Most people recognize the famous song “Take On Me” by A-ha, but few know the evolution it took before becoming a 1985 chart-topping hit.

The song originated from Aha’s Pål Waaktaar’s and Magne Furuholmen’s previous band, Bridges. One of their tracks “Miss Eerie,” which was originally called “Panorama.” This version included elements of what would later become “Take On Me,” that Magne Furuholmen created when he was 15 years old, inspired by Doors member Ray Manzarek.

After Bridges disbanded, Waaktaar and Furuholmen eventually welcomed singer Morten Harket and became A-ha. The trio began working on demos, including a new version of “Miss Eerie,” later renamed “Lesson One” before it finally became “Take On Me.”