a-ha took to the stage last night at the Dubai Opera on the first of their two-night stay here in the UAE. The first half of the show was a live performance of their 1985 debut album “Hunting High and Low” in its entirety, in its original playing order. I have been fortunate to see a-ha in my hometown of Leeds, England, New York City, Los Angeles (where I got to meet the band) and now Dubai. The show was very special, and the band seemed to be enjoying their first-ever gig in the UAE. Morten, Mags and Pal were supported by their usual musicians: Karl-Oluf Wennerberg on drums, Evan Ormestad on bass and Erik Ljunggren on keyboards and playing double duty as musical director for the tour.
The evening was a rare treat for life-long fans, and a reminder of what a great band a-ha are for those who may have only heard a smattering of the hits from their debut release. It is hard to believe that “Hunting High and Low” is 35 years old. Where do the years go? After a brief 20 minute intermission, a-ha were back and played a wide range of songs from their deep back catalogue. In total, the Norwegians played for over two hours playing hit after hit, that had the crowd on their feet and thoroughly entertained. My only criticism and It may have been a venue/touring logistics issue, was the missing of their digital backdrop and bespoke motion design and video elements. When used, they add an extra level of drama and artistry to the staging and can tighten the emotional quality of the music. Having seen many clips from the tour from last year, this was a missing element for me. The use of the inspiration for the almost cresting a billion views “Take on Me music video,” “commuter.” was something I was hoping to see during their Dubai concerts. When used, it adds a great deal of excitement as the show unfolds.
When I saw a-ha in Leeds during their initial rise to fame, I was a teenager. It was my first ever concert, and it left a mark on my life, capturing a special moment in my teenage years. Tonight, night two of their stay here in the UAE, I will take my eight-year-old son to his first-ever concert. This will be a very special moment for this life-long a-ha fan.
Setlist
Take On Me
Train of Thought
Hunting High and Low
The Blue Sky
Living a Boy's Adventure
The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
And You Tell
Love Is Reason
I Dream Myself Alive (Demo version)
Here I Stand and Face the Rain
Intermission
Analogue (All I Want)
Foot of the Mountain
The Swing of Things
Crying in the Rain
Sycamore Leaves
Digital River
I've Been Losing You
Stay on These Roads
Encore
Scoundrel Days
The Living Daylights