Hunting High and Low (A-ha song)

"Hunting High and Low"
Single by a-ha
from the album Hunting High and Low
B-side	"The Blue Sky" (Demo Version) "And You Tell Me" (Demo Version) "Train of Thought" (Reflection Mix)
Released	2 June 1986
Format	7" 12"
Genre	Pop rock new wave synthpop
Length	3:45 (Remix) 6:03 (Extended Version)
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Pål Waaktaar
Producer(s)	Tony Mansfield Alan Tarney
a-ha singles chronology
"Train of Thought" (1986) Hunting High and Low (1986) "I've Been Losing You" (1986)

"Hunting High and Low" is a song by the Norwegian band A-ha. It was released as the final single from the band's debut album, Hunting High and Low, in 1986.

Release and reception

"Hunting High and Low" was released in the summer of 1986 and became the third most successful single from Hunting High and Low on the charts and one of the band's most recognizable and popular songs. The song didn't chart in the U.S., but was a Top 5 hit in Britain and in Ireland.

The original album version was produced by Tony Mansfield and is played with synthesizers. For release as a single, the track was remixed, containing additional production by Alan Tarney and features an orchestra.

Coldplay, who have made their admiration of A-ha known, have been known to perform this song in concert.^[1]

Music video

The video was directed by Steve Barron, and once again utilises animation techniques which show singer Morten Harket "morphing" into various animals (an eagle, a white shark, and a lion). In 1986, the British TV show Blue Peter featured a special documentary on the making of the "Hunting High and Low" video.

Formats and track listing

7": Warner Bros. / W 6663 United Kingdom

1. "Hunting High And Low" (Remix) - 3:45
2. "The Blue Sky" (Demo Version) - 3:12

• Track 1 is produced by Tony Mansfield, additional production by Alan Tarney.

12": Warner Bros. / W 6663T United Kingdom

1. "Hunting High and Low" (Extended Version) - 6:03
2. "Hunting High and Low" (Remix) - 3:45
3. "The Blue Sky" (Demo Version) - 3:12

• Track 1 is produced by Tony Mansfield, additional production by Alan Tarney.

7": Warner Bros. / 9 28684-7 United States

1. "Hunting High And Low" (Remix) - 3:45
2. "And You Tell Me" (Demo Version) - 1:52

• Track 1 is produced by Tony Mansfield, additional production by Alan Tarney.

12": Warner Bros. / 9 20478-0 United States

1. "Hunting High and Low" (Extended Remix) - 6:03
2. "Train Of Thought" (Reflection Mix) - 7:00
3. "And You Tell Me" (Demo Version) - 1:52

• Track 1 is the same version as the "Extended Version", produced by Tony Mansfield, additional production by Alan Tarney.
• "Train Of Thought" (Reflection Mix) is the same version as the "Steve Thompson Mix" & "The U.S. Mix".

Chart performance

^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Year	Chart	Peak
1986	Australia (Kent Music Report)[9]	33
	Austrian Singles Chart	24
	Belgian Singles Chart	16
	British Singles Chart	5
	Danish Singles Chart	8
	French Singles Chart	4
	German Singles Chart	11
	Irish Singles Chart	4
	Italian Singles Chart	10
	New Zealand Singles Chart	25
	Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	9
	Norwegian Singles Chart	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
German Singles Chart	58
Italy (FIMI)[10]	71

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
France[11]	Gold	1986	500,000

Covers

Hunting High and Low has been covered by several artists over the years, either recorded, live performance or both. Some of the artists that have performed this song include:

• Coldplay
• Alexandre Pires feat. Ivete Sangalo
• Poor Rich Ones
• London Symphony Orchestra
• Kurt Nilsen
• Edyta Górniak

References

1. Hunting High and Low
2. "Norwegian Singles Chart". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
3. "British Single Chart". UK Top 40. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
4. "French Singles Chart". Palmares. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
5. "Austrian Singles Chart". Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
6. "Irish Singles Chart". The Irish Chart. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
7. "German Singles Chart". Charts-Surfer. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
8. "Italian Singles Chart". hitparadeitalia. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 13. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
10. "I singoli più venduti del 1986" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
11. French certifications (Retrieved 14 September 2008)