The music video for a-ha’s #1 smash “Take On Me” is as iconic as the hit song itself, holding the place of #2 most-viewed video from the Eighties on YouTube; and the #5 most-streamed track of the entire 20th Century.
So, it’s no surprise that the Norwegian pop-phenomenon have just become the newest members of the 'billion-views club' on YouTube, joining the small group of music artists to have achieved this rare milestone on 17th February 2020.
a-ha | “Take On Me”
Originally released in 1985, the official music video for “Take On Me” was restored and upgraded to 4K resolution to improve its visual quality. Directed by Steve Barron, the video captured audiences imaginations around the world with its groundbreaking mix of pencil-sketch animation and live-action. This illustration technique – known as rotoscoping – required live-action footage to be hand traced frame by frame. To complete the video, artists Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger spent 16 weeks rotoscoping thousands of frames.
‘’I remember seeing the video after a long, long time,” notes Magne Furuholmen. “First, we saw it just with the live-action edited and then it took another 3-6 months of drawing, hand drawing...it’s like more than 10,000 drawings for the animated parts. When you saw everything together, it was just like wow! This is just better than expectations, this is just amazing! The artistry of the animator, combined with the clear narrative idea of a love affair across dimensions.’’
The video for “Take On Me” helped fuel a global phenomenon in 1985 as the song went to #1 in 36 different countries and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. Now, the video joins the select group of iconic ‘billion-views-club’ hits, like “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
a-ha | The Making of "Take On Me" [Episode 1]
Rhino Records is celebrating this incredible milestone with a special offer for a-ha fans to snap up some awesome new collectibles; including a VHS tape of “Take On Me”, exclusive print signed by all three members of a-ha, T-shirt designed by the video’s original animators Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger and exclusive three print set from the “Take On Me” era sketched by Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger – Available in a range of merch bundle options HERE.
Catch a-ha touring Australia this February and March, with very special guest, Rick Astley
Sunday 23 February | Margaret Court Arena
Melbourne, VIC SOLD OUT (All Ages)
Wednesday 26 February | ICC Sydney Theatre
Sydney, NSW (All Ages)
Visit www.frontiertouring.com/aha for more information.
a-ha are also set to appear at A Day On The Green on the below dates:
Wednesday 19 February | Kings Park & Botanic Garden
Perth, WA SOLD OUT
Saturday 22 February | Rochford Wines
Yarra Valley, VIC
Saturday 29 February | Bimbadgen
Hunter Valley, NSW
Sunday 1 March | Sirromet Wines
Mount Cotton, QLD
Visit adayonthegreen.com.au for more information.
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