A-ha "You Are The One"

by Mark Nobes, chief editor

"You Are The One" was a-ha's final hit of the 1980s, and was released as the fourth single from their third studio album Stay On These Roads. Justin Strauss did his magic on remixing the album track for it's single release.
The single's highest chart position was in the Ireland, where it reached No.12. It was only a moderate hit across Europe, reaching No.21 in France, No.22 in Belgium and No.30 in West Germany. 

UK 7" vinyl single

The single spent 10 weeks in the UK Top 10, but was actually a slow burner, entering the chart outside the Top 40 at No.42 on 27th November 1988. Plenty of airplay ensured that by Christmas week it had climbed to No.28, but it wasn't until 8th Jan 1989 when it reached a peak position of No.13 for just the one week.
No.13 is a pretty decent chart position for a fourth single release from an album, and I remember it got plenty of airtime on Radio 1 here in the UK. It's actually the song I remember the most from the album, and its infectious chorus and keyboard riff was in my head for quite some time during 1988. The song break leads to a jaunty synthbrass melody played, of course, by Mags.
Previous single "Touchy" had reached No.11 in the UK.

The Video

Directed by Damon Heath, the video was filmed in New York City, and the trio are dressed as rather camp-looking sailors with the classic blue and white striped T-shirts and dougnboy hats. They get into a yellow taxi cab and head to a diner called Moondance. They also take a ride in a white horse carriage and on a tandem bike (Triple). 
Overall, they simply look like they're having a great time! Confusingly, several females feature throughout the video, and quite which of them is "the one" is anyone's guess!
The New York scenes are interlaced with the band performing the song. It looks like a fake building set in a studio with a photo of the city in the background, but I could be wrong!

You will notice that on the 12" vinyl sleeve Mags and Pal have swapped positions, with Morten looking slightly away from the camera. 

Formats

All of the UK single released were release by Warner Bros.

UK 7 inch vinyl W 7636

A. "You Are The One" (Justin Strauss Remix) - 3:47 (written by Magne Furuholmen and Pal Waaktaar)

B. "Out Of Blue Comes Green" (Album Version) - 6:41 (written by Pal Waaktaar)

UK 12 inch vinyl single  W 7636T

A. "You Are The One" (12" Remix) - 6:31

B1. "You Are The One" (Instrumental) - 3:56

B2. "Out Of Blue Comes Green" (LP Version) - 6:41

UK CD Single W 7636CD

1. "You Are The One" (7" Remix) - 3:47

2. Scoundrel Days (Album Version) - 3:56

3. Out Of Blue Comes Green (LP Version) - 6:41

 

You Are The One Lyrics

Take On Me

The Sun Always Shines on TV

Cry Wolf

I've Been Losing You

Train Of Thought

Photos of a-ha in the 80s