On a Saturday night in January 1991 198,000 people paid to get into the largest football stadium in the world at that time…The Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro - to see Norwegian band a-ha perform at the Rock in Rio music festival. It was the largest fully paying audience at a rock concert in history, and a feat the other headliners at the festival such as George Michael, Guns n Roses and Prince couldn’t match. There were apparently thousands more disappointed fans left shut out and listening from the streets around the stadium that night…so it’s safe to say they had an audience that night of over 200,000. When Rock in Rio celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2015, because a-ha had attracted the biggest audience over the Festival’s 30 years…they were invited back to headline again. I’m posting footage of them from the 2015 gig and also just a reminder of what it was like to perform to such a massive crowd. I know you will hate the big crowds Roger, but perhaps you’ll enjoy the music so just shut your eyes and listen!
First here is Cast In Steel - 2015
….and now back in the Maracana in 1991 -I’m posting the whole gig and you can just dip into it and experience facing that wall of sound as Morten described it “when 200,000 people sing your own song back at you”. Some of you may even want to watch the whole concert like me…as I’ve already done countless times!
4
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
3 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.WOW!!! That Rio concert film was so impressive, Marje! Besides A-ha's music and performance the filming was done in such a professional style just like a movie, I think it might be the best I've ever seen. Thank you again for posting it.
Ray13
Level 8
Oct 17, 2022
0
I think it was Brazilian TV footage Ray. I really think a-ha were cheated by a conspiracy of US music industry insiders, who decided to ignore this tremendous achievement of the band, the enthusiastic reception they received and the overwhelming love for them at the festival. It didn’t fit with the agenda in the USA where they had all but written a-ha off as one hit wonders and weren’t even releasing their new music anymore. The journalists in Rio wanted to interview a-ha because they knew they had sold the most tickets but their editors told them not to, but to concentrate on the “big names”. They actually were told to ignore a-ha in favour of The Happy Mondays who were a-ha’s warm up band! When they showed televised clips from the festival all the other bands and solo artists were featured except a-ha. No mention was ever made that they had broken a world record attendance at almost 200,000! The band felt “hopeless” according to Mags, and it was the start of them feeling disenchanted and ultimately going on a very long break for 6 years…
Cast in Steel is a favorite, I have the cd album. I will watch all the 1991 concert, all at once later this evening, thank you Marje for adding it
Ray13
Level 8
Oct 16, 2022
2
One of the highlights of their career….you’ll love it!
Thanks for posting the whole concert Marje! The first video wasn’t available to me though. 
Redheadedgammy
Level 9
Oct 16, 2022
1
Oh that’s a disappointment…I’ll see if there’s another one I can change if for Rhonda…
Try again now Rhonda!
@Marionville Thank you Marje, I love this!!
Recent Visitors 9
Marionville
UK
Ray13
OH, USA
Redheadedgammy
NM, USA
Lauren
Northern Texas,
Garban
Florida Panhandle,
Photos 63 More
Posted by FrayedBearNow the sanctions against Israel spread to the Euroschism Song contest.
Posted by FrayedBearA recording of an interesting broadcast on the subject of coffee by relatively well known but nonetheless superb Australian folk singer Kavisha Mazella
Posted by kocasYou will face a hurdle in the daily weaving game that you must overcome.
Posted by Zoewees[shp.ee] SALDO SHOPEE GRATIS LANGSUNG CAIR 2022
Posted by ReignmondIt is tough to find sharable music from The Oppossums Of Truth. There are 3 full albums of Scientific Gospel music here. [boomplay.com]
Posted by ReignmondIt is tough to find sharable music from The Oppossums Of Truth. There are 3 full albums of Scientific Gospel music here. [boomplay.com]
Posted by ReignmondIcelandic Folk Music - Tyrkjaránid - YouTube
Posted by ReignmondOk...how about this hauntingly beautiful opera aria? [youtu.be]
Posted by ReignmondOkay, let's just say this is not like K-pop....and let it go at that. I stumbled on them about 3 years ago. [youtu.be]
Posted by ReignmondAn Irish song in Gaelic with translation [youtu.be]
Posted by ReignmondThe song title translates to I Won't Give Up by Hungarian Alternative/Indie band Intim Torna Illegál (Intimate Gymnastics Is Illegal). [youtu.be]
Posted by ReignmondGet ready for some beautiful music. I have a couple albums by Heartstrings. Sometimes I play them in the office and it is quite popular. [youtu.be]
Posted by ReignmondJapanglish Song - YouTube
Posted by ReignmondAVA Opera - The Doll's Song from "Tales of Hoffmann" - YouTube
Posted by ReignmondYoshida Brothers - Rising - YouTube
Posted by ReignmondHunnu Guren - Batzorig Vaanchig & Auli - YouTube