It’s no secret that A-ha singer Morten Harket’s stratospheric high notes on “Take On Me” made for one of the greatest hits of the ‘80s. But what you might not know is that the Norwegian synth-pop star can still deliver the goods live, more than two decades after recording the classic number. Harket showcased his vocal prowess at age 45 at Live 8 in 2005. The frontman still sounds much the same as the fresh-faced young singer he was back in 1984 when the band recorded the hit.
A-ha hit the stage at the Berlin Victory Column on July 2, 2005, and performed three of their biggest hits at the Live 8 charity concert. When that iconic keyboard melody kicks in at the start of “Take On Me”, you know everybody is gonna have a good time. When it comes to the point everyone was waiting for, Harket doesn’t disappoint, first singing the big chorus in three-part harmony with his bandmates, then nailing the famous sky-high E5 falsetto note like a beast.
The band laid out a driving groove, giving “Take On Me” a bit more of a rock feel to fit the live arena. Fans gave props for the on-point performance, adding comments such as “It’s the mark of a great singer how he hits the high notes, with generally perfect pitch after so many years. No Auto-Tune, no nonsense.” and “Morten Harket’s vocal range is virtually unmatched. Strangely, it wasn’t an immediate hit and took years of hard work and dedication to turn it into the classic that it is.”
The Live 8 performance attracted 80 million views, as fans tuned in to hear the ’80s stars nail their signature song in the 2000s. This makes it the second most popular live performance from the band on YouTube, behind only their version of “Take On Me” at MTV Unplugged, which drew 105 million views. The MTV Unplugged performance was a truly special one. It once again was a superb showcase for Harket’s voice, this time within the context of a sparse acoustic guitar and piano arrangement.
Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure organized the Live 8 benefit concerts in 2005. The 11 concerts were held around the world in support of the UK’s Make Poverty History campaign and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. When A-ha appeared in Berlin, they performed “Take On Me”, “Summer Moved On” and “Hunting High And Low”.
If you’re a fan of the iconic 80’s band A-ha, make sure to follow them on their official [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/officialaha) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/officialaha/) channels to see the latest news and updates. You’ll surely not be disappointed with what the band continues to bring to the table, more than two decades after their classic hit “Take On Me”.