Vocal Coach reacts to A-ha - Take On Me (Morten Harket Live From MTV Unplugged) 

Morten Harket's voice is nothing short of angelic. I instantly fell in love with his voice the moment I heard it back in 1985. His voice can bring me to tears, it's so beautiful. He's a beautiful man too!

Almost forty years later Morten sings even better. More mature. More expressive. The improved Morten with a lifetime of experience.

The singer looks like he’s a very understanding and nice dad

I would imagine those ladies in the audience were feeling emotional as if things had come full circle. They may have been teenagers when the song first came out. I'm sure this version of the song brought back memories.

It took me 35 years, but now I FINALLY understand the words based on this slowed down acoustic performance. Now, my life is complete! Great performance!

His voice is so.. pure, especially in this performance. Brings so much more emotion out of this song.

This song makes many of us Genx feel all the feels-back to the best time of our lives.

Morten Harket is among the greatest singers of all times ... THE greatest to me! Morten has got 100 voices in his throght; he sings from Heaven ... for Heaven.

His voice just feels like a warm hug >

Saw him Toronto in the 80's loved A-HA then and still do. Beautiful sound then and now

His voice is so beautiful and at 62 he is still a legend!

Their 1985 version screamed youthful optimism (in a good way). This version is like looking back at your life and wondering, did it all work out? One song, two interpretations = universal sentiment. Awesome.

He's gorgeous.... Ages like an old wine... Better with the years ❤️

He’s gone from MTV heartthrob to worlds most empathetic dad all with the same song. Incredibly talented singer.

Notice that this song first came out in 1985 so roughly 35 years ago. The fact that he could give such an honest performance and in addition an acoustic version with all its vulnerability at 60 years old is just amazing. You should listen to the original version!

Morten has the voice of an angel in this video. He makes my hair on my neck stand on end & gives me goosebumps

A-HA they are so underrated. People who only think they has Take On Me is in for a treat. What a band. What a voice and those brilliant melodies. Great video Beth.

The Scandinavians are so freaking talented.

Great to hear you give Morten's voice such analysis and credit. He really is one of Pop musics greatest vocalists in history. Having seen a-ha live many times he really cares how he sounds live and is always trying to adjust on the fly.

His voice is so clean. I detect no rasp from age.

So amazing how he kept his voice so clean and vibrant. With the full force of experience to color it like a a magic coat.

I hadn't heard this version and was blown away even more by him than I was first hearing it as a little kid. Morten's still amazingly talented and always handsome. I love, love, love your detailed observations about his vocal technique, Beth! You're spot on about the depths of emotion this evokes. I now need to hear this with a cellist accompanying him. I'm gonna curl up and start this again, his voice is like a giant, comforting hug. How did I not know I needed this today? 🤯❤😆

This song makes me cry every time 😭❤ I love Morten's voice so much, like a beautiful violin. It brings me much peace and happiness, no matter the song, what an incredible blessing! ❤🌿🌺🌿🙏🙏🙏🌹

A-ha’s work is truly brilliant, their first five albums are so damn good. Please also check out Summer Moved On, Morten held a record for a high note in that song.

Thank you for sending this song to Beth and her comments. Totally my favorite band since 1985 so yes, I am 50yrs old next month and saw them in NY City on their farewell tour for my 40th birthday and I purchased their concert in CA for my 50th. Peace and good health, JB

Saw them live a few years ago. It was super fascinating to see how casually he hits these super high long notes. Absolutely stunning!

I'm 39 and until this acoustic performance I had no idea this song was so melancholy. So good.

I have never heard this song unplugged ...WOW just WOW !! . it brings back the 80's full bore when I was in the USN , I love both versions . Always wanted to see this band in concert live . Love you Beth !! keep up the good work .

Nothing to add, just perfection ! Full of emotion, tears not easy to control earing such a divine voice. Eternal thanks to A-ha !

All those ladies in the audience mouthing along with the words, you can tell they were just transported back to the 80s when they were teenagers or younger and they were smitten with the lead singer and obsessed with the song. In that moment they are lost in nostalgia.

Met Morten in Cuiaba, Brazil back in 88 or 89 at our hotel. My mom dumped me and my sister on him for some thirty minutes as she figured a Norwegian could looks after two Swedish kids for a few minutes. Funny thing is that a few days earlier A-Ha had broken the record of most people in the audience at their gig on Copacabana (I think) and he was fed up with fame and was on his way out to the jungle to take a break and meet no one/ find himself or something. Except the Swedish family at the hotel before heading out in the rain forest. Funny cause it’s true

Crazy talented vocalist. Only the best can write amazing songs like that.

Wow this acoustic version is amazing. This songs brings back great memories thank you for the reaction Beth Roars

Oh, yeah that performance is so emotional, and I even feel how the meaning of the song slightly changes in this arrangement and studio version.

This made me cry, I dont know whether it happy or sad but it for sure brought some emotion to me listening to the acoustic compared to the vibrant and upbeat original version. I like how the same song sung differently can bring different emotions even if I started off feeling fine, surely i was shedding tears at this.

This is a song I had absolutely no idea I wanted an unplugged version of.

Thank you for featuring this song, it's one of my favorites and especially the unplugged version.

Perfectly captured what makes this performance so enveloping.

A-Ha's "Hunting High and Low" and especially "Scoundrel Days" are absolute masterpieces btw that should be in your collection! It was that dumb Corky Romano movie and the countless parodies of the song that gave it that stigma!

Good to see someone reacting to A-ha. Morten Harket is such a great singer. I would really love it if in the future sometime you could react to A-ha's "Summer Moved On" (live from Oslo Spektrum 2010). It's one of my favourite live performances ever.

Don’t forget that all these ladies listening to his voice were probably teenagers when this song came out. And this probably does make come back emotions and souvenirs from the past that is long gone… That’s probably also what can make them tear up. It’s sweet and bitter at the same time…..

What makes this version of the song so sad and somber for me is how you can draw a parallel between the original and this version to real life. This is an old song, and if you notice, the crowd is full of people well into their adult years, they've grown old along with it. The original is fun, exciting, and full of energy, just like when you're a young teenager. This version is slowed down, the energy and "youth" of it is gone, but in its place is a tenderness and an almost haunting and melancholic tone to it, which is indicative of getting older. You slow down, you've expended your energy, you're less upbeat and reckless, but you're more aware, sensitive and tender, and what was once the youthful thoughts of invincibility and now replaced with a growing realization that you don't get to live forever, and time is short, growing shorter every day. So needless to say when i look at this song in that way, it adds this extra sad depth to it for me.

What makes this emotional is that back when people heard it in the 80s they were young and full of youth and it sounded youthful with the 80s synthpop being the trend, now they are older and the people who grew up with it are older and it’s like the youth has gone and no one stays young forever and nothing lasts forever and the stripped back sound fits that

His voice is indeed magical! You should listen to "Stay on these roads" live. He really pushes his falsetto to the maximum in that song!!

When I first heard this version I found it amazing how drastically it transformed even with the original singer.

Thank you for clarifying the difference between falsetto and head voice. Very informative! Stay safe, Beth!

On the early days of MTV A-ha Take On Me music video is my favorite video of all time. Boy and girl trapped in a cartoon, trying to escape to be together. Timeless !

Saw A-Ha in Vancouver in 1986. The band was late, turns out Motern had a cyst in his throat. I thought they were going to cancel. But he still knocked it out of the park. One of the few singers that sounds as great live as he does on recordings. Glad he's still able to sing so well.

Not always a fan of her video choices, but choosing the acoustic version, really helps isolate his vocal performance. Well done and having been married to a classical singer and vocal coach, I really appreciated Beth's version of falsetto.

When you explained Falsetto, the way you explained it just clicked. I understand. thank you. the mark of a great teacher! Bravo!

aha has so many 80s pop hits! "sun always shine on tv" ,"take on me" ,"hunting high and low, "loosing you","stay on these roads" ! singer morten harket has solo albums too into the 90s. a nice one is "jungle of beliefs" ,then back with aha again I think. "did anyone approach u" . the end part on "hunting high and low" with the seagulls cries and the keyboard notes give me chills always ;)

It's so amazing and interessting to listen to your reaction. Your voice is so nice🙂. I also love A-ha. I'm born in Sweden, and like listening to scandinavien music. Wish you all the best...

The first time I heard this version was, of course, Deadpool 2, and I hadn't expected Deadpool to leave me positively sobbing, but here we are. This song is absolutely heartbreaking.

Aha: one of the biggest band in the 80’s. World record most paying audience to a concert. Best music video ever on MTV. Insane many top hits. Still after 37 years this song going strong. Check out Spanish Steps

This is one of the hardest pop songs to sing, in my opinion. All those large interval jumps. He sounds so good here.

I was 14 when this song came out...I was obsessed with A-ha then..i'm 49 now. Boom the 2nd Album came out the following year, which for me, is even better than the first Album... Hunting high and low is my most favourite song of all time....

Wow. I always wondered how to sing this song if you couldn't hit the top octave in the original. The placement of "in a day" to set up singing down an octave is lovely. Beautiful.

The entire concert is amazing. Neither time nor HD can harm this guy! 🥰

Thanks for reviewing A-Ha, one of my longtime favorites. Also check out Summer Moved On. Morten holds a note for about 20 seconds...it's awesome!

This was so amazing....I never knew those were the real words....this changes the whole feel of the song! Great vid Beth!!

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I used to stay away from "pop" bands like a-ha when I was young. As I grown older and refined my humble abilities on the guitar I started to pay more attention to a-ha as well as other bands and man compared to some of the "newer" you see and hear today, they really made awesome music and play it just as good.

I cry when I hear this version. incredible!

Highly underrated band.

Morten can do with his voice things that most of the men don't ... AT ALL!

“Melancholy hug”. Just that. Thank you.

"Morten Harket and his in-ears" - By this time someone should have produced a movie. ;)

First reaction when he stars to sing is a smile, i think that tells it all.

I love this song and A-Ha Thanks Beth😊

Got to see them live before the lockdown. I've been to alot of concerts and worked many as well. This band with Morton Harket are by far the best. I suggest all young and old to look them up and listen/watch all their content from the 80's till present.

"His voice is so relaxing, it just makes you want to lean on something." *Plays Manhattan Skyline* Starts headbanging.

Have loved this song from the moment it was first released, but this version is downright ethereal!! Coincidentally, was just listening to this album this past weekend, Hunting High And Low (which is another song you should react to - this song live really shows off Morten's vocal ability!!) Indeed, one of the most beautiful voices. Thanks for a wonderful analysis!

His voice is outstanding in my opinion. TOP !

This unplugged version is SO different from the normal stage version. He will sing each line of the refrain higher than the last one line and "in a day or two" is insanely high! Also - it has the most epic music video! Speaking of Norwegian singers: look up Sissel Kyrkjebø. She is the closest thing a human has come to being an elf - or perhaps the closest thing elfs has come to being a human. Even if you don't do a reaction video, you should treat yourself to listening to "kringsat" or "O mio babbino caro"!

Legendary Ah-ha song along with "The Sun Always Shines On TV"

The way he sings 'onnn' makes me wanna cry lol

He’s my favorite singer 💕. Thank you for making a video about him💓

It's amazing that a pop song pretty up beat feel good etc etc stripped back it feels sooooooo emotional and it actually brings a tear to my eye 🥺 its beautiful

I absolutely love this version! Thank you for this❤

really love how his voice has grown. from silly pop to mature voice...

Beautiful. Thanks for covering 😊this. Great analysis

The song brings out emotions because if you were fortunate to hear this when it first came out, floods of memories comes out every time you hear it

I actually still sing "Hunting High and Low" on the Karaoke machine back when I still went to KTV bars a couple of years back. Plan on singing it again once this crisis is over. But "The Sun Always Shines on TV" is my favorite song from the "Hunting High and Low" album.

A-ha has a lot of songs that show the Quality of the vice of Morten. Scoundrel days for example or The Sun Always shines on tv

Poignant.. what a lovely performance. Enjoyed your reaction, Beth. :)

Love this song, and all the things I learn from you in video and your many others. You are teaching me so much about music. And you also keep me coming back by being the most adorable, entertaining commentator in all of reaction videos. :-D

It's amazing that almost 40 years later, his voice is STILL so good... I am willing to bet he spends hours daily to maintain his voice control.

im. 80s metal / punk rock lover but also grew up with 80s and this song...this acoustic song gets me choked up and gets me thinking about my child hood

Your videos never fail to make me so happy. Not just because you react to great music, but you also have the professional background to make your statements informative and credible.. Stay safe and healthy, and keep up the good work!

I love A-HA. I saw their show in 2009 in Rio de Janeiro.

You must go to the RU-vid MV for this song. It is incredible what is younger voice could do. But his voice is still truly lovely and his delivery is so calm and controlled.

🇲🇽👍🤗😉💕!!! OM-THOR! Is Great to know that Persons like You finally give a recognition to This Amazing Singer! Morten Harket has a Guiness Record about his Majestic Voice! To me He is an Angel without wings, who decided sing & delight us with his Gift! He is Unique! Since I was 8 years old is My Favourite Singer & One of The Human Beings that I Admire & I have met! Genuine & Humble! A-ha is like a tatoo in My Soul! And more than "Take on me" Check every piece!!! 💗 Thank You & Blessings Good Job!!! 👏👏👏👏⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Not only the song is emotional itself. The fact that they are not only playing it "unplugged" but also that they lowered the tempo, kinda puts this strange feeling to the audience that listened to it the first time almost 40 years ago, that their energy (perhaps represented by the tempo) might not be the same, but the spirit carries on. Just my perception though. It got me emotional there that way. Like when you just sit with your friends and look back to old crazy times being young, just chatting at ease.

Thanks Beth, there’s a long time i am waiting for this react

Wow I've never heard this version..ty for sharing this as well as ur breakdown/analysis of it

I swear, everytime I watch one of beths videos I always have a huge smile on my face

I think he mostly sounds like a counter-tenor. He seldom goes into falsetto singing according to my ears (here basically only on ”be gone”). One can tell this is his full larynx working and not popping it into falsetto also by that he is weaker when singing in low tenor or upper bas. It is the counter-tenor that makes his voice so angelic and soft rich and well-rounded. You can’t fill the timbre that much when in actual falsetto. At least that is my experience. I share your emotions that this is an incredibly tender soft heart-tugging rendition and his voice is almost painfully gentle and accepting. ”Killing me Softly with his song” for real! It takes guts and true talent to pull off singing so intimatly.

I never thought of this as a sad song when it came out, but now I'm choked up.

Relaxing vibe from Morten’s voice? I get the same vide from your spoken voice! Id love to hear you sing, I swear I would! X

One of the best songs ever