What Does The Song Take On Me Mean

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to tell about a song that's been driving us all nuts since the '80s. You know the one - it's got a keyboard riff that's more iconic than a neon leg warmer at a Flashdance reunion. I'm talking about A-ha's "Take On Me".

What's the Deal with the Title?

Now, you might be thinking, "What does 'Take On Me' even mean? Is it a challenge? A love letter? A cryptic invitation to a secret fight club?" Well, buckle up, because the answer is as mysterious as a Norwegian fjord at midnight.

Here's the thing: the band themselves have been pretty vague about it. Lead singer Morten Harket once said it's about "taking on life's challenges", which is about as helpful as a chocolate teapot. But don't worry, we're not going to let a little thing like a lack of concrete information stop us from having some fun with this.

Let's Get Weird

So, let's dive into the weird and wonderful world of fan theories. Some people think it's about time travel. Others believe it's a metaphor for AIDS (yeah, I know, heavy stuff). But my personal favorite is the theory that it's about a guy trying to convince a girl to leave her 2D world (like a comic book or a painting) and join him in the real world. I mean, why not? It's not like the music video didn't already give us a bunch of 2D characters breaking into the real world.

And speaking of the music video, did you know it took 10 days to shoot and cost around £1 million in 1985? That's like, what, 50 million Norwegian krone? That's more than a new fjord, folks!

But What About the Lyrics?

Alright, let's try to make sense of the lyrics. Here's a line: "I've just seen a film about a man pushing something, either a car or a woman." What? Who wrote this? T.S. Eliot on a three-day bender?

15 | July | 2013 | Sidewalks Chalk

But seriously, folks, the lyrics are pretty open to interpretation. Some people think it's about a guy trying to convince a girl to run away with him. Others think it's about a guy trying to escape his own mind. Me? I think it's about a guy trying to convince a girl to run away with him while he's trapped in his own mind. Because why not make it even more confusing?

The Key to the Song?

Now, here's where things get really interesting. Some people think the key to understanding the song is in the keyboard riff. You know, that part that goes "do-do-do-do-do-do". Yeah, that one. Well, if you play it backwards, it sounds like someone saying "Take on me".

I know, I know, it's not exactly the Rosetta Stone of song meanings, but it's fun to think about. And hey, if nothing else, it's a great party trick to impress your friends with. Just don't try to use it to impress a girl. Trust me, I've tried. It doesn't work.

A-Ha Take On Me Lyrics And Meaning: How Songwriters and Poets Explore

So, What Does It Mean?

Alright, folks, we've talked about time travel, 2D worlds, and backwards keyboard riffs. But the truth is, no one really knows what "Take On Me" means. And you know what? That's okay. Because sometimes, the best songs are the ones that leave a little bit of mystery. The ones that let you fill in the blanks with your own story. Your own interpretation.

So, the next time you hear "Take On Me" on the radio, don't worry about what it means. Just crank up the volume, sing along, and let the mystery be. After all, isn't that what music is all about? The joy of the unknown, the thrill of the unheard, the... okay, I'll stop now.

But seriously, folks, the next time you hear "Take On Me", take it on. Whatever that means to you. Because at the end of the day, that's what music is all about. It's about you. It's about me. It's about us. And it's about taking on life's challenges, one do-do-do-do-do-do at a time.