From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Forever Not Yours"
Single by A-ha
from the album Lifelines
ReleasedApril 2, 2002
Recorded2002 Oslo and London
Genre Synthpop
Length
  • 4:08 (Single Version)
Label WEA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
A-ha singles chronology
"I Wish I Cared"
(2001)
"Forever Not Yours"
(2002)
" Lifelines"
(2002)

"Forever Not Yours" is the first single from the A-ha album Lifelines. It was sent to radio stations in parts of Europe on 22 February 2002 (15 April in Belgium) and was released commercially on 2 April.

The cover of the commercial release features a closeup shot of the black front end of a 1950s Cadillac standing on flatland. The A-ha logo in dark red is in the top right hand corner of the sleeve with the title in black letters underneath. The reverse of the sleeve features more flatland which has been fenced off with a small blue and white wooden panel. The sky is blue grey above with the A-ha logo in white letters at the top and track information in black underneath. The disc itself is a picture disc, showing the steering wheel and dash board photographed from inside the car. The A-ha logo is in silver at the bottom of the disc with title in white underneath. The photographs used on this single were taken by Andy Frank.

A-ha's vocalist Morten has said: " 'Forever Not Yours' is one of those songs that sums us up. Melancholy, and at the same time uplifting - soaring."

The phrase "forever not yours" is a play on the love letter sign off "forever yours".

Formats and track listing

CD: WEA. / 0927 44859-2 Europe

  1. "Forever Not Yours" - (4:08)
  2. "Differences" (Original Demo) - 2:49
  3. " Hunting High And Low" (Live In Oslo) - 7:07
  4. " Manhattan Skyline" (Live In Oslo) - 6:14

Forever Not Yours video

  • Director: Harald Zwart
  • The video was filmed on location in Cuba.
  • The theme of the video was based on the Biblical floods and Noah's Ark.
  • There are many famous faces entering the 'VIP entrance' in this video, including look-a-likes for Desmond Tutu, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, and Elizabeth II.
  • In the final scene, A-ha once again makes fun of themselves: the VIP entrance turns out to be an entrance to a work hall for the crew.

Charts

Chart performance for "Forever Not Yours"
Chart (2002) Peak
position
Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40) [1] 31
Czech Republic ( IFPI) [2] 2
Germany ( Official German Charts) [3] 18
Hungary ( Rádiós Top 40) [4] 15
Italy ( FIMI) [5] 24
Netherlands ( Single Top 100) [6] 82
Norway ( VG-lista) [7] 1
Poland ( Music & Media) [8] 1
Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan) [9] 46
Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade) [10] 26
UK Singles ( OCC) [11] 175

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 "Forever Not Yours". [12]

References

  1. ^ " a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 22 – Radio 2002" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Archived from the original on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. ^ " a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  4. ^ " Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. ^ " a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  6. ^ " a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  7. ^ " a-ha – Forever Not Yours". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 19/2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 19. 4 May 2002. p. 27. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  9. ^ " a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  10. ^ " a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Chart Log UK (1994–2010): A – Azzido Da Bass". Zobbel. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  12. ^ Hoftun Gjestad, Robert (23 June 2017). "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]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian Bokmål).