The Soft Rains of April

I've been on an a-ha kick for the last few days.

For those of you that think you've never heard of a-ha, I'll say the song title 'Take on Me' and that should remind you. Sadly, a-ha are considered a One Hit Wonder by music critics in the US, but throughout much of the rest of the world, they are anything but. Maybe if the Powers That Be in American Music covered the Rock In Rio concert that they did in 1991 where 198,000 tickets were sold, blowing out George Micheal and Guns and Roses acts, both of whom sold maybe 60,000 tickets, and landing a-ha in the Guinness book of World Records for the most concert tickets sold at a concert ever, things might have been different. They are a pretty awesome trio, very talented songwriters and musicians and I've loved them since the power went back on after Hurricane Gloria back in 1985. I switched on MTV (this was back when they were actually MUSIC Television and played videos) after a week or more of being without it... and my heart was stolen. Loved the song and they were very easy on the young eyes of mine.

I, proudly, still have a crush on the lead singer (I've been a 'Lead Singer' girl since that day) and Norwegians must age awesomely because at 50 the guy is still beautiful.

I even passed up a Beltaine two years ago to go see their Farewell Tour in NYC, two nights in a row, and I hardly ever pass up a Sabbat. a-ha was my first ever concert, at Radio City in 1986 and my Dad took me to see them. Tickets were a whopping $18.50 and I paid for mine with babysitting money.

What does a-ha have to do with this blog, you are probably asking yourself.

Back to the a-ha kick I've been on.

The second album, 'Scoundrel Days' is one of my favorite albums ever. There's a song on it titled, 'The Soft Rains of April.'

It's about a man in prison, and today I couldn't help but think of those men I work with who are doing their time. I don't care how rough some of these guys are. They've got to miss somebody.

This is a beautiful and haunting song. I hope you give it a listen.