Me Last: Take on Me

Reel Big Fish: Take on Me

[purchase]

Take on Me was, of course, the huge hit that was the only thing anyone ever heard by the band A-Ha. The video featured some great animation, but the song was typical of the synth-pop hits of the time, catchy and danceable, but somewhat emotionally sterile. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thought so. Reel Big Fish demolished the original with their punky ska cover. Here, the instruments are all real, and so is the excitement. I don’t think the guy in this version is as clean-cut and respectable as the one in A-Ha’s video, but he’s a lot more real. That could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.