “The Living Daylights,” in 1987.
By the 90s, A-ha took a break to explore solo projects. But in 2000, they reunited, proving their magic was still alive with a fresh album, Minor Earth, Major Sky. Decades later, their songs remain iconic, a testament to their enduring talent.
Gnarly Nuggets:
- Third Time’s the Charm: “Take On Me” needed three releases before becoming a chart-topper!
- Pioneering Music Video: The groundbreaking video was made for $100,000—a hefty price tag at the time.
- Record-Breaking Concert: A-ha drew the largest paying audience ever, with 198,000 fans at Rio’s Maracanã Stadium in 1991.
- MTV Video Music Awards Sweep: In 1986, A-ha won six MTV Video Music Awards for “Take On Me,” including Best New Artist and Best Video of the Year.
- James Bond Theme: They performed the theme song for the 1987 James Bond film, “The Living Daylights,” joining the ranks of iconic artists in the franchise.
