A-ha is entering 2020 with a different vision, and it’s remastered in 4K.
The Norwegian trio released a restored version for the music video of their 1985 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Take On Me” today (Dec. 30). The iconic rotoscoped clip directed by Steve Barron, which blends animated pencil sketches and live-action scenes in an eye-catching visual, has amassed nearly one billion views on YouTube.
The video gained a hot rotating spot on MTV in the ’80s, and during its time, “Take On Me” had a more interesting take on the retro video editing process than others. A press release obtained by Rolling Stone detailed how “most music videos from this time were edited in tape format, while this clip was uniquely restored from the original 35mm film reels.”
A-ha also shared a 30-second side-by-side comparison clip of how the 4K remastered rotoscoped video is sharper and more vibrant than the standard definition clip from 1985.
If “Take On Me” were to reach the one-billion mark on the video-streaming platform, then it would become the first pop music video of the ’80s and first music video by a European act to accomplish this feat.
Watch the 4k remastered edition of the “Take On Me” video below.
