Listen: The song that became A-ha's "Take On Me"

Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2020/11/16/listen-the-song-that-became-a-has-take-on-me.html

7 Likes

Let the singer smoke some more, turn up the distortion a bit, and I could believe it was an early song from The Jam.

Let’s not forget the version that came between the modern take and Miss Eerie…

Sometimes all it takes is some editing and a better video to make a hit from a dud.

7 Likes

You know I always wondered why Cap’n Jazz’s version worked so well, but this really shows the punk roots of the song

2 Likes

Video link for the BBS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOhiDxuOEuI

3 Likes

Pipe wrench fight!

13 Likes

All it needs is for the new lyrics to reference Altered States.

2 Likes

13 Likes

Good call! I definitely hear it.

1 Like

Interesting. Never heard that version before. I wonder if anyone has done a ska version, because clearly it lends itself well to that as well.

1 Like
7 Likes

Ha! Nice, thanks! I knew it would work. :slight_smile:

I must have heard this version at some point, because it’s definitely ringing all the bells and explains why I had an inkling at how well it would work. Would love to hear Gwen Stefani and No Doubt do another version like this.

1 Like

So, not this Aha then?

1 Like

I’m glad they found a singer who could sing, though.

1 Like

giphy

5 Likes

No discussion of Take On Me would be complete without the North Korean version.

Or the South Korean rip-off.

4 Likes

That might be the single-most 1980s thing I have ever seen. It really only needs some shoulder pads to score the perfect ten.

Apologies for not having anything significant to add but every comment in this thread is exactly why I explore the comments here on boingboing. You should all be proud of yourselves.

3 Likes

Username checks out.

1 Like

My favourite is still this fairground organ version:

3 Likes