Shapes That Go Together

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“Shapes That Go Together”
“Shapes That Go Together” cover
Single by a-ha
from the album The Definitive Singles Collection 1984-2004, The Singles: 1984-2004
B-side Cold As Stone (re-mix)
Released 14th March 1994
Format Cd Single
Recorded 2000
Genre Alternative rock
Length 4:15
Label Warner Bros
Writer(s) Magne Furuholmen, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Producer Christopher Neil
a-ha singles chronology
Lie Down In Darkness
(1993)
Shapes That Go Together
(1994)
Summer Moved On
(2000)

When a new a-ha album did not appear, and solo albums began to be released, it was feared that this was to be a-ha's last song. Ironically entitled "Shapes That Go Together," there was a significant amount of discord within the band at the time of the song's release.

This single was the official song of the Paralympics '94 which was held at Lillehammer, Norway. The single was written by Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar who from now onwards refers to himself as Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, produced by Christopher Neil and arranged by a-ha and Kjetil Bjerkestrand.

This song was released in February 1994. a-ha's last concert of the 90s was held in June in Russia, with the band going their separate ways afterwards This song was a-ha's biggest ‘flop' since the first and second releases of "Take On Me" (#137) (#151) , I Call Your Name (#44) and Early Morning (#84). It reached #27 on the charts in the UK, and was in the charts for 3 weeks total.

Originally the single was not released on an album until some 8 years later when it was placed onto The Singles: 1984-2004 Hit's Album and a year later appearing on the UK version The Definitive Singles Collection 1984-2004 which is practically the same album just a few track differences.

The German made disc is silver and green depicting the Paralympics-emblem, while the a-ha-logo and track listings are printed in white letters.

The second 5" CD-single is a limited edition numbered CD. It comes in an album style case with a card insert. The front is in various shades of pinks and purples instead of greens and blues , but has the same cover design. It contains three 4½"x4½" photographic prints, one of each band member (taken from the video "Dark Is The Night"). The spine is black with white titles. The CD is silver `matt effect' with black titles and a-ha-logo. The back cover of the CD is black with white text and has the same group picture as on the back of the 7".

[edit] Tracklisting

CD1

  1. "Shapes That Go Together" (4:13)
  2. "Cold As Stone (Remix)" (4:32)
  3. "Shapes That Go Together (Instr. Version)" (4:23)

CD2

  1. "Shapes That Go Together" (4:13)
  2. "Slender Frame (Live)" (4:05)
  3. "Touchy! (Live)" (6:46)
  4. "Rolling Thunder (Live)" (6:13)


The "Cold As Stone" remix on CD 1 was originally created as a potential follow-up to the "Lie Down In Darkness" single in the US. Unfortunately that single did not chart, so this remains the only known release of the remix.

The live tracks on CD 2 are taken from the video "Live In South America".

[edit] Video

Directed by Barry Maguire The Video to Shapes That Go Together was a simple Black and White Studio film with Sepia tones, it it also one of the few times you see a backing band with drummer and bass player. The video was not commercially available.

World Sales:275.000

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