a-ha - Living a Boy's Adventure Tale (Studio & Live Royal Albert Hall) (Reaction/Request) 

This is definitely my favorite a-ha song!

For me, this song represents a great classic of the first musical period of the group. 1. Morten's fluid and velvety voice as well as his superb falsetto at the beginning and the end of the musical piece. 2. The use of an unusual instrument for a pop group (oboe) which brings a feeling of loneliness and a nostalgic atmosphere to the song. 3. The contrast between the apparent lightness of the melody and the subject of the text which is darker (breakup in love so devastating that the victim finds himself physically living on the street and emotionally loses all his bearings while trying to find meaning and comfort in the face of this ordeal). So, this melancholy sound while being very melodic is for me a real musical signature of A-ha; that's what makes this band so unique... So happy to see you again and listening your always excellent reaction to A- ha music! 😉😊🥰🎶

A-ha is my all-time favourite band. Thank you so much for this. A fantastic look into a wonderful song. And the woodwind is an oboe. The oboist from the original album was Claire Jarvis. From what little I could see, the oboes were probably off to the right side of the state behind Magne, but the video mostly focused on Morten and the violins behind him.

The song is about getting away for a while in order to heal from a broken heart. A-ha is the best of all time!

That live version was the first time they played the hunting high and low album in order live, they then came back on stage and done all of the scoundrel days album

The legend is back! By the way, I think the instrument you're looking for the name of was the Clarinet. I was at that concert in the Royal Albert Hall. They played both of their first 2 albums back to back. Very unusual.

Thank you man!Had watched them singing this live.Wonderful.I was very close to the stage.Gr8 performance!BTW on their 2005 tour they also played this(i was also there )and that ending with the falseto was repeated and prolonged until the song ended. Sounded so magical.Fabulous album!A marvelous debut!

For these concerts they didn't use any local orchestra, but the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.

They have two new singles out at the moment Mike from the new album. I’m in and you have what it takes.

The instrument you asked about is an oboe.

In my understanding the song is about a man who has been kicked out by his wife, and is now living on the streets. He tries to do the best out of the situation by pretending it is an adventure. You absolutely should react to Stay on these roads.

Im brazilian and a-ha is my favorite band ever. I love all of its studio albuns from the 80's to the 2020's track by track.

Hurrah, you are back! 🥳 Thank you for reviewing a-ha.

Always struck me it was a song from a homeless person’s point of view living on the street.

I've been waiting for your response to this song for a long time. 😊 This is my ringtone on my phone, I love all their music ❤

Thank you ❤️

There is also the mtv unplugged version of this

perfect

Thank you for your comments Yeedeed🇨🇵🙏Former oboist, a-ha fan, Morten's voice pierces the hearts 💘 of many fans around the world...I'm not a singer at all.A bit 🎹.We have very good singers in the world of classical to metal via pop-rock (a-ha), rock, etc. Just want to say to those who can't sing but want to sing: '' go ahead man (or girl)!Go get a ''high note'' a bit in the style of this great song!💘👍🍻

Estou viciada nos seus vídeos ❤️❤️❤️

Welcome back ❤

it is an oboe

One of my Top 10 favorite songs. It's very personal to me.

I've been a fan of Aha for decades & this is my favorite song by them. He hits my soul.

It's funny how we all interpret Songs! He is digging the Bass Line while I'm just stunned by the beautiful Synth chord progressions!

Beautiful ❤❤❤

The entire song/music is outstanding. Mortens’ different changes in sound of voice throughout song is really outstanding!!!December 2023

Love this song so much . Listening over and over

As an 11 year old in 1985 I related, and still relate, this song and its vibe and meaning to what was going on at the time, particularly fantasy movies. Back to the Future, The Goonies, Weird Science, Stand by Me, Labyrinth and The Lost Boys. About setting out on a journey of discovery and finding a place and experience that is your own snd coming out better on the other side, an escapism, whether metaphorical, physical, or spiritually. I still listen to it now and takes me to another place, just for 4 minutes, back to simpler, more innocent times.

In my opinion this is the Best a-ha's album.

Это самое

Нахрена ты смотришь, если не нравится

I was there!!!!

First of all thank you for all the reaction videos on A-ha, absolutely my favorite band ❤️. Especially this song. So heartbreakingly beautiful ... (I don't know how else to describe how I feel). It made me cry last year in Amsterdam when they were performing. Pål said in an interview that the entire album 'Hunting High and Low' is a lovesong. This song is about his adventure as an artist, a lifelong dream ... as well the journey that started once he met Lauren, his wife for many years now. Like he sings: 'Living a boy's adventure tale in so many ways.' I'm in awe of Pål's songwriting and musicality. The same with Magne. I can recognize their own styles and lyrics. Both such special souls. And then combined with Morten ... it doesn't get any better than that! His soaring voice, so powefull in the early years. Nowadays less powerfull but still so warm and impressive. I'm in awe ... 🥰🥰🥰

Hi Mike! I know you've reacted to a couple of A-ha songs (e.g. "Summer Moved On" with that long note, a great performance). I have a suggestion to listen to this song by A-ha which I think is really good, "Velvet". Apart from being a good song (superb melodies, vocals and backing vocals), It's one of those tricky ones (which I personally like). It sounds beautiful, but when you read the lyrics there are hints of a darker story inside. ;) A-ha - Velvet (A-HA - Velvet 2000) also done by one of the members of A-ha in the side project "Savoy": Velvet (Savoy) I put links to the videos in a comment below ( since I don't know if your channel allows links)... Cheers! /Dennis

Nothing against reaction videos but you cant get into a song if you keep stopping it mid way. You gotta listen the whole thing no interruptions, no silly notification sounds. Your reaction is real and it's enjoyable to watch. Loving this song for the past 20 years

vocals soar like an eagle - damn right!!

Morten harket perfection 1986

Magistral🤗❤️, Saludos 🤗

I think this is their strongest track absolutely awesome his voice is gorgeous how I love him

I love watching your reactions to this amazing band! I loved them back in the 80’s, and rediscovered them in 2018. I had the same reactions as you. I can’t wait until to hear the new album “True North” very 60’s vibes and especially Doors vibe in some of their songs. This band is very underrated in the US. Thank you for spreading their talent for the rest of America can see. (Other countries are way ahead of the curve) But my favorite from that album is “As If” It is a very mellow, but beautiful album. Some other songs from various albums to consider are: Butterfly Angel Minor Earth, Major Sky Blue Sky Stay on these roads “2015 peace Noble Prize” concert Looking for the Whales Door ajar (Cast and Steel)

Hi Mike...I only recently found out about this guy on tiktok...everyone saying he has the best voice in the world.....I looked at this video on RU-vid and I was absolutely blown away by his vocals..I don't know if you've ever heard of him...but honestly I've never heard anything like his vocal range...please have a look ...and if you can ' do it as a first time reaction video on here...I guarantee you'll be shocked 👍....his name is Dimash Kudaibergen. The song is called ' SOS ' Live at Slavic Bazaar 2018 ....🍻🍻🍻👍

That is an oboe, my friend! It came up in the 16th century. You are right, it is beautiful.

I was at this amazing concert at Albert Hall, will never forget it.Bought their first Album when it was released. My favourite Band.

Essa canção é PERFEITA!!! AMO TANTO. Essa voz é insuperável.

hi mr ::) please take a look at Phil Collins in the air tonight live in Paris 2004. perfeckt drum video :)

Best band ever

Thumbs up! So glad you did this song. One of my favorites since I first heard it in the 1980’s. I remember replaying it over and over. I was mesmerized by Morten’s falsetto. Still am. Aha is one of my all-time favorite bands. Most Americans are unaware of their prowess outside of Take On Me.

That magical instrument is the clarinet - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarinet 😉

Great reaction

It is the funniest thing.Back when I was growing up singers sang without autotune and you could actually hear them

AHA are amazing Live. I’d love to hear your reaction to take on me unplugged live version it’s so different from the one released in 1985 and there is not a dry eye in the room. Morten was 60 years old then and still sounds amazing. The best singing voice ever and the best band ever followed closely by HIM, Ville Valo from Finland my two all time fave bands ever. take care 🇳🇴😘🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️

The song i think is about a man being homeless because his partner threw him out of the house so he decides to turn the homelessness into an adventure but also wants back with his wife/partner because he still loves her.

Firstly thankyou for reacting to AHA They are a very unappreciated and Underrated band with a huge back catalogue so i hope you’ll keep reacting to them. Personally i don’t think people take them seriously because they come from Norway but i strongly disagree i’ve been an AHA fan since the take on me days back in 1985 i was 16 years old then i’m 53 now and just as big a fan now as i was back then. The thing i love about AHA’s music is that every song is different you don’t get two songs that sound the same and that makes them unique. Thanks again and take care 🇳🇴😘🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

You should do a reaction to their new album True North - it’s majestic. A whole album recorded in 2 days of live sessions. Not over produced - just a legacy expanding beauty. And also check out a-ha the move to under and the dynamics within the band and their struggles with fame/celebrity.

All these old 80’s hits just makes me want to go drink at the bar 😂

Welcome back Mike and thank you very much for your reaction to this song...and I was really pleased you done both studio and live version....I've also been looking for your reaction to The Soft rain of April from Scoundrel Days album and of course live at the Royal Albert..one of my favourite soft rain live performances 👍 ..and thank you very much for the shout out..😁👍..hopefully you get a chance to do this reaction soon...I've looked at a lot of reactions of A-ha but absolutely find you the best at understanding what their about musically.. I think living a boys is about wanting to get away from it all after been hurt in some way and just had enough of things and living somewhere solitary and not having to deal with the world anymore....not sure but that's my interpretation of it....thank you again 🍻🍻🍻

They did have an Onbo player doing that part. You can see her getteing ready to start playing over Motens head at 16:44. And then you can see her in the wide shot as her solo goes on.

That night at Royal Albert Hall was immense.

The wood wing instrument is the oboe. It was an actual instrument and not a keyboard setting they use. It’s got a natural haunting voice to it under certain circumstances and the key they play it in and then the key change makes it even more beautiful too….. it’s one of the first pop parts I learned on the oboe as it’s my fave track on this album ……. What a wonderful song it is ….. awesome ! Followed very close by the title track and Take On Me. Now to set the music side straight for these versions… There is no such orchestra as the Royal Albert Hall, this was the Norwegian Symphony Orchestra that they behind them. The drums are real drums on both versions. The oboe was most definitely live on the RAH show. There is a full show worth of songs from this particular show.

Thanks for getting around to doing this review Mike…much appreciated. I just knew you’d love this song because it’s really a masterpiece, and a showcase for Morten’s extraordinary vocal skills. You still have tons of material to listen to….from all periods of a-ha’s output. I’d like you to do Here I Stand And Face The Rain it’s from their first album too…it incorporates what sounds like a renaissance madrigal in the chorus with Morten singing counterpoint with himself. It’s another real masterpiece written by Pal and you’ve just got to hear a live version along with the studio one. There’s a live one from their Belfast concert in 2019 which I was lucky enough to be at…it’s magic!

u should try the whole hunting high and low album, its a masterpieace

a-ha one of my favorite bands, this song is the favorite of this band for me

Like the studio and live reactions - you’ve got to do Stay On These Roads - both the studio and the Live at Oslo Spectrum 2010 version. They also had a really cool rocky guitar version they played around 2005/6 in the Frogneroarken show - probably also online somewhere.

A-ha will always be my favorite band. They have so many songs that are a pleasure to listen to. This one is one of my lesser favorites on "Hunting High and Low", but it is still a good song to listen to.

Always one of my favourite tracks and songs by a-ha and thankfully via RU-vidrs like yourself, its getting the attention and praise it deserves. A beautiful track. The live version does use the flute in the orchestra, if you look carefully, you’ll see the guy holding/playing it on the wider shots, to the left of the screen. I was at that gig, the whole of Hunting High and Low and Scoundrel Days live. Epic. My first ever A-ha gig was also at the Royal Albert Hall on New Years Eve 1986!

Wonderful and unique song!

Thank you!!! 😊🎶🇳🇴❤

One more that's a fave from this beautiful album is a song called THE BLUE SKY.Apart from the music its got nice lyrics...'i'm older than my looks and older than my years/i'm too young to take on my deepest fears'...

I believe this song is about a homeless man. It's always been very special to me - to the point where I want it played at my funeral.

The 2010 Royal Albert Hall performance of this song has to be the best arrangement it has received instrumentally, but vocally Morten is past his prime there. The best live vocals of this song were during their 1986 tour where Morten sang in that more adventurous way as you said it. Excerpts are shown below (no need to react to those, they are only examples). Hammersmith, London 1986: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-edD5Dn2WqFo.html Vienna, Austria 1986: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jIwdBNRqpl0.html