My Top 10 A-ha Songs

After a long argument with myself, I have finally decided which a-ha songs made it to my top 10 list.

Top 10 songs collage by yours truly

They're the ones I keep on playing whenever I can, the ultimate feel-good, the send-chills-all-over-body type of songs! Here they are...

1. Living A Boy Adventure’s Tale

This track is the "love at first sight" kind of deal. I think this was the third a-ha track I listened to when I was discovering them. It took my heart since I first hear that synth intro. Living A Boy's Adventure Tale was one of the first two tracks a-ha made (the other being Take On Me) and I keep wondering how different a-ha would be portrayed if they chose this song as their first single instead.

I don't know how many times I've played this on January alone, when I was HIGHLY obsessed with it. Morten's high note in the middle, that "I'm living a boy adventure's tale" with his operatic voice is my favorite part. Overall the song has a different 80s vibe, sounding much more "a-ha" than Take On Me. I can't explain what it is, but it's so good it made it to the top.

2. Umbrella

I love this track so much and love the fact that it's MAGS FROM START TO FINISH! Well if that makes sense. This is such a mood-boosting track, the notes are so fun and I could tell a-ha was experimenting with the synth sounds they want to achieve. I can't believe that it's a DEMO track! I was surprised when I first listened to it and also happy that a-ha decided to release this on the deluxe version of Stay On These Roads album. I guess they realized how good this track is? Could be.

And don't get me started with that dialogue in the track, ugh! Total 80s vibes. From Morten laughing, saying "I love you" to Lauren saying "so what?" in-between those catchy sounds. This is definitely one of my most played a-ha tracks. Do I wonder what this would've sounded like if made to the finished version? No. It's already perfect.

3. The Sun Always Shines On T.V.

Oh the feelings I felt when first listening to this song was great. As soon as I heard that "touch me.. how can it be?" part, the song felt familiar! So I tried hard to remember but nothing recalled to my memory. I don't know what it is but it feels like I've been listening to it forever and I was meant to listen to the song. 

Other than that, the song has such a nice feel to it. Again, it has that very distinct "a-ha" sound, unlike any 80s songs at that time. The music video completely awed me with that mannequin-infested church and Morten's facial expressions. Similar like Take On Me, I occasionally watch the video just cause. Care for a listen now? ;)

4. Evitar

I always feel like Evitar is the big sister to Umbrella cause they share the same vibe, complete instrumental track with a fun vibe. Though Evitar is kind of mysterious (since I don't know what the name means and where did they get it from), it has a strong intro and consistent power since the beginning. Come on, who wouldn't at least bop their head along that funky guitar sounds by Pal? This is definitely one of a-ha's tracks that I deeply wonder the inspiration behind it.

I personally love all those synth and sound effects included to the song, I imagine it must be fun to watch Magne experimented on his keyboard. Evitar is, like Umbrella, a demo track that sounds perfect. 

5. You're So White

"Ha? En gang til?" English translation: "What? One more time?"

Talk about a silly intro of a track. I smile most of the time when this song comes on. You're So White displays itself as a strong upbeat synthpop track that fits me so well. I guess the reason why I love this, Umbrella, and Evitar is because they're demo track and a-ha wasn't really under the pressure nor feeling obligated to "sell" the song, so it doesn't really sound commercialized and really about having fun. Get what I'm saying? Like they're not trying to impress anybody, they just create whatever music they wanted to and for me they sound amazing.

6. Hurry Home

Moving from demos and unreleased tracks, comes Hurry Home. This is one of my recent favorite a-ha songs and I was a bit in a "I wish I'd known about this sooner" mood when I realized how good this song is. That consistent synth sound in the intro is my absolute favorite part and the lyrics started with the perfect line and melody "Hurry home, freight train running" Wow. It just builds up the vibe of the song. 

This is definitely one of their songs that I wish had the music video to. I mean I wouldn't mind if they just skip Touchy! and chose this instead. I wonder where it would take them.

7. Real Meaning

Taken from the Foot Of The Mountain, this song is one of Pal's best creations. It's sweet, simple, with beautiful lyrics and great combination of synth and piano sounds. I listened to this song quite a lot after discovering it and was even encouraged to make a handlettering creation from one of the lines. For me personally, this song is a proof that a-ha doesn't have to spread themselves thin to create something good.

8. Over The Treetops

This song is so Pal from start to finish and I LOVE it. The MTV Unplugged 2017 version is my favorite. All three of them sang at the same time with different melodies, creating a harmonious vibe on the verse and chorus. That live version is the first one I discovered then a bit later on it's from their Analogue album.

Source: musictelevision.fi

Over The Treetops is one their songs that makes me go "God, they should've been a two-singer band and Pal being the other one." This song fits his vibe so much! But I guess Pal really isn't one to enjoy the spotlight and it's a virtue of his that I admire.

9. Days On End

Days On End is what happened when you let two (at that time) gloomy Virgo men to create a song. It's dark, intense, mellow, and charming in its own beautiful way. Morten and Pal made this without Magne since he was in Norway during the recording and an idea really gotten into my mind. Both of them should've made more songs. 

I also like the fact that Morten said it's one of the paths a-ha had as an option. I mean, a-ha would've been much darker than they actually are and I can't help but (again) wonder what it would be like. But then again, they wouldn't have released the fun Hunting High And Low album which is a much bigger "what should have been."

10. I Wish I Cared

Last but not least, I Wish I Cared. This is Magne's creation and I gotta say it's his best one. The intro, Morten's high notes on the chorus along with the orchestral sounds, this is one big train to having a full-on chills. All-over-your-body kind of chills. Yep. 

I really like the vibe, it's just like one warm cup of your favorite drink that you have after a stressful day. You just feel warm inside listening to it... which should be contrary if you read the lyrics. I suggest you don't, for the sake of enjoying its peaceful vibe. This is one of their songs that you feel, deeply.

So that is all for my top 10 a-ha songs! I thank them for creating these awesome pieces and hopefully I get to watch the live version of one these songs in their concert, at least once. It'd be perfect.