Daily Dirt: You never get a second chance to make a first impression

Daily Dirt for Sunday, June 29, 2025

A-ha’s “Take On Me”: Best debut single in history? Asking for a friend … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,327 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Today we begin a four-part journey examining the best debut singles from the rock era covering the 1960s through the 1990s.

We’re going to jump around in this presentation, beginning with the 1980s, for a reason. It deals with the group A-ha and its lead singer, who gave us one of the most memorable videos ever, debut or otherwise. Their 1985 “Take On Me,” with its pencil-sketch animation and live-action combination called “rotoscoping,” was addictive. It took four months to complete the video back in the mid-1980s, and to this day, it remains one of the best productions from any period of the rock era.

A-ha is a perfect example of this 10-year period. When it comes to successful debut singles, the 1980s were dominated by its bands and groups. And it really wasn’t close, especially when compared to the best debut singles from individual male and female artists.

A-ha’s “Take On Me” remains as captivating today as it was 40 years ago. The lone sad note about this song and group concerns Morten Harket, the lead singer of the band, now dealing with Parkinson’s disease. That news was made public earlier this month. He underwent deep brain stimulation surgery at the Mayo Clinic twice, once in June 2024 and again in December 2024, to help manage his symptoms. While the surgery has lessened the impact of those symptoms, it has also affected his voice. 

Harket has expressed uncertainty about his ability to sing with the same technical control as before, and that’s truly sad. His voice and talent were exceptional, although the group never came close to replicating the success of “Take On Me.”

Another memorable debut single from this decade concerning its bands and groups was Milli Vanilli’s “Girl You Know It’s True,” which set off a string of three straight No.1 songs from the duo.

(Yes, yes, yes … I know the story of Milli Vanilli. That aside, it’s hard to put in words how big these two guys were at the time before they were exposed. The Milli Vanilli concert I attended remains the best I have ever been to outside of seeing Rod Stewart on four different occasions.)

Here’s a look at how The Daily Dirt ranks the top three debut singles from the male and female singers, plus groups and bands from the Big ’80s: 

1980s

Male

• Gold medal: “I’m Your Man,” George Michael (1985). The late Michael’s best material has proven to be his upbeat songs like this one.
• Silver medal: “Never Gonna Give You Up,” Rick Astley (1987).
• Bronze medal: “Truly,” Lionel Richie (1982).

Female

• Gold medal: “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” Cyndi Lauper (1983). Remember Lauper’s ties to the WWF? Now THAT was entertainment.
• Silver medal: “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” Stevie Nicks (1981)
• Bronze medal: “Fast Car,” Tracy Chapman (1988)

Groups

• Gold medal: “Take On Me,” A-ha (1985). The Norwegian synth-pop band became global stars, thanks mostly to this song/video that blended music with innovative production.
• Silver medal: “Girl You Know It’s True,” Milli Vanilli (1988).
• Bronze medal: “West End Girls,” Pet Shop Boys (1984).

Next: On Monday, we’ll look at the top debut singles of 1990s.

2. Did you know (Part 410) …

• Bob Dylan once wrote when he was young that his ultimate dream was to be in Little Richard’s band.
• In the 1950s, Little Richard kicked Jimi Hendrix out his band for stealing the spotlight.
• Axl Rose’s “Sweet Child of Mine” was written for Erin Everly, daughter of Don Everly, one of the famous Everly Brothers. Rose and Everly were married — for a month.
• The recording considered the first-ever “rock and roll record” was “Rocket 88” by the Kings of Rhythm in 1951.
• Eric Clapton earned the nickname “Slowhand” from the Yardbirds.

3. Since A-ha and 1985’s “Take On Me” dominated much of today’s conversation, here were the top five songs in late June/early from that same year. It’s hard to believe the ensuing songs are 40 years old: 

• 1. “Heaven,” Bryan Adams
• 2. “Sussudio,” Phil Collins
• 3. “View to a Kill,” Duran Duran
• 4. “Raspberry Beret,” Prince 
• 5. “Angel,” Madonna

Steve Thought O’ The Day
Bryan Adams was one of the most overlooked artists of his time.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Steve at a Rod Stewasrt concert? Sure. Steve at a Milli Vanilli concert? Say it isn’t so.