Morten Harket

As the vocalist for <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a>, Morten Harket was considered as just another '80s MTV pretty boy. Born in Kongsberg, Norway, on September 14, 1959, Harket learned how to play piano at the age of four; raised on classical music, Harket was oblivious to rock and pop artists until he was 16. Harket originally wanted to become a priest; however, when he joined the rock group Bridges, he had to quit his theological studies to find time for his band. In 1983, Harket formed <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a> with <a href="spotify:artist:5fCrGWlcIIwdCf2TeCQZjc">Magne Furuholmen</a> (keyboards, harmonica, vocals) and Paal Waaktaar (bass, guitar, piano, vocals). When <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a> released the video for "Take On Me" in America in 1985, critics tossed darts at Harket's pin-up looks, dismissing him as a <a href="spotify:artist:4GNaWOK6CLMQOVajyjTJfj">Simon Le Bon</a> clone. However, <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a>'s debut album Hunting High and Low was much more diverse than "Take On Me" suggested, and Harket spilled his pain with a high-pitched falsetto over a bed of acoustic guitars and electronics long before <a href="spotify:artist:4CvTDPKA6W06DRfBnZKrau">Thom Yorke</a> of <a href="spotify:artist:4Z8W4fKeB5YxbusRsdQVPb">Radiohead</a> reaped awards and platinum albums for doing it. Harket's stunning vocals finally acquired critical acclaim with <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a>'s second album, Scoundrel Days, in 1986. In 1987, Harket's voice could be heard in the James Bond adventure The Living Daylights; <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a> peformed the film's theme song. In addition to his work with <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a>, Harket has recorded three solo albums, Poetenes Evangelium, Wild Seed, and Vogts Villa. In 2000, Harket's haunting vocal work on <a href="spotify:artist:2jzc5TC5TVFLXQlBNiIUzE">a-ha</a>'s Minor Earth Major Sky mesmerized critics, drawing comparisons to <a href="spotify:artist:6v8FB84lnmJs434UJf2Mrm">Neil Young</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2cGwlqi3k18jFpUyTrsR84">the Verve</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4KWTAlx2RvbpseOGMEmROg">R.E.M.</a> ~ Michael Sutton