Take on Evolution

"The Juicy Fruit Song" by Bridges, 1981:

[www.youtube.com]

"Lesson One" by A-Ha, 1982:

[www.youtube.com]

"Take On Me" demo by A-Ha, 1984:

[www.youtube.com]

"Take On Me" original 45 version by A-Ha, produced by Tony Mansfield:

[www.youtube.com]

"Take On Me" final official version, 1985:

[www.youtube.com]

Just thought it was kind of interesting to track the four years of tinkering it took to get the song to the final mega-hit version of it. As much as I love Tony Mansfield, he really did kind of botch what was obviously the band's vision for the song from the demo and they were smart to ditch his version. He dinkeyed down the keyboard riff and made it sound like someone messing around with a Casio in their bedroom, and it was obvious from every other version that A-Ha wanted it to feel a bit more weighty.

> He dinkeyed down the keyboard riff and made it sound like someone messing around with
> a Casio in their bedroom ...

In other words, he made it sound like New Musik?

Not quite melancholy enough to sound like New Musik, but it's in the ballpark.

Even New Musik's most upbeat songs tended to sound like Tony Mansfield was the saddest fuck on the planet.

My favorite is The Descendents "Silver"

[www.youtube.com]

evolved into All's "She's My Ex."

[www.youtube.com]

I really wish Silver would have made it into the studio. It is an amazing Descendents lost track.

Sly's "Thank You (Falettinme be Mice Elf Agin)" Devolved into "Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa."

Replacements "Portland" turned into "Talent Show."

Songs evolve? Of course, what you're suggesting is only a theory. If that song evolved, why are there no intermediate forms?