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Hearing A-ha’s “Take On Me,” one might think of its black and white pencil sketched video, those lock step keys that infiltrate your brain, or maybe even Chris Kattan’s croon from Corky Romano. (OK, so maybe not that last one.) Needless to say, the synth-pop jam dominated the world as one of the biggest songs of the 80’s.

At a recent MTV unplugged gig at Giske Harbour Hall, A-ha played a melancholy, stripped back version of the seminal song. It takes a few seconds for your brain to find its footing (because it’s significantly different), but without the glitz and the glam, it’s no less wowing, allowing you to fixate on its beautiful lyrics and true intent. Here, “Take On Me” transforms into one of the purest love songs as singer Morten Harket shows that he’s still got some deep, lovelorn skills and gentle vocal perfection.

This is what going unplugged is all about.

a-ha – Take On Me [ Live From MTV Unplugged, Giske / 2017 ]

Taken from the forthcoming album/DVD a-Ha: MTV Unplugged Summer Solstice (17 Hits + 2 Cover Versions + 2 brand new Songs) Pre Order here: http://lnk.to/aha-unplugged Recorded live on June 22 and 23, 2017 at Giske Harbour Hall in Norway by Henning Svoren and John O’Mahoney at Ocean Sound Recordings; Video