The iconic synth riff and groundbreaking rotoscoped music video propelled "Take On Me" to international fame, defining the sound and visual aesthetic of mid-80s pop.
- The single was first released in 1984 but failed to chart. It was re-released in 1985 with a new, now-famous music video, hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
- The song was produced by Tony Mansfield and Alan Tarney, with the latter credited on the hit version. A demo version produced by Bill Botell was also released.
- The "Take On Me" music video, directed by Steve Barron, won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards, including Breakthrough Video.
a-ha is a Norwegian synth-pop band that rose to fame in the mid-1980s. At the time of "Take On Me," they were on the cusp of global superstardom, with this single serving as their breakthrough.
Tracklist
More from a-ha
MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice2017
Scoundrel Days1986
East of the Sun, West of the Moon1990
True North2022
Memorial Beach1993
Headlines and Deadlines – The Hits of A-ha1991
Stay on These Roads1988
Foot of the Mountain2009
How Can I Sleep with Your Voice in My Head2003
Hunting High and Low1986
Minor Earth Major Sky2000
Lifelines2002
