Happy 40th anniversary to a-ha's debut chart-topping album 'Hunting High and Low'! The album was released in Norway and the United States on June 1, 1985, and then released in the United Kingdom and Europe on October 28, 1985.
We enjoyed reading everyone's memories about 'Minor Earth Major Sky' back in April, so let's hear all about your memories of 'Hunting High and Low'! When did you first hear the album? What is your most treasured memory from the 'Hunting High and Low' era? Did you see a-ha live on their first worldwide tour?
#huntinghighandlow #mortenharket #magnefuruholmen #paulwaaktaarsavoy #albums #1985albums
2 BILLION VIEWS! A-ha’s 'Take On Me' continues to inspire and captivate fans around the globe. From its iconic sound to its unforgettable animation, this masterpiece has stood the test of time. Thank you for helping this classic reach new heights! #TakeOnMe #AhaForever #2BillionViews @youtubemusic
Two dates, two events, one connection: On October 19, 1985, a-ha’s “Take on Me” hit no. 1 of the American Billboard Top 100. Three young musicians had set out to become one of the most influential pop bands of the 1980s and beyond.
Almost exactly a year later, on October 13, 1986, German student Larissa Bendel watched the video of “Take on Me” for the first time – and instantly became a fan of the band.
40 years have passed since – an anniversary to be celebrated with a book.
Close-up: My Life with a-ha tells this personal and historical fan adventure in a touching, inspiring and humorous way.
The book is about Larissa Bendel’s years as head of the international a-ha fan club. It is about her relationship with the band, the support of her parents, friendships, music, and her connection to Oslo and Norway.
It is a story for everyone who wants to immerse themselves in a piece of contemporary pop culture history, and it is a book for everyone who is enthusiastic about something.
In 2014, a part of this story came out as a-ha-Effekte.
Close-up is a completely revised and expanded version published in English, German, and Norwegian. We are happy to share the info about this book; all three editions are available both online and offline in stores, so you can find it from your preferred bookseller!
25 years ago this week 'Homecoming: Live at Vallhall' was recorded live in Oslo, Norway. Hard to believe, right? For those of you who were there, please share your memories! It was a time before it was so easy for fans to share concert photos online, so if you have any you'd like to share, please post them and tag #ahaliveatvallhallhomecoming 📸
'Lesson One: What Listening to a-ha Has Taught Me About Life' by Jens Peter Kragh Nielsen (of 'a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows' podcast) is not a traditional band biography.
Instead, it is a personal, reflective journey through the songs, lyrics, and long career of a-ha — and what they can tell us about friendship, doubt, love, time, fear, decisions, and belonging.
Each chapter takes its starting point in a line from an a-ha song and unfolds into a life lesson, blending close listening, cultural context, humour, nostalgia, and deeply personal reflection. The result is a book about growing up, growing older, and learning to listen — not just to music, but to people around you and life itself — with your favourite band to guide you.
On the journey, we encounter UFOs, questionable fashion choices, trips to concerts, piles of letters, hundreds of a-ha posters and records, a demo tape, and teen music magazines.
Written by a lifelong fan, 'Lesson One' explores what it means to stay connected to a band across decades, and how pop songs can become quiet companions through change, loss, and renewal.
This book is for readers who love a-ha, but also for anyone who has ever found meaning, comfort, or clarity in a song.
The book is available as a hardcover release via Amazon only. For details: www.linktr.ee/lessonone.
We are one week away from the release of this special 40th Anniversary Edition of 'Take On Me' for Black Friday Record Store Day on 28 November! This vinyl edition features eight versions of the iconic track, spanning from its 1984 single release to later interpretations. Get your hands on it at a record store next Friday before they are all gone! #RSDBlackFriday
40 years ago, three Norwegians turned a homemade melody into a pop revolution. If it’s not playing when you enter a grocery store, you’ll probably hear it before checkout.
“Take on Me” fills dance floors, enlivens seventh-inning stretches, sells cars and cereal, challenges karaoke warriors and still earns a formidable income for three men who could walk any city without being chased for a selfie.
The Post’s @geoffedgers spent time with members of the band behind the 80s pop song and its unexpected afterlife.
Read the full story by tapping the link in @washingtonpost ’s bio.
Today in the @washingtonpost - "'Take On Me' has been stuck in our heads for 40 years. Here's how it got there." The full story of how A-ha emerged from the Norwegian tundra with the ultimate ’80s pop song, and its unexpected afterlife. By @gedgers . Check out the article now at washingtonpost.com!
#washingtonpost #takeonme #mortenharket #magnefuruholmen #paulwaaktaarsavoy
Follow the band members: @mortenharket@magne_furuholmen@waaktaarpal
Sharing a Halloween greeting from @magne_furuholmen , who is in Lofoten, Norway. According to Magne’s earlier post today, Apparatjik is in Lofoten recording new music, which is great news!
Magne’s birthday is tomorrow, so you know what to do - share your birthday greetings for him here in the comments!
19 October 1985 - "Take On Me" topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the rest is history! Today we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic song and video #takeonme #mortenharket #magnefuruholmen #paulwaaktaarsavoy
