Forever Not Yours

Last updated

"Forever Not Yours"
Cover-forever-big.jpg
Single by A-ha
from the album Lifelines
ReleasedApril 2, 2002
Studio
  • Lydlab (Oslo)
  • Strongroom (London)
Genre Synth-pop
Length4:08 (single version)
Label WEA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
A-ha singles chronology
"I Wish I Cared"
(2001)
"Forever Not Yours"
(2002)
"Lifelines"
(2002)
Music video
"Forever Not Yours" on YouTube

"Forever Not Yours" is a song by Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha, released as the lead single from their seventh studio album, Lifelines . It was sent to radio stations in parts of Europe on 22 February 2002 (15 April in Belgium) and was released commercially on 2 April.

Contents

The cover of the commercial release features a closeup shot of the black front end of a 1950s Cadillac standing on flatland.

Background

Band vocalist Morten Harket described the song as "one of those songs that sums us up. Melancholy, and at the same time uplifting – soaring."[ citation needed ]

The phrase "forever not yours" is a play on the love letter sign off "forever yours".

Music video

The song's music video, filmed on location in Cuba, was directed by Harald Zwart. The theme of the video is based on the Biblical floods and Noah's Ark. There are many famous faces entering the 'VIP entrance' in this video, including look-a-likes for Desmond Tutu, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, and Elizabeth II.

MTV Unplugged appearance

In 2017, A-ha appeared on the television series MTV Unplugged and played and recorded acoustic versions of many of their popular songs for the album MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice in Giske, Norway, including "Forever Not Yours". [1]

Track listing

  1. "Forever Not Yours" – 4:08
  2. "Differences" (original demo) – 2:49
  3. "Hunting High and Low" (live in Oslo) – 7:07
  4. "Manhattan Skyline" (live in Oslo) – 6:14

Charts

Chart performance for "Forever Not Yours"
Chart (2002)Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [2] 31
Czech Republic (IFPI) [3] 2
Germany (GfK) [4] 18
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) [5] 15
Italy (FIMI) [6] 24
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [7] 82
Norway (VG-lista) [8] 1
Poland ( Music & Media ) [9] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [10] 46
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [11] 26
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 175

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-ha</span> Norwegian synth-pop band

A-ha is a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. Founded by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Magne Furuholmen, and Morten Harket, the band rose to fame during the mid-1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harald Zwart</span> Dutch-Norwegian film director

Harald Zwart is a Dutch-Norwegian film director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Waaktaar-Savoy</span> Norwegian musician and songwriter (born 1961)

Paul Waaktaar-Savoy is a Norwegian musician and songwriter. Waaktaar-Savoy is best known for his work as the main songwriter and guitarist in the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, which has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. He has written or co-written most of the band's biggest hits, including "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.", "Hunting High and Low", "Take On Me", the 1987 James Bond theme "The Living Daylights" and the ballad "Summer Moved On". In addition, Waaktaar-Savoy is also a painter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magne Furuholmen</span> Norwegian musician and visual artist

Magne Furuholmen is a Norwegian musician and visual artist. Also known by his stage name Mags, he is the keyboardist of the synth-pop band A-ha and co-wrote hits such as "Take On Me", "Stay on These Roads", "Manhattan Skyline", "Cry Wolf", "Forever Not Yours", "Analogue ", "Minor Earth Major Sky", "Touchy!", "You Are the One", "Move To Memphis" and "Foot of the Mountain". A-ha has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. He was named Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav by King Harald for his services to Norwegian music and his international success.

<i>Lifelines</i> (A-ha album) 2002 studio album by A-ha

Lifelines is the seventh studio album by the Norwegian band A-ha, released on 24 April 2002 by WEA. The album topped the charts in Norway and Germany, and reached the top 10 in Austria, Denmark, Poland and Switzerland. In 2019, Lifelines and Minor Earth Major Sky, both of A-ha's albums recorded for Warner Music Germany, were remastered and re-released with an extra disc, which contained demos, early versions and alternate mixes. They also received their first official vinyl releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sun Always Shines on T.V.</span> 1985 single by a-ha

"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is a song by Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, released as the third single from their debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The song was written by guitarist Pål Waaktaar. In some commercial markets the single was not as popular as their previous (debut) single "Take On Me", which had reached the top spot in the United States and several other countries around the world, but in the United Kingdom and Ireland it improved upon the number-two charting of "Take On Me", reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 1986, having been released there on 16 December 1985. Its success secured for the band the prestige of having number-one single status on both primary Anglo-American popular music charts on either side of the Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Been Losing You</span> 1986 single by A-ha

"I've Been Losing You" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released as the lead single from their second studio album, Scoundrel Days (1986). It reached number one in Denmark and Norway, and number eight in the United Kingdom. It achieved worldwide sales of over 1.1 million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Moved On</span> 2000 single by a-ha

"Summer Moved On" is a song by Norwegian band a-ha, released as the group's first single in more than six years. The lead single from their sixth studio album, Minor Earth Major Sky (2000), the song was released in Europe on 25 March 2000 by WEA and was given a UK release on 22 May 2000. It was originally hastily written after a-ha agreed to a one-time reunion at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 1998. The song became a number-one radio hit in much of Europe, including topping the chart in the band's native Norway. On the song, Morten Harket achieved the European record for the longest note held in a top-40 pop song; he sustains a chest voice note for 20.2 seconds. Its music video was directed by Adam Berg and filmed in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Analogue (All I Want)</span> 2005 single by a-ha

"Analogue (All I Want)" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha. It is the title track of their eighth studio album (2005). The song was released as a single on 30 December 2005 and became a top-10 hit in Norway and the United Kingdom, their first in the latter country since 1988's "Stay on These Roads".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifelines (song)</span> 2002 single by A-ha

"Lifelines" was the second single and the title track from A-ha's 2002 album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting High and Low (A-ha song)</span> 1986 single by a-ha

"Hunting High and Low" is a song by Norwegian band a-ha, released in June 1986 as the fifth and final single from the band's debut studio album of the same name (1985). It became the third most successful single from Hunting High and Low on the charts and one of the band's most recognizable and popular songs. The song did not chart in the United States, but reached the top five in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manhattan Skyline (song)</span> 1987 single by A-ha

"Manhattan Skyline" is a song by Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha, released in February 1987 as the third single from their second studio album, Scoundrel Days (1986). It reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Living Daylights (song)</span> 1987 single by A-ha

"The Living Daylights" is the theme song from the 1987 James Bond film of the same name, performed by Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha. It was written by guitarist Pål Waaktaar. A revised version of the song was included on the band's third studio album, Stay on These Roads (1988).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay on These Roads (song)</span> 1988 single by A-ha

"Stay on These Roads" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 14 March 1988 by Warner Bros. Records as the lead single from their third studio album of the same name (1988). The song achieved success in many European countries, becoming the most successful single from the Stay on These Roads album, along with "The Living Daylights" on the UK charts. It did not hit the national charts in the United States, but was a significant hit across Europe. It went to number seven in West Germany, number three in France and Iceland, and number two in Ireland. In Norway, the song was the band's fourth number one single. "Stay on These Roads" was A-ha's seventh and final top five showing in the United Kingdom, reaching number five on the chart edition of March 27, 1988. It would also prove their last top ten hit in the country for almost two decades, as they did not score another UK top ten hit until eighteen years later in 2006. The song's music video was directed by Andy Morahan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foot of the Mountain (song)</span> 2009 single by A-ha

"Foot of the Mountain" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released as the lead single from their ninth studio album of the same name (2009). It was used as the official anthem of the 2009 World Championships in Athletics held in Berlin. The single reached number three in Germany, the band's highest-charting single in that country since "Take On Me" in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take On Me</span> 1984 song by a-ha

"Take On Me" is a song by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha. The original version, recorded in 1984 and released in October of that same year, was produced by Tony Mansfield and remixed by John Ratcliff. The 1985 international hit version was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The recording combines synth-pop with a varied instrumentation, including acoustic guitars, keyboards, and drums.

<i>Ending on a High Note: The Final Concert</i> 2011 live album by A-ha

Ending on a High Note: The Final Concert is a live album by Norwegian band a-ha, released on 1 April 2011. It was recorded at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo on 4 December 2010, which was initially planned to be their final concert before their eventual reunion in 2015. The concert on the previous night was also recorded as a back-up. The album contains the entire set from the final concert with the exception of "The Bandstand" and "Bowling Green", the latter being an Everly Brothers cover the band performed as part of the final encore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morten Harket</span> Norwegian singer (born 1959)

Morten Harket is a Norwegian singer who is the lead vocalist of the synth-pop band A-ha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Kind of Christmas Card</span> 1995 single by Morten Harket

"A Kind of Christmas Card" is the debut solo single by Norwegian singer Morten Harket from a-ha, released in August 1995 by Warner Bros. as the first single from his second album, Wild Seed (1995). The song was written by Håvard Rem and Harket, and produced by Christopher Neil. "A Kind of Christmas Card" reached No. 1 in Norway, No. 9 in Iceland, and No. 53 in the United Kingdom. Harket received the Spellemannprisen "Song of the Year" award for "A Kind of Christmas Card".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Steps (song)</span> 1995 single by Morten Harket

Spanish Steps is a song by the Norwegian singer Morten Harket, which was released in 1995 as the second single from his debut solo album Wild Seed. It was written by Torstein Flakne, Håvard Rem (lyrics) and Harket (lyrics), and produced by Christopher Neil. "Spanish Steps" reached No. 14 on the Norwegian VG-lista chart.

References

  1. Hoftun Gjestad, Robert (23 June 2017). "Etter 30 år med "tension" fant a-ha tonen igjen i kampen mot en felles fiende" [After 30 years of "tension", A-ha found their sound again, in their fight against a common enemy]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian Bokmål).
  2. "a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  3. "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 22 – Radio 2002" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Archived from the original on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  4. "a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  6. "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  7. "a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  8. "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  9. "Major Market Airplay – Week 19/2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 19. 4 May 2002. p. 27. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  10. "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  11. "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  12. "Chart Log UK (1994–2010): A – Azzido Da Bass". Zobbel. Retrieved 17 June 2021.