Train of Thought (a-ha song)
Encyclopedia
"Train of Thought" is a song by Norwegian new wave
band A-ha
. It was released as the fourth single off the Hunting High and Low
album. The lyrics for this song were based on the existentialist authors and poets Gunvor Hofmo
, Knut Hamsun
and Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Pål's favourites at the time.
It was A-ha's third consecutive top ten single in the UK, reaching No. 8. It was not a pop hit in the United States, but a 12" single featuring a remix of the song appeared on the Hot Dance Club Play
charts. The single sold 500,000 copies worldwide. Another remix by Steve Thompson was released in 1989.
" into the video mainstream. The black-and-white footage and animation in the "Train of Thought" video actually predated the "Take on Me" single, and was the inspiration for the animation in the "Take on Me" video. It originated as Michael Patterson's student film at CalArts, which went on to influence a generation of MTV videos.
Most of the video was the old animated footage, interspersed with live parts with A-ha filmed during a break in the band's tour.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band A-ha
A-ha
A-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
. It was released as the fourth single off the Hunting High and Low
Hunting High and Low
Hunting High and Low is the debut album by Norwegian new wave band A-ha. Released on 1 June 1985 through Warner Bros. Records, the album was a huge commercial success selling more than 10 million units worldwide, peaking at #15 in the United States Billboard 200 and reaching high positions on...
album. The lyrics for this song were based on the existentialist authors and poets Gunvor Hofmo
Gunvor Hofmo
Gunvor Hofmo was a Norwegian writer, often considered one of Norway's most influential modernist poets.-Literary career:...
, Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
and Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky was a Russian writer of novels, short stories and essays. He is best known for his novels Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov....
- Pål's favourites at the time.
It was A-ha's third consecutive top ten single in the UK, reaching No. 8. It was not a pop hit in the United States, but a 12" single featuring a remix of the song appeared on the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
charts. The single sold 500,000 copies worldwide. Another remix by Steve Thompson was released in 1989.
Music video
The music video was directed by Candice Reckinger and Michael Patterson. The video concept was designed by the same producers who brought "Take on MeTake on Me
"Take on Me" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's first studio album Hunting High and Low, released in 1985...
" into the video mainstream. The black-and-white footage and animation in the "Train of Thought" video actually predated the "Take on Me" single, and was the inspiration for the animation in the "Take on Me" video. It originated as Michael Patterson's student film at CalArts, which went on to influence a generation of MTV videos.
Most of the video was the old animated footage, interspersed with live parts with A-ha filmed during a break in the band's tour.
Chart positions
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 8 |
| German Singles Chart | 14 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 5 |