A-ha might be viewed as a one-hit wonder in the United States, but those in the know understand the band was so much better than 1985's "Take on Me." That single was fantastic, of course, but not the only good song that the group produced.
What made that track so popular was the amazing vocal work of singer Morten Harket. Did he hit all the notes during recording? It seems so, but even the acoustic version he created years later was special. Harket could sing.
The sad news is that he has revealed, via a-ha's website, that he is dealing with Parkinson's disease, and he is not sure if he will ever perform again. This means no more renditions of "Take on Me," of course, but so many other underrated tunes that need to be heard.
A-ha's Morten Harket reveals medical disorder
According to the band's website. Harket had known he had the disease for some time, but did not want to release the information to the general public until his friends and family all knew. This makes sense, and is his right. The general public is not due that kind of information.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement, and can also lead to depression and anxiety. This means the vocal cords could become weakened, but a performer trying to stand on stage for a couple of hours trying to entertain people can be impossible.
Besides "Take on Me," a-ha had one other top-20 song in the United States. That was 1985's "The Sun Always Shines on TV," which reached No. 20.
The band was far more consistently successful in the UK. Their iconic single did not even hit No. 1. Instead, it only reached No. 2. "The Sun Always Shines on TV" was the band's first to top the charts.
In the UK, the band had eight top-10 singles. The lists include the two songs mentioned above, as well as "Train of Thought," "Hunting High and Low," "I've Been Losing You," "Cry Wolf, "The Living Daylights," and "Stay on These Roads." Through all the hits, Harket's voice remained the best instrument.