For their MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice shows on the small Norwegian Island of Giske, A-Ha played 17 songs in completely new arrangements as well as two new songs and two cover versions on vintage acoustic instruments, accompanied by a backing band featuring Karl Oluf Wennerberg on drums, Even Ormestad on acoustic bass, Morten Qvenild on piano and various acoustic keyboards, Lars Horntveth on multiple instruments and Madeleine Ossum on violin and vocals, Tove Margrethe Erikstad on cello and Emilie Heldal Lidsheim on viola and backing vocals.

Furthermore, a total of four guest stars served as duet partners for Morten Harket. Most notably, Echo & The Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch had been invited by Magne Furuholmen to sing “Scoundrel Days” and Ian’s very own “The Killing Moon” on the first of the two shows. On the second night, A-Ha were joined by Alison Moyet of Yazoo fame to duet with Morten on “Summer Moved On.” Highasakite’s Ingrid Helene Håvik guested on “The Sun Always Shines on TV” on both nights, while, last but not least, American singer Lissie did the same on “I’ve Been Losing You.”

There are only a few bands in the world who can look back on similarly close ties with the music channel MTV as A-Ha. Alongside the likes of Duran Duran and Yello, in 1985 A-Ha were worldwide pioneers who immediately understood the power of the music video as both a narrative and commercial tool. Steve Barron’s classic “Take On Me” clip is still a milestone of music video and in 2003 was voted by the MTV audience as one of the top ten best videos ever made. There have long been efforts by A-Ha and MTV to organize an Unplugged concert. Here it is at long last!