Posted on

My Gen X Playlist: Take On Me – A-Ha

Scroll down to see more content
Daily writing prompt
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
View all responses

I have a hard time unplugging. It’s the workaholic in me. But I’ve been learning to, gradually, sometimes not by choice.

After my brain surgery, I still planned on checking emails during recovery. I didn’t want to get too far behind on projects and I wanted to stay in the loop. When I went on short term disability though, my company shut everything down. I didn’t have access to anything, including email. Well, that made my decision for me.

Backpacking and camping trips are great. They usually are not accompanied with cell service. Besides, who wants to scroll through emails while having coffee at sunrise or sitting around a campfire at night. Unplugging is a gift. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

I used to love MTV Unplugged performances in the 90’s. Back then, you had to patiently wait until they played it on MTV or buy the CDs. While searching for music on YouTube, I came across an A-Ha unplugged performance. I thought this stripped down version of Take On Me was pretty good, a significantly slower pace from the original. The original music video was cutting edge back then and a big deal when it first came out on MTV. According to Music Videos Ranked, it is the 3rd best video of all time. Not too shabby.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Talking away
I don't know what I'm to say
I'll say it anyway
Today is another day to find you
Shying away
I'll be coming for your love. OK?

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day or two

So needless to say
Of odds and ends
But I'll be stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me,
"It's no better to be safe than sorry."

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day or two

Oh, things that you say. Yeah.
Is it life or just to play my worries away?
You're all the things I've got to remember
You're shying away
I'll be coming for you anyway

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)

23 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Take On Me – A-Ha”

  3. Holy wow! Nothing like an acoustic, poignant 2017 version of “Take On Me” to make you think back on the last 30+ years of your life. I’m one of those moms in the audience 🥲

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Your comment led me to rewatch the video. I hadn’t notice the audience silently singing along and I was able to view it differently. It does bring me back. And sitting in that audience, how could you not sing along? Thanks for comment and allowing me a second look…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. You’re welcome. Thanks for highlighting it! I also liked the top comment “he looks like the most understanding dad in the world now” my, how GenX has grown since frenetic A-Ha days of 1985/6

        Liked by 1 person

  4. What a beautiful song to start a Friday! I like this song and I played it in my car sometimes. The acoustic version of the song is beautiful too.
    It is important to unplug and enjoy a few days away from work.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Oh wow. This is STILL my favourite song since I first heard it all those years ago and my feelings have not changed about this song. And I still feel that excitement. But seeing the stripped down version is the first time seeing and I like it.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. Yes. After reading this post and watching the video you shared, I just had to watch the original again. My feelings will never change for this song. I will always feel the excitement as I did then because the video, I just knew a lot of work would have gone into it and for that era, the video was remarkable.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. I am so glad that you were forced to unplug after brain surgery. I’m sure you needed to let your brain heal. It is difficult to leave work at work, though. Our identity is often wrapped up in our job.

    I watched both A-Ha videos. I remember watching the original one on MTV back in the day, and I was blown away by the creative way they blended both worlds. Iconic song! The unplugged version is so good too! Many years ago, my son had the Rock Band game for X-Box. This was one of the songs that you could perform. My brother was the only one who could hit that super high note…”in a day or TWO!!” I noticed that the vocalist doesn’t even try to hit that high note in the unplugged version. You could pull a muscle trying to hit that note!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. The original video was so cool, especially back then when MTV was still relatively new. Yes, that high note would definitely pull a muscle if you are not too careful! That made me laugh! Thanks for that!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. You’re right, unplugging is a challenge… even as a retired person with no work obligations I find I’m often gravitating toward picking up the phone (sometimes to catch up on blogs LOL!). I’ve made a point of not being on my phone at all when we’re with our grandsons as I don’t want to influence them with the idea it’s a good thing… plus the time with them is so precious, what else could be more important?

    I hadn’t heard this version of “Take Me On” before. While I really enjoy some stripped down/acoustic renditions, this one didn’t really work for me as the energy of the original is part of the appeal. But I’m glad to have checked it out, thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment