YOUTH ENGLISH SECTION
A-HA: THROUGH CITIES AND COUNTRIES
Preface. “Minor Earth/Major Sky” for this tour
It has already become a part of history, and I can’t keep silent
because the days were really beautiful, or “scoundrel” as in A-ha’s song. A-ha
came to Russia – for the first time to Moscow and the second time to St. Petersburg
– after seven years of silence.
As for me, I have been waiting for A-ha’s visit to Moscow since 1986 (when I
first heard this band ). O, yes! Of course, I met Morten Harket (vocal), Paal Waaktaar
(guitar) and Magne Furuholmen (keyboards) in other countries and followed A-ha
and their solo-projects. It wasn’t easy, but believe me: if you like something very
much, it happens to you and your dreams come true one day.
So I was following A-ha’s tour “Moscow – St.Petersburg – Oslo” last
March as a journalist. O, no! Stop, please. For a long time I have been analyzing: who am
I in this situation – a fan or a journalist? Now I don’t know, because these four
concerts impressed me very much. I was in shock! For example, now I have an idea for the
future to write a book about A-ha’s fanaticism. I think it is very interesting
to read a confession of a fan’s life: how it has happened, what is good and what is not.
I don’t think badly about fanaticism. Of course, there are many directions and so much
depends on the person. There is “Hunting High and Low” by A-ha.
 |
 |
 |
Left to right: Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, Paal Waaktaar
Part I. “Little black heart” from Moscow organizers
Moscow – 17-19th March, 2001
The life in Sheremeteyevo-II airport was usual. There was no mass media
there, except us: three representatives from the Russian web-site www.A-ha.ru – Alex,
Maria and me. We arrived at the airport by car and waited for A-ha. It took us
one hour, no longer.
There are certain laws of Russian show business which break my heart: Russian mass media
ignores A-ha. I wrote about the band for newspapers and magazines and I was alone all the
time. People said to me: “A-ha is in the past!” But I believed in these guys.
Nowadays many journalists write about A-ha like their best friends. Very funny! They know
nothing as a rule. It was very comical to hear stupid questions from journalists at the
press conference, which was held in Moscow.
But one question was the most indecent. A woman-journalist asked the band: “I watched
your last video “Velvet” on TV. You are playing the victims of a girl killing her
lovers after one night. What kind of music would you prefer for your real funeral?”
There was a minute of silence… Morten found words only for two phrases after this
question: “I think, people should not ask us about it. As for us, it is not so
important, I think…”
So, the concert in Moscow wasn’t good. Why? Because it was only for money. There were so
many VIP-places near the stage and very expensive tickets. The fans were too far away.
A-ha couldn’t find contact with the public. When I asked my question later: “What do
you think about your concert in Moscow?”, Morten replied: “I didn’t understand for
whom I was singing from the stage. I didn’t see real Russian public, only
VIP-persons.” I’m very very sorry, Morten!
Part II. “You’ll never get over me” for Petersburg’s concert
St.Petersburg – 19-21th March, 2001
I was standing near the stage. That was democracy, I think. O, yes! The
fans and the band could see each other face to face and the tickets were not so expensive.
The public had a chance to be more intimate with A-ha. Each person in the hall
wanted to be as near as possible to A-ha. I thought that such concerts are only in other
countries, not in Russia. O, it was my mistake! I didn’t believe my own eyes. The people
pressed and pushed each other. Some girls fainted, but they couldn’t fall on the floor,
because there were so many people. The security guards helped to get the girls out of the
crowd and called a doctor. It was crazy! But, maybe, the Norwegian guys made the public
mad? It is possible. Now I know: Russia doesn’t have a sufficient cultural level to
organize such concerts. What a pity! Then we parted ways, “east of the sun, west of the
moon”: A-ha went to Tallinn, I went to Oslo.
My friends from St. Petersburg invited me to the ballet “Carmen”, which was held in
Mariinsky Theater next day. You’ll smile, but I must confess – I fell asleep during
the third act. I was too exhausted. I was sleeping and Morten’s voice was still sounding
in my mind: “So fill me now like wind/And let the miracle begin…”. And Carmen kept
on dancing on the stage as if between A-ha’s members.
Part III. The people “thought that it was you”…
Oslo – 23-25th March, 2001
Oslo… I love and know this city well. I hope it is a reciprical love!
There had been a beautiful party the day before the first concert in Oslo. I met my
friends and we were invited to the karaoke-bar for a meeting of fans. There were many
people from different countries speaking different languages, but all of the fans
understood English. There weren’t any problems with contacts. But the question “where
are you from?” was very popular. The world was in close unity: Norway, Germany, France,
England, Holland, Australia, Italy, USA, Brazil, Denmark, Belgium, Mexico, Finland,
Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Hungary, Poland, Austria and, of course, Russia. But I was
the only person from Russia.
There was a stage too. The fans were singing A-ha’s songs in turn. But some
young guy sang his own songs. He was a special guest at the party. His name is Owe Randow.
Owe is a Norwegian and lives in the small town of Shien, not far from Oslo. His voice is
like Morten’s voice. Really! The people were shocked. Of course, there is a difference,
at first… It was beautiful!
Special “Angel” for Oslo!
The concert started at four o’clock p.m. the next day. It was a
non-stop concert. At first we listened to a Norwegian band Bel Canto, then the
Norwegian organizers offered a big surprise to everyone – the band Briskeby.
This band is also from Norway. Now Briskeby is on the tops of the charts in
Scandinavia, Germany, Holland. But the most important hour was still to come…
I’m writing these lines and my heart is breaking for the thousandth time. I was so happy
in that moment! I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for the next concert, but that
concert was like a miracle. The people (13,000 of them!) were singing all the songs with
Morten and all the people in the hall made a special unity. No crush, no problems with the
police.
The concert was transmitted by Internet. The official web-site of A-ha published
the information next day: more 500,000 people watched this event by Internet in different
countries!
A-ha carried out their usual program and left the stage, but the people sang and
sang without A-ha. Somebody from the crowd cried out:
“Hey, Mo! Let’s go! A few more songs, please! I’m your neighbour.”
Morten came back to the stage. He was smiling…
“Thanks to all! We love you too, therefore we’ll sing one more song for you. It is our
favourite song. This night is very beautiful. So, specially for Oslo – ‘Angel’…”
Paal and Magne played their guitars. Morten stood between them. There was dark and silence
in the hall. The music started…
One to the nightfall,
One to the stars,
One to the haunted fools we are,
One to remember,
One to recall,
One to acknowledge
Just how sweet it was.
We were okay…
You know, it is hard for me to tell you about the main idea of that
concert. Those lines of the song “How sweet it was” describe the situation very well.
The commentary is superfluous. My wild dream was realized. I’ve been walking a very long
road for 15 years, but I always knew: I have wings and I can fly in the blue sky above the
thunderclouds. It isn’t terrifying to remain alone on the road when you know the words
– “Angel, angel… I’ll follow and always will I be there, snake worries from
your hair…” And they aren’t only words. A-ha is more than a musical
band. A-ha isn’t only music. It is like a religion of Heaven, which makes
people’s souls fly. This music gives only positive emotions and energy to your life…
Morten wanted to become a priest many years ago and at the same time he loved music too
much. Maybe, it is a solution? I don’t know. A-ha’s each song is a
life-story, but everything is surprisingly combined into a union where each note is
important. Probably, this secret is very easy to solve? The people have warm and honest
hearts…
And see… as our lives are in the making;
we believe through the lies and the hating
that love goes free
through scoundrel days.
By Svetlana Funtusova You can contact the author by e-mail: funtus@aha.ru