Dark Is the Night for All album art

Dark Is the Night for All

a-ha
Memorial Beach (1993)
Moderate 88 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range7/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilityhigh
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Atmospheric synth-pop production with soaring vocals creates an emotionally immersive yet smooth experience; subtle builds and high notes provide gentle intensity without harsh disruptions.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsmild
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A wistful synth-pop ballad featuring Morten Harket's haunting vocals over rich, atmospheric instrumentation, evoking melancholy and resilience.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: introspective, melancholy, reflective

Traditions: synth-pop

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in a-ha's catalog

We have 20 songs from a-ha in the library. Of those, 6 are rated Safe, 13 Moderate, and 1 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.3, making it the #7 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

1993 context

Released in 1993. We have 260 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.6/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1990s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
introspective · 5721melancholy · 5399reflective · 5792
Traditions
synth-pop · 396

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-15. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "Dark Is the Night for All"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Dark Is the Night for All" by a-ha?

"Dark Is the Night for All" by a-ha rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "Dark Is the Night for All" — what is its dynamic range?

"Dark Is the Night for All" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "Dark Is the Night for All" have sudden or surprising changes?

"Dark Is the Night for All" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "Dark Is the Night for All" best for?

In our library "Dark Is the Night for All" is recommended for: anxiety relief, deep listening, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "Dark Is the Night for All" released?

"Dark Is the Night for All" is from 1993, on the album "Memorial Beach". It appears in our 1990s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Dark Is the Night for All"?

We tag "Dark Is the Night for All" as introspective, melancholy, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Dark Is the Night for All"?

The vocal style is dynamic vocals.

Should I listen to "Dark Is the Night for All"?

"Dark Is the Night for All" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Mars
Caribou
moderate
DR 6
Dollar Days
David Bowie
moderate
DR 6
No Time to Kill
Clint Black
moderate
DR 6
I Feel So Good
Richard Thompson
moderate
DR 6
Pliable Foe
Isis
intense
DR 8
Lucky Denver Mint
Jimmy Eat World
moderate
DR 6

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan safe
It's Too Late
Carole King safe
If I Were a Boy
Beyoncé safe
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
The Smiths safe
Everybody Hurts
R.E.M. safe

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