Morten Harket (born September 14, 1959) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the synth-pop group a-ha. Recognized for his wide vocal range, dramatic delivery, and distinctive high register, Harket became one of the most recognizable voices in international pop during the 1980s.
Before joining a-ha, Harket performed on Oslo's club scene as the singer of the blues and soul group Souldier Blue. In 1982, he met guitarist and songwriter Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen. The three musicians formed a-ha and soon began working toward an international career. Harket's voice became a central part of the group's identity, balancing Waaktaar-Savoy's melodic songwriting with Furuholmen's electronic and atmospheric arrangements.
A-ha's breakthrough came with "Take On Me." First released in 1984 and reworked for a second release in 1985, the song eventually became a worldwide hit. Its innovative music video, which combined live action with pencil-sketch animation, played a major role in the group's success and remains one of the most celebrated music videos of the era. Harket's expressive performance, especially the song's demanding falsetto passages, became a defining feature of the recording.
The group's debut album, Hunting High and Low (1985), established a-ha as a major pop act and produced further successful singles such as "The Sun Always Shines on TV." Harket continued to lead the band through albums including Scoundrel Days (1986), Stay on These Roads (1988), East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990), and Memorial Beach (1993). A-ha also recorded "The Living Daylights," the theme song for the 1987 James Bond film of the same name.
When a-ha entered a period of inactivity in the mid-1990s, Harket developed a parallel solo career. His solo albums include Poetenes Evangelium (1993), Wild Seed (1995), Vogts Villa (1996), Letter from Egypt (2008), Out of My Hands (2012), and Brother (2014). These records allowed him to explore a more personal and varied repertoire, moving between polished pop, reflective ballads, and material with stronger ties to Norwegian musical traditions. He has also recorded collaborations and contributed to film and soundtrack projects.
A-ha reunited in the late 1990s, returning with the album Minor Earth Major Sky in 2000. The record renewed the group's international profile and was followed by further releases including Lifelines (2002), Analogue (2005), Foot of the Mountain (2009), Cast in Steel (2015), and True North (2022). Harket's later work with the band demonstrated that a-ha's appeal extended beyond 1980s nostalgia, with the group continuing to combine electronic textures, melodic songwriting, and large-scale pop arrangements.
Although closely associated with one of pop music's signature hits, Harket's career has not been limited to "Take On Me." His work with a-ha, his solo recordings, and his continued presence in music have established him as an important Norwegian artist with a lasting international audience. In 2012, he was appointed a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his contributions to Norwegian music and his international success.