MUSIC IA1 RECITAL STATEMENT PIECE

By James Nolan

As a performer, the piece that I will be reciting for my IA1, is A-ha's "Take On Me".
Released in 1985 the song is a breakthrough classic. Specifically, I will be performing vocals.
The song perfectly embodies pop music innovation with its clever use of synthesisers, reverb
effects, falsetto vocals, and overall song structure.

The main vocalist Morten Harket's significant usage of falsetto vocals is at the forefront of its
creativity. In addition to showcasing Harket's vocal prowess, his airy falsetto gives the song a
unique emotional depth. Harket creates an engrossing auditory experience for the listener by
deftly alternating between falsetto and chest voice. A song about the pursuit of love, his
utilisation of falsetto captures the sense of desire and yearning conveyed in the lyrics. So, to
replicate his soaring vocals from the original piece, I too will also utilise the technique of
falsetto in my performance.

Sound exploration is further elevated to new heights in the song because of the careful use of
reverb. The wide reverberation immerses the listener in a rich auditory world by giving the
music a sense of depth and space. This ambient element deepens the emotional core of the
song and increases its effect by enhancing its ethereal aura. However, since the reverb in the
song was added to the vocals done by Harket, postproduction in the editing studio it won’t be
possible to perform it live myself, with reverb in the vocals.

Moreover, the piece I will be performing in the recital, "Take On Me" transforms the pop
music scene with its creative usage of synthesisers. The synthesisers are crucial in creating
the song's unique sound, from the recognisable synth riff that acts as the song's foundation to
the pounding arpeggios that propel the piece forward. By breaking out from conventional pop
standards and ushering in a new age of electronic music production, A-ha's deft use of synth
sounds gives their songs layers of mystery and depth.

The real innovation that I found in "Take On Me" is in its whole approach to composition and
arranging, which goes beyond its component parts. Synthesisers, reverb effects, and falsetto
vocals blend seamlessly to create a soundscape that is more complex than the sum of its parts.
A-ha has raised the bar for pop music's inventiveness and with its daring experiments with
structure and sound, displaying a desire to push limits and go against the grain.