Posts Tagged ‘morten harket’

Morten attends funeral of Lage Fosheim

Morten outside Uranienborg church, November 12th

Morten outside Uranienborg church, November 12th

Morten attended the funeral of The Monroes vocalist Lage Fosheim (1958 – 2013) in Oslo today, together with a-ha manager Harald Wiik. Other musicians present included Sissel Kyrkjebø, Espen Lind and a-ha touring musician Dag Kolsrud.

Lage Fosheim and Eivind Rølles formed The Monroes in 1982, which quickly became the biggest band in Norway – until a-ha had their breakthrough. Their first two albums spawned the no. 1 hits Sunday People (1983) and Cheerio (1985).

Fosheim later became head of promotion at Universal Norway and worked with a-ha and Morten on various projects.

The Monroes: Eivind Rølles and Lage Fosheim

The Monroes: Eivind Rølles and Lage Fosheim

“This is sad and very unexpected. Lage was an unusually lively character. He’s been a central part of the Norwegian music scene since we started out. a-ha and The Monroes did many of the same things and cleared a path [for Norwegian pop music] in different areas”, Morten told VG before the ceremony.

“Lage was an extraordinary guy, with a unique level of energy. He made a difference in the way he was, not least how he embraced each day. His death came very sudden for all of us who didn’t know he was ill”, Morten added to Her og Nå.

Both members of The Monroes died of cancer this year, Rølles in March and Fosheim in October.

Articles about the funeral:  Dagbladet    VG    NRK    Her og Nå    VG photo gallery

Morten performs for Södra Cell employees

Morten performs in Hurum, October 24th

Morten performs in Hurum, October 24th
(Picture from Grønsand Gjestegård’s Facebook page)

Morten did an intimate solo concert in Hurum last Thursday, October 24th, in connection with a private dinner held for 150 former employees of the local Södra Cell Tofte cellulose factory, which closed its doors in August.

A total of 295 people lost their jobs when the owners decided to cease production.

“Morten has a personal involvement in this issue. That’s why he wanted to take part. Normally he doesn’t do events like this”, Jan Morten Trønnes of Södra Cell tells newspaper Røyken og Hurums Avis.

“He felt sad that the factory had to close, and he can’t understand why Norway doesn’t want industrial facilities that can produce renewable energy”, Trønnes says.

The dinner was held in a barn at Grønsand Gjestegård, and Morten apparently performed songs from “his entire career”, including a couple of new ones. He was accompanied by producer Lars Hustoft on keyboard.

2013 BMI London Awards

Morten and Magne in London, October 15th

Morten and Magne in London, October 15th
(Picture from BMI.com)

Morten and Magne attended the 2013 BMI London Awards on October 15th, where they were presented with the BMI Million-Air Award, in recognition of “Take On Me” having been played four million times on U.S. radio.

A video clip of them receiving the award can be seen here (starts at 03:10). There is also a short interview clip on YouTube.

More pictures are available on BMI.com and Zimbio.com here and here.

Morten and Magne previously received the same award at the BMI London Awards in October 2007, when the song had been played three million times on U.S. radio.

Morten joins Scorpions at MTV Unplugged shows in Athens

Morten and Klaus Meine on stage, September 11th (Picture by Marietta Photography)

Morten and Klaus Meine on stage, September 11th
(Picture by Marietta Photography)

Morten joined German veteran rockers Scorpions on stage at the outdoors Lycabettus Theatre in Athens, Greece last night, to sing the band’s 1991 hit “Wind of Change” together with vocalist Klaus Meine.

The live performance can be seen on YouTube.

And check out this blog for some good photos from the show.

Scorpions are doing three MTV Unplugged concerts in Athens this week (September 11th, 12th and 14th) as “Scorpions & Friends”, with several surprise guests. Morten is supposed to come on stage again tonight, but not on Saturday.

Two of the shows are being filmed, and will be released as MTV Unplugged – Scorpions Live In Athens on CD, DVD and Blu-ray later this year.

Morten is known to be a friend of Scorpions, and attended one of their concerts while on tour in Russia last year. On Monday he appeared at an Athens restaurant together with Klaus Meine, there’s a picture on Instagram.

Update: “Wind of Change” had to be performed twice on the second night (Sep. 12th), as Morten seemed to miss his cue the first time. Here are YouTube clips of both versions:   Version 1    Version 2

Morten attends The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones premiere

Inez and Morten in Fredrikstad last night

Inez and Morten in Fredrikstad last night

Morten and Inez attended the Norwegian premiere of Harald Zwart’s new movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones in Fredrikstad last night.

“Harald is above all very talented, which he has proven time and again. But he’s also got an incredible drive and an impressive staying power. And they’re also a great team, Harald and his wife Veslemøy. It’s all very impressive, and that’s why I’m here tonight”, Morten told TV2.

A few of the actors from the movie were also present in Fredrikstad; Lily Collins, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jamie Campbell Bower and Robert Sheehan.

Pictures: VG 1   VG 2   Fredriksstad Blad   Video interview: FBTV

 
Earlier this month, on August 3rd, a-ha fan Ari Benjamin met Morten in Kristiansand. The story of his meeting with Morten can be found on his blog at aribenjamin.net.

 
Magne, who will be showing his Norwegian Wood exhibition in Oslo next month, also appeared in public recently. On August 16th he attended the Moods of Norway 10th anniversary celebration in Oslo Spektrum, where the fashion label presented its latest collection called Pop Factory.

Magne and Heidi could be seen in the audience in the live webcast from the show, where they enjoyed the Moods of Norway house band – featuring Matt Sorum (drums), Nick Perri (guitar) and Maya Vik (bass).

Morten to perform in Vennesla – UPDATED

Performing at the Haydom fundraiser in 2009

Morten performing “A Change Is Gonna Come” at the Haydom fundraiser in 2009

Next Sunday, August 18th, Morten will once again be performing with his relatives in the Harket Choir at the annual fundraiser meeting to support Haydom Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania.

The fundraiser takes place in Vennesla in Southern Norway, outdoors in a garden owned by Morten’s uncle. Several hundred people show up each year for the event.

Morten has previously performed at the Haydom fundraiser in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2011. In 2009 he also did a mini solo-concert, in addition to singing with the Harket Choir.

Update, August 19th: Although Morten was scheduled to take part, he did not appear at the Haydom fundraiser after all (for reasons unknown). But the Harket Choir performed without him and 104000 kroner was raised for the Haydom hospital.

Morten to perform at Night of the Proms tour

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Morten will headline the annual Night Of The Proms tour in Germany and Luxembourg later this year, his official website announced today.

Night of the Proms is an annual series of concerts held around Europe, which mixes pop music with classical music.

There will be 18 arena shows in 13 different cities, and Morten will apparently sing 4-5 songs each night.

Here’s some info from the official Night of the Proms website:

“To mark the 20th anniversary of AIDA Night of the Proms in Germany, the musical event once again presents an exclusive mix of international top artists. During this jubilee edition, the symphonic orchestra Il Novecento will accompany Morten Harket (the voice of A-HA), rising star Amy Macdonald, John Miles, the Berlin rock’n’roll band The Baseballs and the Japanese pianist Hiromi as classical soloist.”

The dates:

29 November: Lanxess Arena, Cologne
30 November: Lanxess Arena, Cologne
1 December: Arena, Oberhausen
4 December: Messehalle, Erfurt
5 December: SAP Arena, Mannheim
6 December: Festhalle, Frankfurt
7 December: Festhalle, Frankfurt
8 December: Westfalenhalle, Dortmund
10 December: Coque, Luxembourg City
11 December: Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart
13 December: Olympiahalle, Munich
14 December: Olympiahalle, Munich
15 December: Olympiahalle, Munich
18 December: TUI Arena, Hannover
19 December: O2 World, Berlin
20 December: O2 World, Hamburg
21 December: O2 World, Hamburg
22 December: ÖVB Arena, Bremen

For ticket links, please visit mortenharket.com.

a-ha meet with King Harald

a-ha outside the Royal Palace in Oslo, June 10th

a-ha outside the Royal Palace in Oslo, June 10th

a-ha arrived at the Royal Palace in Oslo earlier today, where they had been granted an audience with King Harald. This is taking place in connection with the band members being appointed Knights First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav last year.

Picture from nrk.no

Picture from nrk.no

“It’s an honor to get recognized on an official level for the work we’ve done together. We accept it with gratitude and humility”, Magne told the press.

One reporter asked what they expected to talk about with King Harald.

“I reckon he’s a professional in that area, so he’ll lead the conversation”, Magne said with a laugh.

“We’re not coming here with lots to tell. Instead, we’ll listen to what the King has to say”, Morten added.

Another reporter asked how it is to come together as a-ha now, to receive this honour.

“It’s becoming increasingly harder to gather the three of us together, so we’re grateful to His Majesty for this opportunity”, Magne said.

Watch video clips of a-ha arriving on nrk.no and aftenposten.no. There is also a large photo on vg.no and a photo set by Stian Andersen on a-ha.com’s Facebook page.

a-ha granted audience with King Harald

Receiving the Royal Order of St. Olav, November 6th 2012.

Receiving the Royal Order of St. Olav, Nov. 6th 2012.

Morten, Magne and Paul have been invited to the Royal Palace in Oslo on Monday, June 10th, for an audience with King Harald of Norway at 12:30 (local time).

This is in connection with the band members being appointed Knights First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in November last year. Anyone who receives the Order of St. Olav are eventually granted an audience with the king.

But this isn’t the first time the members of a-ha have been granted an audience with the King of Norway. In February 1987 they were invited to the Royal Palace by the late King Olav, in recognition of their international achievements. Here is a picture of them afterwards, standing outside the Royal Palace with a group of fans. “It was a great experience”, Morten told the press back then.

Morten appears at Billboard Music Awards

Morten on stage at the Billboard Music Awards, with Pitbull and Christina Aguilera

Morten on stage at the Billboard Music Awards, with Pitbull and Christina Aguilera

Morten appeared as a surprise guest at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas last night, where he joined Pitbull and Christina Aguilera on stage at the end of their hit song “Feel This Moment” to sing the chorus of “Take On Me”.

The 3-hour show, which aired live on ABC in the US, was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The performance of “Feel This Moment” can be seen on YouTube.

Morten, Christina Aguilera and Pitbull (Picture from xtina-web.com)

Morten, Christina Aguilera and Pitbull
(Picture from xtina-web.com)

“Feel This Moment”, which borrows the classic riff from “Take On Me”, has been a big hit around the world in 2013. Pitbull was in contact with a-ha manager Harald Wiik over several months last year, to negotiate the use of the riff – which ended with Morten, Magne and Paul all getting songwriting credits on “Feel This Moment”.

“I thought it was fun, essentially. [Take On Me] has been treated to a lot of different versions. What is it, 25 years now, at least, since it was released. So it’s a resilient bugger. It’s been done in punk versions, heavy metal, death metal. All kinds. And now; Pitbull”, Morten said in the press room after the performance.

Morten also briefly talked about the new solo album he’s currently working on:

“I’m doing an album with a Swedish songwriter and producer, Peter Kvint. It’s possibly the best stuff I’ve ever done, actually. And that’s difficult to talk about, because it doesn’t sound true.”

Here is the whole Q&A session from the press room:

Prior to arriving in Las Vegas, Morten spent some time in New York on Friday, where a few select people had a chance to listen to some new demos.

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