I was quite the a-ha fan growing up. I could sing every song on their debut album, Hunting High and Low, from memory, with my own creatively inaccurate interpretation of the lyrics. “Take On Me” was clearly the standout, but I was drawn to more somber fare like “Here I Stand and Face the Rain,” “Dream Myself Alive,” and my favorite, “Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale.”
Yesterday I completed my interpretation of the 80′s classic. It’s the first new Color Theory recording since 2008′s The Thought Chapter, and the first song I produced entirely in Ableton Live.
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Thanks! That one is here for anyone who wants to take a listen. One thing that both of these covers have in common is that I was trying out new toys. If memory serves, the Dead or Alive cover relied heavily on an Access Virus synth running on a TC Powercore card, which I no longer own.
This is as wonderful as your cover of Dead or Alive’s “Hooked on Love”. I liked your version of that, better than the original..
A vibrant version, excellent work, it’s my hit me this week!!!
Brian -
Truly a thing of beauty. Artfully (and tastefully) done. Once again, you’ve outdone yourself. Keep up the great work.
- Matt
Hey! really GREAT my friend! LOVE this song too!
I love the music from the 80′s. Your interpretation was nicely done.
Wonderful interpretative “take”, Brian. Sharing this song with us, I feel like we fans have received a “valentine” a month early! Thanks so much. Hope the new album continues in this general vein….
Unless I can come up with a dozen better originals before the end of June (extremely unlikely), it’ll be on the next album.
love this ~ so well done ~ as with all your musical “adventures”.
Well done Brian!
But when can i buy it? i must have it in my iPhone =)
This is fantastic! I’ve now listened to it 3 times and counting… Is it going to be on a cd ever?
Shucks, you guys are too nice. I’m trying to focus on originals, but I wanted to do this one for so long that I gave in to the temptation.
Yep, it was all done in Live 8, with no outside plug-ins or softsynths. The only stuff I used that isn’t part of a standard Live Suite install is Melodyne for editing the vocals and Kontakt 2 to play back my piano sample. Oh, and I guess the actual piano and drum samples.
Mmmmmmmm I always loved A-ha as well. Good job Brian!
Well done, Brian! This was also my favorite track from “Hunting High and Low.”
Did you do this all in Live 8?
Very good cover version of one of my favourite a-ha songs…. Your voice really suits this song. Is there any chance you could cover an Alphaville song now?
As always !!! my hero!!! you really know how to do things, you are constantly reinventing Color Theory and that´s the reason for us, your fans, to love your music; and I agree with Ali: can we expect a covers album or something like that? whatever may come i am devoted to Color Theory´s cult!!!
Wickedly good. You made my day!
Canyon and I use the phrase “adventure boy” almost daily. I just blasted this over the PA for him. He says “it’s like Christmas” which I think means, “What a pleasant surprise to hear such a nice song.” Caught him dancing out of the corner of my eye. I do love the falsetto.
My favorite ’80′s song: Slings and Arrows by the Moody Blues.
Awesome!! ‘Take On Me’ has been covered to death anyway.
Am I sensing another covers album? Classic 80′s album B-sides maybe?
Yeahh!! You are the men!! Brian you are do it again!!! great cover! great music! great everything!! you are a real musician!! im a big fan of a-ha too!! congratulations!!
Well done again, Brian! Great piano break. It seems like you’ve mastered your new tools already.
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