Synopsis

The video begins as a direct continuation of "Take On Me." In a dark forest, the comic-book hero and the young woman reunite, but he starts reverting to his animated form and is forced to return to his own world. After she is left alone, the setting shifts to a Gothic church, where a-ha perform among rows of silent mannequins. The black-and-white performance is accented with muted color, formal costumes, and classical instruments, ending with the band frozen into a still image.

Factoids & Trivia

• The opening forest sequence functions as an epilogue to "Take On Me," extending the love story between Morten Harket's character and Bunty Bailey's character.

• The video was filmed over three days in October 1985 at Udney Hall Gardens and Saint Alban the Martyr church in Teddington, England.

• The church performance was filmed largely in black and white, with carefully placed pastel color used to heighten the theatrical, dreamlike atmosphere.

• The audience is made up of mannequins, including nude figures and dressed figures holding instruments. Their artificial presence reinforces the video's themes of performance, appearance, and emotional isolation.

• The closing freeze-frame leads into the video for "Train of Thought," creating a visual trilogy with "Take On Me."

• At the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won for Best Editing and Best Cinematography. It was also nominated for Best Art Direction.

• "The Sun Always Shines on TV" became a-ha's first UK No. 1 single, reaching the top of the chart in January 1986.