Well for once i thought a Label was gonna actually do some work but as usual not going to happen. When a-ha got signed by Universal about 2 years ago, it seemed that the plan was to get them released in America. The last a-ha cd to be released in America was "memorial beach" back in 1993, then WEA in the usa dropped a-ha, even though it kept releasing their records up until 2003. In 2005 a-ha released "Analogue" their finest work yet, it has currently sold about 400,000 in the european markets though it is really only available in Norway, Germany and the UK. The UK over the last few years had NOT been a kind place to A-ha but in January a-ha achieved their first top 10 single since 1988 in the UK with the song "Analogue". Their new single "Cozy Prisons" which many agree is the best a-ha song ever is already getting alot of attention and a-ha is making the rounds on TV in the UK doing the whole Promo thing, also playing acoustic sets, so it looks like it could be another top 10 for them, which could possibly cause a USA release???


Well probably not, Universal has said it will release the CD everywhere but here. The quote has been "The Band has Been and Gone", troubling to the a-ha members since they know there are fans here and a market for them. Last year a-ha played in NYC, their first usa show in 20 years, the concert sold out in 45 minutes, so obviously there is some sort of following. I guess the thing that is most troubling or annoying is the influence the band has had on everyone from Coldplay to Keane to Radiohead and U2 who site a-ha as a Misjudged band.

I think that mainly the labels are worried that the CD would have no impact at all here so why bother. This is even more troubling given that bands from a-ha's days like Erasure, Depeche, Duran, Cure, and countless others ALL have had no problem getting released here, sure they sell better than a-ha, but i think it really is worth a try. I think the thing the band finds frustrating is that there is not even a chance given, albums like "Minor Earth Major Sky"(2000) "Lifelines" (2002) "How can I sleep with your voice in my head"(2003) and now "Analogue" (2005) all did well across europe and in their markets, but i think the labels feel if it dont sell 500,000 then why release it. Well NEWSFLASH almost No artist in the USA is selling 500,000 anymore. I think the labels fear actually having to WORK a record. Remember the Artist can only do a GREAT RECORD they have no control over getting Radio play or Video play, all they can do is tour. And as MAGS of a-ha said "Why should we tour in AMerica if the records not released, its like Pissing in the wind"

That's a bummer.

I finally got Analogue about a month ago and I LOVE it.

I was hoping it'd see a proper release here.

endorphin74 said:

Yeah it really does suck that its not given a proper chance here. I could easily see "Cozy Prisons" getting Video play on VH1, i think labels more or less feel they know what the public wants. Also i think the Stigma of "Take on Me" in the usa, is so strong that people just cant forget it, which is unfortunate that most of this country missed out on one of the greatest bands of the last 25 years.
[Edited 4/4/06 7:52am]

Those of you not up to date on a-ha, heres the link to their new Video "COSY PRISONS"


http://www.youtube.com/wa...%20prisons

A simple but effective video

lastdecember said:

Thanks for the link!

That was a nice vid. Wow, the singer looks like he's barely aged since "Take On Me"


you know, it's a shame that their label won't try and re-intoduce them to the US, that song would have such a market right now. Stupid labels

was there any bonus tracks to Analogue?


if so.. what?

Sdldawn said:

No, no bonus tracks, so far on the single CDs they have been putting EXCELLENT live tracks, on the COSY PRISONS single there will a demo version, and some live stuff too. They did release a new track called "CASE CLOSED ON SILVER SHORE" as a bside to the Analogue single, excellent song too.

There is a GREAT dvd bonus edition to ANALOGUE available, with a short interview and 3 live tracks on it also.

You should also check this Video out for LIFELINES from 2002, they won major video awards for this one too!!


http://www.youtube.com/wa...=lifelines

that song sounds interesting.. i'll keep my eye out for that.

not really interested in live tracks

what about that b side Minor Key Sonata?


its like 8 minutes long...

Sdldawn said:

Oh yeah forgot about MINOR KEY SONATA. this is the orignal version of the song ANALOGUE, very different with the lyrics. Long story about this song, is that PAUL the guitarist wrote it first, they recorded it, he felt it wasnt good enough and needed something more so he went to england and Max Martin arranged it a little different and reworked it and bam it became their first top 10 in the UK in 18 years.

lastdecember said:

Is it good?

yeah Case Closed on Silver Shore is good..


They have good instrumentation..

Sdldawn said:

My bad on the 8 minute statement.. that isn't correct.