Summer Moved On Explained

Summer Moved On
Cover:File:a-ha Summer Moved On Single.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:a-ha
Album:Minor Earth Major Sky
B-Side:Barely Hanging On
Genre:Soft rock
Length:
  • 4:36 (album edit)
  • 4:06 (radio edit)
Label:WEA
Producer:
  • Andreas "Boogieman" Herbig
  • Roland Spremberg
Prev Title:Shapes That Go Together
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Minor Earth Major Sky
Next Year:2000

"Summer Moved On" is a song by Norwegian band a-ha, released as the group's first single in more than six years. The lead single from their sixth studio album, Minor Earth Major Sky (2000), the song was released in Europe on 25 March 2000 by WEA and was given a UK release on 22 May 2000. It was originally hastily written after a-ha agreed to a one-time reunion at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 1998. The song became a number-one radio hit in much of Europe, including topping the chart in the band's native Norway. On the song, Morten Harket achieved the European record for the longest note held in a top-40 pop song; he sustains a chest voice note for 20.2 seconds (eight measures).[1] Its music video was directed by Adam Berg and filmed in Spain.

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. A reviewer from Evening Herald described it as a "soaring and powerful ballad".[2] Sylvia Patterson from NME wrote, "And now they're back! Swoon! And they're still REALLY GOOD, if not quite The Revolution. Demolition string-quaver quiver-pop-a-ruddy-kimbo as Morten trills 'staaaaay!!!' and a thousand moonbeams dart from black skies of nu-pop baloney on a clifftop everglade under a wind-machine in Rio like 'NSync and all the rest of it never happened. Or, if you like, it's a bit James Bond, 'cos they did the James Bond theme tune once, they were that good. Sigh."[3]

Music video

The music video for "Summer Moved On" was directed by Swedish director Adam Berg and filmed in Cádiz, Spain at the beginning of March 2000.[4]

MTV Unplugged appearance

In 2017, a-ha appeared on the television series MTV Unplugged and played and recorded acoustic versions of many of their popular songs for the album MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice in Giske, Norway, including "Summer Moved On" (featuring Alison Moyet).[5] [6]

Track listings

  1. "Summer Moved On" (album edit) – 4:39
  2. "Barely Hanging On" (album version) – 3:54
  1. "Summer Moved On" (radio edit) – 4:06
  2. "Summer Moved On" (album edit) – 4:39
  3. "Barely Hanging On" – 3:51
  4. "Summer Moved On" (remix) – 6:02
  1. "Summer Moved On" (radio edit) – 4:06
  2. "Barely Hanging On" (single version) – 3:54
  3. "Summer Moved On" (remix) – 6:02

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2000)Peak
position
Czech Republic (IFPI)[11] 11
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 27
Hungary (Mahasz)[13] 7
Poland (Music & Media)[14] 2

Year-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
Europe25 March 2000CDWEA[16]
United Kingdom22 May 2000[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Record Breakers and Trivia : Singles : Miscellany. everyhit.com. 14 April 2018.
  2. Evening Herald. 23 May 2000. p.25.
  3. Web site: Sylvia . Patterson . This Week's Singles 13th May 2000 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20000711055646/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/singles130500.html . 24 November 2020. 11 July 2000 . Sylvia Patterson.
  4. Web site: Story. a-ha.com. 1 February 2024.
  5. News: Hoftun Gjestad . Robert . 23 June 2017 . . Norwegian Bokmål . Etter 30 år med "tension" fant a-ha tonen igjen i kampen mot en felles fiende . After 30 years of "tension", A-ha found their sound again, in their fight against a common enemy . subscription.
  6. MTV Unplugged - Summer Solstice (2017) . . October 2017 . 6 October 2017.
  7. Summer Moved On. a-ha. 2000. European CD single liner notes. WEA. 8573 82331-2.
  8. Summer Moved On. a-ha. 2000. European maxi-CD single liner notes. WEA. 3984 29692-2.
  9. Summer Moved On. a-ha. 2000. UK CD single liner notes. WEA. WEA275CD, 8573 83035-2.
  10. Summer Moved On. a-ha. 2000. UK cassette single sleeve. WEA. WEA275C, 8573 830354.
  11. Web site: Hitparada radia – 24/2000. IFPI CR. cs. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20000620032242/http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm. 20 June 2000. 21 January 2024.
  12. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 17. 18. 7. 29 April 2000. 2 August 2021.
  13. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 17. 29. 9. 15 July 2000. 24 May 2020.
  14. Major Market Airplay – Week 18/2000. Music & Media. 17. 18. 19. 29 April 2000. 17 January 2024.
  15. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 2000. de. 24 May 2020.
  16. a-ha, It's Those Norwegians Again. Stavenes-Dove. Siri. Music & Media. 17. 14. 1. 1 April 2000. 2 August 2021.
  17. New Releases – For Week Starting May 22, 2000: Singles. Music Week. 29. 20 May 2000. 2 August 2021.

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