Composer/Musician Reacts to a-ha - Take On Me (Live From MTV Unplugged) (REACTION!!!)

[@powerface71]

"What makes this version of the song so sad and somber for me is how you can draw a parallel between the original and this version to real life. This is an old song, and if you notice, the crowd is full of people well into their adult years, they've grown old along with it. The original is fun, exciting, and full of energy, just like when you're a young teenager. This version is slowed down, the energy and "youth" of it is gone, but in its place is a tenderness and an almost haunting and melancholic tone to it, which is indicative of getting older. You slow down, you've expended your energy, you're less upbeat and reckless, but you're more aware, sensitive and tender, and what was once the youthful thoughts of invincibility and now replaced with a growing realization that you don't get to live forever, and time is short, growing shorter every day. So needless to say when i look at this song in that way, it adds this extra sad depth to it for me" ~ Denn Green III wrote that fantastic, insightful comment from a reaction post! #FACTS

[@StringHead92]

As I said to my husband when we first heard this version, if the original is about facing the end of a relationship, quite possibly a summer love, this version sounds about coming to terms with one's mortality. That "I'll be gone in a day or two" hits quite different. I love the vulnerability the band brings in that sense. And watching the audience filled with fans that were teenagers when the original came out just reinforces that feeling. Great input as always, Bryan!

[@orchidwave2574]

It's a fascinating reinterpretation, from the young, breathlessly energetic, optimistic pop version of the 80's...to the older and wiser man decades later, singing it so reflectively, having lived so much life in the intervening years and taken the lessons from them that his younger self had no access to. I saw a great comment from the source video describing this older version of Morgen as coming across as 'the most understanding Dad ever.' I enjoy both versions of the song, but this one hits me far more deeply.

[@garymaidman625]

Morten*

[@DeltaElites]

They took it from the inspirational song in my 20s to a feeling that almost brings me to tears every time. At 60, it reminds me of my mortality and those to whom I've already had to say goodbye.

[@monikabeki6838]

I definitely can’t fight my tears. two versions: the young morgen harken: saying goodbye with hope and dreams, the acoustic version decades later: a goodbye - to a very end, no return, looking back sadly but full of love, thankful and still remembering this big love. So beautiful breathtaking … I think you can get this just when you are full of „old love“ ♥️

[@garymaidman625]

Morten*

[@yabbadabba1975]

They have never stopped touring. They sell out shows throughout the Scandinavian countries, western Europe, South America and tickets are on sale for April 2022 at Radio City Music Hall, NYC.

[@alisonscott1469]

the lead singer morgen harken is 61 years old during this performance he was 26 when aha first appeared in 1985. ive been an aha fan since 85 i was 16 then i’m 51 now. they are very underrated and have 10 albums of great music under their belts. i love this version of take on me. take care, stay safe and thanks for reacting 🎤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️😷👍🏻

[@garymaidman625]

Morten*

[@progperljungman8218]

A-ha were allways better than their greatest hits. This takes their greatest hit to a new level to prove it.

[@ImperialMJG]

A-ha IS. Not "were". They are Still very active and a New album coming in october.

[@progperljungman8218]

@@ImperialMJG A matter of wording. "Has always been" might have been a better way to put it of course 😊

[@spillrune]

I wish reactubers reacted to more than just "take on me", "take on me - unplugged" and "sun always shines on tv" - there’s soooo much more of a-ha to discover; 4 decades of amazing music.

[@Sloppylicious]

Yea, but 50 % of those decades being disbanded actually.

[@UGLYP1G]

@@Sloppylicious They were only actually disbanded between 2010 and 2015. They had taken breaks before, but were never officially "broken up".

[@tosvus]

@@UGLYP1G They were on a pretty significant break (when they stated they may never play together again), until the played Summer Moved On at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 1998 as well. Of course the 2010-2015 break was more official in a sense (I saw them at the 2010 farewell tour)

[@ImperialMJG]

What I think of is overlooked in the lyrics of the song is... "slowly learning that life is ok". I think thats a big lyric a big statement. And so true. Something we All sort of have to figure out through life. And then in "Sun always shines on TV" have Even deeper lyrics.

[@lesliedaubert1411]

All their songs they made acoustic for the show were great.

[@markwebster7435]

The whole gig was more than just acoustic, it was different interpretations of all the songs they played that night.

[@4211234]

the thing i love the most is the background, its not a greenscreen or some random scenery, its just through the glass look at western norway.

[@cosmicghostrider2968]

I always fight tears listening to this version and I generally don't cry, at like anything. I've just always had trouble finding the emotion to cry but this is always does it and has made me cry at times.

[@jeannettesimpson9778]

It was released in 1985. I grew up with 60s and 70s music and found the 80s largely a bit of the doldrums. This one caught my attention. I nearly always like unplugged versions, be it Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains - bit of a 90s vibe there - and I like that it reveals the maturity of a band or artist, how they take a core part of their history and eat into the essence to give something new and of their particular moment.

[@luizbarriquel2483]

um clássico da música popular internacional! show

[@danielmannandersen2332]

not that far from usual content actually. a-ha did Rock music in the 90s with their two albums "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" and "Memorial Beach"

[@christopherblowers443]

Love that version so much.

[@avantprog6902]

Wow! I never really considered this tune. This really touched me.

[@159awi]

This song takes on a whole new meaning. Great review.

[@crimsonmei]

I really love this version more than the original. The lyrics are more suited for this version.

[@rjankarlsengalbriktsen6131]

Greetings from Norway. Great reaction to an awesome song and epic band..! Stay safe, mate..!

[@frankieshankly703]

Great reaction!

[@badcappincarrot8085]

The best acoustic similar acoustic remake ever James-Laid. How dark that song actually is finally came out.

[@peterworth9403]

If you're looking for utterly shocking acoustic, Korn unplugged. "Coming Undone," "Make Me Bad," or "Throw Me Away (the over 6 minute version that starts with an AMAZING taiko drum intro)." The whole unplugged show was unexpected, and amazing, but those 3 are my top three performances, hands down. They had never done acoustic performances before, and they wanted to do it right, not just convert their stuff to acoustic. They totally reworked the songs they performed so they sounded amazing acoustic.

[@robjohnson4592]

masterfull.

[@TurboD-vn5ve]

👌🏼

[@justgod613]

Thanks for not pausing it every two seconds.

[@CriticalReactions]

It's honestly really difficult to retain the mood, momentum, and atmosphere of a song when it's constantly stopped. I know some people don't like when I talk over music AND the copyright bot seems to be harder on me for using uninterrupted songs but I think the end result is totally worth it.

[@SmartK8]

Who knew. It's actually a sad song.

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

So strange to hear the song like this, really turns it into an emotionally profound masterpiece compared to the original's bright, happy, poppy perfection. Not sure which version I prefer... it's really apples and oranges, but the former definitely has more of a nostalgia factor. I literally can't remember a time before I knew and loved that song. This does really make me hope we get an "unusual covers" week as I'm always fascinated how songs can be radically transformed like this. The song that most immediately comes to mind is Raining Blood from Slayer and the cover by Tori Amos.

[@robertgwinn1478]

Acoustic has such a more primal feel. You hear every nuance, both perfect and imperfect. I actually write a lot of my prog metal parts on acoustic before taking it to electric.

[@kpsig]

The singing alone is enough for the accolades.

[@msamelienp]

Morten Harket is the best ever and still is. The original with the video was released in 1985. This song is almost 40 years old.

[@randomname191]

I just watched your reaction to unprocessed - real and you definitely should react to their most recent song deadrose which is more pop but also dark or abandoned which one of their djentier old ones

[@Megrez-Alberich]

Great video! I've been a huge a-ha fan since the very beginning in 1985, and while I still like Take On Me a lot, it's actually one of their least interesting songs...

[@emiliesimensen4647]

this song is in the movie deadpool 2

[@CriticalReactions]

wait what? 😲

[@Minorellen]

a-ha and harmonies... Oh, you should listen to their songs. its their TM,. but to understand that you should listen to their catalog.

[@martinjakab]

You should listen to Ihsahn's cover of Manhattan Skylines

[@vaniachiandotto7797]

never heard it before, thank you; nice and peculiar voice but difficult to compare to Morten's one...in this song his voice was sometimes not stable and forced, especially in the high tones; A-ha songs are made for Mortens' voice and are really hard to sing; in my opinion, of course.

[@martinjakab]

@@vaniachiandotto7797 You're welcome, I am glad I could show you something new. I have to say, that I listened to the Ihsahn version first, and didnt know it was a cover, let alone a cover of a-ha. Now I love both versions, its a truly wonderful song. If you want similar experience, I recommend you Castaway Angels by Leprous. It is a simple song, yet full of emotions, and the singer is the same as in Ihsahn's cover. Have a nice day :D

[@vaniachiandotto7797]

@@martinjakab I will have a look. Yes, Manhattan Skyline is an A-ha song, look at the original and you will notice what I was saying about the voice. Have a nice day.

[@holdencaulfield8429]

Why do so many "Composer/Musician's" shoot in bedrooms?

[@CriticalReactions]

Starving artists renting single rooms out of houses because it's cheaper to have roommates than rent solo?

[@pascalg16]

Beautiful, iconic meme-song. Also for acoustic week you could do some opeth (river, universal truth) or Mastodon (Pendulous Skin)

[@weepingwell]

I really prefer the original version, and I don't think it is because of the nostalgia factor. The vibe is totally different here. I almost fell asleep waiting for any kind of change or intensity. It just wasn't there. The original song was more suited for the Reel Big Fish style in their cover, or indeed a stadium cover with a lot of pep, than whatever this is. Where are any other instruments? Trumpets are unplugged aren't they? Unplugged doesn't mean one mediocre guitar riff, and a lazy performance of one of the most iconic songs of the 80s. I expected more A-Ha, less ...Meh.

[@weepingwell]

Sorry should have waited for your review. You saw it, just took it a different way. It's just not for me.