It’s no secret that A-ha’s “Take On Me” was one of the greatest hits of the ’80s, thanks to Morten Harket’s incredible high notes. What you might not know is that Harket can still deliver those notes live, even decades later. At age 45, he showcased his vocal talent at the Live 8 concert in 2005, sounding just as amazing as he did in 1984.
On July 2, 2005, A-ha performed at the Berlin Victory Column for the Live 8 charity concert, playing three of their biggest hits. When the iconic keyboard melody of “Take On Me” began, the crowd knew they were in for a treat. Harket first sang the chorus in harmony with his bandmates, then nailed the famous high falsetto note with ease.
The live performance had a rock feel, fitting for the arena setting. Fans praised Harket’s vocals, commenting on his perfect pitch and lack of Auto-Tune. The performance has racked up 80 million views on YouTube, making it the band’s second most popular live video, after their MTV Unplugged version of “Take On Me,” which has 105 million views.
Live 8, organized by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was a series of benefit concerts in 2005 supporting the Make Poverty History campaign. A-ha’s set in Berlin included “Take On Me,” “Summer Moved On,” and “Hunting High And Low.”