Scoundrel Days is my favourite album and my favourite song ever, not just by a-ha, but in general. I think, though I may be wrong, that for many of us a-ha fans, this is their best sound and why we became hard-core a-ha fans. It definitely was my case.
When looking at this album,it is soo strange to me that A-ha by many are considered 1 hit wonders. I know i have mentioned it before,but the pure quality here is mindblowing. Scoundrel Days is absolutely amazing,and i totally agree that it has the spooky horror vibes over the title track. It was a song Magne and Paul wrote together. An easter egg for you about the title track: Graham Prescott played the guitar on this song. Michael Sturgis (American drummer) played the drums on The Swing of Things, I've Been Losing You & Soft Rains of April. I cant remember at the top of my head if they were horror inspired behind making Scoundrel Days. But im sure they were,they have experience making soundtracks for movies,so i would think so. Best song for me on the album would have to be Cry Wolf. (I always crack a smile at the start,by Morten doing a spontaneous AAAH! type of light scream,like someone caught him off guard) Scoundrel Days as an album,won the Norwegian Grammies award for Best Pop Album Of The Year in 1986. Knowing that it got released as late of the year as 6th October,speaks volume on the prize. But i guess it also shows that A-ha always puts in that extra time on theyr albums,to make sure it becomes as good as possible. I know most of the guys are perfectionists so. 😉 I find it needless to say but,this is a seriously underrated album in music history. And you are very welcome PMD! I love making new people aware of A-ha,reaction channels or not. They have been part of my entire life,pretty much. Oh you had a finishing question,Top 3 tracks from the album? 1.Cry Wolf (Im weak for that song,always been) 2.Scoundrel Days (I wish it got a better recognition out there then it did as a standalone song,i love Mortens versatile vocals on it!) 3. I`ve Been Losing You (I will always love that song,soo powerful!) I feel bad not having a spot for Manhattan Skyline,but its defintly up there. Its honestly not a single song on the album i dont like.
@@ahkkariq7406 i know,inside Norway it has gotten the recognition it deserves. I was thinking more like internationally. Especially after theyr massive success with Hunting High And Low. Just strange to me that only a few countries embraced theyr follow up album.
Well,people from across the world has stated that other countries are considering them a 1 hit wonder too. I know,for me personally i mainly have this from rolling stone magazine,and in general US based music press etc. But apparently and according to other fans,there are more countries on that list. Im not saying its false or true,i just chose to trust when people report such things to me. 🤔
Yes, it's a crime not to dance to "Cry Wolf", and "October" always sends me to a cold, very early morning in a city: In the 80's you had to line-up overnight to buy the best tickets -- so "October" always transports me back to lying on a thin blanket on the concrete with my mates. The video of "I've Been Losing You" is shot from a live performance; hence, keeps the first concerts memories alive. Darkness, mystery, fantasy, off-beat, then magical.
'Scoundrel days' opening track is a Thrilling song.When i watched them sing this live i nearly swooned.I was near the stage 4-5 rows away,and it was heartstopping both this and their 'Hunting high and low" performance.Couldn't help it and went wet eyed.And from what i looked around I think most of us did .'Soft rains of April' is also a great album closer.
Norwegian musicians in 2011 voted the album the second best Norwegian album of all times regardless of genre. My favorite songs on the album are I've been losing you, Scoundrel Days and Manhattan Skyline.
Awesome. Key LP of my teen years. Love your reaction. Thank you. You are right, A-ha really channelling their nordic roots with atmospheric soundscapes and dark painful love songs. I don't know about the songs being connected either, but you are right, they compliment each other, flow perfectly sonically.
This album is such a perfect follow up to Hunting High and Low for me. They feel like sibling albums to me, with Hunting High and Low feeling like the younger and cheerier sibling and Scoundrel Days feeling like the darker and more contemplative older sibling. My love for them both is endless. My top three faves are Manhattan Skyline, Maybe Maybe, and October. Love your continuing tour of a-Ha albums and I look forward to your reaction to their third album, Stay on These Roads.
Amazing and really enjoyable reactions as usual❤ Completely unrelated to this album, which I adore, on the first, the sun always shines on TV is my favourite, not because 4 year old me thought it was written about me, in my house, when the curtains were open and the sun shone on my TV screen!! I always thought... "But how does he know"😂
"The weight of the wind" is just beautiful... but it's an album you can listen to from beginning to end ... and be taken on a journey... thanks for the reaction! 🎈💕
So glad you're going through the a-Ha catalog. Have been a fan of theirs since Hunting High & Low. Scoundrel Days is a great album and I believe you are quite correct as to how well each song complements its predecessor and its followup.
This album is a significant departure from their first album and a lot of people see it as the odd man out considering their whole catalog, but I really love it. They are really good at discussing darker themes.
a-ha is so good. It's my second favourite band ever (just behind Depeche Mode). An incredible discography. I love their 2000s albums (Minor Earth, Major Sky, Lifelines) and Cast In Steel the most! And of course, Hunting High And Low.
It is such a good album. I love Scoundrel days itself, and the thriller/horror theme that continues in so many of the others songs. I’ve Been Losing You is so dark. “Putting the gun down on the bedside table I must have realized it wasn’t the rain. … And I could have sworn it wasn't me. Yet I did it all so coldly” And the guy in “Soft rains of April” is going to jail. You almost want to fit them all into one story That said Looking for the Whales is a bit of shitty album filler.
@PancakeMarshmallowDude I love Morten since my teenage! And his story of life and the person he became made me love him even more! I hope they return to Curitiba, my city, for the "True North" show, where I finally want to be able to hug you at least once in my life!! Dude! Can you imagine Morten singing "October" whispering in our ear????? Because I do!!! 😂😂😂 Would be a dream come true!!! Oh God! I'm totally in love by him after this year's!!❤❤❤❤
PLEASE REACT A SOLO ALBUM MORTEN'S , CALLED "WILD SEED", IY WAS THE FIRST ALBUM SOLO BY HIM, ITS DIVINE, IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPRESS IN WORDS! IT'S A MASTERPIECE! KISSES FROM CURITIBA, BRASIL!!!
Thank you for this, I appreciated your take on this album, very interesting and rather profound I thought. Scoundrel Days, I think is about a communist soldier, in deep regret of what he is ordered to do to civilians. And so the guilt gets to him so bad, he kills himself in the end. One of my favorite from this album for sure! Weight of the wind is so powerful, oh my goodness, cause I've been there.
"No, don’t fade out!" - the eternal refrain of 80s music fans. PMD’s comment, "It’s nice to be hearing these tracks in the context of the album", is so right about the sequencing. They clearly care about their album tracks and the album format, raising A-ha above the level of a mere synth-driven pop/rock band.
I love the whole album, with a few exceptions, I like all songs out of it and Scoundrel Days is one of the best a-ha songs in my opinion, so deep and mysterious. Most a-ha fans would have had this song as a single. I also love I've been losing you, especially the part where the song seems to stop and then suddenly starts again. This song is much better live. I don't know if you noticed that the song is about a man who probably killed his girlfriend while he was delirious and now regrets it and doesn't know what to do. There are a few other a-ha songs that seem to pick up on this topic and seem to continue this story across several albums and songs. E.g. Sycamore Leaves: "Can't stop thinking 'bout it It fills me with unease Out there by the roadside Something's buried Under sycamore leaves". In other songs, the perpetrator seems to be on the run, etc. Anyway, this is a very interesting topic of discussion among fans. One of the best live performances of "I've been losing you" is "a-ha live in NRK Studios, 1991" th-cam.com/video/sL_GGtlSWbc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=0qxQrZs8UtBzLYaH
I love this multi album theme too, Sycamore Leaves is the perfect example, and I feel like Early Morning fits in there too “Ran the whole way Down to the tracks Through the doorway, then a last look back … I climbed all the stairways To find the rooftop clear Got the shotgun lying with me here”
Me hubiera gustado sacaran más canciones y álbumes de este estilo, la voz de morten tiene o tenía el timbre perfecto para el género post punk-gótico 😍, hubiera estado genial sacaran algo así en esos tiempos ❤😁
UNCUT reaction: www.patreon.com/posts/ha-scoundrel-91043190?Link&
Scoundrel Days is my favourite album and my favourite song ever, not just by a-ha, but in general. I think, though I may be wrong, that for many of us a-ha fans, this is their best sound and why we became hard-core a-ha fans. It definitely was my case.
You’re not wrong.
"Manhatten Skyline" is a Masterpiece
When looking at this album,it is soo strange to me that A-ha by many are considered 1 hit wonders. I know i have mentioned it before,but the pure quality here is mindblowing. Scoundrel Days is absolutely amazing,and i totally agree that it has the spooky horror vibes over the title track. It was a song Magne and Paul wrote together. An easter egg for you about the title track: Graham Prescott played the guitar on this song. Michael Sturgis (American drummer) played the drums on The Swing of Things, I've Been Losing You & Soft Rains of April. I cant remember at the top of my head if they were horror inspired behind making Scoundrel Days. But im sure they were,they have experience making soundtracks for movies,so i would think so.
Best song for me on the album would have to be Cry Wolf. (I always crack a smile at the start,by Morten doing a spontaneous AAAH! type of light scream,like someone caught him off guard)
Scoundrel Days as an album,won the Norwegian Grammies award for Best Pop Album Of The Year in 1986. Knowing that it got released as late of the year as 6th October,speaks volume on the prize. But i guess it also shows that A-ha always puts in that extra time on theyr albums,to make sure it becomes as good as possible. I know most of the guys are perfectionists so. 😉
I find it needless to say but,this is a seriously underrated album in music history. And you are very welcome PMD! I love making new people aware of A-ha,reaction channels or not. They have been part of my entire life,pretty much.
Oh you had a finishing question,Top 3 tracks from the album? 1.Cry Wolf (Im weak for that song,always been) 2.Scoundrel Days (I wish it got a better recognition out there then it did as a standalone song,i love Mortens versatile vocals on it!) 3. I`ve Been Losing You (I will always love that song,soo powerful!) I feel bad not having a spot for Manhattan Skyline,but its defintly up there. Its honestly not a single song on the album i dont like.
Norwegian musicians in 2011 actually voted the album the second best Norwegian album of all times regardless of genre.
@@ahkkariq7406 i know,inside Norway it has gotten the recognition it deserves. I was thinking more like internationally. Especially after theyr massive success with Hunting High And Low. Just strange to me that only a few countries embraced theyr follow up album.
@@sonofthesea3298 Sure. I just wanted to point this out, since you mentioned the "Norwegian Grammy awards" 1986.
They were only viewed as one hit wonders in america, which in itself is wrong, as they had hits with the sun always shines on tv.
Well,people from across the world has stated that other countries are considering them a 1 hit wonder too. I know,for me personally i mainly have this from rolling stone magazine,and in general US based music press etc. But apparently and according to other fans,there are more countries on that list. Im not saying its false or true,i just chose to trust when people report such things to me. 🤔
Yes, it's a crime not to dance to "Cry Wolf", and "October" always sends me to a cold, very early morning in a city: In the 80's you had to line-up overnight to buy the best tickets -- so "October" always transports me back to lying on a thin blanket on the concrete with my mates. The video of "I've Been Losing You" is shot from a live performance; hence, keeps the first concerts memories alive.
Darkness, mystery, fantasy, off-beat, then magical.
'Scoundrel days' opening track is a Thrilling song.When i watched them sing this live i nearly swooned.I was near the stage 4-5 rows away,and it was heartstopping both this and their 'Hunting high and low" performance.Couldn't help it and went wet eyed.And from what i looked around I think most of us did .'Soft rains of April' is also a great album closer.
From a so called 1980's boy band this album is amazing, lyrically and the soundscape. Loved your reaction.
I love this album. I have a casette and LP. It's a mix of synths and goth.
Manhattan skyline ,Maybe maybe and soft rains of april my fav.
Norwegian musicians in 2011 voted the album the second best Norwegian album of all times regardless of genre.
My favorite songs on the album are I've been losing you, Scoundrel Days and Manhattan Skyline.
The weight of the wind it's a brilliant song.
Awesome. Key LP of my teen years. Love your reaction. Thank you. You are right, A-ha really channelling their nordic roots with atmospheric soundscapes and dark painful love songs. I don't know about the songs being connected either, but you are right, they compliment each other, flow perfectly sonically.
This album is such a perfect follow up to Hunting High and Low for me. They feel like sibling albums to me, with Hunting High and Low feeling like the younger and cheerier sibling and Scoundrel Days feeling like the darker and more contemplative older sibling. My love for them both is endless.
My top three faves are Manhattan Skyline, Maybe Maybe, and October.
Love your continuing tour of a-Ha albums and I look forward to your reaction to their third album, Stay on These Roads.
Amazing and really enjoyable reactions as usual❤
Completely unrelated to this album, which I adore, on the first, the sun always shines on TV is my favourite, not because 4 year old me thought it was written about me, in my house, when the curtains were open and the sun shone on my TV screen!! I always thought... "But how does he know"😂
Morten is still the best singer there is, and he is still the most gorgeous man ever!!
"The weight of the wind" is just beautiful... but it's an album you can listen to from beginning to end ... and be taken on a journey... thanks for the reaction! 🎈💕
So glad you're going through the a-Ha catalog. Have been a fan of theirs since Hunting High & Low. Scoundrel Days is a great album and I believe you are quite correct as to how well each song complements its predecessor and its followup.
Losing you is so powerful, love it.
This album is a significant departure from their first album and a lot of people see it as the odd man out considering their whole catalog, but I really love it. They are really good at discussing darker themes.
a-ha is so good. It's my second favourite band ever (just behind Depeche Mode). An incredible discography. I love their 2000s albums (Minor Earth, Major Sky, Lifelines) and Cast In Steel the most! And of course, Hunting High And Low.
It is such a good album. I love Scoundrel days itself, and the thriller/horror theme that continues in so many of the others songs.
I’ve Been Losing You is so dark.
“Putting the gun down on the bedside table
I must have realized it wasn’t the rain.
…
And I could have sworn it wasn't me. Yet I did it all so coldly”
And the guy in “Soft rains of April” is going to jail.
You almost want to fit them all into one story
That said Looking for the Whales is a bit of shitty album filler.
If you think Scoundrel Days is dark then wait till you get to Memorial Beach!
@PancakeMarshmallowDude I love Morten since my teenage! And his story of life and the person he became made me love him even more! I hope they return to Curitiba, my city, for the "True North" show, where I finally want to be able to hug you at least once in my life!! Dude! Can you imagine Morten singing "October" whispering in our ear????? Because I do!!! 😂😂😂 Would be a dream come true!!! Oh God! I'm totally in love by him after this year's!!❤❤❤❤
❤️😂
PLEASE REACT A SOLO ALBUM MORTEN'S , CALLED "WILD SEED", IY WAS THE FIRST ALBUM SOLO BY HIM, ITS DIVINE, IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPRESS IN WORDS! IT'S A MASTERPIECE! KISSES FROM CURITIBA, BRASIL!!!
Thank you for this, I appreciated your take on this album, very interesting and rather profound I thought.
Scoundrel Days, I think is about a communist soldier, in deep regret of what he is ordered to do to civilians. And so the guilt gets to him so bad, he kills himself in the end.
One of my favorite from this album for sure!
Weight of the wind is so powerful, oh my goodness, cause I've been there.
Where the hell did communist soldier come into your thoguhts ? 🙂
"No, don’t fade out!" - the eternal refrain of 80s music fans. PMD’s comment, "It’s nice to be hearing these tracks in the context of the album", is so right about the sequencing. They clearly care about their album tracks and the album format, raising A-ha above the level of a mere synth-driven pop/rock band.
This is one of my favourite albums, enjoyed your reaction.
Thank you!
I love the whole album, with a few exceptions, I like all songs out of it and Scoundrel Days is one of the best a-ha songs in my opinion, so deep and mysterious. Most a-ha fans would have had this song as a single.
I also love I've been losing you, especially the part where the song seems to stop and then suddenly starts again. This song is much better live.
I don't know if you noticed that the song is about a man who probably killed his girlfriend while he was delirious and now regrets it and doesn't know what to do. There are a few other a-ha songs that seem to pick up on this topic and seem to continue this story across several albums and songs. E.g. Sycamore Leaves:
"Can't stop thinking 'bout it
It fills me with unease
Out there by the roadside
Something's buried
Under sycamore leaves".
In other songs, the perpetrator seems to be on the run, etc. Anyway, this is a very interesting topic of discussion among fans.
One of the best live performances of "I've been losing you" is "a-ha live in NRK Studios, 1991"
th-cam.com/video/sL_GGtlSWbc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=0qxQrZs8UtBzLYaH
I love this multi album theme too, Sycamore Leaves is the perfect example, and I feel like Early Morning fits in there too “Ran the whole way
Down to the tracks
Through the doorway, then a last look back
…
I climbed all the stairways
To find the rooftop clear
Got the shotgun lying with me here”
Yes you are right, Early Morning is one of the songs I spoke about. Seems to be another part of a special crime story😁
Such a powerful and inspired album
Me hubiera gustado sacaran más canciones y álbumes de este estilo, la voz de morten tiene o tenía el timbre perfecto para el género post punk-gótico 😍, hubiera estado genial sacaran algo así en esos tiempos ❤😁
Thank you!!! I love all a-ha albums, but this one is absolutely one of my favourites! So much emotion in every word Morten sings! 😊❤🎵🇳🇴
❤🎉❤🎉❤ Great album,one of the best ever🎉❤🎉❤🎉❤
Hope you are dressing up for Halloween. Unusual song at least it’s different. His voice is still rich. Keepsmiling😅😅😅
Great song 👍🏼
Hi
Where's westlife coast to coast
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