Take on Me (partially found instrumental demo take of a-ha song; 1983): Difference between revisions

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|image=A-ha - Take On Me (1984 Single).jpg
|image=A-ha - Take On Me (1984 Single).jpg
|imagecaption=The 1984 single cover of ''Take On Me''.
|imagecaption=The 1984 single cover of ''Take On Me''.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
}}
A-ha is a famous Norwegian Synth-pop trio that is best remembered as the creators of their 1985 hit song "Take On Me". Some of their other hits include "The Sun Always Shines On T.V.", "Cry Wolf", and "The Living Daylights" The band was formed in 1982 and is still around. The band has 10 albums and is one of the most successful Norwegian bands.  
A-ha (usually stylised as a-ha) is a Norwegian Synth-pop trio formed in 1982 consisting of lead singer Morten Harket, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and guitarist Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. The band saw international success in 1985 following the release of their hit song '''Take On Me''' and its innovative music video. It took the band several rewrites and releases of Take On Me for it to become the big hit it's known as today, with the earliest recording of the song dating back to 1981 and being by a different band Pål and Magne were in<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/release/15160057-Bridges-Miss-Eerie Discogs page for the Miss Eerie (1981 Take On Me demo) 7" single release]</ref>.


==Lost Instrumental==
==Lost Instrumental Demo==
Their most famous song, '''"Take On Me" was originally known to have gone through several different variations''' before it became the song we all know today, a majority the earlier versions have been released in some form. However, there is a Norwegian documentary from 2005, which gives us a brief snippet of a demo that has never seen the light of day.
Despite how many iterations Take On Me has gone through up until its 1985 release on the album ''Hunting High And Low'', most of these early versions have been included on archival releases or became public in some form. One of the few known exceptions to this is an instrumental take of the song which has never seen an official release outside of a 40 second snippet in a 2005 documentary by NRK<ref>[https://youtu.be/EpqFyMkQx7k?t=15 Reuploaded clip of the NRK documentary featuring the demo snippet]</ref>.


This demo was recorded in 1983, it's unknown where it was recorded (possibly the Rendezvous studio or Nærsnes studio where a-ha recorded several other demos around the same time <ref>[https://www.discogs.com/a-ha-Hunting-High-And-Low/release/7540264 Info on the 2015 Hunting High And Low Boxset, lists several Rendezvous and Nærsnes demos]</ref>) and it sounds a good amount different compared to the officially released take. It's unknown if there was a version done which contained vocals from Morten or not, although it is definitely possible.
This demo was recorded in 1983, likely at Rendezvous studios where a-ha recorded most of their demos at the time<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/a-ha-Hunting-High-And-Low/release/7540264 Discogs page on the 2015 Hunting High And Low Boxset, listing demos recorded at Rendezvous]</ref>. It's a different take to the one officially released by a-ha in 2004 and 2010, however both versions were likely recorded around the same time. It's unknown whether or not vocals were recorded for this take. As of August 2022, this NRK documentary remains the only source of this unreleased demo.  


==Availability==
==Availability==
An official release of this demo is entirely plausible, with a-ha having released multiple deluxe sets for Hunting High And Low as well as a compilation of pre-1985 demos in the past. It is also possible that it has leaked into traders' circles in the past<ref>[http://louvanhille.free.fr/A-HA/A-HAsonglist.html List of every a-ha song and each variation, including leaked early versions]</ref>, many bootlegged demos have been going around for a very long time now.
An official release of this demo is entirely plausible, with a-ha's manager confirming that a 6 disc deluxe edition of Hunting High And Low is in the works as of March 2022<ref>[https://a-ha.com/news/q-a-with-harald-wiik Q&A with a-ha's manager Harald Wiik where he confirms plans for a HHAL super deluxe]</ref>. It is also possible that it has leaked into private traders' circles<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210601000000*/http://louvanhille.free.fr/A-HA/A-HAsonglist.html List of every known a-ha song and each variation, including leaked early versions]</ref> as many other a-ha demos have in the past (as far back as the mid-80's). Most of these trader exclusive recordings stay unavailable to the general public for many years. It was long believed that a collection of leaked demos known as [https://web.archive.org/web/20090615103022/http://www.ahamostwanted.com/ Most Wanted] from 2009 may have contained the demo, however this has since been confirmed false (it only includes an instrumental version of the released 1983 demo).


In November of 2019, a YouTube channel called "Pacalo" uploaded an instrumental take of the officially released 1983 demo alongside another unreleased demo. When asked where he got these, he responded with this.
<blockquote>"Let´s say that I was on the righ(t) place at the righ(t) moment, and thanks to that I got many unreleased A-ha stuff years ago. I´ll be sharing some of it if I see that this stuff is appreciated on the channel!!"</blockquote>
Since then, he has posted another unreleased demo take. Currently LMW user [[User:Spida|Spida]] is in contact with him to figure out what tracks he may or may not have.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =3
{{Video|perrow  =3
   |service1    =youtube
   |service1    =youtube
   |id1          =C9jne7-E_Rc
   |id1          =C9jne7-E_Rc
   |description1 =0:10 The snippet of the instrumental take that is available to the public (Talking from documentary removed with Audacity).
   |description1 =0:10 The only circulating snippet of the instrumental take (Narration from documentary removed with Audacity).
   |service2    =youtube
   |service2    =youtube
   |id2          =Y91p-XWAY10
   |id2          =XL2R2qZrQ3Y
   |description2 =The officially released alternate 1983 demo take with vocals (''Swing Of Things''/''The Demo Tapes'' CD).
   |description2 =The officially released 1983 demo take with vocals (released on ''The Demo Tapes'' in 2004 and ''Hunting High And Low (Deluxe Edition)'' in 2010).
   |service3    =youtube
   |service3    =youtube
   |id3          =EOB41mamEP8
   |id3          =EOB41mamEP8
   |description3 =The alternate instrumental version leaked online, rediscovered by YouTube user ''Pacolo''.
   |description3 =The leaked instrumental mix of the released 1983 demo from the Most Wanted compilation.
}}
}}
==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Lost music]]
[[Category:Lost music]]
[[Category:Partially lost media]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]
[[Category:Historic]]

Latest revision as of 16:58, 14 August 2022

A-ha - Take On Me (1984 Single).jpg

The 1984 single cover of Take On Me.

Status: Partially Found

A-ha (usually stylised as a-ha) is a Norwegian Synth-pop trio formed in 1982 consisting of lead singer Morten Harket, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and guitarist Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. The band saw international success in 1985 following the release of their hit song Take On Me and its innovative music video. It took the band several rewrites and releases of Take On Me for it to become the big hit it's known as today, with the earliest recording of the song dating back to 1981 and being by a different band Pål and Magne were in[1].

Lost Instrumental Demo

Despite how many iterations Take On Me has gone through up until its 1985 release on the album Hunting High And Low, most of these early versions have been included on archival releases or became public in some form. One of the few known exceptions to this is an instrumental take of the song which has never seen an official release outside of a 40 second snippet in a 2005 documentary by NRK[2].

This demo was recorded in 1983, likely at Rendezvous studios where a-ha recorded most of their demos at the time[3]. It's a different take to the one officially released by a-ha in 2004 and 2010, however both versions were likely recorded around the same time. It's unknown whether or not vocals were recorded for this take. As of August 2022, this NRK documentary remains the only source of this unreleased demo.

Availability

An official release of this demo is entirely plausible, with a-ha's manager confirming that a 6 disc deluxe edition of Hunting High And Low is in the works as of March 2022[4]. It is also possible that it has leaked into private traders' circles[5] as many other a-ha demos have in the past (as far back as the mid-80's). Most of these trader exclusive recordings stay unavailable to the general public for many years. It was long believed that a collection of leaked demos known as Most Wanted from 2009 may have contained the demo, however this has since been confirmed false (it only includes an instrumental version of the released 1983 demo).

Gallery

0:10 The only circulating snippet of the instrumental take (Narration from documentary removed with Audacity).

The officially released 1983 demo take with vocals (released on The Demo Tapes in 2004 and Hunting High And Low (Deluxe Edition) in 2010).

The leaked instrumental mix of the released 1983 demo from the Most Wanted compilation.

References