Music Review: A-Ha "Take On Me"

A-Ha

Take On Me

Album: Hunting How and Low

Year: 1985

           Morten Harket’s nervousness gets the best of him around his crush in the enduring “Take On Me.”

         Daydreaming synths open the single, setting a rhapsodic tone. He was drinking his coffee, waiting for a friend to meet him for lunch. While sipping from his cup, he stares at his crush. She spots him and waves hello to him. He waves back, hoping he didn’t accidentally spill any coffee on him in the process. She starts walking over to him, which stuns him. He wasn’t expecting her to come by at all. Usually, she keeps to herself. She starts a conversation about their professor and all he can manage to do is nod. He says little, trying not slip with something idiotic. To himself, he swears to ask her out. (“Talking away/I don't know what I'm to say/I'll say it anyway/Today isn't my day to find you/Shying away/I'll be coming for your love, ok?”)

          In the chorus, he yearns for her to give him a chance and make the first move. He knows they may not have the opportunity to meet again. (“Take on me (take on me)/Take me on (take on me)/I'll be gone/
In a day or two.”)

         After she leaves and returns to her group of her friends, he sighs. Their conversation lasted for a total of two minutes and revolved around school. He thinks of the different ways he couldn’t taken the conversation. It was a start, though and something she hadn’t done before. Overall, it went well and he didn’t humilate himself. For now, it’s good enough for him. (“So needless to say/Of odds and ends/But I'll be stumbling away/Slowly learning that life is OK/Say after me/It's no better to be safe than sorry.”)

         The chorus is sung again.

       The synths jitter, trying to regain composure for a bit then breaks into high spirits, fully taking in the moment.

         They have talked more since and he wonders if she means her compliments. She’s a sweet, kind young woman and even if it doesn’t work out, he’ll remember she was one of the few people who acknowledged him. He stares at her again and she turns away, her cheeks turning red. Soon, he will ask her out. (“ Oh, things that you say/Is it a lie or just to play my worries away?/You're all the things I've got to remember/You're shying away/I'll be coming for you anyway.”)

         The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

     Harket’s gentle, modest vocals are joyous, gratified he has caught his crush’s attention.  He’s not usually the guy who gets the girl. Somehow, his crush has seen past his flaws and returns his feelings. It amazes him.

       The jubilant “Take On Me” is catching, causing a smile upon contact.