"Dark Is the Night for All"
Single by A-ha
from the album Memorial Beach
B-side
Released24 May 1993
Recorded1993
StudioPaisley Park, Chanhassen, Minnesota, US
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:46
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Pål Waaktaar
Producer(s)
A-ha singles chronology
"Move to Memphis"
(1991)		 "Dark Is the Night for All"
(1993)		 "Angel"
(1993)

"Dark Is the Night for All" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 24 May 1993 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Memorial Beach (1993).

The song, like the rest of Memorial Beach album, was recorded at Prince's Paisley Park Studios. There are two versions of the music video; the first version was banned due to disturbing scenes, including Morten Harket's face ripping through the skin of his abdomen. The second version features more scenes of the band. Overall, the video shows people in various forms of bondage and reflects the dark time A-ha was going through at the time. This was also the last A-ha single to be released in the United States.[1]

Critical reception

A reviewer from Music & Media wrote, "Like Depeche Mode, A-ha is no longer strictly synth. A little bit of rock is injected, while the vocals are Bono-esque."[2] Alan Jones from Music Week said, "The Norwegian former teen idols return, this time sounding rather like a low-rent but pleasant U2 hybrid." He added that the song is "less immediate but more substantial than much of their work", and "a grower that could do very well."[3] Tony Cross from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, commenting, "After disappearing up a Fjord for a few years, Morten is back - as Bono! This U2-esque blockbuster is immediately appealing - with its quiet piano, soft and sad-sounding Morten, and a grand sweeping guitar riff that is immediately likeable."[4] In the review of Memorial Beach, Cross also picked "Dark Is the Night for All" as the "best thing" on the album.[5]

Track listings

  • 7-inch single
  1. "Dark Is the Night for All" (Album Version) – 3:45
  2. "Angel in the Snow" (Instrumental) – 4:15
  • CD 1
  1. "Dark Is the Night for All" – 3:44
  2. "I've Been Losing You"/"Cry Wolf" (Live) – 9:07
  3. "Angel in the Snow" (Instrumental) – 4:15
  • CD 2
  1. "Dark Is the Night for All" – 3:45
  2. "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." – 5:06
  3. "Hunting High and Low" (Remix) – 3:38
  4. "Crying in the Rain" – 4:25

Charts

Chart performance for "Dark Is the Night for All"
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 45
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 70
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[8] 37
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 46
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[10] 38
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 28
Norway (VG-lista)[12] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 19
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[14] 11

References

  1. ↑ "Dark Is The Night (24.05.93)". Archived from the original on 24 February 2001.
  2. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 29 May 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. ↑ Jones, Alan (29 May 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 11. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  4. ↑ Cross, Tony (26 May 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 47. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  5. ↑ Cross, Tony (9 June 1993). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 51. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "a-ha – Dark Is the Night" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2200." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 25. 19 June 1993. p. 19. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  9. ↑ "a-ha – Dark Is the Night" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 – Vikan 22.–28. júlí". DV (in Icelandic). 22 July 1993. p. 20. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  11. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dark Is the Night". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  12. ↑ "a-ha – Dark Is the Night". VG-lista. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "a-ha: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "a-ha Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
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