Паль Ваактар Савой: Музыкалық жол және a-ha тобының тарихы

Norwegian musician and songwriter (born 1961)

His parents appreciated classical music, and encouraged young Pål first to learn the flute, then to study music composition when his performance skill revealed him to be a child prodigy. He admired the music of American rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix, and hoped one day to write a rock opera similar to Hair. He used his mother's family name, Waaktaar, in his stage name, to become Pål Waaktaar. He also enjoyed reading and painting. He was a loner, not social at school, and was unsuccessful attracting girlfriends in his teens. In 1980, Bridges released their only album, the self financed LP Fakkeltog. Although the title is Norwegian (meaning torchlight procession), the songs are in English. At the request of Harket, a ha performed the Fakkeltog song "The Vacant" (renamed "Sox of the Fox") during their 2017 MTV Unplugged performance, released as MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice. An unreleased Bridges song called "The Juicy Fruit Song" later evolved into "Lesson One" and then into the a ha hit "Take On Me".

Waaktaar Savoy is the lead guitarist and main songwriter for a ha, one of the most successful bands of the 1980s. Once "Q Magazine" named him as one of the best unknown lyricists of his generation. a ha performed "Summer Moved On" live at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert following a hiatus. After this, they decided to record a new album and, in 2000, a ha had the comeback of the year, followed by a sold out tour. The a ha album "Lifelines" was released in 2002. The following tour was documented in a ha's second official live album, How Can I Sleep with Your Voice in My Head, which was released in March 2003. In 2005 the compilation album The Singles: 1984 2004 was released, their last album with WEA. After that, a ha signed to Universal. Analogue was released later that year. The title track entered the UK charts at No. 10. The band's ninth studio album, Foot of the Mountain was released in 2009. After that they split, but in 2015 reunited again and released a new studio album, Cast in Steel. Waaktaar Savoy has said "Morten is totally different from me. When we first came to London together, he burned all my clothes and re dressed me from head to toe. I don't care much about clothes, whereas he's always very interested in them. He has given me self confidence, encourages me to talk to people, not to be afraid and to use the abilities I have. Morten is actually the only one in Norway who had as much ambition as I did. I guess we both have big egos. In a way, we're each sitting in our own little world, while Mags is more down to earth. Mags often has to mediate between Morten and me It's good that we're so different and still respect each other. The tension between us is creative. No one sings like Morten. He's got what it takes and I have great faith in him."

The three members of a ha, Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen and Waaktaar Savoy, were appointed Knights of the 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for their contribution to Norwegian music. The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav is granted as a reward for distinguished services to their country and mankind. The official ceremony took place on 6 November 2012.

With his wife Lauren Savoy, and drummer Frode Unneland, he has produced many CDs as the band Savoy. In 2001 Waaktaar released his fourth studio album, "Reasons to Stay Indoors", which was again a big success in Norway. On 30 August 2004, Savoy released their fifth studio album called 'Savoy' through their own label, Eleventeen Records. Savoy achieved great success in Norway, selling over 300,000 records. They have been nominated for Spellemannprisen (Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy Award) four times and have won three times. a ha's version of the song "Velvet" appears in the film One Night at McCool's and "Whalebone" appears in the highly acclaimed Norwegian film Hawaii, Oslo.

With Jimmy Gnecco he presented Weathervane as a new project in June 2011. Their self titled single (Weathervane) appears on the soundtrack for the movie Headhunters (based on the book "Hodejegerne" by Jo Nesbø).

In February 2014 Waaktaar Savoy premiered a new track under the name Waaktaar through a ha. com. The track is called "Manmade Lake".

In September 2016 Waaktaar Savoy formed a new duo with singer Zoe Gnecco (daughter of Weathervane singer Jimmy Gnecco), called Waaktaar and Zoe. The released two singles, "Beautiful Burnout" (2016) and "Tearful Girl" (January 2018), both taken from the album "World of Trouble", released in February 2017.

Waaktaar Savoy has painted all his life. His trademark is not starting to paint until the canvas has been fitted with a frame. This trait was played upon in his debut and so far sole exhibition "Rammer" (meaning "Frames" in Norwegian) in Lillehammer, Norway in 1998.