The three members of the popular Oslo-based rock band a-ha were honoured with the Norwegian equivalent of being knighted by King Harald on Tuesday. Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar Savoy were all formally presented with St Olavs Orden, for their contribution to Norwegian music.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that the three musicians got a standing ovation when they arrived to receive their royal decorations from Anders Flaagen of the Royal Palace staff, on behalf of King Harald. The ceremony took place not at the palace, but at the Gamle Logen hall downtown.
A-ha has sold around 35 million albums worldwide and their big hit Take On Me became the first and only Norwegian song to top the American Billboard list. That occurred in 1985, but the band continued to sell out their concerts on world tours until Harket, Furuholmen and Waaktaar Savoy decided to disband in 2010.
The a-ha members continue to perform on their own and with new ventures, and Furuholmen also has built up a solid career as an artist and gallery owner.
newsinenglish.no staff
