Setlist:

Butterfly, Butterfly
Foot of the Mountain
The Bandstand
Analogue
Forever Not Yours
Minor Earth, Major Sky
Summer Moved On
Move to Memphis
The Blood that Moves the Body
Stay On These Roads
The Living Daylights
Scoundrel Days
The Swing of Things
Looking for the Whales
Seemingly Non-Stop July
And You Tell Me
Manhattan Skyline
I’ve Been Losing You
Cry Wolf
Hunting High and Low
The Sun Always Shines on TV
Take On Me

Concert Report:

by Eve Desianto

It is the perfect setting: a venue typically used for open-air film screenings, sprawled lazily along the banks of the Elbe River, a flood of devotees swarming like mad bees, even spilling out onto the surrounding bridges as the night sky encroaches a gorgeous Dresden skyline. Opening act Mister Sushi puts the constantly growing audience in the right frame of mind. Anticipation grows as the sun sinks below the impossibly beautiful neighboring Finanzministerium.

At last the venue erupts into a frenzy as a-ha takes to the stage. Long have I wanted to be among the crowds in Germany, where a-ha are deeply appreciated en masse. And not to let the enthusiastic mob down, a-ha gives the performance of a lifetime, launching into their new single “Butterfly, Butterfly (The Last Hurrah)” to kick off a set list that at this point in the farewell tour is pretty standard, as they run back through time on a run of timeless classics.

Morten supports on drums during “The Bandstand” and provides some lovely improv on “Analogue”. Although he falters slightly on the famous “Summer Moved On” note, he recovers without blinking an eye. Magne admirably tries his hand at speaking German while introducing the band and assumes the usual role of crowd-instigator. There’s something magical about hearing “Stay On These Roads” live while looking out over the people kissing as they gaze on the Elbe. “Looking for the Whales” just keeps sounding better and more authentic the more they play it and it is warmly received. The acoustic break is graced by a newer addition to the set list, “Seemingly Non-stop July” as well as “And You Tell Me”. Cry Wolf is executed better than any studio recording.

After the retrospective video, “Hunting High and Low” is carried in on an acoustic opening and the usual crowd sing-along ensues at the finale. “The Sun Always Shines on TV” is particularly majestic tonight. The crowd really has to beg for “Take On Me” but ultimately there’s no doubt that it’s coming. At last, the band is given a hero’s departure in the final moments of a truly spectacular night.

Videos:

Photos:

Photos above courtesy of Eve Desianto

More photos: DNN-online.de

Were you there?

Please share your memories of this concert in the comments! Links to photos and videos are welcome.