Though in america a-ha are that cartoon band, to the rest of the world they are the most consistent band over the last 20 years. Little know that a-ha own 2 world records. I think one is kind of known in America, the longest note held on a "recorded song" their 2000 track "summer moved on" the note is held for 20.5 seconds, and in concert actually its held for 23. The second record a-ha hold is for largest "paying" crowd for a concert, they set this in 1991 in Brazil when they played to 191,000 people breaking a record set by Paul McCartney. What is even more impressive then the large crowd, is the fact that in America a top selling artist like Beyonce couldnt sell out a 20,000 seater in a major market like NYC.

Crazy. Are they consistantly cheesy though?

No way, a-ha has released 10 albums to date. their sound has changed since the 80's. Basically a-ha are the creators of the whole "Coldplay-Keane" sound. A-ha currently got back into the UK top 10 with their latest single ANALOGUE, their first UK top 10 since 1988. But to date they have sold 35 million records worldwide, their biggest markets are Germany, Norway, south america and the UK once again. Universal has signed them to a 3 album deal but there are no plans to release any in america (we suck basically), despite them playing a soldout show here in NYC last september (amazing show) a-ha hasnt played a show in the USA since 1986, and havent had a "non-import" release in the USA since 1993's Memorial Beach which was actually recorded at Paisley Park and produced by David Z, though this album had some good songs, this record is why i HATE producers!

lastdecember said:

A-ha...(sorry, bad pun...) so that's the Prince connection. I always wondered why the 1993 Playboy Hot Rocks Special showed an A-Ha vid from that album (So Dark the Night?). I did not know that information, thanks!
BTW, I kind of like this band. I just bought Hunting High and Low a month ago after all these years. "Take on Me" is definitely not their best song, imo, yet it is what the US remembers the band for. So goes it, I guess.

To me obviously the 80's a-ha were their "chart" success years, but everything after 1990 has been their "growth" as artist years, its almost like 2 different bands. Everyone who wants to try something new, or get into this band start with their 1990 release, "east of the sun west of the moon", thats when a-ha became true artists, for them it was like their "Rubber Soul" to put it in Beatles standards and then work your way from their, easily my favorite band over the last 20 years, passing U2, Duran,Depeche, Inxs and others.

lastdecember said:

No shit?

I wonder how easy it is to find their old records if they weren't really promoted here.

i got the first 4 albums and the best is the fantastic 'Scoundrel Days' - one of the best in the 80s. Hunting high and low now sounds to sequenced and synthy but underneath are some great songs.

i went off them after East of the sun (crying in the rain), lacked excitement.

CinisterCee said:

No they are not!

miguelbulcao said:

CinisterCee said:

Don't make spank U!

"Minor Earth, Major Sky" from 2000 is a masterpiece! Get it if you can!

Madonna covered "Take on Me" on Saturday Night Live (1985). It remains unreleased!

miguelbulcao said:

And that's good...

miguelbulcao said:

Touch me..
How can it beee
Believe me
The sun always shines on T V

"The Sun always shines on TV" later to be renamed "beautiful Day" and recorded by U2, as BONO said they kind of borrowed it from them, the way friends do.
[Edited 6/9/06 14:49pm]

lastdecember said:

I like both songs.

CinisterCee said:

"The Sun Always Shines..." clearly wins imo...

lastdecember said:

I remember watching that show on TV and being totally fucking amazed at the size of that crowd for AHA. The crowd singing along was awesome.

EmancipationLover said:

They recently performed an Acoustic version of it in the UK on TV, why cant the usa get good tv shows anymore, MTV just aired a marathon of Making the Band 3, just what we need another female group of "Over dramatic aguilera like" singers that will last about a month till the next

EmancipationLover said:

Anx is craving for her version of Ziggy Stardust...

EmancipationLover said:

And still the best album by any artist of the decade so far.....

SquirrelMeat said:

I tend to give this title to Prince for TRC...

So you're the A-ha fam. I love them. Morten is very very talented vocalist. I think I'm going to get Analogue. Celice is great.

U should def check out Analogue, it was my favorite CD of 2005, very diverse CD, with all 3 members pitching in on the songwriting. Mortens vocals are flawless, the band recently played some UK morning show and a listener called in and thought they were just playing a record, they didnt realize they were playing live, thats how perfect they are. There is also a recording circulating around overseas called "a-ha the Tiscali Sessions" which is about an hour show they did, mostly new songs and favorites, but all acoustic.

A-ha is no joke. A friend from Russia put their CD in while we were working together. that CD was hot. Lifelines was the CD because You Wanted More stille choes in my mp3 collection. And yes, back in 2002 and such, they started the whole sound that Coldplay and Keane moved forward with.

No one has given A-ha a chance because they think they are washed-up 80's stars.
[Edited 6/10/06 7:57am]