Beiträge von Peter
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It’s actually interesting that so many seem to describe or refer to I’m In and other of Magne’s new songs as “Classic a-ha”. I can’t really see which of the CLASSIC a-ha songs they are supposed to resemble (apart from True North borrowing from Stay On These Roads), if we define “classic” as the first 5-7 albums. Maaaaybe a bit likeness to some Lifelines stuff but that’s not REALLY classic a-ha. I’d agree that they sound like a lot of other “modern” songs but not like a-ha. Maybe a bit like Magne’s solo stuff but then again not so much. And maybe a bit like End Of The Affair and This Is Our Home. Hardly classics in the a-ha catalogue either.
They don’t sound innovative to me at all (judging from the singles and from seeing the movie once), but I certainly don’t hear classic a-ha either.
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He should have kept it long (I think he's gotten a transplant now...) as it looks absolutely cool
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I would argue that "Broadcaster of the Year" ought to go to Bayern1 for playing Early Morning! I would honestly be surprised if it gets even a single play on any other European radio station during the whole of 2022.
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If you watch the whole movie, i think you won't have this feeling! And for me, the chorus of You have... is probably the best of the entire album.
I did watch the whole movie and it doesn't change my opinion about the video for YHWIT. And I think the chorus of that song is among the low points on the album so far. How different tastes can be, which is kind of charming
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I had the impression that you see more of Magne durung the Magne-songs and more auf Paul during HIS songs...
And YHWIT is a Magne-song...I still got my problems with the lyrics of that song... Saying "Hey, we've failed. Now we lean back and let you younger pepople try to clean up the mess we provoked..."
Yes, I definitely also noticed more of the songwriter in the respective video segments for the songs, but this is extreme!
And yes, I don't know how many "gold stars" you get from the younger generation purely by admitting your own fault and then saying "I believe you can make it better" -
Just watched the official video for You Have What It Takes, and while I find that the song is growing on me (at least the verses; I still really struggle with the "You're love is the one thing..." chorus) I am left with one question:
"Is Pål still in the band?"
It was honestly easier to spot the Take On Me easter eggs in the recent animated video than to spot Pål in the official one. Pål is shown for a total of 5 seconds, all of which are close to completely dark. Don't try to tell me that this is not intentional... I don't know if Magne doesn't want Pål in the video ("More focus on me!") or if Pål doesn't want to be associated with the song/project ("Keep me out of it!") but dear Lord, stop those endless mind games...
On another note: Not exactly an uplifting video for a positive message... -
Takk! I'm actually planning on submitting a paper on True North for a panel on "narrations of the north", and I must say my hypothesis so long is that, in this project, a-ha does (unwillingly perhaps) something much more valuable than yet another discourse on ecological issues (which, of course, I totally agree with nevertheless - but hey, art is art, message is message, and good art always go beyond its message anyway): they displace the issue into their own history, and the true north works then as the metaphor of the inner alterity/diversity that prevents the band to give a fully articulated point (hello U2). If the true north is the impossibility of identity fullness (and if the output is still so great), then there is real hope that political solutions might be found in the acknowledgement of alterity as a strenght rather than on the phantasm of togetherness with no rest, which does not always lead to the best choices. So Magne's best ally might well be Paul at the end of the day (and Paul's best ally might well be Magne too). With no concept, no narrative, nobody would speak about the project except for us fans. Now the band gives us some food for thought, some space for intellectual contradiction. I am thankfull for that.
That is probably annoyingly correct
I think one of the very interesting aspects is the dichotomy (or trichotomy if that word exists) between being in a position to speak against climate change but also probably owing a lot of ones opportunities to do so to coming from a rich country whose fortune is built on oil. Add to this the fact that a-ha is a touring band with a big production and they risk falling into the same trap as U2, Coldplay or any other act that speaks against climate change but at the same time contribute to it more than most people (not even factoring into the equation that countless versions of True North are being made available - for the sake of consumption and making money and nothing else). One might also begin to question the climate impact of Magne's huge art projects if that was a road that someone wanted to go down...
Now, a REAL statement that would also make me happy as a fan of the "pure a-ha" would be if they would do a tour without an extravagant setup. Smaller venues, local equipment, local roadies, no huge LED screens, no huge trucks, just a-ha, Karl Olof and Even plus a sound guy and a lights guy working with the venue's equipment. Small crew, local workers, etc. -
I agree with Paul that music is about music and not message, but a band is a band, and a-ha is a-ha, and the fact that he himself accepts the reward (including the money) but refuses to speak publicly leaves a space for the other two to say what they want. The last think to do in such a context is to moan on Instagram or Facebook. That, I guess, is exactly the kind of thing that might prevent us from getting more collaboration in the future.
I think that is very much on point. Great, insightful perspective! Made me think and re-think again at least which is never a bad thing 😄
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Das sehe ich nicht so. Alle drei sind erwachsen. Wenn sie sich geeinigt haben das neue Album auf diese Weise zu produzieren, dann ist das die Entscheidung von drei Leuten, die alt genug sind ihre Entscheidungen selber zu treffen. Und selbst WENN es so sein sollte, dass Pal diesmal ein wenig zurück stecken musste und er nicht die treibende Kraft hinter allem ist, dann ist das vielleicht auch mal ganz gut so. Die anderen beiden haben ganz sicher in der Vergangenheit auch Dinge gemacht nur weil Pal das eben so wollte. In einer Band ist es wie in einer Ehe, das muss ein Geben und Nehmen sein, keine One-Man-Show.
Agree to disagree 😊
The degree to which this would be a “climate project” may not have been fully apparent to Pål (or anyone else but Magne) when the process started - including the production of the movie.
Anyhow, there’s nothing anyone outside the band can do about it, and it seems that many fans are very happy with the outcome and - especially - Magne’s ideas and contribution so maybe it’s me who doesn’t quite get it. But I’m not getting good vibes here, that’s for sure. Still, there are some great songs, it seems, so there’s at least THAT to look forward to.
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Oh, how I understand Pål!!! Magne has taken the a-ha name as hostage in his quest for climate redemption or his quest to get media exposure for his album concept.
When even Morten says that the climate concept angle is driven more by Magne than by him and Pål you KNOW there are issues in the a-ha camp. Now, Morten is probably fine with the climate agenda, but Pål certainly isn’t but probably rather naïvely assumed that “it will be fine - I just want to get my songs out”, but now he realizes that he’s at risk of becoming a footnote in Magne’s mission to be considered a relevant voice in the climate debate.
I used to be in “Camp Pål” in the later years after they seemingly stopped working towards a common goal. Now I’m finding myself even MORE in Pål’s camp…
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Peter, it's interesting, because in my opinion Magnes songs were the most impressive.
The melancholic sound did fit perfectly to the dark pictures of the ocean and the mountains and they were a kind of classic a-ha.
Pals songs had a lighter and sunnier mood with a swinging touch.
Definitly not bad but surprising and unusual.
Maybe these two different sort of song do produce an varid and interesting album.
So i'm looking forward to it.
Hi Max,
Yeah, it's kind of strange how different a-ha fans can see (or hear) the songs. And I have an idea that it's more pronounced now than it was earlier in their career. There is to an increasing degree a lack of a "real" a-ha sound and that has been missing for a long time. And when they don't create the "classic" a-ha sound I simply find myself gravitating more towards Pål's songs. I love his lyrics and I love his sense of... adventure, I guess you can say.
I also really look forward to the album, and there are still a few songs that weren't featured in the movie yesterday that could influence the final verdict (plus of course it all needs repeated listening) but I'm still not quite sure what to expect!
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I went to see the movie/concert with the rest of the Ranking Highs and Lows guys yesterday, and it was a strange experience. It was very clearly half a concept, which Magne also commented on, and I'm not sure it did any good to the overall experience, to be honest. There was simply not enough variation in the nature shots (it was all cold, wet, foggy) and the "narrative" didn't have much of a narrative really. Suede did something similar with the album Night Thoughts but they followed through on their own concept, which made it much stronger (although at least as depressing as a-ha's but in a more moving and engaging way). And the nature theme in True North quickly disappeared again - as mentioned: half a concept.
For anyone who has followed our Ranking Highs and Lows project it's probably not a surprise that we were - by far - most impressed with Pål's songs. Frankly, I find Magne's writing for a-ha boring. Several songs that follow the same structure, and he doesn't write in a key that suits Morten's voice these days. Looooong noooootes thaaaaat doooooon't gooooooo aaaaaanyyyyyywheeeeeereeeee in a too high pitch.
Pål's songs are clearly the most interesting to me. They push the boundaries of what a-ha is and sounds like and that's honestly way more engaging to me than another Magne ballad where we're all supposed to feel bad about what we've done or hopeful that we can do something about it. I was surprised several times during Pål's songs, and I wasn't surprised a single time during Magne's songs. Plus, Pål writes in a key that makes Morten sound much better.
So, the first verdict from me is: Half of a concept / tells a boring story / the way I see it / Pål gets the glory
Best,
Peter
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Hi all,
just resurfacing an old theme here Do any of you know if similar comments are available for the remaining albums, i.e. Reasons To Stay Indoors, Savoy and See The Beauty...?
I of course saw the short videos of Pål and Lauren on the beach where they interviewed each other about the songs on See The Beauty... but I haven't come across anything other than that.
Any help?