2002-08-04
July's PR efforts were focused on the UK, where Morten appeared on several TV and radio shows. But we also bring an interview from Switzerland, news on a new art exhibition featuring Magne's work and... you can vote for the 'Take On Me' video!
MORTEN TAKES THE UK RADIO AND TV STUDIO TOUR
In late June and early July, Morten took part in various radio and TV talk shows in England. Among those were Liquid News (BBC TV), BBC London Radio, GMTV, Five Live Radio, Richard and Judy (Channel 4), Graham Norton and The Jonathan Ross Show (BBC Radio 2)
Unfortunately, there is not much information on those appearances on the internet. We did find a link to the complete radio interview with Jonathan Ross and a short clip as well as a picture of Morten backstage the Graham Norton show - and offer you the following show summaries:
Liquid News - June 24, 2002
Morten appeared on the evening show with the Radio 1 DJ, Emma B. Liquid News describes itself as "drip feeding you the very latest stories in the world of showbiz, music, film and television". So, a bit of promotion with a heavy dose of gossip!
Despite the many opportunities to pass comment and judgment upon such like Angelina Jolie, Billy Bob Thornton, and U2's Bono, Morten maintained a 'live and let live' attitude and made it clear that the goings on of Hollywood were not really at the top of his agenda.
However, after a little time, patience, and a bit a flirting from Emma B, an excerpt of the ‘Lifelines' single and video was shown and given a definite nod of approval.
The viewers also got to see a special clip of Morten presenting the Eurovision Song Contest several years ago.
"It was the last thing I would consider doing," Morten commented on his presenter's job. "The reason for doing it was that I actually hated the idea and so I thought "This is interesting."
"Would a-ha consider writing any songs in Norwegian?" the host asked. Morten replied in the negative. Before the titles rolled, there was a last opportunity to mention the Royal Albert Hall concert the next day.
Richard and Judy - June 26, 2002
Chit chat on the sofa with Britain's most famous daytime television couple. Richard and Judy kicked off by startling us all with their knowledge of Norway - it's where pickled herring comes from.
"But unlike pickled herring, we are fresh" Morten quipped. Rather than pursuing the subject of a-ha's hugely successful performance the previous evening, Richard and Judy decided that Morten's appearance at the age of 42 was what interested them the most. Richard and Judy certainly thought Morten looked great! Morten wasn't willing to fly in the face of popular opinion and asked "can we move on?"
The remainder of the conversation consisted of the Royal Albert Hall concert. Morten's comments regarding the sell-out gig were "fantastic, great crowd." He went on to please many fans by saying "We do not really belong in a particular area. To some people we do, because we remind them of certain things back then, but we just play to people, so there are a lot of new people and we recognise a lot of them as well!"
There were also mentions of the ‘Lifelines' album and single, the UK concert dates for October and quite a bit about the geography of Norway. After a quick clip of the ‘Lifelines' video Morten was asked where about it was filmed. With rather an embarrassed expression he confessed he couldn't remember.
Graham Norton - July 1, 2002
Graham Norton's style is comic and lighthearted and there is great emphasis on audience participation. A few dedicated British a-ha fans sat right at the front with their a-ha/union jack flag!
Morten appeared on the show alongside the novelist Jackie Collins. While Graham Norton did very well plugging the new album and single and briefly mentioned the Royal Albert Hall concert, he also produced some very old a-ha photos featuring the band in some very interesting knitwear which created quite a bit of giggling!
The show finished with a demonstration of the traditional Norwegian 'art' of kicking a hat off a pole held high in the air - which was said to be an old tradition to impress girls.
short video clip from the show; you need Real Player to watch it
Morten backstage at Graham Norton
GMTV (Get up and Give) - July 3, 2002
The early morning breakfast show was host to a-ha recently during their Charity Phone-In and gave the band their first opportunity to perform ‘Lifelines' on British Television. The one thing that stuck in people's heads about this appearance was the fact that a-ha were presented as Icelandic - causing a few smiles amongst the band members!
The Jonathan Ross Show - July 13, 2002
The full-length Morten interview with Jonathan Ross is featured on this page:
Interview (scroll down until you see the link to the audio file)
WRITTEN PRESS AROUND EUROPE
May Kristin Kaspersen on her concerts with a-ha in Moscow and Minsk
July 1, 2002 - Drammens Tidende (newspaper, Norway)
"It's been a fantastic experience," says May Kristin Kaspersen to Drammens Tidende. She has just returned from two concerts with a-ha in Moscow and Minsk, where she took Anneli Drecker's place on backing vocals and sang the duet 'Turn the lights down' with Morten.
"I felt very well at home with the band. They were extremely friendly and they accepted me as if I was one of the team," she continues. To Dagbladet she says: "They're a nice bunch of people, and together with the backing band, it almost felt like a big family."
She adds that having such a good contact with Morten, Magne and Paul was the main reason that she didn't feel nervous when she had to sing in front of 15.000 people. "I was happy the entire week before, and I was just happy during the concerts as well."
Barely a week before the Moscow concert, first contact was made. May Kristin had a meeting with Morten at his home, where they sang 'Lifelines' and 'Turn the lights down'. The only preparation she had for the concerts themselves were the sound checks.
But despite the sudden decision for all those involved, the concerts themselves went smoothly. Morten commented: "It went very well. May Kristin is brave and handled the pressure unusually well."
At the moment, there are no further concert plans between a-ha and May Kristin, but for the latter, those two concerts were "an experience for life."
dt.no
dagbladet.no
Magne's art in the Norwegian town Moss
July 20, 2002 - Moss Avis (paper, Norway)
On July 20, Axelines on Jeløy, Moss opened a temporary exhibition with works on loan from Norske Grafikeres Galleri in Oslo. Among the featured artists, we find Per Kleiva, Magne Furuholmen, Gino Scarpa, Inge Iversen and Torstein Rittun. Some of the works are for sale.
The exhibition runs until August 17. Perhaps something for those holidaying in Norway?
Location: Axelines, Nordre Ås, Jeløy (Moss)
moss-avis.no
'Take On Me' video in the running for 'best video of all times' - again
July 29, 2002 - Dagbladet (paper, Norway)
The Norwegian daily Dagbladet organizes a contest for the 'best video of all times'. a-ha's 'Take On Me' is currently in the lead with about a quarter of the votes.
dagbladet.no
No more need for 'a-ha Anonymous'
July 30, 2002 - Liverpool Echo (paper, UK)
The Liverpool Echo published an interview with all three band members. An interesting quote is about how it's become hip to like a-ha now. Says Morten "I had the idea to call the fans 'a-ha Anonymous' because there was a time when we weren't the coolest band."
icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk (click on 'next' at the bottom of each page to read the following page)
Morten: "People would be surprised if they'd come and see us play."
July 31, 2002 - OK! Magazine (magazine, UK)
Julia Davis interviews Morten for the popular OK! Magazine. When she asks him whether he ever gets nervous for a show, Morten replies that nerves no longer affect him when he has to do a TV show, because he's been doing that for so long. Live performances, however, are a different thing.
"You're totally dependent on the way you hear yourself. If you see singers who are out of pitch on TV, it's not because the guy or girl can't sing, but because they hear other things."
Davis wonders whether the raving reviews a-ha got for their Royal Albert Hall gig still means something. Morten replies the question affirmatively, "because people who work for newspapers tend to form the general public's opinion and most people don't get to hear us. Certainly in the early days, we were a heavily stigmatised band, but if people come and see us play, it would be a surprise to most of them."
When asked whether he prefers writing or performing, Morten answers: "If I had to choose, I would say writing because there is a sense of freedom that is unmatched by anything else."
Morten also unveils that if he didn't believe in the results of what he does, he'd move away from music. Apparently, he doesn't need the 'catwalk' as he calls it, but says that for some artists, or people, "it is the essence of why they are there." He does add though that the 'catwalk' is a "very valid and also an important part" of the music industry, one that "has always been there."
"Youth is wasted on the young"
July 2002 - Good News Magazine (music magazine, Switzerland)
Good News is a Swiss concert and event agency. They publish their own music magazine, focusing on acts that will visit Switzerland in the months to come. In their July edition, they published an interview with Morten. Here are the most interesting Q&A's.
Why did you use Oscar Wilde's expression 'Youth is wasted on the young' in the album booklet?
Morten: One evening, I threw this deep quote - which I already knew since my youth - into the group. The graphic designer picked it up, thinking it was cool. Later, we found it back in the booklet.
Shortly before a-ha's comeback, you celebrated your 40th birthday. how did that make you feel?
This 'big-0' birthday didn't bring a lot of thoughts about my age with it. What was unusual was that the band celebrated that birthday with me. Paul and Magne and their wives came by a large birthday cake, because in our private lives, our paths don't cross so often. A few other close friends were there too, as well as my girlfriend and my children.
Do you want to prove with the comeback that you still have something to offer?
I am convinced that the band hasn't reached its full potential yet. When we all pull in the same direction rather than blocking each other, we can reach more still.
How do you handle with performance pressure?
That kind of pressure was not applied on us from outside. We pushed ourselves, because then you can reach more. Chart positions are not so important for me personally, but it is a way to know whether you have managed to reach and touch people with your music.
How did you arrive at the phrase 'Forever not yours'?
It's a line I picked up from the radio. I think that it's a stronger declaration of love than 'forever yours', because it shows that you realize that you can't be sure that you will always be with that person whom you cannot imagine your life without right now.
The text has nothing to do with my ex-wife specifically. It can happen in every relationship. Despite the fact that you love someone, it can happen that you can only helplessly observe how someone moves further and further away from you and finally disappears at the horizon. You lose the center of your life - and yet, the earth keeps turning.
You don't write many songs, but the ones that do exist show quite some depth.
Not always. 'Cannot Hide' describes a situation that everybody is familiar with. You're in a disco and a girl approaches you - coming so close, that you can touch her. And yet, you hold back - but you do experience how your body reacts to this closeness. You wonder if she knows what effect she has on you. So there's nothing philosophical about that; it's merely about primal instincts... (laughs)
The Independent: "Norway is the country that gave us a-ha"
August 1, 2002 - The Independent and VG (papers, UK and Norway)
Now that the UN has placed Norway on top of their annual list of countries with the highest life quality, the UK paper The Independent' started an investigation into the reasons for that top position. The article's opening line is " It's the country that gave us a-ha and Munch's 'Scream' (not to mention the mackerel and the paper-clip)."
So a-ha is still spontaneously regarded as one of Norway's 'most important export products' :-)
Only a shame that The Independent writes "Morten Harket, the lead singer of Eighties pop phenomenon a-ha, hailed from Norway" - instead of mentioning that a-ha is a Norwegian band as a whole; or that the said Morten Harket still hails from Norway.
The article in the important UK paper immediately prompted a reply from the Norwegian paper VG.
news.independent.co.uk
dagbladet.no(with picture of Morten in traditional Norwegian attire)
Photo by Roman Pisarenko
Thanks to Elizabeth Davies and Sue Couch for the info on the UK media appearances