a-ha: any fans?

VEGANGELICA · 09-19-2012, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

The only A-ha song that I can remember off the top of my head is "Take on Me," of course, which I liked since I first heard it on the radio back in the '80s, although I don't think I saw the video until a couple years ago.

In case someone hasn't heard that song, here it is:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Everybody knows that song, its the song that made them famous and also gave them a bad reputation.

That's why I said "someone"...as in only one person!

I suspect some people haven't heard "Take on Me," though. It's pretty old.

So what was this bad reputation that you say the song gave the band, and who had the negative views of A-ha? The fact that "Take on Me" made them famous suggests many people liked it at the time.

I prefer "Take on Me" to the more mellow songs by them that I've heard. For example, I was a little disappointed by the slow ballad sound of many of the songs in this thread because I'd expected and hoped for more fast-paced, dynamic pieces similar to "Take on Me." I'll have to listen to more, because I don't know their music well enough yet to tell how their style changed over time or from song to song.

EDIT: I just listened to "The Sun Always Shines on TV" because I didn't know if I'd heard it before, and I found out that I do recognize it. I definitely prefer "Take on Me."

Trollheart · 09-20-2012, 05:47 AM

Vegangelica (I used to think your name was VENGangelica --- pictured some sort of avenging angel!) if you want to read more about a-ha and hear some of their best music you should check out the profile I did on them last year in my journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1128140 ---pretty in-depth, and worth a read, if I say so myself!

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

I remember seeing the "Velvet" video before...singing corpses are hard to forget!

...but I'm realizing I haven't heard many of A-ha's songs, and this will be a good opportunity for me to do so.

The only A-ha song that I can remember off the top of my head is "Take on Me," of course, which I liked since I first heard it on the radio back in the '80s, although I don't think I saw the video until a couple years ago.

My favorite moment in the music begins with the line, "Oh the things that you say," just after 2:30, up through "You're all the things I've got to remember," because it sounds so plaintive with yearning. In case someone hasn't heard that song, here it is:

A-Ha - Take On Me (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - YouTube

Trollheart · 09-20-2012, 06:05 AM

I think what US means is that "Take on me", despite the fact that it's a great pop song, is sort of more towards the lower end of what they went on to achieve musically, but like many bands they got pigeonholed as being "that band who wrote that song", and people probably consider them one or two-hit wonders, despite the fact that some of their other songs did well. As he says, they did move away from pop later and into a gritter, more dark area, swapping pop for rock, and the fact that most people's image of a-ha is that one song restricts them in many people's minds. It's a phenomenon I like to call "The Albatross syndrome", and which I'll be exploring in depth soon in my journal (plug, plug!)

As for faster, heavier songs, try these:

Unknown Soldier · 09-20-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I think what US means is that "Take on me", despite the fact that it's a great pop song, is sort of more towards the lower end of what they went on to achieve musically, but like many bands they got pigeonholed as being "that band who wrote that song", and people probably consider them one or two-hit wonders, despite the fact that some of their other songs did well. As he says, they did move away from pop later and into a gritter, more dark area, swapping pop for rock, and the fact that most people's image of a-ha is that one song restricts them in many people's minds. It's a phenomenon I like to call "The Albatross syndrome", and which I'll be exploring in depth soon in my journal (plug, plug!)

Hole in one and spot on. When the average Joe here thinks of a-ha he usually thinks of "Take on Me" "Cry Wolf" and "Touchy" which were poppy singles aimed at people buying commercial pop, especially teenage girls. He won't realize that the band had a very different side to them as well.

Howard the Duck · 09-21-2012, 07:48 AM

i wasn't really that much of a fan until I got a boxset of their first 5 albums

then it was ......... not bad

then I got "Analogue" it was whoa mama

massive fan now

VEGANGELICA · 09-22-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Vegangelica (I used to think your name was VENGangelica --- pictured some sort of avenging angel!) if you want to read more about a-ha and hear some of their best music you should check out the profile I did on them last year in my journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1128140 ---pretty in-depth, and worth a read, if I say so myself!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I think what US means is that "Take on me", despite the fact that it's a great pop song, is sort of more towards the lower end of what they went on to achieve musically, but like many bands they got pigeonholed as being "that band who wrote that song", and people probably consider them one or two-hit wonders, despite the fact that some of their other songs did well. As he says, they did move away from pop later and into a gritter, more dark area, swapping pop for rock, and the fact that most people's image of a-ha is that one song restricts them in many people's minds. It's a phenomenon I like to call "The Albatross syndrome", and which I'll be exploring in depth soon in my journal (plug, plug!)

As for faster, heavier songs, try these:

Thank you, Trollheart, for the music suggestions, the description of A-ha's reputation as only a pop group even though they evolved into more, and the information that you cover A-ha's music (and soon the "Albatross syndrome") in your journal. I'll look!

(VENGangelica...an avenging angel! I like it. I'd noticed your unique spelling in the past and appreciated your attempt to spell my "name," even if you used an extra letter. "Just don't call me late for dinner!"

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Hole in one and spot on. When the average Joe here thinks of a-ha he usually thinks of "Take on Me" "Cry Wolf" and "Touchy" which were poppy singles aimed at people buying commercial pop, especially teenage girls. He won't realize that the band had a very different side to them as well.

Heh heh...since I was a teenage girl when I first heard and liked "Take on Me" and I didn't realize that the band had a very different side to them, I'd say you have described me well: the average Joe(anne?).

Mara · 09-25-2012, 08:13 AM

They have some nice songs, it's a pity they will always be remembered as one hit wonder...

Unknown Soldier · 09-25-2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mara

They have some nice songs, it's a pity they will always be remembered as one hit wonder...

In the UK they're not!

Screen13 · 09-25-2012, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

In the UK they're not!

I'm certain that it's only in The US where they are painted as that two hit wonder (Yes, "The Sun Always Shines..." did make the Top 20), and I'm sure that Canada had a few more hits.

A lot of areas around the world caught up with a-ha up to and including the Headlines and Deadlines comp (essential for a Part One history), although even that and it's single, the original mix of "Move to Memphis," did only OK outside of Norway. England and Germany were places outside of their homeland that were pretty up to date with them through the years. Other areas had the occasional comeback ("Summer Moved On" and "Forever Not Yours" being the main ones in my opinion).

The saddest thing was that I don't think that a-ha were even given another chance in The States after Memorial Beach, forcing the few Stateside fans left to search the import bins for whatever they can find except for the odd collection.

This should detail some of the story for those interested...

A-ha discography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Howard the Duck · 09-25-2012, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen13

I'm certain that it's only in The US where they are painted as that two hit wonder (Yes, "The Sun Always Shines..." did make the Top 20), and I'm sure that Canada had a few more hits.

wasn't "The Living Daylights" a hit in the US as well, because it was a Bond theme?

09-20-2012, 06:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	I think what US means is that "Take on me", despite the fact that it's a great pop song, is sort of more towards the lower end of what they went on to achieve musically, but like many bands they got pigeonholed as being "that band who wrote that song", and people probably consider them one or two-hit wonders, despite the fact that some of their other songs did well. As he says, they did move away from pop later and into a gritter, more dark area, swapping pop for rock, and the fact that most people's image of a-ha is that one song restricts them in many people's minds. It's a phenomenon I like to call "The Albatross syndrome", and which I'll be exploring in depth soon in my journal (plug, plug!) As for faster, heavier songs, try these: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

09-25-2012, 08:13 AM	#17 (permalink)
Mara Groupie Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 3	They have some nice songs, it's a pity they will always be remembered as one hit wonder...