A-ha calling it quits after current tour

[Danny Tse]

I guess this is it....


OSLO (AFP) – Norwegian pop group A-ha, which achieved world fame with its hit single "Take on me", will disband after a farewell world tour next year, it said Thursday.

"A-ha has decided to call it a day," the group said on its official website.
"Doing this now will give us a chance to get more involved in other meaningful aspects of life, be it humanitarian work, politics, or whatever else -- and of course through new constellations in the field of art and music," the band added.

"Take on me" topped charts in 27 countries including the United States when it came out in 1985. Since then, the group has sold 35 million copies worldwide of its nine albums.

A-ha is behind recognisable songs such as "Hunting High and Low" and "Crying in the Rain".

Singer Morten Harket, keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy had split up for many years in the 1990s before making a comeback in 2000 with the single "Summer moved on".

"We've literally lived the ultimate boy's adventure tale, through a longer, more rewarding career anyone could hope for," the trio said, stressing they were "retiring as a band, not as individuals."

Throughout A-ha's history, 15 of its singles made it onto the 10 best sales in Britain list, according to its label Universal Music.

This year, the group produced a new album called "Foot of the Mountain".
Norwegian music professionals quoted by local media said A-ha was Norway's greatest musical export "since Edvard Grieg", a classical composer and pianist who lived from 1843 to 1907.

"Change is always difficult and it is easy to get set in one's ways. Now it's time to move on," the group said when announcing their farewell tour.

Dates have not yet been announced, but A-ha will play in Norway for the last time on December 4 of next year in Oslo.

[F1nut]

Never heard of them.

[vc69]

well it's about time....

[Jstas]

Never heard of them.

Yes you have. If you were alive in the 80's and had a radio or TV, they were everywhere.

The biggest hit "Take On Me" was not only a radio darling but it was an MTV star due to the uniqueness of the video blending live action and 2D drawings into a cohesive film.

Beyond all that, the lead singer can hit high notes that most female singers can't reach.

Here's a pretty bad rip of the video I was talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AXNBR2smPY

They are much bigger in Europe and the U.K. though.

[bobman1235]

Still one of the better music videos ever made.

[F1nut]

Yes you have. If you were alive in the 80's and had a radio or TV, they were everywhere.



I have no recollection of the 80's.

[vc69]

http://www.spike.com/video/family-guys-take-on/2676204

Here's a different take of "Take":D

[Ron-P]

Great band, loved their music.

[audiobliss]

http://www.spike.com/video/family-guys-take-on/2676204

Here's a different take of "Take":D
LOL! That's awesome.

I LOVE that song, and the original music video. If you search for it on youtube, there's also a version to the original video, but with words that match the video. I don't know how, but the dude sounds just like the original.

[polkatese]

It was a cherished memory for sure. One consistent theme, looking back, if you compared A-HA, Wham, Pesudo Echo, and others, what do you see?

[Lasareath]

I only knew of that one song, I never knew they were still together.

[Sami]

I have no recollection of the 80's.

You would have to have been in a coma not to hear them. Even then, I would think some of their songs would give you deja vu's. :p

[danger boy]

I have no reason to live anymore... goodbye cruel world......










I can almost bet I am the only one in here that ever saw them live in concert :eek: ;)

[danger boy]

if you compared A-HA, Wham, Pesudo Echo, and others, what do you see?


a lot of big 80's hair and bad fashions :p

[cfrizz]

a lot of big 80's hair and bad fashions :p

:D:eek: Yup!:D

[kevhed72]

Didn't they tour with "Flock of Seagulls" at one time...

[Toolfan66]

if you compared A-HA, Wham, Pesudo Echo, and others, what do you see?

All those guys were Freddie Mercury's groupies.

[polkatese]

Don't forget MJ Thriller Red Jacket...

[reeltrouble1]

I have no recollection of the 80's.

you were asleep in your tomb, a different dark angel was running the coven........still bad, still nationwide.

RT1

[cfrizz]

They could do worse. Freddie Mercury was one hell of a talented performer! For a man he had an incredible vocal range.


All those guys were Freddie Mercury's groupies.

[Sami]

Freddie was one of a kind. Great talent, great music (well, some of it not that great :)).

[Toolfan66]

They could do worse. Freddie Mercury was one hell of a talented performer! For a man he had an incredible vocal range.


Very much AGREE!!! I was not taking a shot at Freddie as I like Queen. I was J/K around.

[Danny Tse]

I only knew of that one song, I never knew they were still together.

A-ha's "Sun Always Shines On TV" was the follow-up single to "Take On Me" and it was, at the minimum, a top-20 single....depends on which chart you were looking at.

[POIDOG]

It was a cherished memory for sure. One consistent theme, looking back, if you compared A-HA, Wham, Pesudo Echo, and others, what do you see?

Politically incorrect thoughts :p

On a higher note "Sheer Heart Attack" is my fav Queen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbnJH95QCKk

[polkatese]

a lot of big 80's hair and bad fashions :p

it was bad because you're judging it from today. Back then, it was "THE" coveted look...:p

[POIDOG]

it was bad because you're judging it from today. Back then, it was "THE" coveted look...:p

Plus "Take Me On" was a hot club jam (in the 80's) ;)

[polkatese]

What happened to Oran "Juice" Jones or Gregory Abbott?

[Ron-P]

We saw them last night, in a word, amazing!

Morten's voice hasn't changed in 25 years, he sounded live just like he does on his albums from back in the 80's, my wife and I were floored. Every note, every high and low, just perfect. They were on stage for 2 hours playing non-stop.

Finally, on their last night in the states at the end of a 25 year run my wife and I were treated to one hell of an awesome show. This band was one of our most favorite and we listened to them a lot back in the day, finally seeing them live is something we will never forget. My daughter, 13, loved it. She wants me to load up all my CD's into iTunes for her.

[Danny Tse]

We saw them last night, in a word, amazing!

Morten's voice hasn't changed in 25 years, he sounded live just like he does on his albums from back in the 80's, my wife and I were floored. Every note, every high and low, just perfect. They were on stage for 2 hours playing non-stop.

Finally, on their last night in the states at the end of a 25 year run my wife and I were treated to one hell of an awesome show. This band was one of our most favorite and we listened to them a lot back in the day, finally seeing them live is something we will never forget. My daughter, 13, loved it. She wants me to load up all my CD's into iTunes for her.

Sounds great, Ron! Just out of curiosity, were they performing as a trio, or were there other musicians playing?

[Ron-P]

They had a drummer and guitarist towards the back of the stage behind the three.

[On3s&Z3r0s]

Don't remember the name of the guy, but a Rolling Stone critic did a piece ranking all the James Bond movie theme songs and he put the one by A-Ha at #1. That's some high praise considering all the artists who have ever done theme songs for Bond movies.

[Ron-P]

And they played that one last night.

[On3s&Z3r0s]

Erm... I may have gotten that all kinds of wrong. Couldn't find anything on Rolling Stone, but there was this thing on NPR. That may have been what I was thinking of. And the A-Ha song was only #3. The A-Ha song is definitely better than the Nancy Sinatra song (his #1).

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97027866

Anyway, sounds like a fun show. I like to get my 80's on every once in a while. My wife once dragged me to a Duran Duran concert. It was actually good. Kinda weird seeing all the middle aged women who were listening to those guys when they were "tweens". Ah the ravages of time. ;)

[Ron-P]

Last night was a packed out show, all people in their mid 30's on up, and like us, parents with their kids in tow. It was kinda weird, but very cool to see parents and their kids enjoying the music.

[danger boy]

Ron, what a fun concert to attend. Man I wish I could have been there... if I had, it would have been the 2nd time seeing them in concert.

[cfrizz]

Sounds like you & your family had a great time Ron.

[Ron-P]

Most fun at a concert I've had since seeing Oingo Boingo back in the 80's. I was an absolute blast.