a-ha achieved global stardom in dramatic fashion in 1985 when the Norwegian group’s debut single, “Take On Me,” topped the charts in 36 different countries on its way to becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. Later this year, the song’s iconic music video is expected to reach one billion views on YouTube, a feat very few artists have accomplished before. 

In anticipation of the upcoming milestone, a-ha is having a contest that gives fans an opportunity to predict the exact time and date of when the video will reach one billion views on YouTube. One winner and their guest will be flown to Trondheim, Norway on 7th February to MEET a-ha on their Hunting High & Low tour – a-ha’s home country – where they’ll meet the band and watch them perform live on February 7.  

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Currently, the official music video for “Take On Me” has more than 904 million views on YouTube. When it reaches one billion, it will join the short list of songs from the 20th century with membership (or approaching membership) in the billion-view club: “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. 

This new achievement is only the latest for a-ha’s instantly recognizable song. In 1986, “Take On Me” won six MTV Video Music Awards for its groundbreaking combination of pencil-sketch animation and live action. In addition, it’s also the #2 most-viewed video from the 80s on YouTube.

More than 30 years after the meteoric rise of “Take On Me,” the song’s cultural impact continues to expand. Today, the song is reaching a new generation of fans who are discovering it, not only on the radio, but also through commercials (Volkswagen), soundtracks (Deadpool 2), samples (Pitbull), tributes (Weezer) and parodies (Family Guy).  

Listen to a-ha on Spotify

Listen to a-ha on Apple Music