a-ha

The Profile

a-ha are a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982 by Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy. They broke through globally with Take On Me (1985) and its landmark video, followed by acclaimed albums like Hunting High and Low and Scoundrel Days. After a hiatus in the 1990s they returned with Minor Earth | Major Sky (2000) and continued with releases including Lifelines, Foot of the Mountain, Cast in Steel, and True North.

Members: Morten Harket (vocals), Magne Furuholmen (keyboards), Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitars). Formed in Oslo (1982). Take On Me hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (1985) and its rotoscoped video won multiple MTV VMAs. Performed at the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize Concert. Notable albums include Hunting High and Low (1985), Scoundrel Days (1986), Minor Earth | Major Sky (2000), Lifelines (2002), Foot of the Mountain (2009), Cast in Steel (2015), and True North (2022).

Three DeBaser reviews dive into a-ha’s synth-pop arc: the refined 80s of Scoundrel Days, the 2000 comeback of Minor Earth | Major Sky, and the cinematic pop of Lifelines. Reviewers praise Morten Harket’s voice, electronic textures, and 60s Beat shades. Highlights include “I Wish I Cared,” “Time And Again,” and “Summer Moved On,” with notes on videos and German chart impact.