a-ha’s ‘Take On Me’ hits n1 in the UK charts after 34 years (!) + first show in Singapore + first two parts ‘Take On Me’ rockumentary available

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 13:17:25 +0000

First some good news for our Asian readers, a-ha will be doing their very first show in Southeast Asia on 21 March in Singapore. You can get your tickets here.

“Take On Me” documentary

And that’s not the only news from the Norwegian trio. Also up are the first 2 parts in the story behind a-ha’s multi-platinum hit “Take On Me”. The three-part documentary will be completed tomorrow. ‘The Making Of… Take On Me’ includes an array of talking heads including Nile Rodgers, Ed Sheeran, the song’s producer, Alan Tarney, Bunty Bailey, and the video’s designers / animators, Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson.

Below are part 1 and 2

“Take On Me” hits n1 in the UK

In further news, “Take On Me” has hit the number 1 spot in the UK Physical Singles Chart via the re-release as an exclusive, limited edition coloured 7” vinyl.

Although “Take On Me” went to number 1 in many countries back in 1985, it did not reach the top of the chart in the UK – until now. The blue 7” vinyl includes “Take On Me” as produced by Alan Tarney and “Take On Me” in the 1984 version in an alternate mix, produced by Tony Mansfield.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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David Bowie demo ‘Let’s Dance’ released – listen here

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 19:30:02 +0000

Today, on what would have been the 71st birthday of David Bowie, a previously unheard demo version of his 1983 hit single “Let’s Dance” has been released. You can listen to the demo below.

The demo was recorded on 19 December 1982 in Montreux, Switzerland featuring Turkish multi-instrumentalist Erdal Kizilcay and an unidentified session drummer and second equally unidentified session guitarist (too bad for their missed stardom although producer Nile Rodgers hopes they will come forward).

“Let’s Dance” would later on feature on the album with the same name in April 1983, co-produced by Chic’s Nile Rodgers. The album contains 3 of Bowie’s most successful singles; the title track, “Let’s Dance”, as well as “Modern Love” and “China Girl”. “China Girl” was a new version of a song which Bowie had co-written with Iggy Pop for the latter’s 1977 album “The Idiot”. It also contains a re-recorded version of the song “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)”.

The “Let’s Dance” demo as it is being released now has been mixed by Nile Rodgers and Russell Graham at Nile’s Le Crib Studios in Westport, Connecticut last year just before Christmas. The demo lasts for just over five minutes and gives a raw insight in what was to become a worldwide hit in a more polished and produced re-recorded version.