Ask a typical American on a street corner about the band a-ha and they’ll likely tell you that it’s an 80’s boy band from Norway that in 1985 was a one hit wonder with the single Take On Me. If they can name a second hit, it’s likely to be The Living Daylights, the theme from the 1987 James Bond film of the same name, starring TImothy Dalton. Ask around the world, and you’ll learn that a-ha is a trio of musicians- Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy- with a career spanning over 40 years with 11 studio albums. And even two Guinness World Records. The first was recorded in 1991 for the largest live concert audience, with 198,000 fans at the Rock in Rio in Rio de Janeiro. The second was recorded in 2000 for holding the longest note– 20.2 seconds on the single Summer Moved On from the album Minor Earth Major Sky. Even through periods of discontent and breakup, each of the band members pursued solo or side projects.
As an amateur musician and keyboardist, 1985 was such as special year for me with so many good bands on the radio at the same time. a-ha was in good company with Howard Jones, Tears for Fears, and Dire Straits, to name just a few.
a-ha: The Movie
The band has had its share of ups and downs, which are the subject of a-ha: The Movie, a documentary that chronicles their career from its beginning in 1982 through the recording of their 2017 MTV Unplugged live album. Watching the documentary- currently free on YouTube in the United States- brought a flood of memories- from listening to their first songs in 1985 and remembering where I purchased subsequent albums. Although not the only trio that had difficulty getting along- the other famous one being The Police- it was sad for me to learn that much of the discontent is over songwriting credits. Unlike U2, whose four members fully share writing credits, songwriting is generally a solo activity for either Pal or Magne, with the rare collaboration or song idea from Morten.
True North
Since the release of their MTV Unplugged concert video, a-ha surprised everyone in 2022 with their 11th and likely final studio album, True North. Although classified by Wikipedia as a studio album, it was recorded live with an orchestra and released with a theatrical film that combines songs from the album with the beautiful scenery of their home country, Norway. Like a-ha: The Movie, True North is also available for free viewing on YouTube. My favorite track is the final song, You’ve Got What It Takes.
Whether you’re a casual fan or- like me- have grown up with the band, these two films will take you on a boy’s adventure tale for an unforgettable musical journey.
The Future of a-ha?
Last year (2025), the band revealed that lead singer Morten Harket has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. So it’s possible that True North is the last album of recorded music that we hear from this Norwegian trio.
My Top Ten a-ha Tracks
in chronological order
- Hunting High and Low
- I’ve Been Losing You
- Stay on These Roads
- The Living Daylights
- I Call Your Name
- Angel in the Snow
- Summer Moved On
- Dragonfly
- Analogue
- You’ve Got What It Takes
As of this article’s publication date, both a-ha: The Movie and True North are available for free viewing (at least in the United States) on YouTube.
What’s your favorite song by a-ha? Share in the comments below.
