1. Manhattan Skyline
2. Scoundrel Days
3. I've Been Losing You
4. The Weight of the Wind
5. The Swing of Things
6. Cry Wolf
7. The Soft Rains of April
8. October
9. Maybe, Maybe
10. We're Looking for the Whales
1. Manhattan Skyline
2. Scoundrel Days
3. I've Been Losing You
4. The Weight of the Wind
5. The Swing of Things
6. Cry Wolf
7. The Soft Rains of April
8. October
9. Maybe, Maybe
10. We're Looking for the Whales
Alles anzeigenhey all,
together with the other guys from "a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows" we have now published our new episode where we rank the songs from True North from the worst to the best - in OUR humble opinion
You can find the podcast by looking for "a-ha: ranking highs and lows" in your favorite podcast app, or you can visit us at
https://www.facebook.com/rankingaha
Or you can listen directly at https://www.spreaker.com/show/a-ha-ranking-highs-and-lows where you in addition to the True North special also can find the six episodes from season 1 where we ranked 147 a-ha songs from the worst to the best.
I hope you'll give it a listen - even if you don't fully agree with the list 8th)
warm greetings,
Peter (or in the podcast: JP)
Well Peter... so far I agree with a lot of the rankings... unlike in your previous a-ha podcasts.
That is until you got to Forest for the Trees
I‘m also a big Simple Minds Fan and a releaseday of SM plus a-ha was nearly a dream for me 😉 In the end i hoped for a-ha to lead the charts but if SM perform better, it is really great as well!!
Simple Minds is my second favorite band, but I like the a-ha album much better!
Since I couldn't fit that in one reply...
You Have What It Takes: This one is challenging to rate because the chorus is very dear to my heart and perhaps one of Magne's finest, but the rest of the song lacks quality. The chorus, with its beautiful harmonies and uplifting message, is nearly perfect. The only thing that's missing is a third repetition. "So turn your beautiful face to the rain" is another a-ha moment. I will complain about the verses, though. Boring, boring, boring. There's not much of a buildup to the magnificent chorus. With every listen I'm reminded of songs like Forest Fire and Objects in the Mirror which were also somewhat weakly penned by Magne. I almost liked You Have What It Takes better live, but it's still a decent ballad. Its high rating is merely because of the chorus. Rating: 8/10
Summer Rain: My favorite Magne song on the album. The way Morten says "Summer rain" every time makes my heart ache, and his voice sounds as it did in songs like October and Memorial Beach. Speaking of Memorial Beach... Magne has pulled another "modern combining" like he did with Stay on these Roads and True North (the track, not the album). One of the high points on the well-known 5th studio album closer is when Morten sings "into the rain / the *summer rain*". The choruses of these two songs even sound alike (they rhyme!!!) On top of that, the piano has some similarities. Fortunately, I can get past that and accept that Summer Rain is a wonderful song with a somber melody, melancholic and yet hopeful lyrics, and a strong vocal delivery from Morten. Rating: 9/10
Oh My Word: A few days ago, I would have ranked this song way at the bottom of my list. As a calm, piano-based, simple waltz, it's not the type of song I usually fall for. At least that's still spot on, I haven't fallen for it yet. But I have warmed up to it, because it's a good closer. We wouldn't want a song like Make Me Understand as a closer, now would we? One thing I don't get is the song's title. What does the phrase "oh my word" have to do with anything? Besides that, Oh My Word is a cohesive track. "Fist clenched / tears in the eyes / awaiting the moment / when it subsides" is a classic Paul moment, fit for a-ha. It will never live up to legendary closers such as Here I Stand and Face the Rain, Memorial Beach, Solace, and Start the Simulator, but it's good enough. Rating: 6/10
Overall Rating for Paul's songs: 8/10
Overall Rating for Magne's songs: 6/10
Overall album rating: 7/10
I love True North. Truthfully, you know, that's not saying much. I love every a-ha album. But this album could potentially squeeze into my top four, if it's lucky. Currently there's a raging competition with Foot of the Mountain. Harsh world XD. If someone were to ask me what my favorite album is right at this moment, I might even say True North, because I apparently have the "new album syndrome". Whenever I'm trying to decide which album to listen to, my mind skips back to True North and suddenly it's all I want to hear. I don't skip any tracks, either. I've got to get that "full album experience".
Before I saw the film, I was so worried I would hate this album. I've never been an a-ha fan during the time when a new album was released, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Now I know for sure: I don't think I could ever be disappointed with an a-ha album. They're just that special. I hope we'll get at least one more album before they can no longer continue to sing/compose. But for now, I'm thrilled there's going to be a new Morten solo, a new Paul solo, AND a new Savoy record.
-Emma
My thoughts on the new album:
I'm In: At first listen (and many listens in succession) I hated how Morten's voice sounded. The autotune was unbearable. Now, after the official release of the album, I don't notice it nearly as much. It's a nice a-ha song placed a bit on the positive side of the band because of its uplifting lyrics. My favorite part is when Morten sings "whatever it takes to be free" during the second and final choruses. The chord progression gets a bit boring at times, especially during the instrumental break. However, the orchestra adds a chilling touch and overall makes the song much better. Rating: 6/10
Hunter in the Hills: Oh, gosh, when I first heard this song during the film I could only ask myself: "What has come over Paul? Can he no longer write a good chorus?" I disliked the jazzy, 60s vibe the song emitted and I couldn't detect any sort of pleasing melody. On top of that, the two low orchestral notes marking the beginning of the song are very strange indeed. But now, each time I hear this song, it grows on me. It's a classically quirky Paul Waaktaar-Savoy song with interesting, contemplative lyrics. The orchestra and particularly the brass section makes a huge difference in the atmosphere of the piece. I'm still trying to connect the meaning of the verse with the chorus, but it'll come (I hope). The highlight of this song is definitely the pre-chorus: "dissolving into nothing/with an empty trace". This song marks a new style for a-ha, and I love it. Rating: 7/10
As If: Well, it was obviously a good choice for a single because of its catchy, repetitive chorus. When I first heard this song, I thought Magne had written it due to the vast difference in style between it and Hunter in the Hills. In As If, the verses lack some power and again it's somewhat difficult to relate them to the chorus. In particular, the second verse is quite disjointed. For some odd reason, the beginning always makes me think of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" XD. Maybe it's the sparse instrumentation. As with Hunter in the Hills, As If grew on me with each listen. One thing I noticed immediately, however, were the high notes Morten hits at the end. Unlike in some of the later tracks, they don't sound strained AT ALL. Even though this song isn't as creative and experimental as Hunter in the Hills, it has a much better melody that complements the palette of Morten's voice nicely. Rating: 8/10
Between the Halo and the Horn: I thought I would like this song simply because of its name. It's so Magne, and it's so A-ha. However, such a grand title unfortunately didn't translate into songwriting. The lyrics are sort of boring and the chorus is too uplifting for the dark and melancholy nature I would have thought this song would assume. The verses sound like they're submerged in shadows, though, and because of that I can live with this song. Excuse my shadowside, haha. Rating: 4/10
True North: Okay, this one is a piece of work. Don't get me wrong, I like it and all, but... after I'd heard it during the film, I noticed Stay on these Roads comparisons amongst other fans left and right. Initially, I questioned them because I hadn't heard the similarities. But then, suddenly, I did. It's pretty crazy how alike they are. Even when Morten sings "True Nooooorth" really high, it almost sounds the same as when he sings "we shall meet / I knoooooow" really high. Thing is, the Stay on these Roads arrangement actually sounds good on True North. It bothers me, but the song has a great melody. The melody, fortunately, doesn't stem from Stay on these Roads, but it's benefitted by the rhythm and instrumentals that *do* stem from Stay on these Roads. To review the song from a different standpoint, Stay on these Roads connections aside, Morten's voice is really weak at the beginning. Gradually it improves, but there's another low point when he tries to go high. Unlike in As If, it just doesn't sound good. I'm left cringing instead of smiling. What sets this song above songs like Between the Halo and the Horn is the ending: "And through the dark/ we will sail by the stars / on fair wind and following sea / true north". It's incredibly powerful and a total a-ha moment! Rating: 6/10
Bumblebee: How I love this song! Sonically, it's sort of a sequel to Hunter in the Hills and a prequel to Make Me Understand. Honestly, I don't even care that it's about Paul's sister and not the sorrowful topics I prefer. The piano at the beginning (and scattered throughout the song) is the best part. When those somber chords are interrupted by an escalating clash of drums, it's totally invigorating. The way Paul describes what his sister is wearing in his imagery-laden lyrics is cool. The fact that the chorus doesn't really begin until after the second verse is interesting as well. In an East of the Sun-like fashion, Bumblebee escalates until Morten's raspy "Those times / it just hit me / they'll forever stay here with me". I would say the chorus is the low point of the song due to the cheesy lyrics that rhyme to a fault, but nevertheless they fit with the song. Overall, this song is definitely an album highlight. Rating: 9/10
Forest for the Trees: Like many of us, I heard this song live before hearing the album version. I thought it was a cool song with honest, though sometimes strange, lyrics. The verses are possibly the best on the album (in Paul's half, that is). This is largely because of their cohesiveness and ability to align with the chorus. But something was missing from the live version, and that something was the full orchestra. The instruments are what give the song a soul. Towards the end, the final chorus is perhaps the song's most powerful moment when it's paired with Paul's final yowl (reminds me of Scoundrel Days!) At least, I think it's Paul. Could be Morten. Rating: 7/10
Bluest of Blue: I've come around, come around. Sort of. This song is still one of my least favorites, and it lacks power. The verses are annoying, the chorus is annoying, and it sounds like a song that would be on a kids' television program. I get the general meaning of the song, but I don't really like the way Magne conveys it. The pre-chorus is where I start to think: "Magne... how many times are you going to write the words "free" and "believe" in your songs?" True North and I'm In already had enough of that. However, after multiple listens, I've started to like the chorus a bit more. This song is without a doubt quirky, which is usually Paul / Savoy's speciality. Maybe that's what's going to take some getting used to. By this point, I'm also tired of boats and the ocean. Magne needs to get back on dry land. Rating: 3/10
Make Me Understand: Nine songs in, and we've finally reached my favorite song (for now). I don't get why this song wasn't a single. I really want to see the clip from the film when Morten, Magne, and Paul wear those cool sunglasses. Hah. The only things that bother me when I hear this song are the verses. There's just too much of a gap between the phrases Morten utters, but needless to say I can still relate to them. "Can we talk later / I'll give you a ring / I'm in the middle / of nothing" is a highlight. And of course, the chorus is phenomenal. It sticks in your head and is totally hit-worthy. Scoundrel Days-reminiscing themes are brought back when we are again made aware of Paul's social troubles. The bridge is odd and disjointed (like the verses) but it creates a worthy dance beat. The song peaks when Paul sings the harmonies alternating with Morten's "understand" or "make me understand". It reminds me of another song... but I'm not sure which one. Rating: 10/10
I'll share my favorite from each album:
Hunting High and Low: Overall, Train of Thought. Sometimes I'll say The Sun Always Shines on TV, but not today.
Scoundrel Days: Oh gosh, how am I supposed to choose between Scoundrel Days, The Swing of Things, I've Been Losing You, Manhattan Skyline, and The Weight of the Wind? But since I've been lov(s)ing I've been Losing You lately, I'm going to have to say that one. The Live in South America rendition is particularly wonderful.
Stay on These Roads: On my least favorite album, the choice is simple: Out of Blue Comes Green. Though I do prefer the Alternate Remix.
East of the Sun, West of the Moon: It's a close call between the title track and Slender Frame, but given Slender Frame was one of my first favorite a-ha songs, I'm going to have to go with it.
Memorial Beach: What a wonderful album. It's a great album to listen to at night. Though Dark is the Night is the song I've liked the longest on Memorial Beach, I now prefer How Sweet it Was and Cold as Stone. Ultimately, Cold as Stone is superior. However, the title track, with the lovely piano, often touches my heart the most.
Minor Earth, Major Sky: This is a hard album to choose from, nearly as challenging as Scoundrel Days. Summer Moved On was another one of my first favorite a-ha songs... but it has kind of lost its charm (The long note never will, though!) Now, it's a tie between Little Black Heart and You'll Never Get Over Me. Since You'll Never Get Over Me is quite repetitive, I'll say Little Black Heart.
Lifelines: On the most random, mishmash album, my favorites are A Little Bit, Did Anyone Approach You? and Solace. Did Anyone Approach You? is perhaps my all-time favorite song. So naturally, it's my favorite on the album.
Analogue: Another great album. Much more consistent than Lifelines, in my opinion, and I have grown fond of all the songs except Halfway Through the Tour and Holy Ground. Cosy Prisons, I'd say, is my favorite on the album and my all-time second favorite.
Foot of the Mountain: Hmm, I could say almost every song on this album has been my favorite. Shadowside and Riding the Crest were my first favorite songs, ever. These days, I relate to the last three songs the most, and my favorite is Mother Nature Goes to Heaven.
Cast in Steel: Under the Makeup... She's Humming a Tune... Mythomania... GIving up the Ghost... what to choose? I guess I'll go with Mythomania. It's my most-played song. It holds a close tie with She's Humming a Tune.
My favorite albums, in chronological order: Scoundrel Days, Memorial Beach, and Analogue.
I’d really appreciate it if there was one or even more Morten songs, I do like them!
... maybe also „God is in the details“ or one song called „True north“?
Yeah, certainly True North. I forgot about that. Paul probably wrote that one.
"God is in the Details" would be nice, I like the demo. However, if "God is in the Details" is included, I'd assume "Time is on Your Side" would be as well, and I don't like that demo so much.
Since Morten made two contributions in both Analogue and Cast in Steel (in which Magne also had more contributions than he usually does), I'd assume he would contribute two songs to True North. It seems when Magne has more contributions, Morten does as well. Take Lifelines, Magne had more contributions than Paul and Morten had more contributions than he's ever had.
There was an article mentioning "contributions from all 3 band members", so I assume there will be at least one Morten song (although I hope it's no more than that) 🙃
Other than that, besides Make Me Understand, Forest for the Trees, Bluest of Blue, You Have What It Takes, Between the Halo and the Horn, and I'm In, there's no news.
1. Celice
2. Lifelines
3. Cold as Stone/ Sycamore Leaves
4. Forest for the Trees
5. You Have What It Takes
6. Cosy Prisons
7. Mythomania
8. Scoundrel Days
9. The Swing of Things
10. I've Been Losing You
11. The Sun Always Shines on TV
12. Under the Makeup
13. Out of Blue Comes Green
14. Manhattan Skyline
15. I Call Your Name
16. Mary Ellen Makes the Moment Count
17. Take On Me
18. Mystery True North Track #3 (Probably by Paul, maybe "Make Me Understand")
19. Dark is the Night
Alles anzeigenHi Emma,
No one can accuse you of not doing your a-homework! 😄 Very well argued with loads and loads of excellent points.
It’s just funny how perceptions differ, because I tend to see more blank spaces in Pål’s lyrics than in Magne’s. And here we’re are talking IN GENERAL because there are plenty of exceptions for both writers. What I admire about Pål is that he can write lyrics that are very personal (about his parents, about Lauren, about life, about love) yet make me feel I can relate and see myself in it.
But in a way it’s silly as this is not a question of choosing Pål OR Magne when we luckily can have both (and Morten for that matter) and in some cases it’s easier to connect with one than the other. And for instance I really like Dragonfly, Dream Myself Alive, Lamb…, Never Sweeter, Kryptonite. So I’m not anti-Magne, but I’m personally not sure I think his contributions have made the recent albums better. But that’s honestly a matter of taste and THAT is difficult to discuss - even if it can be fun 😄
I do think you have a point about Cosy Prison being as much a reminder to himself as to us. That’s a really good observation. But I’m not going to change my perception of it regardless!! 😉
I suppose I see it like this: In an ideal world I would have all three band members working TOGETHER with a shared vision, but if I could only choose between an a-ha album filled with songs either written by Magne or by Pål I would take the latter anyday!
Thanks for the discussion 👍🏻😊
Peter
I can relate to many of Pal's lyrics, but eventually they get a bit too personal for me. The same could be argued for Magne, though I'd object that it isn't always as obvious. It doesn't seem like he's talking about himself as much, even if he actually is. (again using Cosy Prisons as an example)
On further observation, Magne most likely wasn't referring to lyrics when he spoke of "blank spaces", but instead the background/instrumentals. My apologies. Though this doesn't apply to Magne's tracks on a-ha, I've certainly noticed it on his solo albums when he tends to lean towards simpler chord progressions and subtle instrumentals. Savoy albums consist of a lot more, which I do enjoy, but Magne's naked solo tracks don't really need anything more than what they are. Overall, it's hard to find the fine blue line between over-polished and under-polished. We can see this, of course, in the production of a-ha songs, when the demos are better than the version produced.
Taste is very hard to discuss largely because, sometimes, it's hard to know why you are drawn to a certain song until after thinking deeply about it. Put it like this: It's easy to know, and yet hard to explain.
If only all three band members could compromise perfectly and create masterpieces within every beat! That would be very nice. For me, I don't know if I'd want to choose between Pal and Magne, even though I prefer Magne as of now. Their songs together, with Morten's voice, is what a-ha has always been.
I am looking forward to the next rankings... and wondering which of the songs I mentioned earlier in our discussion will be in the top 25. I'm guessing The Swing of Things, but the rankings have continuously surprised me, so who knows 🤨
-Emma
Peter,
Yes, it is completely impossible to collectively define a-ha and nearly impossible to even define them on your own. They just have such a broad song catalog and so many emotions they convey that it's hard to grasp it. What's easier, I'd say, is deciphering how a-ha makes you feel and the impact they have had on your life. I don't believe the songs that don't automatically fit in or sound really different should be considered "not a-ha", but rather, as you mentioned, be acknowledged as songs that push the boundaries and be accepted by listeners as a-ha, and not as anything else. For the most part, I disagree with your claim that Magne "erases" the boundaries, considering I personally can't imagine many of his a-ha songs being on his solo albums. But maybe they could be if they were more raw. I could say the same for Pal and Morten. There was that time when Pal asked his drummer to choose between Summer Moved On and Man in the Park for Mountains of Time. The remainder landed on the next a-ha album. And a lot of Pal's discarded a-ha songs were used for Savoy. Let's say the "a-ha boundary" was erased all the time, equally between all three band members. The question is, does that matter? Boundary or not, is the content of the songs any less "a-ha"?
Ah, when you wrote "but maybe that's where I get the feeling that there's too much form and not always enough content" I recalled something Magne said. "Pal has a tendency to stuff the empty spaces, filling up the cracks.... I'm searching for something a lot more naked, searching for that exposed nerve that's so thin you wonder if it's going to hold or snap." Whether or not that's what you meant by "content", Magne's description of his songs/lyrics rings true to me.
I agree that Cosy Prisons is probably one of his most pushy songs, as you say, but by pondering the meaning of that song I realized that Magne may have very well written the song in attempts to not just connect with an audience but with himself. That can be explained especially in the third verse, which can be linked to his heart problems and how he was obsessed with his diet. And frankly, that's what all music artists do. Write about their experiences. Perhaps Magne could have rephrased that last line, but maybe it all depends on whether or not you want advice. I know I'm often searching for advice, and maybe that's why I connect so much with his songs. 😂 To be honest, I don't really see this as much in Differences (it's definitely a call to save the world as we know it but it can be viewed on so many levels). As for White Canvas, to me "You're life is a canvas/ The colors are you" is a wonderful line and much less blunt than some of the lines in Cosy Prisons. Magne's huge use of the second person view in his songs also has a great impact on how they are received. Pal doesn't do that as much...
Pal is very good at writing clever, thoughtful lyrics, and the ones you have mentioned are very delightful songs. There's no doubt Pal is very talented at lyric writing. It's just that I prefer the "concrete" part of songs in smaller quantities, perhaps even sometimes eliminated entirely. Who knows, over the years I may change my mind. What's ideal to me is a mix between the abstract, and, let's call it, the complicated human mind. I guess that's what draws me to Magne's more recent songs on both a-ha and his solo albums.
-Emma
Hi TheCompanyMan,
I really like Cosy Prisons too. It's one of my favorite songs. Analogue, while it isn't the most exciting track is special to me because it sounds like a typical love song but it's really not. I like it a lot more now that I know it's a love song for analogue 😂 As for Foot of the Mountain, I suppose it's fine. It has a nice riff and I like the lyrics now that I can actually understand them. Believe it or not, I used to think part of the chorus was "we could make us a wife, we could fence" instead of "we could make us a white picket fence". Haha. The song consistently makes me think of the tension between Pal and Magne, though.
-Emma
From what I've heard of Apparatjik, it's very, very alternative and I found the songs to be pretty strange. But I'll have to give the full album a listen sometimes. To me, post-Lifelines Magne has quite a few "a-ha like" songs, such as Celice, Don't Do Me Any Favours, and Sunny Mystery, as well as the tracks on Cast in Steel. Perhaps some don't go along the lines of a-ha, but part of being a band is stretching the boundaries of normal. They'll of course have influence from solo albums and other bands/artists. What's important is that the quality is there. White Xmas Lies always struck me not only as an uncommon Christmas album, but as an uncommon uncommon Christmas album. To be more clear, it's obviously anything but a traditional "Merry Christmas" album, and on top of that, Magne tries some new things in that album that make it a bit weirder. I've always had a soft spot for Dark Days, Dark Nights, and his cover of Hells Bells, though. Oh, and, his remake of Differences? It's atrocious and gives me a headache whenever I listen to it. I don't know what on Earth was running through his mind.
Honestly, I can totally get your point about Magne's "telling you to feel" lyrics, and I can see how they could do that for some fans. Perhaps the difference is, if you can really relate to them (like I do a lot of the time) they touch your heart in a way that no other lyrics can. And a lot of Savoy/ Pal songs do that for me, too. Do you have an example of Magne's "telling you to feel" and Pal's "making you feel" lyrics, or perhaps a song?
While I can agree that Savoy has many beautifully crafted songs, a lot of them seem straightforward to me because I don't connect as much with the songs about daily life and simple love. I like thinking about lyrics, not having them just handed to me. And while many Savoy songs have an underlying complexity, there are many that don't, at least in my opinion. Some of those songs would be Easy, Grind You Down, Any Other Way, Face, and If you Don't Come to the Party. Others are just too quirky (Bovine, Bump, Underground, etc). I much prefer the "a-ha Pal".
I agree with you on Morten, for the most part, though I also think he sang "The Scientist" very well. He really does have the best voice in the world. Maybe it's just that he doesn't know how to use it in the right way all of the time. I suppose it's true that one thing that really doesn't change much during concerts is Morten's vocal abilities. Perhaps that's another one of the reasons why a-ha isn't the best at interacting with the crowd.
-Emma
Just listened to Scoundrel Days live in South America, it is a great version. The guitar at the end is amazing!
To me, Magne's songs are still a-ha, even if they don't go along the lines what he used to write (Maybe Maybe, Manhattan Skyline, Lamb to the Slaughter). Perhaps it's merely because I have greatly enjoyed many of his recent songs, including those on his solo albums. I acknowledge that lyrics don't come as easily to him as they do for Pal (note the really short second verses of Mythomania, Giving up the Ghost, and Objects in the Mirror) but what really draws me to his songs is how wise his lyrics are, and I can relate to a lot of them, especially those on his solo albums. So when that carries over to a-ha, I'm delighted. A-ha always manages to add that "a-ha touch" to the songs Magne writes. Magne has certainly progressed a lot in terms of songwriting over the years he's been with a-ha. Yes, Pal has many more abstract songs which I can appreciate, and I did prefer him as a songwriter for quite a while.
As for the solo albums, I went through phases. First it was Morten, then Pal, and then Magne. I still enjoy all their solo albums, though. My favorites from Morten are Brother and Letter From Egypt, from Savoy Reasons to Stay Indoors and Mountains of Time. All of their solo both have some pretty brilliant songs. Recently, I've prefered Magne's Past Perfect Future Tense, especially the songs Nothing Here to Hold You and Obsolete. I can surely say those songs wouldn't belong on a-ha, but I guess you never know what the "a-ha touch" will do. I fell away from Morten's albums because I thought they lacked lyrical quality. As for Pal, I don't really like Lauren's voice (with the exceptions for Fearlist and Whalebone) and many of those songs are a bit too straightforward for my tastes. Maybe because Lauren has written quite a few Savoy songs? I don't know, they're both given equal credit. The One That Got Away has to be my favorite Savoy song, as well as the classic, Daylight's Wasting.
Wild Seed is also a good album. I never really connected with the Norwegian albums because I'm not familiar with the language, but if I were perhaps I would like them. I agree that Out of My Hands isn't the best album... but I do like some songs on there. Did you by any chance follow Morten's Masked Singer UK quest? He should have won... 😔
Hmm... Angel in the Snow... currently that's a rather challenging song for me to gauge an opinion on. See, I used to dislike it. It was one of my least favorite a-ha songs. But now, I quite enjoy listening to it occasionally. The lyrics don't do much for me, but it's a sweet little song and the guitar makes it all the better. Compared to the rest of Memorial Beach, it lacks quality... but Memorial Beach is a good album so what can I say.
-Emma
I could say that about pretty much all of a-ha's hits! Take On Me is probably on that high baseline for me... it's a very well-crafted song and I can see very well why it's a hit, but it's never been one of my favorite a-ha songs. Quite a controversial opinion in the world of a-ha; at the very least a controversial opinion for those who've heard of a-ha but only associate them with three world: Take On Me.
I've thought the same thing about live a-ha. I used to not like it hardly at all, but that was because I hadn't really given live a-ha a chance. Now, I have an appreciation for many live versions of a-ha songs. But it is nearly impossible to transfer the perfection of their studio songs over to the live show. A-ha is one of the only bands I've heard in which the live versions of songs sound a LOT different from the studio versions. Maybe that's partly because a lot of recorded a-ha concerts have really bad audio quality, for whatever reason. My second favorite band, Simple Minds, has much better live audio quality, which is strange. I'll have to listen to the Live in South America Scoundrel Days. How Can I Sleep With Your Voice in my Head has been a long time favorite of mine, especially the live version of DAAY? I think The Swing of Things on that live album sounds similar to the studio version, if I can recall correctly.
This Alone Is Love is one of my favorite's from Summer Solstice! At first listen I didn't like Sox of the Fox, but now I think it's wonderful. Over the Treetops is nice, but I prefer the studio version because of the electric guitar in the middle. The duets weren't too good, you're right about that. In my opinion, I've Been Losing You had the best duet. But it would've been fine with me if Morten had sung all of the duets himself. It's hard to beat his voice. Really hard 😂
Hey, Magne's my favorite of the three. Haha. Personally, I don't mind if he has a large part in the album. It does seem like he has written quite a few songs in True North, such as "I'm in", "Bluest of Blue", and "Between the Halo and the Horn". Of course, I've noticed from your ranking explanations that you seem to prefer Pal. My concern leans toward Morten. Of the three I doubt his songwriting abilities the most, not because he's a bad songwriter necessarily but because I don't think he has written very good songs for a-ha. Holy Ground and Living at the End of the World are some of his low points. On the other hand, he's written some gems such as Cannot Hide and Forever Not Yours. His songs can be good, but not as good as Magne and Pal's. Speaking of the band members, do you listen to a-ha solo albums?
Thank you for discussing a-ha with me, it's one of my favorite things to do!
-Emma
I think can get what you're talking about in the first two paragraphs, it's kind of like having baseline songs that you know are good songs, but just get tired of them temporarily. That has happened to me a lot. Honestly, I will always appreciate every a-ha song on some level. I can definitely relate to the "mood songs". Some of them for me would be Shadow Endeavors, Minor Earth, Lifelines, Foot of the Mountain, Cold as Stone, The Living Daylights, and Maybe Maybe. Not my favorite songs, but at times I really enjoy them.
For some songs, I prefer the live versions enormously. One example is Rolling Thunder. I never liked the album version much, but NRK Live and Live in South America are fantastic versions of the song. Another one is Under The Makeup. Even though I adore the Album Version, the live acoustic version is even better because of the piano part at the beginning. What do you think of MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice? I prefer the album versions of most of the songs, except The Living Daylights, Stay on These Roads, and Living a Boy's Adventure Tale. And I love a-ha's cover of The Killing Moon.
I'm REALLY excited for True North. I hope they release some singles from it in the next few months... it feels like a long time to wait until November. It would be great if a few of the songs became my new favorites. I never expected them to make a new album, but here we are.
-Emma
That's the thing, it is hard to do rankings if your opinion on the best songs changes a lot. Personally, I have a new favorite song nearly every week so I'd find ranking all the songs nearly impossible. I probably would only include the regular album tracks to make it simpler.
Some songs that have been consistently my favorites are Summer Moved On, The Swing of Things, Manhattan Skyline, Dark is the Night, Shadowside, Cosy Prisons, Out of Blue Comes Green, Forever Not Yours, Solace, Oranges on Appletrees, and Under the Makeup. They aren't always the best songs now, but I'll always like them. Some of those will be in your top 50, I've noticed. Looking forward to seeing the final rankings!
I have listened to more demos recently. Controversially, I like "You have grown thoughtful again" even though that was one of your lowest ranked songs 😂 Also, I recently listened to Case Closed on Silver Shore and Never Never, and found them to be good songs. Bar room is also really great, but I don't think it would have fit on Memorial Beach.
Are you going to add the True North songs to the rankings when they come out?
-Emma