Morten Harkets’ voice is absolutely angelic!

“Take On Me” is so much more beautiful slow like this. It’s just sooo beautiful to listen 👂🏽 to.

Dude, I don't care what your favorite style of music is! That's one helluva song, and one great vocalist! Top shelf!

This is beautiful. I've come away with a much deeper appreciation of the lyrics. Morten's voice is angelic.

This is the first video of yours I watched. I flew to Oslo and London to see a-ha. Just saw them in LA a couple of years ago and I said thank you to Pal after the performance (front row for me!) and he bowed a bit my way. Made my whole month. So many good songs. Loved hearing your thoughts.

Until today I've never heard this slower tempo acoustic version of this song. The original is good, but this just so much more. The emphasis on the vocals is mesmerizing and gives, to me, a better understanding of the lyrics.

omg. The recorded version on the radio is a 'driveway' song for me. I can't get out of the car til it's over. This acoustic version just melts my heart, seeing the audience sing along makes me cry. Oh, dang. Puddle city.

Holy Cow! It takes on such a different expression of the same feelings and message. Quite amazing

This song simply doesn’t age, to my ears it’s still as fresh and as vibrant as when it was first released. Often when songs are slowed down like this they end up sounding like tacky elevator music but with a melody and voice like this another side of the song is revealed in all its glory. The song dispels the notion of an overnight success since the song went through several versions over a couple of years without any success and could have easily ended the band’s career had it not become a major hit. The video is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest music videos of all time and the amount of time it took to produce required a tremendous investment in time and patience on the part of the music label. The live action portion was shot quickly but the animation was hand drawn which took the 2 artists about half a year to complete.

CHILLS!! Great song but the emotions from this unplugged version brings up so many feelings. No pitch correction and so beautiful! ❤❤❤

Beautiful version of this song. He has a great voice. 👏👏

Yeeeees! I'm a child/teen of the 80s, so this song was everywhere. True story: It was the goal of my life to be able to hit the high notes (in the radio version) & hold them that long. It took years, but I finally was able to do it. I was so excited!

Aww...the Eighties..they still play this song at my work place..I still love it..Great artwork in their original video...thanks Fil

This guy aged well . I was 16 when this was popular and he had to have been late 20s . He looks my age now . " Living a boy's adventure tale " is another great song that was on that album . " The sun always shines on tv " was there most beautiful song imo .

THEIR VIDEO IS THE COOLEST IVE EVER SEEN 💖💖💖

Wow, these guys have aged so well! Amazing voice and song.

Morton took ownership. The juggernaut of the runaway success. Was slowed. To this rendition. I'd say definitive.

His voice is just as good as ever! I loved this video with the girl in the diner and the cartoon!

As i watch more and more of your videos, I'm just more and more amazed by your knowledge and ability.

I love this stripped back version, as I can hear the lyrics better.

This was huge when I grew up in the 80's and was the coolest song around for awhile there. I like this version better and adds depth and maturity to the song....his voice sounds great and they all look well. Good on them! Nice to see this video.

I've always been a big fan of taking a song and stripping it down like this. It really shows the songwriting and strength of the song.

One of my all-time favorite songs. The vocals and the instrumentals are just fantastic, never mind the video!

This unplugged version changes the song entirely. My goodness it actually has lyrics. The song I remember was a upbeat little diddy that had me nodding my head in gleeful approval. This reminds me of Ben Folds

The original was fun but this version is filled with so much emotion. Morten has become a fine singer. Watched this video many times.

What a song and voice! Love both versions. Morten takes you on a journey that you do not want to end. Thank you, Fil. Stay well.

There is a documentary piece on the video that tells the whole story. Fascinating.

I think this was always a sad song hidden in a fast tempo. Singing, "I'll be gone in a day or two" doesn't make sense at a fast, dance-beat but when you hear that last word at E5, no one notices because of the face-melting.

I really love the piano. It's so subtle....and so melancholy...

You are absolutely brilliant... With the pic stick analysis.. Right off the top of your head. Thanks professor

I haven't heard that version...that was marvelous! Thanks for analysing this one.

Wow. He still sounds great after all these years and I'm so glad they did this version. This performance would stop everything in a room because everyone would be immediately sucked into it. Take on me is one of my favorite songs of all time. You can't be mad listening to it. I didn't know this video existed. Thanks Fil!

THANK YOU FIL 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Listening to this actually put a lump in my throat..........Hauntingly beautiful.

He makes me feel old, i was in Highschool when this song hit the radio!!!! But then we are old!!!! Awesome time to be Alive!!!!

Love the reaction! Such a haunting melody!

WOW ! So Beautiful! Morten Harket can sing anything! I do love the original as well! Your so amazing in that you can play everything as well can sing beautifully and I love your appreciative and honest analysis and observations of A-ha ! Thank you and I so love your channel!

Beautiful performance! and great analysis and demo too. Never too long

What a BEAUTIFUL version of this song! Thank you so much for the analysis and as usual the education! I sent this link to my family - this song is a bit of an anthem for our baseball team, the Washington Nationals. They play it during the 7th inning stretch and turn off the sound during the high "I'll be gone" part so you can hear 40,000 fans singing it! And everytime, the fans all laugh at their attempts to sing so high :)

The original video was brilliant! Think back to the technology they had back then, and it still looks absolutely fine today. Only to be outmatched by the (eponymous) ballad of the album "Hunting High and Low". And hey, I am late, meaning I have to watch THREE AHA VIDEOS in a row. ;)

A beautiful version of this song! My husband dedicated this song (original version) to me on the radio 31 years ago! This version will be beautiful for an anniversary party...if we ever remember our anniversary in time to plan a celebration, lol!

A really good song can be played so many different ways and still stands up. This is a prime example ... what was a quintessential 80s pop song becomes a poignant ballad and sounds possibly better than the original (and I say that as a huge a-ha fan as an 80's teen).

Such a great song and this performance proves your point about it just being a really good melody. Your analysis of the vocals provides even more depth and dimension to my enjoyment of this song. Thank you for another great video!

Really like this version! Thanks Fil 😘

Wow!!!! Thank you for sharing this gem.

This version really brings you in, so much better than the original. It must of been their Aha moment when they came up with this arrangement.

That inhale singing was amazing! I had never thought of that as being an option while singing! Fascinating stuff, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

😍 They made it sound like an old folk song

Thank you Fil, ❤️ this unplugged was a Master Piece. This was fabulous from start to finish. I feel bad for those who haven’t watched the concert.

I love the simplicity.

This video blew me away Fil, I’ve never seen this version. What impressed me more than anything is the way he could jump from a high note to a low note( and vice versa) and land spot on every time! I loved the original but this showed me what a brilliant vocalist he is, i never realised! Great analysis as usual 👍

Such a beautiful song and extraordinary singer. I love Morten’s tone and incredible range. Your analysis is so good, as always. I also appreciated your singing and guitar playing. You should consider doing this as a cover yourself!

This gent really knows his stuff. Talented for guitar playing, and analysis of chords and vocal modes. Amazing

Love this version. In the original video I was caught up in the tempo, the unique presentation of the video, and how cute the singer was 😉 With this version, I was suddenly immersed in the lyrics and just how melancholy they are. That's why I cried during this performance. My first experience was all gloss and surface. This one went deep and emotional.

Elegantly exquisite!

Professor this a song right up your alley... Either version.. Brotherrrrrrr . Rock 🎸

These guys blew me away with their incredible vocals back in the day. The video was amazing too. I can see he's having a hard time hitting the high notes, understandable. Respect. They could break glass back in the day with their high ranges in vocals.

I just discovered this a few weeks ago and posted it to FB. Beautiful. Song went from a catchy 80s dance tune to a riveting, heartbreaking love song. Those girls are mesmerized. Morten Harket could have had any woman in that audience.

Wow, magnificent! Thanks Fil for featuring this version.

Iconic reboot. A very mature rendition with rich vocals and tempo dialed way back. What’s not to love about a song with over one billion views. You provided a great breakdown. It is indeed like having two different songs from one classic hit.

Sometimes we need to be unplugged and stripped to our essence. This was breathtaking. Thank you. The video was special for its time but this was so much more.

Mate thanks for your reviews. Also you have one of the most infectious smiles I have ever seen. Right now this world needs tons of smiles like yours Keep it up!!!

I recently saw this and I absolutely love it. The video back in the day was rather ground breaking, but this way you can actually focus on the lyrics. Thank you.

Amazing find. Brilliant and fantastic example of how timing can completely change music. I never thought this classic 80's "dance"tune would pull a tear, then again no wonder, the wonderful lyric was buried...but here it lives!!!Peace

Oh this is going to be great! Thanks to whoever suggested this!!!! "sits back in chair sipping coffee as the song begins..." LOL .. me trying singing while inhaling did not sound as intended :D I had absolutely no idea he did that!!! Im so impressed! Thanks for great analysis as always!

Rotoscoping! That's pretty cool. That's also how the animated movie "Fire and Ice" (1983) was done. The whole movie! which was produced by the great fantasy artist, Frank Frazetta.

Great analysis video, Fil👍 MTV's "Unplugged" series was brilliant. The truly great musicians could strip their songs down to acoustic and still be exceptional (one of my favourite Unplugged performances was "Must Have Been Love" by Roxette).

Nice ! Better late than never . 👍❤️ Beautiful ! A song I know! 🙂 So emotional . I feel it in my soul.

That was a great performance. I watched the whole thing. They did a fantastic job.

Fil, you've got the best "joy" smiles when you do reactions. It's infectious! -- Phil (I have the boring spelling of it)

As always, I loved the vocal analysis. I so desperately miss singing/taking voice lessons. No such thing as a too long Fil video. Man alive, I'd give anything for an analysis of Seven Bridges Road by that band that shan't be named because they notorious blockers. Darnit. I just wish I could figure out all those harmonies. They're gorgeous! I wish there was a way of plugging it directly into my brain.

Absolutly love your responses to, and explanantions of, music. I can't play , but your videos genuinely open me up to the levels of musicianship involved in all kinds of music.

Very good video Fil. The testament to a really great song is when you can strip out the heavy production and fluff and the strength of the melody and the performer still shines through. Which it surely does here. a-ha has a timeless classic with this one.

Well we now know these guys can really perform. Great song, beautifully performed.

One of my favorite songs of all time. The video, in the day, just really struck me at many levels. He has such a phenomenal vocal range, even these many years after this song dominated pop radio. Another great analysis Fil.

This version is so emotional! The E5 he hits in the original is the very top of my range as an alto. I love the original song, but wish they had released it like this! This is so beautiful! 😢❤️ Also need to say this, can you teach me that breathing technique please?! GOOD LORD! I’ve never seen anyone do that! 😂

Fil, your vocal demos in this video really impressed me!

Really like this song-both versions. Looking fab, Phil. Rock on.

That was such a cool version of the song. You always have great videos and insight. Thanks for sharing with us.

There has never been a karaoke night where ‘Take on me’ wasn’t sung by at least one person.

I wish more bands would do small shows like this This is a GREAT SONG no matter how it is done

Oh my god you just freaked me out Fil. I've never thought I could sing a note breathing in and you just showed me how. Now my neighbors think I've got the Covid. Don't think I'll be developing that noise into my repertoire anytime soon. Cool though.

You know I used to listen to this back in the 80's and I didn't know who sang it but of course back then we didn't have internet lol and I had forgotten about this song but I like this version too but such a great classic and Very Beautiful Thank you so much Fil!!!!!!!

Because of an earlier viewing of your analysis on the Cher song 'Believe' I am now looking to see what other analysis you carry out on familiar songs of mine. Fascinating and thank you.

Really enjoyed this analysis with the demo and in-depth analysis of the vocalization. I was always so enthralled with the imagery in the original video that I didn't pay as much attention to the actual performance. Now I'll go back and watch the original with newly opened eyes. I mean, ears!!

Morten Harket was 58 years old there, he looks younger and fresh as ever! 🤩

Omg I couldn’t listen to this all the way through, it was just so emotionally charged, I do love this version much much better than the faster original one, so beautiful but I got years straight away in the beginning 😭

Bravo! I have always loved this song and The Sun Always Smiles On TV. This performance does take it to another level. Morten's voice was still as beautiful as ever! As always, your analysis, demonstration and exceptional commentary is the reason why your channel keeps growing. Up and onward Fil!! You ROCK!!! Love you! 🤘🏻❤️✌🏻

What a great version! What a great analysis. Fil...you're the best! Thank you.

Fil, again you are raising the bar of such quality history and review of Aha. I especially enjoyed your explanation of the voice and how such a range is achieved. I read the other comments and there's nothing to add! You did an amazing job going into so much detail. Thank you

Their classic original video that has stood the test of time. This more subdued version shows how great the song really is. Morten still has the pipes for it...Great analysis Fil !! I do believe you could make reading the phone book interesting.

Wow , sounds so different then the original. This one is much more serious and shows what a great voice he has. Very calming and beautiful.

Fil, you sounded great when you sang a little bite of this song. Right up your alley.

I remember this song. Beautiful! Had no idea it’s name or who was singing. Thanks for the analysis...

Thanks Fil for playing and analysing this version of the song. I think Morten has some kind of record for range or something like that. It was very interesting, showing us the guitar work involved in this song. The whole song's meaning is changed by this version. It seems to be about the endless quest for love, just never quite finding 'The One'. I'm feeling old. I'm actually two weeks OLDER than Morten. lol The You Tube video that the clip comes from has nearly 38,000,000 views. I've seen some fairly recent videos of Morten singing the old version and hitting close on those high notes too.

Wow! You are spot on. This was a great 80s song. But even more, this is just a great song. Even better when you take the 80s vibe out of it. I just love how you disect these songs and bring a greater appreciation to the talent involved in the performance. This was a great song but even greater now that I have heard this version. Thanks for sharing your talents with is.

I'm taking a deep dive again! Thanks Fil!!!

I also love to hear the talent of the singers/ the bands when they strip down to emphasize the vocals without so much “noise”.

Wow!!! Beautiful 🥰🥰🥰

To me this version sounds better. But I think I like both versions better than I did after you explained them. Often when I hear a song I know that it's good but don't know why. It's so nice to have an expert explain the technical reasons why something I love is even better than I thought.