Dark Is the Night (a-ha song)
Wikipedia - Recent changes [en] - Saturday, April 25, 2026The Song is called "Dark is the Night for All", but the Release only had "Dark is the Night" as its title.
← Previous revision Revision as of 08:14, 25 April 2026 Line 1: Line 1: {{Infobox song {{Infobox song | name = Dark Is the Night | name = Dark Is the Night for All | cover = Darkisthenight.jpg | cover = Darkisthenight.jpg | alt = | alt = Line 21: Line 21: | next_title = [[Angel in the Snow (A-ha song)|Angel]] | next_title = [[Angel in the Snow (A-ha song)|Angel]] | next_year = 1993 | next_year = 1993 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|G1ZgER4uf3A|"Dark Is the Night"}}}} | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|G1ZgER4uf3A|"Dark Is the Night for All"}}}} }} }} "'''Dark Is the Night'''" is a song by Norwegian [[synth-pop]] band [[A-ha]], released on 24 May 1993 by [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] as the lead single from their fifth studio album, ''[[Memorial Beach]]'' (1993). The song was written by [[Paul Waaktaar-Savoy|Pål Waaktaar]] and produced by the band with [[David Z (producer)|David Z]]. Like the rest of ''Memorial Beach'' album, the song was recorded at [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]'s [[Paisley Park Studios]]. This was also the last A-ha single to be released in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darsu.btinternet.co.uk/discography/A-ha/ditn.htm |title=Dark Is The Night (24.05.93) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010224083255/http://www.darsu.btinternet.co.uk/discography/A-ha/ditn.htm |archive-date=24 February 2001}}</ref> There are two versions of the accompanying music video, directed by Erick Ifergan;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0406980/|title=Erick Ifergan|publisher=[[IMDb]]|accessdate=10 April 2024}}</ref> the first version was banned due to disturbing scenes, including [[Morten Harket]]'s face ripping through the skin of his abdomen. The second version features more scenes of the band. Overall, the video shows people in various forms of [[Physical restraint|bondage]] and reflects the dark time A-ha was going through at the time{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}. "'''Dark Is the Night for All'''" is a song by Norwegian [[synth-pop]] band [[A-ha]], released on 24 May 1993 by [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] as the lead single from their fifth studio album, ''[[Memorial Beach]]'' (1993). The single version of the song is only named "Dark Is the Night". The song was written by [[Paul Waaktaar-Savoy|Pål Waaktaar]] and produced by the band with [[David Z (producer)|David Z]]. Like the rest of ''Memorial Beach'' album, the song was recorded at [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]'s [[Paisley Park Studios]]. This was also the last A-ha single to be released in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darsu.btinternet.co.uk/discography/A-ha/ditn.htm |title=Dark Is The Night for All (24.05.93) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010224083255/http://www.darsu.btinternet.co.uk/discography/A-ha/ditn.htm |archive-date=24 February 2001}}</ref> There are two versions of the accompanying music video, directed by Erick Ifergan;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0406980/|title=Erick Ifergan|publisher=[[IMDb]]|accessdate=10 April 2024}}</ref> the first version was banned due to disturbing scenes, including [[Morten Harket]]'s face ripping through the skin of his abdomen. The second version features more scenes of the band. Overall, the video shows people in various forms of [[Physical restraint|bondage]] and reflects the dark time A-ha was going through at the time{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}.==Critical reception== ==Critical reception== Upon the release, pan-European magazine ''[[Music & Media]]'' wrote, "Like [[Depeche Mode]], A-ha is no longer strictly synth. A little bit of rock is injected, while the vocals are [[Bono]]-esque."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-05-29.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=22|date=29 May 1993|page=14|accessdate=24 October 2021}}</ref> Alan Jones from ''[[Music Week]]'' said, "The Norwegian former teen idols return, this time sounding rather like a low-rent but pleasant [[U2 (band)|U2]] hybrid." He added that the song is "less immediate but more substantial than much of their work", and "a grower that could do very well."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 29 May 1993 |page= 11 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-05-29.pdf |issn= 0265-1548 |via= World Radio History}}</ref> Tony Cross from ''[[Smash Hits]]'' gave it a score of three out of five and commented, "After disappearing up a Fjord for a few years, [[Morten Harket|Morten]] is back – as Bono! This U2-esque blockbuster is immediately appealing – with its quiet piano, soft and sad-sounding Morten, and a grand sweeping guitar riff that is immediately likeable."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tony|last=Cross|title=New Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52554929790/in/album-72177720304362803/|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=26 May 1993|page=47|accessdate=15 December 2022}}</ref> In the review of ''[[Memorial Beach]]'' two weeks later, Cross also named "Dark Is the Night" the "best thing" on the album.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tony|last=Cross|title=New Albums|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52554850669/in/album-72177720304356889/|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=9 June 1993|page=51|accessdate=15 December 2022}}</ref> Upon the release, pan-European magazine ''[[Music & Media]]'' wrote, "Like [[Depeche Mode]], A-ha is no longer strictly synth. A little bit of rock is injected, while the vocals are [[Bono]]-esque."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-05-29.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=22|date=29 May 1993|page=14|accessdate=24 October 2021}}</ref> Alan Jones from ''[[Music Week]]'' said, "The Norwegian former teen idols return, this time sounding rather like a low-rent but pleasant [[U2 (band)|U2]] hybrid." He added that the song is "less immediate but more substantial than much of their work", and "a grower that could do very well."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 29 May 1993 |page= 11 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-05-29.pdf |issn= 0265-1548 |via= World Radio History}}</ref> Tony Cross from ''[[Smash Hits]]'' gave it a score of three out of five and commented, "After disappearing up a Fjord for a few years, [[Morten Harket|Morten]] is back – as Bono! This U2-esque blockbuster is immediately appealing – with its quiet piano, soft and sad-sounding Morten, and a grand sweeping guitar riff that is immediately likeable."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tony|last=Cross|title=New Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52554929790/in/album-72177720304362803/|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=26 May 1993|page=47|accessdate=15 December 2022}}</ref> In the review of ''[[Memorial Beach]]'' two weeks later, Cross also named "Dark Is the Night for All" the "best thing" on the album.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tony|last=Cross|title=New Albums|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52554850669/in/album-72177720304356889/|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=9 June 1993|page=51|accessdate=15 December 2022}}</ref>
==Track listings== ==Track listings== * '''7-inch single''' * '''7-inch single''' #"Dark Is the Night" (album version) – 3:45 #"Dark Is the Night for All" (album version) – 3:45 #"Angel in the Snow" (instrumental) – 4:15 #"Angel in the Snow" (instrumental) – 4:15
* '''CD 1''' * '''CD 1''' #"Dark Is the Night" – 3:44 #"Dark Is the Night for All" – 3:44 #"[[I've Been Losing You]]"/"[[Cry Wolf (A-ha song)|Cry Wolf]]" (live) – 9:07 #"[[I've Been Losing You]]"/"[[Cry Wolf (A-ha song)|Cry Wolf]]" (live) – 9:07 #"Angel in the Snow" (instrumental) – 4:15 #"Angel in the Snow" (instrumental) – 4:15
* '''CD 2''' * '''CD 2''' #"Dark Is the Night" – 3:45 #"Dark Is the Night for All" – 3:45 #"[[The Sun Always Shines on T.V.]]" – 5:06 #"[[The Sun Always Shines on T.V.]]" – 5:06 #"[[Hunting High and Low (A-ha song)|Hunting High and Low]]" (remix) – 3:38 #"[[Hunting High and Low (A-ha song)|Hunting High and Low]]" (remix) – 3:38 Line 46: Line 46: ==Charts== ==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for "Dark Is the Night" |+ Chart performance for "Dark Is the Night for All" |- |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1993) ! scope="col"| Chart (1993)