Take On Me

"Take On Me"
Single release of first recording
Single by a-ha
B-side"And You Tell Me"
Released19 October 1984 (1984-10-19)
StudioRG Jones, London[1]
Genre
Length
  • 3:18 (7-inch single version)
  • 3:46 (12-inch version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
  • Pål Waaktaar
  • Magne Furuholmen
  • Morten Harket
Producer(s)
  • Tony Mansfield
A-ha singles chronology
"Take On Me"
(1984)
"Love Is Reason"
(1985)
"Take On Me"
Single by a-ha
from the album Hunting High and Low
B-side"Love Is Reason"
Released5 April 1985 (1985-04-05) (UK)
Genre
Length
  • 3:44 (7-inch single version)
  • 3:48 (album version)
  • 4:48 (12-inch version)
  • 3:49 (instrumental version)
Producer(s)
  • Alan Tarney
Music video
"Take On Me" on YouTube

"Take On Me" is a song by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha. The original version, recorded in 1984 and released in October of that year, was produced by Tony Mansfield and remixed by John Ratcliff. The 1985 international hit version was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The recording combines synth-pop with a varied instrumentation, including acoustic guitars, keyboards, and drums.

The original 1984 version "Take On Me" failed to chart in the United Kingdom, as did the second version in the first of its two 1985 releases. The second of those 1985 releases charted in September 1985, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart in October. In the United States in October 1985, the single topped Billboard's Hot 100, bolstered by the wide exposure on MTV of director Steve Barron's innovative music video featuring the band in a live-action pencil-sketch animation sequence. The video won six awards and was nominated for two others at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference SOS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Hunting High and Low – a-ha – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.