Stay on These Roads (song)

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"Stay on These Roads"
Single by A-ha
from the album Stay on These Roads
B-side"Soft Rains of April" (Original Mix)
Released14 March 1988[1]
Length4:45
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Alan Tarney
A-ha singles chronology
"The Living Daylights"
(1987) 		"Stay on These Roads"
(1988) 		"The Blood That Moves the Body"
(1988)
Music video
"Stay on These Roads" on YouTube

"Stay on These Roads" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 14 March 1988 by Warner Bros. Records as the lead single from their third studio album of the same name (1988). The song achieved success in many European countries, becoming the most successful single from the Stay on These Roads album, along with "The Living Daylights" on the UK charts. It did not hit the national charts in the United States, but was a significant hit across Europe. It went to number seven in West Germany, number three in France and Iceland, and number two in Ireland. In Norway, the song was the band's fourth number one single. "Stay on These Roads" was A-ha's seventh and final top five showing in the United Kingdom, reaching number five on the chart edition of March 27, 1988. It would also prove their last top ten hit in the country for almost two decades, as they did not score another UK top ten hit until eighteen years later in 2006. The song's music video was directed by Andy Morahan.

Background and release[edit]

A Roland D-50 was used on this song —the sound patch is called "Staccato Heaven"— the wind sound during the instrumental was made on either a Roland Juno 60 or Juno 106 synthesizer. The versions on the 7" vinyl and the 3" CD single ("7 inch Version") are identical to the album version. The 7" single cover montage includes a blurred picture of actress Susan Sullivan, taken from a publicity shot from the TV series, Falcon Crest, in which she appeared as Maggie Gioberti. It is not known why this picture is used.

Critical reception[edit]

"Stay on These Roads" was well-received by critics. Cash Box said that "ethereal, arching vocals elevate this ballad into greatness, creating a mood that does not easily leave you."[2] Paul Oldfield from Melody Maker wrote, "a-Ha ascend immediately into the hard-gloss satellite-beam Pet-Shops' circuit. "Stay" enlarges until it almost comes to a halt, full of simulated draughts and statuary, gravity and despondence that's bigger than Europe. Nobody will notice, though."[3] Jerry Smith of Music Week considered "Stay on These Roads" as "one of their typically ponderous and overly dramatic numbers [...] but it lacks the commercial edge of previous singles".[4] A review in Pan-European Music & Media magazine stated: "This song needs repeated play to fully appreciate its impact, after that, you can't get it out of your head. A ballad with a slow and commanding build-up, sporting a subtle melody giving singer Morten Harket all room to show his unique vocal qualities".[5] Edwin Pouncey from NME said, "A road to nowhere presumably, with no end in sight. File under has-beens."[6] In a review published in Smash Hits, English synth-pop duo Erasure were highly critical of the song, saying it was "far too manufectured and over-produced", with "no tune to it, nothing that makes you want to sing along to it", just good to be a "stadium song", and concluded that "it's a real shame".[7]

Live performances[edit]

A-ha played the song at Oslo Spektrum on 21 August 2011, performing for a national memorial service dedicated to the victims of the 2011 Norway attacks.[8]

Music video[edit]

The music video accompanying the song's release was directed by Andy Morahan, with its location footage filmed on England's East Anglia coast at Aldeburgh, Suffolk.[9]

Track listings[edit]

7-inch single: Warner Bros. / W 7936 United Kingdom

  1. "Stay on These Roads" - 4:46
  2. "Soft Rains of April" (Original Mix) - 3:18
  • Track 1 is the "Album Version".

12-inch single: Warner Bros. / W 7936T United Kingdom

  1. "Stay on These Roads" (Extended Remix) - 6:08
  2. "Soft Rains of April" (Original Mix) - 3:18
  • Also released as a 12" picture disc (W 8405TP)

7-inch single: Warner Bros. / 7-27886 United States

  1. "Stay on These Roads" (U.S. 7'' Edit) - 3:54
  2. "You'll End Up Crying - 3:18
  • Track 1 is exclusive to this version

CD single: Warner Bros. / W 7936CD United Kingdom

  1. "Stay on These Roads" (7" version) - 4:46
  2. "Soft Rains of April" (Original Mix) - 3:18
  3. "Take on Me" - 3:50
  4. "Cry Wolf" - 4:05

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Stay on These Roads"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[37] Silver 250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

MTV Unplugged appearance[edit]

In 2017, A-ha appeared on the television series MTV Unplugged and played and recorded acoustic versions of many of their popular songs for the album MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice in Giske, Norway, including "Stay on These Roads".[38]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The exact peak position in Portugal is unknown. The single reached at least number 9, as Music & Media provided the single's ranking only for that week, but it did not reach the top three, given every week by the magazine.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Smith, Robin (12 March 1988). "News: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 11. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 21 May 1988. p. 12. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. ^ Oldfield, Paul (19 March 1988). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 36. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  4. ^ Smith, Jerry (26 March 1988). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Previews – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 13. 26 March 1988. p. 21. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 4 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ Pouncey, Edwin (19 March 1988). "Singles". NME. p. 19. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  7. ^ Erasure (23 March – 5 April 1988). "Singles reviewed by Erasure" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 10, no. 5. p. 62. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
  8. ^ "a-ha.com: A-ha will perform as part of a national memorial service". A-ha.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  9. ^ 'Six music videos you forgot were filmed in Suffolk and north Essex', East Anglian Daily Times, 7 June 2020. https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ed-sheeran-a-ha-and-british-sea-power-music-videos-2675442
  10. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 17 January 2014". Retrieved 18 September 2015 – via Imgur.
  11. ^ "a-ha – Stay on These Roads" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  12. ^ "a-ha – Stay on These Roads" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  13. ^ "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 17. 23 April 1988. p. 26. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 24. 11 June 1988. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 17. 23 April 1988. p. 27. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  17. ^ "a-ha – Stay on These Roads" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  18. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10". DV (in Icelandic). 29 April 1988. p. 44. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  19. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Stay on These Roads". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "A-Ha".
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – a-ha" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  22. ^ "a-ha – Stay on These Roads" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  23. ^ "a-ha – Stay on These Roads". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  24. ^ Muus, Diana (2 July 1988). "Weekly Update on the European Charts - Highlights" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 27. p. 11. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 7 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
  25. ^ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts A". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  26. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  27. ^ "a-ha – Stay on These Roads". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  28. ^ "a-ha – Stay on These Roads". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  29. ^ "a-ha: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – a-ha – Stay on These Roads" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1988 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  32. ^ "1988 Year-End Eurocharts - Ariplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 29. Retrieved 16 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  33. ^ "1988 Year End Eurocharts – Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 30. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  34. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  35. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  37. ^ "French single certifications – a-ha – Stay on These Roads" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 15 December 2020. Select A-HA and click OK. 
  38. ^ Hoftun Gjestad, Robert (23 June 2017). "Etter 30 år med "tension" fant a-ha tonen igjen i kampen mot en felles fiende" [After 30 years of "tension", A-ha found their sound again, in their fight against a common enemy]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian Bokmål).
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