You know that synth riff. It’s bubbly, it’s caffeinated, and it’s basically the sonic equivalent of a neon sign flickering to life in 1985. But here’s the thing: Take on Me was a disaster. At least, it was for a long time.
Most people think a-ha just showed up, sang a catchy tune about a comic book, and became global superstars overnight. That is a total myth. In reality, the song was rejected, re-recorded, and ignored until it almost bankrupted everyone involved. It’s a miracle we’re still talking about it in 2026.
The Flops Nobody Remembers
Before it was a chart-topping monster, the song was called "Lesson One." Then it was "The Juicy Fruit Song." It started as a scrap of a riff that keyboardist Magne Furuholmen had been noodling with since he was 15 years old.
When the band—Morten Harket, Magne, and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy—moved from Norway to London, they were living in a literal dump. We’re talking rotting food and no heating. They were desperate. They finally got a version of the song out in 1984.
It tanked. Hard.
That first version sounds... weird. It’s punky. It’s thin. Morten’s vocals are there, but the "magic" is missing. It reached number three in Norway because, well, they were local heroes, but the rest of the world basically said, "No thanks."
The label could have dropped them. Most labels would have. But Jeff Ayeroff at Warner Bros. saw something in Morten’s face and that persistent synth line. He convinced them to try again.
💡 You might also like: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the 1985 Version Actually Worked
The version you hear on the radio today—the one with the crisp drum machine and that soaring high note—was the result of a second (and technically third) attempt. They brought in producer Alan Tarney. He basically told them to stop over-complicating things.
He stripped it back. He focused on the energy.
- The Riff: It was inspired by The Doors. Specifically, Ray Manzarek’s structured, almost mathematical style.
- The Vocal: Morten Harket’s range is legendary, but that final high note in the chorus wasn't just a flex; it was a do-or-die moment for the band’s career.
- The Production: They used a Roland Juno-60 and a Yamaha DX7. If you want to know why the 80s sound like the 80s, those two machines are the reason.
Even with a better song, it still wasn't hitting the US charts. It was "bubbling under." It needed a miracle.
The Video That Changed Everything (Literally)
We have to talk about the rotoscoping. You’ve seen it: the pencil-sketch animation where Morten pulls a girl into a comic book world to escape some guys with pipe wrenches.
Director Steve Barron—the same guy who did Michael Jackson’s "Billie Jean"—spent $100,000 on it. In 1985, that was an insane amount of money for a "failing" band. It took 16 weeks to complete.
Artists Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger had to hand-draw over 3,000 frames of live-action footage. Every. Single. Frame.
📖 Related: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
It wasn't just "cool." It was revolutionary. Before this, music videos were mostly bands standing in smoke machines or pretending to play in a warehouse. This was cinema. When MTV put it on heavy rotation, the song didn't just climb the charts; it teleported to the top.
What People Get Wrong About a-ha
In the United States, a-ha is often called a "one-hit wonder."
That is objectively false.
Sure, "Take on Me" is the giant in the room. But in the UK and Europe, they were massive for decades. "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." actually went to number one in the UK, something "Take on Me" never actually did (it peaked at number two there).
They’ve sold over 100 million records. They played for 198,000 people at Rock in Rio in 1991, breaking a world record at the time. They aren't a fluke; they’re a powerhouse that just happened to lead with their most iconic foot.
The Haunting Second Life of Take on Me
If you want to understand the true bones of this song, you have to listen to the 2017 MTV Unplugged version.
👉 See also: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
It’s slow. It’s melancholic. It sounds like a man looking back on his life rather than a kid looking for a date. When Morten hits that high note now, in his 60s, it doesn't feel like a pop trick. It feels like a plea.
It’s been covered by everyone from Weezer to Reel Big Fish, but nobody quite captures that specific "Nordic melancholy" that a-ha baked into the original. It’s a happy song that feels slightly sad, which is why it works at both weddings and funerals.
Real-World Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re a musician or a creator, there’s a massive lesson here: The first version is almost always the wrong version. A-ha didn't give up when the 1984 release failed. They didn't give up when the label was hesitant. They kept refining the "product" until the quality was undeniable.
Actionable Steps for Music Lovers:
- Listen to the 1984 original: Find the "Tony Mansfield" version on YouTube. It’s a fascinating look at how a great song can be "hidden" by bad production.
- Watch the "Making Of" Documentary: The band released a three-part series on their YouTube channel that goes into the gritty details of the London years.
- Check out the 4K Remaster: In 2019, the video was painstakingly restored to 4K. Even if you've seen it a thousand times, the detail in the pencil lines is staggering in high definition.
The song is currently sitting at over 2 billion views on YouTube. It was the first video from the 80s to hit that milestone. It turns out that three kids from Norway, a few cans of cheap beans, and 3,000 hand-drawn sketches were enough to build something that literally never dies.