A-ha’s ‘Take on Me’ Is the First Music Video From the 1980s to Reach 2 Billion YouTube Views
A-ha’s iconic hit “Take on Me” has reached two billion views on YouTube, becoming the first song from the 1980s to achieve this milestone.
About The Band
The Norwegian band, consisting of Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, released the song in 1985, along with a groundbreaking music video that combined pencil-sketch animation and live-action. The song and video’s success on MTV propelled them to the top of the charts, making A-ha the first Norwegian group to top the Hot 100. Despite initially trying to focus on new music, the band members are now proud of the enduring popularity of “Take on Me” and its ability to resonate with audiences across time.
What Made It So Popular
Speaking to Billboard.com bandmember Magne Furuholmen told them in 2019 about the song and video. Furuholmen paid tribute to the clip’s longevity. “Obviously the video is unique and it has some features that stand up and stand the test of time. It’s hand-drawn which makes it what it is,” the keyboardist noted. “The song also seems to resonate with people across time. It’s just very fortunate to have such a big song in our catalog.
If you were around during the launch of MTV you certainly remember this song. That was of course when MTV played videos!
