It's very emotional for people who grew up in the 80s because we listened to it at a young age and hearing in this context just feels sad. It's acknowledging the end of your youth and knowing you'll never experience those times again

“Slowly learning that life is okay” this slowed down version just makes the lyrics hit you right in the feels

Listening to the original in your teens, it's all hip, and fast, and upbeat, and flashy. Listening to this version in your late forties and you are just touched deeply, emotionally, in a much different way. The melancholy that only comes from having lived life and made a lot of mistakes along the way and shed a lot of tears. Just hits me every time.

"It's no better to be safe than sorry". This line, heard at random, inspired me to propose to my wife. That was 20 years and 2 great kids ago. Still the best decision I ever made.

I was 13 when this originally came out. It was just a tune to jump around to and be amazed at the video. I'm 51 now and damn what a wrench of the heart strings when giving the lyrics a listen to now. Those ladies in the audience were once like you. What a nostalgia trip for us.

Morten Harket had a phenomenal vocal range. When asked, even he didn't know how many octaves he could sing but it must have been at least 5 octaves and he transitioned from low to high without effort. In the falsetto range, it looks effortless. As you get older you lose range but Morten holds up really and beautifully well.

My mum used to dance to this when she was young. Now she's older, and loves it more than anything

I was 16 in 1985 when the original came out. I was 48 in 2017 when this one hit. It really smacks me in my feels now days. Lost my wife of 31 years just 1 year later. 87-19. Time hits hard and music always brings out those memories for pain or pleasure.

The fact that his voice is still so good and is paired with the slow pace and acoustics makes this my favorite version. Yes, you can download this song.

A underrated, very deep band. They made fantastic music.

The original was the first music video I saw as a kid and was and still is one of my favorite songs. This is beautifully done.

Yes a-ha’s lyrics have always been of a darker somber tone set to up beat music. This whole unplugged concert is an album and is just brilliant.

You should react to A-ha " Summer Mover On", it will give you another showcase of Morten's singing talent.

I m brought to tears every time I hear this song. :)

I loved this song when it came out, poppy and fun, you didn't really think about the lyrics. Fast forward to now, 40 years later when we're getting to that age where we start losing things, and the lyrics are crushing.

BRO. BRO. OKAY. SO, this song was featured in Deadpool 2. The acoustic version. And when I say that I fucking BAWLED like a baby all three times I watched that movie, I have never had a moment in cinema quite like it. This is among my favorite versions of any song ever, and. Dude. I never thought that a dumb comedy would hit me in the feels, but it fucking RUINED me. And it was one of the best moments of my life.

The greatest band. Päl and Magne as composers, and Morten as the voice of an angel. They are so much more than American audiences thought they were. They are huge in the rest of the world.

Precious moment!!... it´s one of the songs of my youth!!..great ´80s

Morten harket is one of the best vocalist of all time!

The happiest song becomes the saddest song just by slowing the song .

This arrangement really showcases how emotionally musical this song is. I think it's more impactful than the original synth-pop song it was.

A-ha is a genius band, so great songs, so great hits. They just released a new album in 2022 and it's amazing. Morten has one of the best male singing voices ever.

Love both versions, old and this. This one is so bare, so raw and so melancholic.

They’re not a pop synth band. Their musical style crosses multiple genres.

say after me.... its no better to be safe than sorry! i live by those words ever since i heard them the first time decades ago

The are many songs that sound cheerful, happy, upbeat, and - whatever adjective you'll find - that also are tragic or sad. Yes, if you didn't pay attention to the lyrics in the first version of a song, then you'll miss what is behind all that bopping instruments and cool bass drum. I always advice people I talk to to _pay attention_ to lyrics more. This version here is amazing, I agree. One great song, and two great versions.

You have, by far away, the best reaction videos than anyone, hands down. I just discovered you last night at 4 AM. I'm 77 and my children grew up in the 80's. (That's my first, of 7 grandchildren on my shoulders!)

You are wonderful! Lifelong a-ha fan. Even was blessed to take my daughters to see them. If all the reactions I’ve watched. You truly hit on the things that are so special about this song and version. You truly get the heart and soul of it. Thank you. Do more a-ha. You will love them and gain amazing new a-ha family!

I heard this version about two years ago and fell in love with it. It is simply beautiful.

Yes Summer Moved On is another must have heard song by A-ha. Morten Harket has probably the best pop voice alive today. Hearing it live is an out of body experience.

I remember roller-skating every Saturday at " rollermania" in the 80s, many great memories. Thank you Rachel 😊

Here I come with some story, I was a metal head in those years. The big change came in 1983 when all the genres collided, was good for many and really sad for others, now i could say that. When this came out (1985)the girls were crazy so I had to adapt my ears to new sounds. The music industry was targeting the girls, if you see old concerts the first row were flooded with attractive girls screaming 😍so if you wanted take a chance you had to change your mind, I bought this album, i choose the cassette version, on top of this big shake came in 1986 Europe and the rest is history ❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

You should checkout more a-ha, and more of morten’s astounding vocals!

I remember very well the time this was released in 1984, and the "2nd" (and more well-known video when it premiered on MTV. To this day it holds its own against anything new or old. It's simply that good, which is a fact that can be easily discerned if one takes a little time to analyze both the music and the video.

God I love this song, remember when the music video came out in '84. And over the years it got only better, especially while playing Last of US. Perfect version to react to.

1:36 There's that smile. I see it in everyone listening to this song. People had it when they listened to Susan Boyle too. The singer takes you some place full of wonder and magic and you feel wonder and you fill with kindness and joy at the same time.

Second most moving version of this I've ever heard/seen - it's use in The Magicians will always win out though

Brilliant reaction!! A-ha are pure Art, are Magic and Morten Harket is a great Singer. Listen to Summer moved on ( also live in Vallhall or for Ending on a high note) Listen to The sun always shines on tv, Manhattan skyline ( live nrk 1991) and also the new songs: I'm in or You have what it takes

They often combined deep lyrics with upbeat music. Upbeat or not, please check Hunting High and Low, Out of the Blue Comes Green, and East of the Sun West of the Moon (especially recommended nrk session). Oh, Stay on these Roads is nice too.

Go back and listen to the vibrato when he sings "...odd and ends.." its around 3:14. It will send shivers through your body.

hello and thankyou for reacting to A-HA. In 1985 a norwegian trio of men who called themselves A-HA released take on me to the world. i was 16 years old at the time and instantly felt connected to them and their music. i’m 54 now and over 38 years later i’m still as big an A-HA fan as i was back then. A-HA have and continue to produce the soundtrack to my life. They are huge everywhere but considered a one hit wonder in the states America just didn’t get them. A-HA have released 11 albums of of amazing music and each song is different to the last one. No two songs sound the same. A-HA sometimes have dark meanings etc behind their music but that doesn’t take away the enjoyment. I think the reason i’ve followed A-HA for almost 40 years is that they are constantly evolving and changing sometimes they experiment with music and lyrics too. i really hope you will react to more of their music like the sun always shines on tv which is the follow up to take on me, hunting high and low which is a beautiful ballad, i’ve been losing you, manhattan skyline, summer moved on which holds to guinness world record for the longest note held during a live performance and is best seen live. A-HA have so many amazing tracks. Thanks again for reacting to such a criminally unappreciated and underrated band. Take care 😘 ❤️🇳🇴❤️A-HA FOREVER❤️🇳🇴❤️

This reminds me of the song *_Mad World_* by the band _Tears for Fears._ Not that it's a similar song but what I thought of it when I first heard it and how I re-discovered it when it was stripped down, allowing the lyrics to stand out, making me realise that it's not just a feel good, upbeat pop song but how deep it is.

I feel you. I loved this song when it first came out & the video and all. But, absolute chills when I first heard this version. So poignant & wistful. Total shift - which echoes the perspective change with the passing of time. Just gorgeous - his vocals are stunning. Thanks for reminding me of this! ❤

God bless you, boys. Still sound fantastic. Actually made me tear up. My wife told me it means I must have finally grown up.

Love this version even though it’s missing the famous tune it became known for. Lyrics like “slowly learning that life is ok” really hits home

thank you for this great reaction, they are great, really great

in regards to fast songs that are re-imagined, this reminds me of when Clapton slowed down Layla and blew minds with that.

You have the best reactions! Well done!

Love, love, LOVE your reactions. Thanks for allowing us to focus on decent content and escape this world for a short while :) Excited to see your channel grow. Well done thus far

I've never seen them live. I've only ever seen the original video, which won awards for its originality back in the 1980s. This is different. 10/1/23, 11:36 a.m.

This is a great version of the song, and one that I'd never heard before. So thank you for bringing it to my attention. While watching your reaction I was unsure for quite a while whether you were even aware of the original upbeat version. You look young enough to have missed it. Eventually you made it clear that you were aware of it, but especially since the primary source you referenced was the movie La La Land I'm still wondering if you've ever seen the original video of it. If you haven't, you really should look it up and watch it. I don't know that it really adds anything to the music, but it's pretty marvelous in its own right and the song works very well with it.

Great reaction! How many artists can take the exact same song and have the meaning/feeling be completely different for both?! I was absolutely floored when I heard this version, and I kid you not, I cried! The original version has the naiveté of youth. It's upbeat because that's how we all approach things in our lives then, with gusto, and little realization of how fleeting time is. Then this version - 30 years on, we're older, more reflective, pensive, and aware of how precious our time is! Same words, but two VERY different feelings... At least that's how I feel. I was 6 when this first came out, I'm 45 now...I love both versions equally - it's a yin/yang thing. And Morten's voice?! Wow did it ever age well. Cheers.

This whole unplugged series really shows how great some of the older bands are. One of my favorites is the unplugged version of Heat of the Moment.

That is the most beautiful song of aha whatever version they play❤

To those of us who made it, no, we can't go back but we get to feel these different feelings today. To those who didn't, you're very very missed and won't be forgotten. There's something very poignant about the version we had as kids and the version now we have later in life. It hits super deep.

One of my fav pop bands during my varsity years 1987 -1990...good memories made by A-ha...Morten could belt those tunes,the falseto Oh!

I love this version so much as I do with their Sun always Shines on TV with a woman signging with him, I noticed this was used in the Deadpool film also.

He admitted they had to strip this down due to the fact he can no longer hit that high note and this version is better on his voice, Glad he can still sing and they did a great job stripping it down.

I found it on Spotify and it’s on my playlist. This is one of my top favorite unplugged acoustic versions of a popular song ever.

I appreciated the music and the video on the original version, but this brings the lyrics right into focus and it’s a better song than I realised.

I love the Music Video from "Take on me"

Next react to Oktaf Kanis - Come On, thanks Rachel 🔥

I've read that this is actually the original version of the song! The synthed version was more the producer's than the band's decision

He did masked singer as the viking sang this song and nobody's quessed it was him. Hilarious, it's on KZfaq.

My favourite song from this performance was the living daylights - perfection for an 80s fan.

This entire performance was wonderful. I had to buy it in the UK as a cd/dvd package. You’ll have to buy an “all code” dvd player to play it in the states, but it’s worth it. They really are that good live. Amazingly enough, MTV UK & Europe, still does stuff related to music, unlike the US MTV. People don’t realize that they’ve continued to make amazing music past the 80’s, simply since they don’t have a US record contract anymore. They just put out a new record last year called ‘True North’. Please make sure you dig into their material from the 2000’s on, a worthwhile journey of a band that wasn’t a one hit wonder. Love your channel and reactions sister, keep on exploring!

You might also enjoy them singing (from the same gig) “The Sun Always Shines On TV”. ✌️

"It's no better.... to be safe...... than sorry." Most people gloss over that deeper meaning.

Gracias por apreciar a A-HA de esa forma, por cierto bonito tu Pixel 7, es como el mío

Next react to Oktaf Kanis - Come On, thanks 🙌🏻🔥

I listen to this version first on the ending of the TV show "the Magicians" and it is awesome. I like it even more than the original version...

Omg! Just when I finish typing he’s still got it! …..you say he’s still got it!!

Brilliant reaction to a fantastic version of an all time great tune 🤘 Please consider reacting to A-Ha performing 'The sun always shines on TV', if you haven't heard it.

I’ve never heard this version before. A new fave!

Hi Rachel, please do Oktaf Kanis - Come On, thanks 💕

Also found in Deadpool 2.... I love the original but love this as much.

You should look up I Wish I Cared from A-HA. Not a well known song, but different feel from Take On Me. I first heard it playing in the background in one of the earlier episodes of Smallville.

I eas very lucky ro meet Morten way back in late 90s at my local pub in Hampshire, UK when he lived nearby. Spent an hour with him and his entourage. Nice but shy guy.

Girl if you love this, look up the version of Hallelujah Morten sang with Espen Lind. His voice will give you chills.

Eu olho por outro prisma, ele continua tão bom como um bom vinho deve ser, envelhcendo corretamente. São soberbos. Bravo !!👏👏👏

They've got a new album out, and it's very good.

mom's in the crowd singing and crying... Perfect editing

With all respect, but this era 80-90's , was truly the best era. Of course, nowdays we have all tech and so on, but back in the days it was truly an era to grow up to.. A real one. Miss it, a lot ❤😢❤ /C Sweden 🇸🇪

What an interesting twist on the song. Sounds pretty good too.

This is heartbreaking In Deadpool 2.

This song in acoustic version is found on Spotify.

I think most of the Unplugged stuff was available on albums... Looks like this, and many other a-ha songs, is on MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice a-ha's symphonic version of Take On Me is good, too, as is the orchestral version from the Ready Player One trailer.

Brilliant rendition 😊

You should check out the rest of the concert and also all of A-ha's songs and music videos

Gorgeous version. ☮️❤️🎶

And this was recorded 33 years after the original was released, how amazing is that. As a proud member of Gen X I'm sorry, but we had the best music.

The “golden years” of many adolescents in terms of musical awakening is roughly 10-13 years old. It’s like when people first start to really discover and listen/appreciate music. I was 12 years old when this song was released in 1984. I was 10 when MJ’s Thriller was released. So, yeah experiencing those things in real time was absolutely magical. It cant be expressed adequately with words. Maybe it’s like what my parents felt about the Beatles. These 80’s songs are EXTREMELY personal to my age group.

There's a really good documentary about the band's history leading up to this show. They all hate each other and can barely stand to be in the same room. But once they start playing that magic comes back.

Has anyone ever said that you look like Olivia Hussey from the Romeo and Juliet movie (1968). Lovely lady. Thank you for your reactions. 🥰🙏💗💗

Great reaction. Thank you.

I agree. Its beautiful!

Another norwegian band you should check out witha vocalist of similar talent is: Leprous. Especially their live performance of "Slave" from Rockefelle Music Hall.

This isn't even the same song, and i'm 100% here for it! Just a magical rendition.

I really liked this song, but I think the unplugged version of "sun always shines on TV" is even better.

I love it too, need that version in the music library. Hoping for Fray- How to save a life live, Roman sky - A7X - live from the grammy museum, Hoobastank - The Reason - live, Autumn - haste the day live.