Morten Harket facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morten Harket
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Harket performing in 2013
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| Born | 14 September 1959 Kongsberg, Norway |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
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Morten Harket was born on September 14, 1959, in Norway. He is a famous Norwegian singer. Morten is best known as the lead singer of the popular synth-pop band A-ha.
A-ha has released 11 studio albums. They became very famous around the world after their hit song "Take On Me" in 1985. Morten Harket has also released six solo albums on his own. Before joining A-ha in 1982, he sang for a blues band called Souldier Blue in Oslo.
King Harald of Norway honored Morten Harket. He was named a Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav. This award was for his great contributions to Norwegian music and his success worldwide.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Morten grew up in Asker, Norway. His father was a chief doctor, and his mother was an economics teacher. He has four siblings. Morten was inspired by many different musicians when he was young. These included Uriah Heep, Jimi Hendrix, and Queen.
He took piano lessons for a while. However, he found it hard to practice regularly. Morten started writing music and playing the piano when he was just four years old.
Morten Harket's Music Career
Forming the Band A-ha
Morten Harket, guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen formed A-ha. They started the band on September 14, 1982. The trio moved from Norway to London to start their music career. They met John Ratcliff, a producer, who introduced them to manager Terry Slater. Together, Ratcliff and Slater helped A-ha get started.
The band chose the name "A-ha" from a song title Paul was thinking about. Morten liked the name when he saw it in Paul's notebook. He immediately felt it was the perfect name for their band.
A-ha's Rise to Fame
In 1984, A-ha released their first song, "Take On Me." It became a huge hit in 1985 after being re-recorded. A famous music video, directed by Steve Barron, also helped. This song's success helped their first album, Hunting High and Low, sell over 10 million copies.
They released more albums like Scoundrel Days and Stay on These Roads. After their album Memorial Beach, the band took a break.
Morten joined A-ha again in 1998. They performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert. Since then, A-ha has released several new albums. Their album Analogue in 2005 was very popular. It became a Platinum record in the UK. Their album Foot of the Mountain came out in 2009.
Morten Harket is known for holding a long note in the song "Summer Moved On" (2000). He held it for 20.2 seconds. This is thought to be one of the longest notes in UK chart history. In 2009, A-ha announced they would stop performing together after a farewell tour in 2010. Tickets for their last concert in Oslo sold out very quickly.
However, A-ha reunited in 2015 for a big festival in Brazil. This led to a new tour and the album Cast in Steel. In 2017, the band performed for MTV Unplugged. An acoustic version of "Take On Me" was even used in the movie Deadpool 2.
Working with Band Members
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy says Morten is "totally different" from him. He remembers Morten changing his whole wardrobe when they first went to London. Paul feels Morten helped him gain confidence. He also says Morten and he both have strong personalities. Magne Furuholmen often helps them work together.
Magne Furuholmen describes Morten as very focused. He says Morten strongly believes in what he does. This helps the whole band. Morten is also very loyal and fair to others.
Morten has sung with many other artists. These include Graham Nash, Lissie, and Alison Moyet.
Royal Recognition for A-ha
All three members of A-ha received a special honor. Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy were made Knights of the First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. This award is given for great service to Norway and to people around the world. The ceremony took place on November 6, 2012.
Morten Harket's Solo Work
Before A-ha, Morten was the lead singer of a soul band called Soldier Blue. In 1993, he sang a cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" for the Coneheads movie soundtrack.
After A-ha took a break in 1994, Morten started his solo career. He has released six studio albums. His album Letter from Egypt came out in 2008. In 2012, he released Out of My Hands. His sixth album, Brother, was released in 2014.
Morten has also worked with other artists. He sang with the Pakistani rock band Junoon and with Hayley Westenra. He has also collaborated with many Scandinavian artists.
In 2009, Morten created and performed the main song for a film called A Name is a Name.
Other Performances and Appearances
Morten Harket has performed in many other shows. Here are some notable ones:
- He helped host the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway.
- Morten sang a duet with Klaus Meine from the band Scorpions. They performed "Wind of Change" at a concert in Greece in 2013.
- He made a surprise appearance with Christina Aguilera and Pitbull. They performed "Feel This Moment" at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. This song uses a sample from A-ha's "Take On Me."
- He sang the official UNICEF song "Children First" in 2005. This was at a special event in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- In 2021, Morten appeared on the British TV show The Masked Singer. He was dressed as the Viking. He even sang his own song, "Take on Me," on the show.
Morten Harket's Voice
Morten Harket is famous for his amazing singing voice. Some people say his voice can cover five octaves. However, Morten himself said in 2009 that he has "never counted."
His voice is known for its "greatest falsetto in the history of pop music," according to NME magazine. A sound engineer who worked with A-ha described Morten as an "excellent singer." He noted Morten's "incredibly strong falsetto" and clear voice.
Morten Harket's Personal Life
Morten Harket has three children with his former wife, Camilla Malmquist Harket. They were married from 1989 to 1998. He also has two daughters with former girlfriends.
His oldest daughter, Tomine, sings on Alan Walker's song "Darkside."
Morten enjoys drawing, painting, music, and cars. He is a fan of the English football team Stoke City. Morten lives in Norway but also has a home in London.
In 2025, Morten Harket shared that he has Parkinson's disease. He said he accepts the diagnosis. He also mentioned that he had a special treatment called deep brain stimulation. Morten has asked people not to send him advice about his health. He prefers to listen to the medical professionals who are helping him. This treatment has affected his voice.
Images for kids
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Harket performing in 2013
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Harket performing at an A-ha concert, 2005
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Harket performing in Stavanger, 2010
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Harket at Oslo Pride parade in 2016
See also
In Spanish: Morten Harket para niños
