33 replies to this topic

[Athena007]

So anyone else here on CBn an A-HA Fan [a-ha.com]?


I'm a total A-Ha fan. If I ever get over to Norway it will be during one of their concerts. Yep, the group is still together and they have produced some great muZic since "The Living Daylights". They have so many good muZic videos! The creativity is great. I'm really into their lyrics too (links to the album lyrics below). Everything's workin for me as far as A-Ha goes.

My Personal Fave Songs and Music Videos:

Hunting High & Low 1985
- Take On Me
- The Sun Always Shines On TV

Lyrics to Scoundrel Days 1986
- Manhattan Skyline (favorite of the favorite muzic videos)

Stay On These Roads 1988
- The Living Daylights

Memorial Beach 1991
- Move To Memphis

Minor Earth Major Sky 2000
- Little Black Heart
- Thought That It Was You

Lifelines 2002
- Lifelines
- You Wanted More
- Forever Not Yours
- Did Anyone Approch You

Attached Files

•  A007sAHA.jpg   80.53KB   25 downloads

[Blofeld's Cat]

I was never a fan of theirs, even after they did the The Living Daylights title song, but because of that one song I did buy their 7" single, and the 12" single that had the extended mix (about 7 minutes) and an instrumental version. All without Barry's orchestrations which put the boys noses out of joint because Barry received a writing credit by doing that.

I then later bought the CD.

[Tanger]

I read that A-Ha and Barry had a disagreement about something and so they released their own version of the song. Can you elaborate on this please?

[Blofeld's Cat]

Well, the way I heard it is that they wrote the song (the one you'll hear on their album), but for the movie Barry added the orchestrations to fit in line with the overall soundtrack.

I think the main problem arose when A-HA found out that Barry would get a writing credit, essentially for a song he never wrote but merely orchestrated.

There maybe more to it though, so someone maybe able to elaborate.

[doublenoughtspy]

Their drummer is awesome!

Oh wait...they don't have one.

I really enjoy "Take on Me" and the video is incredible! Cool that the lead singer and the girl in the video fell in love in real life too.

"The Living Daylights" is one of my favorite Bond theme songs as well.

[Tanger]

I agree, I love the video for Take On Me. Didn't it win awards?

[Athena007]

I really enjoy "Take on Me" and the video is incredible!  Cool that the lead singer and the girl in the video fell in love in real life too.

I believe she was actually his girlfriend at that time (from what I hear)

[Moore Not Less]

I have never been a huge fan of A-Ha, I was (and still am) a huge fan of the likes of U2, Simple Minds, Talk Talk and Depeche Mode. Having said that, I really do like some of A-Ha's music. The Living Daylights is my favourite Bond title song, I rate it very highly indeed. Manhattan Skyline is another favourite of mine along with The Sun Always Shines On TV.

[Qwerty]

I've been meaning to listen to this group a bit more now, I like to listen to lots of the non-Bond songs by Bond performers. So I might try them out.

[ChandlerBing]

Last I heard some of the members of Aha were working down at the Gap in the mall when they were not making appearances on VH1's Where Are They Now?

[Athena007]

ChandlerBing... *shakes head*

Qwerty... if you can DL some of their music check for the songs I listed above. Some are more upbeat than others. And if you're just going to go out and get one of their albums... I'd say, go for "Lifelines"

[Qwerty]

Qwerty... if you can DL some of their music check for the songs I listed above. Some are more upbeat than others. And if you're just going to go out and get one of their albums... I'd say, go for "Lifelines"

Yes, I planned on listening to some of their songs first. Will keep in mind your album suggestion though.

[ChandlerBing]

I know that last remark of mine wasn't very nice, and I meant to put a wink on the end of it so it wouldn't sound quite so mean...

Seriously, glad to know Aha is still around with more music. Duran Duran, the same way.

[Athena007]

For a moment there I thought your GAP comment was serrious and then I thought... do thay have The GAP in Norway? I don't know...

[Athena007]

So I just bought A-Ha - Live at Vallhall - Homecoming (2001) and got it in the mail the other day. And I was so happy to find, listen, and watch them proform "The Living Daylights"

[Brian Flagg]

A lot of people thought that a-ha would break out as the next big thing in music (*Sigh* The naive 1980s...) and the "Take On Me" video had mega-heavy rotation on MTV. Then, almost nothing. Well, at least here in the USA. Glad they're still raking in the dough in Europe.

BTW, anyone know the story about the group's alleged problems with John Barry? I've read that they didn't like working with the "old man" and as a result, Barry didn't use their title song too much in TLD soundtrack. Any truth to this? I'd hate to continue a rumor...

[Athena007]

There's part truth to that and part not... it's a bit complicated but from hearing things from both sides (which are both a little contradictory), I gather...

Both A-HA and Berry were very glad and excited to work with each other, and they actually had a good time working with each other... but... there's a snag. A-HA wrote the lyrics and the music to "The Living Daylights"... John Berry wanted writing credit for the theme song, but he really didn't do anything for the theme except bits of "The Bond Theme" (which there is a whole controversy about Monty Norman or John Berry being the real creator of the Bond Theme, but that's a whole other story) which where used throughout "The Living Daylights". Berry has been quoted saying that A-HA were just a bunch of young stuck-up punks (not his exact words of course). When you listen to the Bond sound track of "The Living Daylights" and the version released on A-HA's original album there's a difference of the Bond Theme interlude, which is included in the soundtrack and not on A-HA's album . In my opinion, I believe that Berry was trying to take credit for work that he didn't do.

[Qwerty]

Berry has been quoted saying that A-HA were just a bunch of young stuck-up punks (not his exact words of course).

In keeping with that...

I do not know the extent of the troubles between the two, but I do believe they made such comments, such as "the old meeting the new". (Although I am not postive of how early on or late in the project that comment was made)

[Athena007]

There was that said at the beginning as a positive ...but later on when there was trouble there were similar things said in a negative tone.

[Brian Flagg]

Thanks for the explanation, Athena. Your point about Barry's "contribution" of the James Bond Theme in TLD's theme song reminds me of something on a similar, but maybe unrelated note: I could swear that back in 1985, the music video for AVTAK had some orchestral (strings, that is) backing of none other than the "James Bond Theme" as the song was concluding. I haven't heard the strings since then (jeez, this is starting to sound like an Edgar Alan Poe story), not even on the video, which I saw recently. Perhaps the strings were removed or maybe they never existed!

Or maybe I'm just insane...

[Qwerty]

There was that said at the beginning as a positive ...but later on when there was trouble there were similar things said in a negative tone.

I knew you would know the answer.

I suppose that makes complete sense, it seemed to me that it could be meant as a nice comment, but also a snide remark.

[Athena007]

I'm gonna draw a picture of Pierce and see if it comes alive.

Now wouldn't THAT be a dream!

[Athena007]

And I'm gonna be a good girl and draw him with clothes on too !!

LOL!!! Suuure you will, Pamela...

You know, I have actually done a few drawings of Pierce and the other Bond Men as well.

[Athena007]

I've never posted any of the pics on here. Maybe I will later

That's cool about your daughters artwork -- I'd love to see that myself.

[Lancaster]

I attended a John Barry concert in London in 1999 and at the end he talked about writing Bond and his work with the lyric writers. He had good things to say about them all, however, when he got to A-ha he sighed and said it was like working with a barrel of monkeys!

[Blofeld's Cat]

Yes, John Barry is a professional class act and he had no problems working with a-ha.

The animosity was all one-way traffic from the songwriters in the group.

[Qwerty]

Yes, John Barry is a professional class act and he had no problems working with a-ha.

The animosity was all one-way traffic from the songwriters in the group.

Well you may have a point, clearly from a comments standpoint. John Barry seems to not mention much about whatever may have happened (Things can be told now, but I would have liked to hear first hand what some of those things were said) back then.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Believe it or not, I got my father to post up to me the "STAY ON THESE ROADS" CD so I could listen to their version of The Living Daylights again (I couldn't find this CD anywhere in Bali ).

Now that I've familiarised myself with this song again I actually like this version better than the Barry orchestrated one that's heard in the movie. Despite whatever the conflict over the credits to the song I personally would be kind of angered knowing if I wrote a song and put my version on my CD, but still had to give co-credit to someone else! The movie version fair enough, but not my unadulterated original thank you!

[Athena007]

Hee heee... glad you have come to see the light, BC.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Don't get me wrong here Athena.

I don't wish to blame Barry or cast aspersions on him for insisting a credit, it's just the the organisation that looks after composers' professional interests (like the American SGA does for screenwriters) must made agreed with such a credit otherwise there would not have been one allowed to be given.

Barry isn't the villain here, it's that composers' organisation, and apologies to all for not knowing its name.