a-ha back in the UK charts

a-ha’s latest single collection went to number 14 in the UK album charts this week. During the same week, Chris Martin, the lead singer in the biggest British band today, Coldplay, confessed his appreciation for a-ha on Virgin Radio’s Pete And Geoff Show.

“I found myself in Amsterdam the other day and I put a-ha’s first record on. I just remembered how much I loved it. It’s incredible songwriting,” he said. “Everyone asks what inspired us, what we’ve been trying to steal from and what we listened to as we were growing up – the first band I ever loved was a-ha.” Martin also said Morten Harket was “the most disarmingly handsome man you will ever meet”.

“A-ha – Chris’ secret is revealed,” reports contactmusic.com.

“The TAKE ON ME stars are now considered unfashionable in most countries, but Martin has championed the Scandinavian heart-throbs as being amongst the greatest songwriters of all time,” according to mirror.co.uk.

But they should both do their homework better. First, Chris Martin and Coldplay’s high regard for a-ha is no secret. Coldplay is known to play a-ha covers as a part of their live set – and that is not just to please a Norwegian audience. During a concert recording for German radio, Martin played a beautiful acoustic version of “Hunting High and Low,” introducing it as a tribute to a-ha, the band he and the rest of his band mates grew up listening to. One of Chris Martin’s personal favorites is “Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale”. Coldplay members Guy Berryman and Will Champion also play bass and drum on Magne’s solo album.

Second, musical fashion goes in circles. And a-ha are certainly “fashionable” again. Coldplay are not the only band to recognize a-ha; both Radiohead and Keane have been compared to a-ha in reviews. In fact, Keane’s songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley said that “Take On Me” was “quite possibly the best pop single of all time,” when Q magazine named the all-time best pop tunes. Adam Clayton from U2 has said that “a-ha was always a rather misunderstood band. They were looked upon as a group for teenage girls, but in reality they were a very creative band.” Even London’s hip post-punkers Bloc Party mentions a-ha as one of their inspirations.

So the UK is definitely ready for a-ha’s next studio album, and while they wait, the singles collection has climbed to number 14 on the charts. The interest for a-ha in the UK is also reflected in the ticket sales for the UK concerts in December, which have been selling from the moment they were announced.

More information on a-ha’s work in the studio coming up soon.

Coldplay-Chris elsker a-ha

Coldplay – Martin: ‘I’m a big fan of a-ha’