a-ha - Take On Me [1985]
Hunting High and Low
"a-ha - Take On Me" Video
Amateur Video
A highly effective video that combines live action and animation. A dude stuck in a comic book world tries to BREAK ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE. He grabs some babe (his dream girl) and drags her back into his reality.
An innovative mix of live action and animation! An artistic masterpiece! A truly revolutionary music video for its time! Okay, I'm all out of cliches. "Take on Me" was included on the album Hunting High and Low. The video featured B-movie actress Bunty Bailey, who can also be seen in Billy Idol's "Got to Be a Lover" video. Is this one of the greatest videos of all time, as some claim, or simply one of the most overrated videos of all time? I believe it's the latter, but that's just ONE MAN'S OPINION!
"Take on Me" hit No. 1 on the U.S. charts. At the 3rd Annual MTV Video Music Awards, A-Ha took home eight awards, including Best New Artist Video of the Year, Best Video Concept and Best Experimental Video. Guess what happened next? The Norwegian rock trio completely disappeared from the radar screen, at least in the States. In Norway they are still held in high regard as one of the few groups to actually emerge from the LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN. As for the video, it was voted No. 16 on MTV's Top 100 Music Videos of All Time. The Rolling Stone Album Guide sums up this group's fleeting influence nicely: "Musically, a-ha comes off like a lighterweight Duran Duran (assuming such a thing is possible), the only difference being Morten Harket's excruciating falsetto." ONE-HIT WONDERS ALL THE WAY: "Take on me | Take me on | I'll be gone | In a day or two..."
User Comments - Add a Comment
Ron Ulrich - 2004-01-24 22:35:27
This is among the finest music videos ever made.
It is romantic and touching. The concept is very creative and clever. I also think the music is terrifc.
The two stars are excellent and give both a melancholy and inspiring performance.
Chris Hendrix - 2006-12-21 22:33:53
What memories the music video "TAKE ON ME" evokes with such powerful images of my sophmore year dancing at the Parade Disco on Bourbon Street in New Orleans while a sophmore at Tulane University. It almost has the ability to transport me back in time, at least for the duration of the song. What a carefree, wonderous time in my life. How hard it is for me to admit that 20 years have passed since I watched that music video on the screen on the dancefloor at "The Parade" (STILL THE SAME AS IT WAS IN THE 80'S, WITH THE SAME NAME, AND AT THE SAME LOCATION) I am still 21 whenever this song comes on, how I wish I could stay.
Anonymous - 2006-12-21 22:34:24
This is the most creative video that ever existed in its era. It’s timelessness speaks for itself.
Lord of pop - 2007-03-03 16:14:01
Great video cartoon comic strip coming to life good stuff!!!
mysecretpassword - 2007-03-07 09:06:46
This video was hilariously lampooned in a Family Guy episode . . .
Anonymous - 2004-01-21 22:33:17
I love it,still do,very rarely if ever see it anymore,maybe on VH 1 1 hit wonders.You tell me that a woman named" Bunt Bailey" is that nice looking thing in that video,awful name for such a cutie.I liked the music and Bunt in the video.Oh and also the dumbo in the diner crapin on Bunt,good part.Lame reasons ,but that's what I liked. Thanx,Jack. Bunt,huh,lame