The main hit from the album “Hunting High and Low”, the debut studio work of the Norwegian band a-ha, was the composition “Take on Me”. However, in some countries, another track from the record was no less popular – “The Sun Always Shines on TV” (“The sun always shines on TV”). This article is devoted to the history of the creation of this song.
a-ha guitarist Paul Wauctor-Sovoy, writer of “The Sun Always Shines on TV”, once explained the circumstances under which the idea for the song came about:
“The Sun Always Shines on TV” was written on a sad day. It was raining. Mags[keyboardist and guitarist Magne Furuholmen]and I were in a hotel watching English TV when one of the guys announcing the programs says, “It’s a rainy day today, but as always, the sun always shines on TV.” This song is about the power of television and how television represents life.
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The musicians borrowed part of the song’s lyrics from their track “Never Never”, which was not released. The drum part was written and performed by Voctor-Owl. The bass was recorded on a Yamaha DX7.
According to Paul Voctor, when they were recording “The Sun Always Shines on TV”, all of the band members got the flu. Magne and Morten’s temperature rose so much that they could barely stand on their feet, and they had to install folding beds right in the studio.
“The Sun Always Shines on TV” was released as the third single from the album “Hunting High and Low” in December 1985. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for two weeks and also climbed high on several other European charts. In the US Billboard Hot 100, she rose only to the twentieth line.
In 2003, “The Sun Always Shines on TV” was re-released as a live version.
The music video for “The Sun Always Shines on TV” was directed by Steve Barron. It continues the storyline started in the video for the song “Take on Me”.
Interesting Facts
- After filming the video for “The Sun Always Shines on TV”, Morten Harket and Bunty Bailey, who played the main character, really started dating. Their relationship lasted several months.
- a-ha performed “The Sun Always Shines on TV” at the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
- The song was used in the UK and Irish trailer for Slumdog Millionaire.
Lyrics The Sun Always Shines on TV
touch me
How can it be
believe me
The sun always shines on TV
hold me
close to your heart
touch me
And give all your love to me
To me
How is it possible
Believe me
The sun always shines on TV
hold me
To the heart
touch me
And give all your love to me
I reached inside myself
and found nothing there
To ease the pressure of
My ever worrying mind
All my powers waste away
I fear the crazy and lonely looks
The mirror’s sending me these days
Please don’t ask me to defend
The shameful lowlands
Of the way
I’m drifting gloomily through time
And I didn’t find anything there.
To ease the pressure
Of your ever troubled mind
My strength is running out
I’m afraid of crazy and lonely faces,
Which these days the mirror sends me
Don’t ask me to protect
Shameful lowlands
Ways
On which I drift sadly through time I reached inside myself today
Thinking there’s got to be some way
To keep my troubles distant
Thinking that there must be some way
Move away from troubles
Touch me
How can it be
believe me
The sun always shines on TV
hold me
close to your heart
touch me
And give all your love to me
How is it possible
Believe me
The sun always shines on TV
hold me
To the heart
touch me
And give all your love to me
