UNITED BY A-HA ON THE NET

UNITED BY A-HA ON THE NET


by Yngve Ekern (translated by cindy kandolf)

They come from many countries and have never seen one another before, but
they have seen a-ha's future.  Here is the Internet fan club.

a-ha is together again and all the girls' hearts are a-flutter.  Well,
except that you can hardly call them girls' any more, these fan club
hearts that are beating with joy for the reunion of Morten & Co.

"Oh no, you're not going to get us to say anything about Aqua-Lene or
anything else about the boys' private lives!" they cry in unison after a
cautious question about how it feels when their aging heroes show
interest in sweet young things that are younger than themselves.

They have come from England, the US, Finland, Belgium - and Bergen - and
most of them are closing in on 30.  So it isn't the latest gossip that
interests this gang.  What really gets them excited is the news that the
Norwegian band has a future together again.

"We met each other on the net, where we've been discussing a-ha's music
for some time.  When we heard that they were going to perform at the
Peace Prize concert, we decided to meet in Oslo.  We came for what we
thought then would be their last concert ever.  But it wasn't good-bye,
it was welcome back!" says Sabine Clement.

FANTASTIC CONCERT

When news of a new album with a world tour to follow hit the Web site
www.a-ha.net, things got hectic.  Site host Peter Losher only got two or
three hours of sleep in two days, and the trip to Norway took on new
meaning.

"The concert was fantastic, and it's a positive sign of what is to come.
They seemed very relaxed and very contented," states Emma Kay from
England.  They have noticed that the new song, "Summer Moved On", got
mixed reviews.

"It seemed really good, it fits the band's situation right now.  It would
be a great album track, but it didn't immediately stand out as their next
big hit," says Peter Losher, and that starts the panel of experts off on
their analysis.

a-ha is not an '80s band like people say, as it even claimed in the
concert pogram.  They are a band for the '90s - and the new millenium.
It's the substance of the music and lyrics that appeal to their feelings
and thoughts, not the boys' appearance.  On this the Internet group is
unanimous.  When we begin to discuss their wishes for the next album, they
have varying opinions, but Sabine Clement speaks for them all when she
says:

"We hope that the band will be taken seriously, as they deserve.  And
maybe then we'll be taken seriously, too."

[Aftenposten:] "Oh, by the way, who won the peace prize?"

"We are actually grown-ups who follow the news.  It was John Hume and
David Trimble."