I know this song for a long time and I am not their devoted fan, but each time it leaves me speechless just as you were... anyone else is creating pop music like this anymore? This band is so underrated and victim of their first single.
There is a term called "Mitch-slapped" anyone who reacts to Pentatonix's version of Hallelujah are hit by. It's always fun to see people widen their eyes when he opens his mouth and starts singing. Manhattan Skyline has a similar effect - "You know"... then comes Pål with the guitar, Magne with the keyboard, the drums kick in and the whole thing rolls on. Always fun to see the reaction. Some reactors stop the song "I wasn't ready for that..." These moments are so fun to watch. Manhattan Skyline is one of the songs where the guys in the band found the solution by combining pieces that Pål and Magne had written. Magne wrote the quite part, and Pål wrote the rock part. Today it is hard to understand that they had to fight to get Manhattan Skyline released as a single.
"Manhattan Skyline" works for the same reason that "The Swing of Things" works. Morten Harket is emotive in a way that not all singers can manage. He can sell you on pretty much any emotion. It's as though he pays attention to every aspect of every word. What note in what key at what measure plus volume plus character and the emotional state of that moment. It's a testament to how well the three of them work together, because I've heard amazing vocals on mediocre tracks and vice-versa. a-ha manages to hit all stops. Even on a song like "October" where the emotional stakes aren't so high, you're drawn in to the feeling they've created. Around the time that "Stay on These Roads" was slated to come out, I was talking to a school acquaintance about eagerly awaiting the follow up to "Scoundrel Days," he got excited and mentioned some song that he had seen a-ha perform live on a talk show and in his words, “It was a-ha but they were doing a heavy metal song.” He couldn't remember the name of it, but I knew that unless it was something new I hadn't heard yet (it wasn't) that he was talking about "Manhattan Skyline." Your reaction is what makes watching reactions fun. As the viewer, you know something is about to happen that the reacting party isn't aware of, like the shift in "Manhattan Skyline" and the false end of "I've Been Losing You." I do remember being as blown away as you were the first time I heard "Manhattan Skyline."
My absolutely favourite aha song! I had to import all their albums from not released in the US. I finally found a man original vinyl pressing of this song from Germany. I am in love with all their albums. This song was made before 9/11 and when that event happened I played this over and over and just cried. ❤
I was waiting for you to listen to this one...😁...when the song switches from very sweet to his heavy vocals and guitar! Amazing! One of my top favorite A-ha songs for sure!
It was such a pleasurable shock when I first bought this album album, on cassette, to play in a vehicle and came across this song. The sophistication of the entire album and this song in particular, only became apparent to me recently. At the time I just loved the story telling, musicianship and variety of emotions/thoughts the music stimulated in me.
@@mattsnider2667 It is an amazing song that is overlooked because it is a-ha. If Madonna or some pretentious crap like Pink Floyd did this, it would be a multi-award winning worldwide smash hit.
@@handsolo1209 funny you mention Madonna, actually i was thinking of Janet Jackson's 'Trust A Try' while listening to this, I wouldn't say her word is pretentious though but yeah this song came to my mind
My favorite band if all time also de most underrated and the best pop)rock /romantic/electronic/edgy rock band of all time !saw then live twice in London and Australia, check also all their live stuff, just like on the records,the voice,the production,the intros,all is perfection!⚡
th-cam.com/video/lb_X8Kc9Z9c/w-d-xo.html Love your reactions to all the a-ha songs ,I feel the same as you when I listen to the EVERY week 😅💖 but this live version on the link above will blow your mind,is a rare,live version!
And this is my drug here…seeing the reaction face the very first time people hear this song. Right when they end the sweet and calm part and go full Heavy Metal on our butts.😂 Ahhh…that look of “What the %^#€?!”. Then the instant you start head banging and thinking or saying “Yeah!!!!” 😂😂😂
I was waiting for your reaction to this one as well to the change up/down!!! Such a production! Enjoyed your reaction. As Mark has mentioned, a-ha did not perform this song in shows after 9/11, because the photo at the end of the video shows a destroyed Manhattan skyline, which became horribly prophetic.
I forgot about the switch around in the song. I do think it works as this version, but I also would have loved to hear the softer parts and the rock parts as two separate songs fleshed out in those directions. Again A-Ha! are a top quality band
This song got a new meaning after the tradegy of 9/11. During their tour of 2001, people in concerts got emotional when this was performed, even thoguh the song was written and released long before 9/11
Fantastic reaction! Now you’re really turning into one of us…that’s a big compliment Matt, believe me because I think we real hardcore a-ha fans are an elite and discerning group of music lovers! Of course would say that wouldn’t I? 👏😁
Haha, cheers! I'm seriously amazed by this group, and I've only just begun exploring their music in detail. Thanks for being part of this, it's like every day I can't wait to do more a-ha reactions!
one of my faves off scoundrel days . i also love i’ve been losing you, cry wolf, we’re looking for the whales and the title track scoundrel days. AHA never fail to amaze fans old and new. take care and i’ll see you on the next aha reaction. ❤🇳🇴😘
Cheers, appreciate that! And you're right, just in my short experience with them, I've already been blown away by their songs multiple times. Thanks again, more a-ha reactions coming later tonight/tomorrow morning! :)
It seems like (and this just my take on it) that someone is going through a rough break up, doesn't want to, but is running away/looking for a new start far away.
Pal wrote this song when he left New York where his American girlfriend Lauren lived. He was living in London at that time if I'm not mistaken and met Lauren while on a-ha tour in America. Pal (or Paul as he is sometimes known) and Lauren later married and they are still a happy couple. They formed a band together called 'Savoy' and Lauren has contributed artistically to a-ha's work, e.g. recording the South American tour in the early 90's , which was later sold as DVD/Video. Lauren sang together with Morten on the song "Velvet". Pal had composed Velvet with his wife for their band Savoy but it became a hit only after it was re-recorded for an a-ha album and sung by Morten. Velvet was also the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie "One Night at McCool's"... In short Manhattan Skyline echoes Pal's heartbreak and lovesickness
It's worth it just to see your face as the song changes. I love this song. It did not go down well in the UK though. One radio DJ even turned it off part way through and said "That's crap". Clearly good taste wasn't amongst his talents.
It must have been a Radio One DJ. This song did come out in the beginning of the wave of Stock, Aitken & Waterman verbal diarrhoea of the time, which so many of the talentless morons, I mean great radio DJs were besotted with.
Philip McFarlane Wether he was honest or not that attitude was deffinately rude and cheap,Is that guy still alive?I wonder what kind of music he was into?Possibly same stuff as 'specialist' Robert Christgaue,uh!
@@marjoriemcbride6557 Very often ,massively appealing bands have suffered from narrow minded critical voices.It's not only 'misunderstanding' but chauvinism and jealousy involved.So they get underrated on purpose from such prejudiced 'sour' grapes.
Like how do you map this song? There really isn't any chorus or refrain until the end fades out. It shouldn't work. It should be a disjointed mess but somehow makes complete sense. Of all the early a-ha tracks I never would have expected to age well but did this has to be #1. This shit is almost prog metal like some junk Porcupine Tree did when they were still sperm in their father's nutsack. (sorry. that last part was a bit explicit) I got overly excited.
For a period of time the music video for this was banned after 9/11 as the end of the video shows a newspaper with the front page being a destroyed Manhattan.
I just watched this again .... youtube should let you like it 100 times 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I know this song for a long time and I am not their devoted fan, but each time it leaves me speechless just as you were... anyone else is creating pop music like this anymore? This band is so underrated and victim of their first single.
No one knew what the heck was happening when they released this…..epic.
Sim!! É uma canção cheia de nuances, diferente de tudo e misteriosa. Obra prima.
Spot on!
One of the best songs ever.Top band.
Considering just how massive a-ha is/was it always amazes me they weren't even bigger.... so far ahead of their times.
My favourite A-HA track, I love this song.
i fricking love this reaction so much it makes me laugh each time. 'What What What am I listening to' PMSFL
There is a term called "Mitch-slapped" anyone who reacts to Pentatonix's version of Hallelujah are hit by. It's always fun to see people widen their eyes when he opens his mouth and starts singing. Manhattan Skyline has a similar effect - "You know"... then comes Pål with the guitar, Magne with the keyboard, the drums kick in and the whole thing rolls on. Always fun to see the reaction. Some reactors stop the song "I wasn't ready for that..."
These moments are so fun to watch.
Manhattan Skyline is one of the songs where the guys in the band found the solution by combining pieces that Pål and Magne had written. Magne wrote the quite part, and Pål wrote the rock part. Today it is hard to understand that they had to fight to get Manhattan Skyline released as a single.
"Manhattan Skyline" works for the same reason that "The Swing of Things" works. Morten Harket is emotive in a way that not all singers can manage. He can sell you on pretty much any emotion. It's as though he pays attention to every aspect of every word. What note in what key at what measure plus volume plus character and the emotional state of that moment. It's a testament to how well the three of them work together, because I've heard amazing vocals on mediocre tracks and vice-versa. a-ha manages to hit all stops. Even on a song like "October" where the emotional stakes aren't so high, you're drawn in to the feeling they've created.
Around the time that "Stay on These Roads" was slated to come out, I was talking to a school acquaintance about eagerly awaiting the follow up to "Scoundrel Days," he got excited and mentioned some song that he had seen a-ha perform live on a talk show and in his words, “It was a-ha but they were doing a heavy metal song.” He couldn't remember the name of it, but I knew that unless it was something new I hadn't heard yet (it wasn't) that he was talking about "Manhattan Skyline."
Your reaction is what makes watching reactions fun. As the viewer, you know something is about to happen that the reacting party isn't aware of, like the shift in "Manhattan Skyline" and the false end of "I've Been Losing You." I do remember being as blown away as you were the first time I heard "Manhattan Skyline."
É genial este react de Matt.
My absolutely favourite aha song! I had to import all their albums from not released in the US. I finally found a man original vinyl pressing of this song from Germany. I am in love with all their albums. This song was made before 9/11 and when that event happened I played this over and over and just cried. ❤
7:21...7:26 Hahahaha!!! 👏👏👏👏👏
So much happening in this song. For me is the parallell to what is going on inside him around this farewell/ new start. Love this song.
My favourite song ever I think, not just A-ha but ever.
My favorite A•ha song❤
Mine too, German!
I was waiting for you to listen to this one...😁...when the song switches from very sweet to his heavy vocals and guitar! Amazing! One of my top favorite A-ha songs for sure!
It was such a pleasurable shock when I first bought this album album, on cassette, to play in a vehicle and came across this song. The sophistication of the entire album and this song in particular, only became apparent to me recently. At the time I just loved the story telling, musicianship and variety of emotions/thoughts the music stimulated in me.
This is my favorite a-ha song. I do like darker and depressive tones.
Honestly, I cannot believe how good this song is. Consider me massively impressed. Wow.
@@mattsnider2667 It is an amazing song that is overlooked because it is a-ha. If Madonna or some pretentious crap like Pink Floyd did this, it would be a multi-award winning worldwide smash hit.
@@handsolo1209 Perfect! A-Ha é um milagre.
@@handsolo1209 funny you mention Madonna, actually i was thinking of Janet Jackson's 'Trust A Try' while listening to this, I wouldn't say her word is pretentious though but yeah this song came to my mind
Great reaction! Thank you! This song is a masterpiece.
My favorite band if all time also de most underrated and the best pop)rock /romantic/electronic/edgy rock band of all time !saw then live twice in London and Australia, check also all their live stuff, just like on the records,the voice,the production,the intros,all is perfection!⚡
th-cam.com/video/lb_X8Kc9Z9c/w-d-xo.html
Love your reactions to all the a-ha songs ,I feel the same as you when I listen to the EVERY week 😅💖 but this live version on the link above will blow your mind,is a rare,live version!
İnanılmaz derecede muhteşem bir şaheser.
A-ha bu eserle şok edici bir şekilde bizleri şaşırttı.
And this is my drug here…seeing the reaction face the very first time people hear this song. Right when they end the sweet and calm part and go full Heavy Metal on our butts.😂
Ahhh…that look of “What the %^#€?!”. Then the instant you start head banging and thinking or saying “Yeah!!!!” 😂😂😂
I was waiting for your reaction to this one as well to the change up/down!!! Such a production! Enjoyed your reaction. As Mark has mentioned, a-ha did not perform this song in shows after 9/11, because the photo at the end of the video shows a destroyed Manhattan skyline, which became horribly prophetic.
I forgot about the switch around in the song. I do think it works as this version, but I also would have loved to hear the softer parts and the rock parts as two separate songs fleshed out in those directions.
Again A-Ha! are a top quality band
That would also be fantastic, and indeed, it surely could have worked as two proper tracks.
Wouldn't disagree on this.
This song got a new meaning after the tradegy of 9/11. During their tour of 2001, people in concerts got emotional when this was performed, even thoguh the song was written and released long before 9/11
I can totally see that, and it makes sense. Thanks for passing that along.
Fantastic reaction! Now you’re really turning into one of us…that’s a big compliment Matt, believe me because I think we real hardcore a-ha fans are an elite and discerning group of music lovers! Of course would say that wouldn’t I? 👏😁
Haha, cheers! I'm seriously amazed by this group, and I've only just begun exploring their music in detail. Thanks for being part of this, it's like every day I can't wait to do more a-ha reactions!
@@mattsnider2667 ….and I look forward to remaking the journey with you!
@@mattsnider2667 Where is the heart when I need it? Oh...there it was.❤
But it is true! We are! ❤😉
one of my faves off scoundrel days . i also love i’ve been losing you, cry wolf, we’re looking for the whales and the title track scoundrel days. AHA never fail to amaze fans old and new. take care and i’ll see you on the next aha reaction. ❤🇳🇴😘
Cheers, appreciate that! And you're right, just in my short experience with them, I've already been blown away by their songs multiple times. Thanks again, more a-ha reactions coming later tonight/tomorrow morning! :)
I had/have no idea what the song is about , but it's so fabulous (as was the video) I don't mind that
It seems like (and this just my take on it) that someone is going through a rough break up, doesn't want to, but is running away/looking for a new start far away.
Pal wrote this song when he left New York where his American girlfriend Lauren lived. He was living in London at that time if I'm not mistaken and met Lauren while on a-ha tour in America. Pal (or Paul as he is sometimes known) and Lauren later married and they are still a happy couple. They formed a band together called 'Savoy' and Lauren has contributed artistically to a-ha's work, e.g. recording the South American tour in the early 90's , which was later sold as DVD/Video. Lauren sang together with Morten on the song "Velvet". Pal had composed Velvet with his wife for their band Savoy but it became a hit only after it was re-recorded for an a-ha album and sung by Morten. Velvet was also the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie "One Night at McCool's"...
In short Manhattan Skyline echoes Pal's heartbreak and lovesickness
@@ElanurMH amazing! Thanks for that incredible reply!
@@izzyworld8068 You are welcome
It's worth it just to see your face as the song changes. I love this song. It did not go down well in the UK though. One radio DJ even turned it off part way through and said "That's crap". Clearly good taste wasn't amongst his talents.
It must have been a Radio One DJ. This song did come out in the beginning of the wave of Stock, Aitken & Waterman verbal diarrhoea of the time, which so many of the talentless morons, I mean great radio DJs were besotted with.
They’ve always suffered by being misunderstood and underrated by the midget minds in both the music press and the music industry.
@@handsolo1209 If memory serves it was Gary Marshall on Radio Clyde.
Philip McFarlane Wether he was honest or not that attitude was deffinately rude and cheap,Is that guy still alive?I wonder what kind of music he was into?Possibly same stuff as 'specialist' Robert Christgaue,uh!
@@marjoriemcbride6557 Very often ,massively appealing bands have suffered from narrow minded critical voices.It's not only 'misunderstanding' but chauvinism and jealousy involved.So they get underrated on purpose from such prejudiced 'sour' grapes.
In my opinion ," Stay on these roads " is their best album .
Seriously check out Shoot High Aim Low by Yes from 1987.
you are gonna lose your mind on this one
Like how do you map this song? There really isn't any chorus or refrain until the end fades out. It shouldn't work. It should be a disjointed mess but somehow makes complete sense. Of all the early a-ha tracks I never would have expected to age well but did this has to be #1. This shit is almost prog metal like some junk Porcupine Tree did when they were still sperm in their father's nutsack. (sorry. that last part was a bit explicit) I got overly excited.
Loved your reaction to this!
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Benny Harvey yet though. R.I.P. big man. Gone but not forgotten 😉
They weren t exactly friends after the bond thing, right? Wrong song
@@HighFashionQueen 🤣🤣🤣
For a period of time the music video for this was banned after 9/11 as the end of the video shows a newspaper with the front page being a destroyed Manhattan.
I just watched this again .... youtube should let you like it 100 times 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍