a-ha: ranking highs and lows

“You’re hoping for rankings / Well, just look around / Everyone here is standing in line”

Dear a-ha friends,It’s time we made good on our promise to record a new episode of ‘a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows’ - as far as we know the world’s only (and therefore arguably: best) podcast solely dedicated to the wonderful music of a-ha and their related solo projects. And this episode is of course a ranking of the songs from Magne’s new album ‘living with ourselves’ (and in case anyone is wondering: Yes, every cell in our bodies screams for us to begin the words with capital letters, but we can’t argue with artists, can we? Maybe we can).

Anyway, it’s not a secret that we are rather fond of ‘living with ourselves’ so if you decided to press Play on this episode hoping to listen to three angry middle-aged men (us, not a-ha), you’ll be unpleasantly surprised. However, you will get to hear about currency exchange rates, Peter the Producer’s sneaky musical adventures as a young boy, a conversation at work that maybe robbed Jesper of a treasured item, and the idea for a band called “a-heatles” and a single called “Gospel from a Beatle”.

We also speculate what it takes for a Magne to be a John, if 400.000 NOK is enough to send three people to Southern France to record an album, and how much time a-ha owes us back. We also talk a little about Depeche Mode, Babybird, Sting, and Tom Waits, and we talk a fair bit about a-ha and of course a lot about Magne.

We hope you’ll like the episode and that it might even inspire a few of you who haven’t listened to the album yet - or only a few times - to give it some more spins (or streams, probably).

And as always: we appreciate all the comments we get from you guys and guysettes so keep ‘em coming. Please also make sure to like, subscribe, share and whatever else it takes to become friends with the algorithm.

We’ll surely find something else to rank eventually - this is a year to celebrate after all - so we’ll certainly be back. Until then!

All the best,

JP, Jesper and Peter the Producer


“Your life is a podcast / The rankings are you”

In this episode we rank the 20 best music videos from a-ha. We also consider taking up synchronised swimming, we recall a sad day in 1991, and we have lengthy discussions about feet. We also hear about a cool gadget in Jesper’s teenage room, we discuss plot holes, find the optimal role for Morten in Hollywood, and speculate if slow-cooked wolf is a delicacy.

We also do some book research, speculate who would get rescued on Noah’s ark today, recount JP’s stellar performance in a remake of a classic video, and use the word “cool” way too much. We also speculate who normally gets the idea to have Morten appear semi-naked in so many videos.

There are also more cars, more girls and more animals in this episode, and we try to assess the chances of a-ha getting nominated for an Academy Award, and JP’s pronunciation of the word “tour” sounds increasingly like the German word for “door”. We also argue a bit about the top ranked video (a pointless argument, really), and we discuss if a-ha has done any good to the perception of what it means to be a nurse.

Among all that we manage to also rank 20 videos, so there should still be plenty of a-ha related content to keep the listener engaged (we hope). It’s all sprinkled with the usual loving stabs at each other, Peter the Producer’s ability to cut through the discussions, and most of all: Love of a-ha, their music and their videos!

We of course also have a Facebook page and an Instagram account where you can leave a comment or stay informed about upcoming episodes.

In this episode of "a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows" we revist the MUSIC VIDEOS to see which ones have stood the test of time, and which ones fall flat. Not surprisingly we have a lot to say, so we’ve split the ranking into two parts. The upside of that is that there will be another episode out very soon, and the downside is… well, there ARE no downsides, as far as we can see.

In this first episode we’re covering the music videos ranked from 40 to 21 on our list. This means that we’re addressing various half-baked ideas, complain about exaggerated use of the frog perspective, try to summon ZZ Top, and remember some childhood toys that were popular among those of us at Ranking Highs and Lows who didn’t have MTV or cable in their childhood (that’s JP, in case you’re wondering).

We’re also talking about clothes, and the lack thereof, and Peter the Producer pushes a video further up the list. Jesper and JP recall copying one of Morten’s most iconic outfits, and we’re speculating about a possible nomination for Pål in Farmer’s Digest. We’re also advising against being the guy who always brings his guitar to a bonfire, and Jesper complains about a video that he thinks was made in 20 minutes of spare time, while JP confesses his love of bad taste.

We also complain about wasted opportunities (for a-ha, not for us), speculate about gasoline prices outside of Norway, get a sonic treat in Peter’s new cave, and praise a video so much that it sounds like it should be way higher up the list. We wonder if Magne ever felt like running over Morten with a car, and we’re missing an update to our Flash drive. And we wonder if Morten has a lot of callus on his fingertips.

So once again we’ve found something to talk about, and just for your listening pleasure we’ve sprinkled plenty of Danish accents across the whole thing. But there’s also a lot of love, fun, and unwarranted speculation, just how we like it!

We of course also have a Facebook page and an Instagram account where you can leave a comment or stay informed about upcoming episodes.

In this episode of 'a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows' we rank the 10 songs on the album 'Under' by Savoy, the 2nd band by a-ha-guitarist Pål Waaktaar-Savoy.

This time you get to hear Jesper and JP being quite offended, Peter the Producer has unwarranted hopes for a shorter podcast, and we mispronounce Frode Unneland in so many ways that it’s almost Guinness Book of Records-worthy.

We also tip-toe around well-known music terms, we update you on the story of a clothes brand, and JP recalls the time he wore a skirt, and the times he hurt a fly. Meanwhile Jesper recalls the happy day when he found a Portuguese Eurovision song in a 2nd hand record store.Peter introduces us to the anatomy of a record, and it turns out that The Beatles may be more Savoy than Savoy.

Jesper also puts forward some quite weak evidence, JP’s origami joke is received with limited applause, and Peter sneaks in a Bon Jovi reference.We also wonder about Pål’s order of doing things, we stretch the truth (reprehensible!), correctly identify a flute, and we try to listen behind the facade. JP also confesses his love for Little House on the Prairie, and Jesper sets up a rule for how many different styles a song needs to include in order to be epic. And Yngwie Malmsteen pops by as well.

We of course also have a Facebook page and an Instagram account where you can leave a comment or stay informed about upcoming episodes.

We hope you'll enjoy this deep dive into another wonderful album in the extended a-ha family.

In this episode of "a-ha: ranking highs and lows" we’ve ranked the songs from ‘MTV Unplugged - Summer Solstice’ album, which we hope you’ve all had a chance to listen to. Otherwise maybe this episode can serve as an introduction.

This time we go shopping for instruments with Mozart, Jesper invents a new superhero, and JP shares opinions about musical arrangements of which he has no clue. We also encounter a large selection of instruments that we give the wrong names. And how many choruses does Lifelines have now?

We try to remove the feeling of hope from several songs, JP abandons computers for note-taking, and Jesper guesses 81 songs in 1 second, while Peter has his eyes on the strings section. And how much is Jesper’s kidney really worth?

JP also quotes himself more than once, Jesper shares strong opinions about collaborations in music, and Peter serves a bitter soup. Jesper also grows thoughtful again and JP can’t say he likes it. And where is ‘You Are the One’?

And of course we also find the time to rank the 21 songs on the MTV Unplugged album, so all in all we consider this a success as that was the whole point of this episode. Sometimes we forget, but that’s where Peter steps in.

If you like what you hear then please recommend the podcast to other fans. We still get more followers with each episode (thank you!!) but we know there are still fans out there who we haven’t reached yet, so feel free to share the info about the podcast in fan forums, Instagram or Facebook groups etc. if you feel that’s appropriate. Thanks!




#officialaha #mortenharket #magnefuruholmen #paulwaaktaarsavoy #palwaaktaar #paulwaaktaar #takeonme #mtvunplugged #huntinghighandlow

In this episode we rank the 25 best live versions of a-ha songs.

We’re happy to share a new episode of ‘a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows’ with you as we’re getting into December. Consider it an early Christmas present from us to you. And no, it doesn’t come in another size, colour or shape, but it DOES present our ranking of the 25 best live songs from a-ha, and that’s really a ‘one size fits all’ if you ask us!

In this episode JP praises a-ha’s speed metal phase (brief as it was), and Jesper recalls a visit to the toilet that almost cost him an epic concert opener. Meanwhile Peter suggests that we have a tendency to go in circles, while Jesper is counting nickels. And do Scandinavians prefer to walk with a stone in their shoe?

Jesper also talks about cold cuts, while JP talks about green circles of light (again with those circles!) and we both shed a tear over the memory of a cancelled concert, while Peter rightfully questions our sanity. Apart from that there is plenty of swooning over guitar and keyboard solos, a discussion about the balance between “loose” and “messy”, and questioning if anyone - including Peter - is paying any attention to any of this. And how many instruments can Jesper imitate with his mouth? (answer: A lot fewer than he thinks!)

We also discuss if saxophone is the missing ingredient in one of a-ha’s best songs, JP tries to bring together some women from the a-ha lyrics to create a new TV show - working title “Arguments & the City” - and Jesper recalls a perplexed concert audience, while JP argues for the pleasure of not getting what you want. We also speculate about non-verbal communication during songs, and Peter invents a new approach to performing music on TV shows. And is there actually a number between 18 and 20?

Among all of this you’ll find 25 awesome live versions of songs from the best band in the world, ranked by JP and Jesper and moderated by Peter, so it’s all well known territory. Maybe you’ve attended hundreds of a-ha’s concerts, maybe you’ve attended none, but this episode hopefully gives you a reminder or a taste of what a-ha can pull off, when they get together on stage and rock it out. So whatever your concert starting point is we hope that you’ll enjoy this episode!

As always you can find the podcast as well as the 13 previous episodes on your preferred podcast app by searching for "a-ha Ranking Highs and Lows" or go straight to the source: https://www.spreaker.com/show/a-ha-ranking-highs-and-lows

As always please also go to our Facebook page and share your thoughts, comments and reactions. Thanks!

#officialaha #waaktaarpal #palwaaktaar #waaktaar #mortenharket #magnefuruholmen #magnef #huntinghighandlow #takeonme #80s

In this episode we rank the 11 studio albums by a-ha.

Among other things you’ll get a tour through Jesper’s Facebook feed from 2009, Peter sees an escape door standing ajar, and JP provides a status on a t-shirt from the year 2000. We also rank German music magazines, and a-ha wins a questionable contest. And can you buy a girlfriend in a clothing store in Berlin?

Jesper also worries about why JP is suddenly quiet (it doesn’t last long – neither the worrying nor the being quiet) and Peter refuses to revisit old discussions. We also mention The Beatles, because we are under contract to do so, and we talk about the period where being an a-ha fan didn’t come with any perks. We also talk about Wham! And can you like an album better than you like the songs on it?

And of course we rank the albums, interrupt each other, forget about good podcasting techniques, laugh at our own jokes, talk about those formative years and how the relationship with an album can change over time. And we – possibly for the first time in any of the episodes – refrain from speaking Norwegian. So at least that’s solid progress.

As always please do share your thoughts, comments and reactions on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rankingaha. And if you like what you hear then please recommend the podcast to other fans of a-ha or share it on your own social media. Thanks!

All the best,

JP, Jesper and Peter the Producer

In this episode of "a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows" we're doing a slightly different ranking of a-ha-related songs, more specifically a top 10 of the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) lyrical backstabs between the guys in the band. In other words: which lyrics are verbal knives in another band member's back, and how deep does the knife go?

The Ranking Highs and Lows podcast team has never been afraid of doing some major speculations about songs and lyrics, but we take it to the next level with this episode.

Among other things we speculate if fax is a commonly used means of communication in the a-ha camp, we discuss milestones, go overboard in the use of disclaimers, discuss if Zoë knew that she held the knife in one of the presumed backstabs and confuse ourselves as we get deep into interpretations of a song in a classic 'whodunnit' style.

Peter also chips in with a very alternative interpretation of one of the stabs, we repeat the unwritten rules for where to put your backstabs, we of course discuss old wounds, and we discuss the differences between a stab, a poke and a scratch. And should Jesper allocate more of his budget for art purchases?

We take a guess at how much empty space there is in JP's head, Jesper tries to re-open the rankings from past episodes, and Peter shuts him down in a flash. JP and Peter also invent a new form of chess, while Jesper (again) can't keep a secret. Furthermore we look for hidden stabs in an old a-ha song and ponder the big question: Can stunt doubles increase record sales in Italy?

So nothing has changed, yet at the same time nothing stays the same in this special episode of "a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows". If you're curious and have a small hour to spend on hearsay and loose rumours while getting your daily dose of a-ha then you've come to the right place! As always you can find us at www.facebook.com/rankingaha where you can share your thoughts, comments and reactions on the list.

And as always: If you like what you hear - or if you don't like it and want others to share the pain - then please recommend the podcast to other fans of a-ha. Thanks!

In this episode we rank the 25 best songs by Pål Waaktaar-Savoy from his projects outside of a-ha, which thereby is the 2nd part of our top 50 countdown.

In this episode you'll be treated to more accents than anyone needs to hear, Jesper re-visits some of his favourite references, Peter the Producer is looking for a way out and JP continues to struggle with even the simplest Norwegian. We also still mess up the pronounciation af Frode's name ("Fruity", "Frough" and "Frood" are among the feeble attempts) and we second-guess one of our previous rankings. And should Pål buy more pianos at the flea market?

Jesper is unsure of how many mp3 files he has sent to Pål over the years, JP questions certain stories about the origin of Take On Me, and both JP and Jesper show a so far unknown inability to estimate audience sizes. We hear about the Milli Vanilli test, we learn about JP's access to the old internet, and we hear what Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys has to say about the duration of pop songs. And should you always do what your woman tells you to?

You'll also hear Jesper denying a claim about a song that JP brings up, we learn how JP prefers to dance, we do some questionable segways from one song to the next, Jesper sneaks in an Alice Cooper reference, and we hear about Peter's love for the world's cheapest instrument. And are you allowed to play the tambourine whilst driving?

We of course also argue over who likes a song more, JP doubts Jesper's involvement in the writing of Savoy songs, we meet a dangerous guy, Peter defends a-ha, Jesper admits to listening to our old episodes, and we learn what Pål and Lauren used to listen to in their kitchen. And how long time did it take to download a Savoy song snippet back in 1996?

And last but certainly not least you'll of course hear what we think are the 25 greatest songs from Pål in the various constellations outside of a-ha. Maybe you'll agree, maybe you won't but hopefully you'll enjoy the ride!

And feel free to drop by our Facebook page to share your thoughts, comments and reactions to the ranking. And as always: If you like what you hear - or if you don't like it and want others to share the pain - then please recommend the podcast to other fans of Pål/Savoy or a-ha. We know there are a lot of keen fans of Pål and Savoy out there but they may not all have found our Facebook page or podcast yet. So if you’re a member of a Facebook or Instagram group that shares our love for Pål/Savoy then please share the info about this episode as well if you feel that’s appropriate. Thanks!

#waaktaar #waaktaarpal #a-ha #aha #officialaha

This episode of Ranking Highs and Lows is part 1 of our ranking of the 50 best songs by a-ha guitarist and songwriter Pål Waaktaar-Savoy from his projects outside of a-ha.

We're very pleased to announce that we've had the opportunity to ask Pål about some of the songs on our ranking. He was very kind to answer some questions we e-mailed to him, and it's probably safe to say that his answers were better than our questions. However, because of this we'll finally learn where Morten's tour sound technicians are recruited from. So thanks a lot to Pål for contributing to our little hobby project!

In this episode we also once again realize that timing the podcast releases is not our greatest strength, Jesper gets a very early (or late) Christmas present from JP, and we learn that Peter the Producer prefers both Sade and Darth Vader over techno. And does Jesper have a secret mission of ruining songs for JP by presenting misheard lyrics?

We also discuss Pål's housekeeping skills and stumble across a business idea, JP tries his luck with a joke, and Jesper tries to beat his own record of mentioning The Beatles while also being crowned our self-proclaimed indie music king. JP also tries to argue that self-pity and laziness is an undervalued combination, and an expected big disagreement about a song doesn't amount to much. And is it even possible to play a whole TV documentary on guitar?

We touch upon salt in burgers, JP shares his dislike of Sundays, Jesper revisits his favourite chords, and we question our own ranking of a song. Tennis becomes a recurring topic, Peter impresses with his knowledge of the a-ha timeline, while Jesper ponders if Pål has any office work experience. And how deep a hole did JP dig for himself when he was a kid?

And among all of this you'll hear 25 great songs from Pål in various constellations outside of a-ha. Maybe you know all of them, maybe you don't know any of them, or maybe you're somewhere inbetween. Whatever your starting point we hope that you’ll enjoy this part one of our top 50!

And please swing by our Facebook page and share your thoughts, comments and reactions. And as always: If you like what you hear - or if you don't like it and want others to share the pain - then please recommend the podcast to other fans of Pål/Savoy or a-ha. We know there are a lot of keen fans of Pål and Savoy out there but they may not all have found our Facebook page or podcast yet. So if you’re a member of a Facebook or Instagram group that shares our love for Pål/Savoy then please share the info about this episode as well if you feel that’s appropriate.

Thanks for listening!