"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]
^Summer Moved On (European CD single liner notes).
a-ha.
WEA. 2000. 8573 82331-2.{{
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^Summer Moved On (European maxi-CD single liner notes). a-ha. WEA. 2000. 3984 29692-2.{{
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^Summer Moved On (UK CD single liner notes). a-ha. WEA. 2000. WEA275CD, 8573 83035-2.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
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^Summer Moved On (UK cassette single sleeve). a-ha. WEA. 2000. WEA275C, 8573 830354.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)