'80s Pop-Rock Band Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 41 Years After No. 1 Hit

Norwegian pop-rock band a-ha is enjoying another chart milestone more than four decades after releasing its signature hit. 

The group’s classic single “Take On Me” has re-entered the Billboard Global 200 at No. 179, extending the song’s remarkable longevity 41 years after it became the band’s only No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

According to the latest Billboard Global 200 rankings, “Take On Me” returns to the chart at No. 179. The song previously reached a peak of No. 57 on the global ranking and has now spent 228 weeks on the chart, underscoring its enduring worldwide popularity.

Originally released in 1984 before being re-recorded and reissued in 1985, “Take On Me” transformed a-ha from an emerging Norwegian act into one of the defining bands of the 1980s. 

The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1985, becoming the trio’s only No. 1 single in the United States and their biggest international success.

“Take On Me” has enjoyed one of the longest-lasting careers of any 1980s pop hit.

After its original 1984 release failed to make a major commercial impact, a-ha re-recorded the track with producer Alan Tarney for the band’s debut album, Hunting High and Low (1985). Warner Bros. also invested in a new music video directed by Steve Barron, featuring its groundbreaking blend of live action and pencil-sketch animation through rotoscoping.

The combination of the updated recording and the innovative video helped propel the song to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1985. It also climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and topped charts across several countries, including Norway, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands.

The single remains the band’s only No. 1 hit in the United States, making its latest Billboard Global 200 return another significant milestone in its long chart history.

Beyond its original chart run, “Take On Me” has continued to generate strong streaming numbers in recent years. The song previously reached No. 57 on the Billboard Global 200 and has now accumulated 228 total weeks on the chart.

The song’s popularity has extended well beyond traditional radio. Its iconic music video, famous for combining live action with hand-drawn animation, remains one of the most recognizable videos in music history. It won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards and continues to attract viewers decades after its debut.

The band’s acoustic reinterpretation of “Take On Me,” recorded during MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice, has also found a large online audience.

According to The Music Man, the stripped-back version has amassed approximately 89 million YouTube views, while the band’s Live 8 performance has reached around 80 million views. Their MTV Unplugged performance of the song has become their most-watched live performance on YouTube, surpassing 105 million views.

The renewed attention comes during another active period for the band. In February 2026, a-ha announced a 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of their 2005 album Analogue, featuring previously unreleased recordings, remastered editions, demos, alternate versions and vinyl releases.

Formed in Oslo in 1982 by Morten Harket, Pål Waaktaar-Savoy, and Magne Furuholmen, a-ha has released eleven studio albums and sold more than 100 million albums and singles worldwide. While the band produced numerous international hits throughout Europe, “Take On Me” remains its defining global anthem.

Related: 1982 Rock Song, Once Spent 21 Weeks Charting, Became a Timeless Anthem