Forever Not Yours

"Forever Not Yours"
Single by A-ha
from the album Lifelines
ReleasedApril 2, 2002
Studio
  • Lydlab (Oslo)
  • Strongroom (London)
GenreSynth-pop
Length4:08 (single version)
LabelWEA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
A-ha singles chronology
"I Wish I Cared"
(2001) 		"Forever Not Yours"
(2002) 		"Lifelines"
(2002)
Music video
"Forever Not Yours" on YouTube

"Forever Not Yours" is a song by Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha, released as the lead single from their seventh studio album, Lifelines. It was sent to radio stations in parts of Europe on 22 February 2002 (15 April in Belgium) and was released commercially on 2 April.

The cover of the commercial release features a closeup shot of the black front end of a 1950s Cadillac standing on flatland.

Background

Band vocalist Morten Harket described the song as "one of those songs that sums us up. Melancholy, and at the same time uplifting – soaring."[citation needed]

The phrase "forever not yours" is a play on the love letter sign off "forever yours".

Music video

The song's music video, filmed on location in Cuba, was directed by Harald Zwart. The theme of the video is based on the Biblical floods and Noah's Ark. There are many famous faces entering the 'VIP entrance' in this video, including look-a-likes for Desmond Tutu, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, and Elizabeth II.

MTV Unplugged appearance

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 "Forever Not Yours".[1]

Track listing

  • CD: WEA / 0927 44859-2 Europe
  1. "Forever Not Yours" – 4:08
  2. "Differences" (original demo) – 2:49
  3. "Hunting High and Low" (live in Oslo) – 7:07
  4. "Manhattan Skyline" (live in Oslo) – 6:14

Charts

Chart performance for "Forever Not Yours"
Chart (2002) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2] 31
Czech Republic (IFPI)[3] 2
Germany (GfK)[4] 18
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[5] 15
Italy (FIMI)[6] 24
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 82
Norway (VG-lista)[8] 1
Poland (Music & Media)[9] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 46
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 175

Personnel

References

  1. ^ 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).
  2. ^ "a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 22 – Radio 2002" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Archived from the original on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  4. ^ "a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  6. ^ "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  7. ^ "a-ha – Forever Not Yours" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  8. ^ "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 19/2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 19. 4 May 2002. p. 27. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  10. ^ "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  11. ^ "a-ha – Forever Not Yours". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Chart Log UK (1994–2010): A – Azzido Da Bass". Zobbel. Retrieved 17 June 2021.