The Sun Always Shines on T.V.

"The Sun Always Shines on T.V."
Artwork for original single
Single by a-ha
from the album Hunting High and Low
B-side"Driftwood"
ReleasedNovember 1985 (US)
16 December 1985 (UK)
Recorded1985
Genre
Length
  • 4:45 (single version)
  • 5:07 (album version)
  • 7:09 (extended version)
  • 8:25 (dance mix)
  • 6:38 (instrumental version)
LabelWarner Bros.
SongwriterPål Waaktaar
ProducerAlan Tarney
A-ha singles chronology
"Love Is Reason"
(1985)
"The Sun Always Shines on T.V."
(1985)
"Train of Thought"
(1986)
2003 re-release singles chronology
"Did Anyone Approach You?"
(2002)
"The Sun Always Shines on T.V. a-ha Live"
(2003)
"Celice"
(2005)
Music video
"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." on YouTube

"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is a song by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, released as the third single from their debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The song was written by guitarist Pål Waaktaar.

In some commercial markets, the single was not as popular as their previous (debut) single "Take On Me", which had reached the top spot in the US and several other countries around the world; however, in the UK and Ireland it improved upon the number-two charting of "Take On Me", reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 1986, having been released there on 16 December 1985. Its success secured for the band the prestige of having number-one single status on both primary Anglo-American popular music charts on either side of the Atlantic.

"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." was re-released by the band as a live version in 2003 with some minor success in Eastern Europe. It has sold over five million copies worldwide. Norwegian Eurodance duo Diva had a successful top-10 hit in Norway with their dance version of the song in 1994, which also charted in the UK one year later.