We're talking away
October 2, 2018 6:23 PM Subscribe
Out. Freaking. Standing.
Love this song.
I’d heard the acoustic version before (via MeFi too, natch) and it was the first time I’d realized how good a song it was beyond the original’s synth and sweet vocal hooks. It was a very pleasant surprise when it popped up in Deadpool 2.
That Ninja Sex Party video (third link) has some pretty trippy stagecraft (I dig) that almost distract from what an excellent cover they did.
posted by darkstar at 6:37 PM on October 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Love this song.
I’d heard the acoustic version before (via MeFi too, natch) and it was the first time I’d realized how good a song it was beyond the original’s synth and sweet vocal hooks. It was a very pleasant surprise when it popped up in Deadpool 2.
That Ninja Sex Party video (third link) has some pretty trippy stagecraft (I dig) that almost distract from what an excellent cover they did.
posted by darkstar at 6:37 PM on October 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Also, ever since I first saw the original video back in the Golden Age of MTV, I’ve wished Morten Harket’s rotoscoped hand would beckon to me from a magazine.
He’s (still) dreamy.
posted by darkstar at 6:41 PM on October 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
He’s (still) dreamy.
posted by darkstar at 6:41 PM on October 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
This is one of my favourite 80s songs and I never tire of hearing it, any of the myriad of covers and transformations it ends up playing out in. It just makes me smile. If others have some unique covers, please share them with us. I look forward to them all.
posted by Fizz at 6:43 PM on October 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 6:43 PM on October 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
I just bought NSP’s cover (as well as their version of Everybody Wants to Rule the World).
I’m disappointed that Brooklyn Duo’s cover with Ensemble Connect isn’t available for purchase. It’s an incredible version.
posted by darkstar at 7:06 PM on October 2, 2018
I’m disappointed that Brooklyn Duo’s cover with Ensemble Connect isn’t available for purchase. It’s an incredible version.
posted by darkstar at 7:06 PM on October 2, 2018
I love this song.
In the early aughts I lived in LA, and was occasionally cool enough to go to a bar. One day I saw a woman singing on the student walk at UCLA and giving out flyers for a show at a super hip place in Santa Monica, so I figured why not. And that is the story of how I fell in love with Sara Bareilles's cover of Take On Me.
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 7:06 PM on October 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
In the early aughts I lived in LA, and was occasionally cool enough to go to a bar. One day I saw a woman singing on the student walk at UCLA and giving out flyers for a show at a super hip place in Santa Monica, so I figured why not. And that is the story of how I fell in love with Sara Bareilles's cover of Take On Me.
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 7:06 PM on October 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Almost 15 years ago, I used the original "Take on Me" video in my first presentation as a newly minted professor to explain the motivation for my education and career choices. Cue 8 years or so later, and a grant collaboration brought me to Trondheim, Norway and a great visit to Rockheim, which is full of a-ha information and merchandise. I still use the video in my recruitment presentations to students and incoming faculty to explain that a 9 year old me saw that video and realized that I just had to learn how to "do that". That original drive to merge art, technology, and storytelling ultimately led me to a doctoral degree in precisely those areas and a multidisciplinary academic career ever since. I guess I owe Morten, Magne, and Pål quite a bit :)
posted by recklessbrother at 7:08 PM on October 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by recklessbrother at 7:08 PM on October 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
A literal version (kinda starts like 35 seconds in).
posted by adamg at 7:10 PM on October 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by adamg at 7:10 PM on October 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Please enjoy Lake Street Dive's version for AV Undercover, featuring the entire keyboard part played on TRUMPET. Guy's a beast.
posted by clavicle at 7:23 PM on October 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by clavicle at 7:23 PM on October 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Awesome post, Fizz! I already knew and loved a-ha's unplugged version, but the rest were delightfully new to me (including the ones in the comments). The song really lends itself to very different interpretations.
The highlight for me was that sweet bassoon solo in the Brooklyn Duo version.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:59 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
The highlight for me was that sweet bassoon solo in the Brooklyn Duo version.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:59 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I wrote a thesis paper about the original video for my undergrad major in Communications. This was back in the old days before anybody and everybody had an online presence, otherwise I would have tried to contact Bunty Bailey herself for some insight.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:59 PM on October 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:59 PM on October 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Ok, first of all the Otamatone one is the best. For the metal one, Leo Moracchioli, I think it would be better for the lead line to be played high with a riff under it.
Nobody rises to the original verse arrangements, which in a rock context I think should have a more active bass line. Most of them take a unison approach to the backing where the original has so many intricacies. Hope this doesn't sound too grumpy!
GREAT POST
posted by rhizome at 8:07 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Nobody rises to the original verse arrangements, which in a rock context I think should have a more active bass line. Most of them take a unison approach to the backing where the original has so many intricacies. Hope this doesn't sound too grumpy!
GREAT POST
posted by rhizome at 8:07 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Niiice. We're just missing covers from Weird Al (parody titled "Spray-On Cheese"), GWAR at the AV Club, and Shatner (with or without Ben Folds.)
Here's an unrelated Morten solo effort to take on if you are so inclined.
posted by zaixfeep at 8:16 PM on October 2, 2018
Here's an unrelated Morten solo effort to take on if you are so inclined.
posted by zaixfeep at 8:16 PM on October 2, 2018
And the video's many parodies. Though ML-assisted rotoscoping has the potential to cut the budget for new parodies substantially, so we may see a glut of these soon.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:34 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:34 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I’ve wished Morten Harket’s rotoscoped hand would beckon to me from a magazine.
I did not notice until this very day just how much he looks like Val Kilmer as Nick in Top Secret.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 8:50 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I did not notice until this very day just how much he looks like Val Kilmer as Nick in Top Secret.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 8:50 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh, watch out for them, they're gunna beat you up with that pipe wrench.
posted by RobotHero at 9:08 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by RobotHero at 9:08 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
My college dorm would throw an 80's themed dance party every year, and the playlist always featured a large number of covers of Take On Me. Every 15 minutes, a new version would come on. So listening through all these versions, many of which are familiar, takes me back.
posted by JiBB at 9:25 PM on October 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by JiBB at 9:25 PM on October 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's funny you lost this, because my high school aged son was telling me this evening a out how his school plays this song after 2nd period, and there's a veritable conga line of kids doing a dance which have have seen demonstrated, but which I lack descriptive language to describe.
And I said, you're going to school in an episode of Fame? And he rolled his eyes, but left the song on, so it was all good.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:34 PM on October 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
And I said, you're going to school in an episode of Fame? And he rolled his eyes, but left the song on, so it was all good.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:34 PM on October 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
This is great - thank you for compiling!
posted by samthemander at 9:49 PM on October 2, 2018
posted by samthemander at 9:49 PM on October 2, 2018
Nice compilation! And that marimba cover was arranged by "Marimba Mike" from Portland, often seen at PDX airport playing Elliott Smith covers on marimba. Check out his cover record, Between The Bars.
posted by klausman at 9:55 PM on October 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by klausman at 9:55 PM on October 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
There was a metal version that I really liked, its provenance was uncertain because I got it off of Napster. It was awesome though, wish I could remember the band
posted by pagrus at 10:10 PM on October 2, 2018
posted by pagrus at 10:10 PM on October 2, 2018
Well, I love this.
posted by Going To Maine at 10:36 PM on October 2, 2018
posted by Going To Maine at 10:36 PM on October 2, 2018
I’ve wished Morten Harket’s rotoscoped hand would beckon to me from a magazine.
I did not notice until this very day just how much he looks like Val Kilmer as Nick in Top Secret.
Yeah, Harket has the same eye shape as Kilmer, Heath Ledger and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I’m not sure what you call it. Not squinting, exactly, but not as rounded an orbit, and somewhat more narrow eyelids at the outer edges. I’ve always thought it a distinctive variation, and when guys have it, their faces tend to look strikingly similar to me.
posted by darkstar at 11:02 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I did not notice until this very day just how much he looks like Val Kilmer as Nick in Top Secret.
Yeah, Harket has the same eye shape as Kilmer, Heath Ledger and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I’m not sure what you call it. Not squinting, exactly, but not as rounded an orbit, and somewhat more narrow eyelids at the outer edges. I’ve always thought it a distinctive variation, and when guys have it, their faces tend to look strikingly similar to me.
posted by darkstar at 11:02 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Adam West had it, too
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:20 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:20 PM on October 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
This makes me want to dive into old code for extracting YouTube playlists from MeFi posts. Same as Spotify. Kudos.
Same twinge that left me pondering for weeks over some snippet of tune that I know but can't put my finger on (Code Lyoko is in some commercial now, drove me crazy for a while before the recognition set in.) Turning into elevator music for children of the '80s.
YAY!
posted by zengargoyle at 12:17 AM on October 3, 2018
Same twinge that left me pondering for weeks over some snippet of tune that I know but can't put my finger on (Code Lyoko is in some commercial now, drove me crazy for a while before the recognition set in.) Turning into elevator music for children of the '80s.
YAY!
posted by zengargoyle at 12:17 AM on October 3, 2018
Back in high school, I worked at a Domino's, and sometimes we'd sing in the back just to pass the time, and this was one of the more popular songs just because of the fun challenge of trying to hit the high notes (which I can nail, thankyouverymuch), and I kept joking about putting together a mix CD entirely of covers of this song.
Eventually, one day I decided that this would be the day, and several hours on Napster and whatever that other file-sharing program was called later, I made good on my promise.
What an infinitely coverable song.
posted by DoctorFedora at 1:09 AM on October 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Eventually, one day I decided that this would be the day, and several hours on Napster and whatever that other file-sharing program was called later, I made good on my promise.
What an infinitely coverable song.
posted by DoctorFedora at 1:09 AM on October 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Baseball player Michael Morse used Take On Me as a a walk-up song. When he was on the Nationals* they used to play it as part of the 7th inning stretch, using Karaoke-style graphics for the audience to join in. Having the whole stadium singing along was always wonderful - everyone trying to hit that high note at the end and mostly failing, but making a good faith effort! I really miss that.
*He did it when he played with other teams as well, but my experience of it is with the Nats.
posted by gemmy at 2:17 AM on October 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
*He did it when he played with other teams as well, but my experience of it is with the Nats.
posted by gemmy at 2:17 AM on October 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Like so much of the 1980s it was ridiculous at the time, but now feels essential.
posted by chavenet at 3:02 AM on October 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 3:02 AM on October 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
The video (and, to a certain extent, the song) are the most ‘80s things in existence, and they still work perfectly. Which is also pretty ‘80s, when planned obsolescence hadn’t become the norm it is these days.
posted by Etrigan at 4:09 AM on October 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 4:09 AM on October 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
That last bit in the hallway, obviously lifted from Altered States. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
posted by valkane at 5:37 AM on October 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by valkane at 5:37 AM on October 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes, this is an excellent song, but The Sun Always Shines on TV is their best.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:46 AM on October 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 5:46 AM on October 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
You will all be happy to know that I've planted this song in all of my co-workers heads today (in one form or another), thanks to these videos and slack DMs.
posted by Fizz at 6:59 AM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Fizz at 6:59 AM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
My college dorm would throw an 80's themed dance party every year, and the playlist always featured a large number of covers of Take On Me
lol my college dorm threw 80's-themed dance parties, too—in the 80's!
I was in a small, crowded bar on New Year's Eve several years ago and when "Take On Me" came on right around midnight every single person sang along at the top of their lungs and it was one of most glorious moments of my life.
The Sun Always Shines on TV is their best.
I love "The Sun Always Shines on TV," too, but I couldn't choose between the two.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:08 AM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
lol my college dorm threw 80's-themed dance parties, too—in the 80's!
I was in a small, crowded bar on New Year's Eve several years ago and when "Take On Me" came on right around midnight every single person sang along at the top of their lungs and it was one of most glorious moments of my life.
The Sun Always Shines on TV is their best.
I love "The Sun Always Shines on TV," too, but I couldn't choose between the two.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:08 AM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
This song is my jam. I now love this version, which I stumbled upon today because of this post and I'm better for it.
posted by elmer benson at 7:38 AM on October 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by elmer benson at 7:38 AM on October 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
This was the last song at my wedding reception on Saturday.
Before the wedding, we couldn't decide last song but gave our DJ a list of about 5-10 in no particular order (including this) to play near the end. I had complete forgotten that it hadn't been played yet until it came on last.
posted by fizzix at 7:47 AM on October 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I've always been partial to the caP'n Jazz version.
A friend of mine would put the album on while cleaning up the coffee shop he worked at in the late 90's. Sometimes there would be crusty punks around, all trying to hit the high note, it was great.
posted by dr. moot at 7:52 AM on October 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
A friend of mine would put the album on while cleaning up the coffee shop he worked at in the late 90's. Sometimes there would be crusty punks around, all trying to hit the high note, it was great.
posted by dr. moot at 7:52 AM on October 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Thank God somebody linked that Cap'n Jazz version because I almost had a heart attack clicking through the main post links.
posted by saladin at 8:05 AM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by saladin at 8:05 AM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
"That's what they all say, baby" (may be NSFW)
posted by Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown at 8:46 AM on October 3, 2018
posted by Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown at 8:46 AM on October 3, 2018
And, whoa - We're currently further away from the Reel Big Fish version (1998 to 2018 = 20 years) than the Reel Big Big Fish version is from the original (1984 to 1998 = 14 years).
Ugh. That makes me feel old.
posted by elmer benson at 8:57 AM on October 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Ugh. That makes me feel old.
posted by elmer benson at 8:57 AM on October 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
I did not notice until this very day just how much he looks like Val Kilmer as Nick in Top Secret
See also (the late) Stuart Adamson of Big Country fame.
posted by hanov3r at 9:42 AM on October 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
See also (the late) Stuart Adamson of Big Country fame.
posted by hanov3r at 9:42 AM on October 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Pretty sure I posted this on the Blue previously, but I like Shiny and the Spoon's reggae version.
posted by MtDewd at 10:34 AM on October 3, 2018
posted by MtDewd at 10:34 AM on October 3, 2018
Fave YouTube comment from the ones I've read across these videos today, repeated here verbatim:
"I Wouldn't Go Out With This Dude. To Be Honest, He Seems A Bit Sketchy."
HA!
This song does seem to make it onto every 80s mix I've ever put together; this one, and Depeche Mode's "Strangelove".
posted by droplet at 12:57 PM on October 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
"I Wouldn't Go Out With This Dude. To Be Honest, He Seems A Bit Sketchy."
HA!
This song does seem to make it onto every 80s mix I've ever put together; this one, and Depeche Mode's "Strangelove".
posted by droplet at 12:57 PM on October 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
My husband sings the lyrics: "Dick Arrrr
mmmmey, Dick. Armey!" But I only tonight Ilearned he has not seen the original video!
Dick, Armey!
posted by vespabelle at 8:37 PM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
mmmmey, Dick. Armey!" But I only tonight Ilearned he has not seen the original video!
Dick, Armey!
posted by vespabelle at 8:37 PM on October 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
WOW! That North Korean accordion version is AMAZING!!!
posted by artof.mulata at 11:31 PM on October 4, 2018
posted by artof.mulata at 11:31 PM on October 4, 2018
wow that is... amazing. i am in awe and i kinda wanna get an otamatone.
posted by numaner at 11:56 PM on October 8, 2018
posted by numaner at 11:56 PM on October 8, 2018
I bought one for my niece for her birthday the other day because of this.
posted by rhizome at 12:32 AM on October 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 12:32 AM on October 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
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