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Morten Harket's single "A kind of Christmas card" has rushed to
the top of the Norwegian charts. But in England, the country
which once opened the doors to the world for a-ha, Harket's solo
debut has come to a full stand. "For now, Waner Music, my record
company, has withdrawn the single and replaces it with "Spanish
steps". Nevertheless, we hope that a high spot in the charts
elsewhere might clear the way for a second try with "A kind of
Christmas card" in England", Morten Harket (35) says.
These problems with the English single launch are mainly caused
by the powerful radio DJ's, of whom Morten and other people say
that they are the ones who decide who shall get a huge radio
launch, and who shall not. "You're helpless without airplay.
It's useless to speculate about what has happened in my case.
The explanation could be anything, they may not like you, or
they may have promised a lot of radio time to other artists and
don't want to smuggle in competitors", Morten says, who doesn't
really look like someone who's been slapped in the face.
In one week, his new album "Wild seed" will be released all over
the world. An album on which the slow songs dominate. Critical
people will react on the statement that this is his solo debut.
Morten has indeed been standing on his own legs once before,
with "Poetenes Evangelium", released by the Kirkelig
Kulturverksted". But that one was not released all over the
world, and it was a project for which Harket was only "hired".
"Wild seed" is a continuation of "Poetenes Evangelium". Both
textwriter Haavard Rem and musical colleague Kjetil Bjerkestrand
have stepped over from the former project, and working together
was incredibly exciting. But this time, I have pressed through
my own ideas", Harket says, who hadn't sung as solo artist on
that former album. It was a windy way towards the name of the
album and the choice of songs. Originally, Harket and Rem wanted
to title the album "The world outside Waco", to the fanatical
sect which was based in this "famous" town in Texas, a couple of
years ago. "The bosses of Warner were uncertain about the title
and asked for an explanation. Haavard pointed out we han't seen
the worst yet in Waco. "It's gonna explode soon there", Haavard
said to the Warner bosses. The week after, the town exploded.
The title became out of date", Harket smiles. The Warner bosses
also threw one of Harket's own favourites, and definitely the
most decided song, off the album. "Gospel from a heathen" was
too strong. They were afraid for reactions of Islam
fundamentalists, because of the texts", the a-ha singer tells.
Still, there's nothing to stop Harket on his road to meet the
international market. The question is how long he can maintain
there, and if he is ready for another round with a-ha in case
the solo carreer doesn't work out. "Whatever happens, I have
come a big step forward - writing my own songs for the first
time. I couldn't do that in a-ha. For me, this is only the
beginning, but it can well open up a whole new range of
possibilities for a new project for Paal, Magne and me. But that
won't happen straight away", Morten Harket constatates.
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