A-ha – Take On Me

A-ha’s “Take On Me” is one of the most recognisable songs of the 1980s, combining sparkling synthesizers, acoustic guitar and an extraordinary vocal performance from Morten Harket. Written by Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy, the song had its origins in the early days of the band, when it was known as “Miss Eerie” and later “Lesson One”.

The recording went through several versions before the familiar 1985 version was produced by Alan Tarney. Its fast electronic rhythm, bright keyboard melody and soaring chorus create a sense of urgency and optimism, while Harket’s remarkable vocal range gives the song its defining moment as the melody rises dramatically towards its final high notes.

The song’s success was inseparable from its groundbreaking video, directed by Steve Barron. Combining live action with pencil-sketch animation created through rotoscoping, it tells a surreal romantic story in which a young woman is drawn into the world of a comic book. Approximately 3,000 frames were painstakingly traced by animators Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger, giving the video an unusually fluid and cinematic quality.

The combination of unforgettable pop songwriting and innovative visual storytelling transformed “Take On Me” into something much bigger than a conventional synth-pop single. Its distinctive sound and imagery have ensured that both song and video remain enduring symbols of 1980s pop culture.

The song peaked at No. 02 in the UK singles chart on the 26th October 1985.