The song Ellie sings to Dina in The Last of Us Part II is “Take On Me”, originally by Norwegian pop band a-ha.

But Ellie’s version sounds completely different from the famous 1980s recording.

Instead of bright synthesizers and energetic pop production, she plays a quiet acoustic-guitar arrangement.

The scene takes place inside a music shop during the Seattle section of the 2020 game.

It became one of the story’s most memorable emotional moments.

And the same song later appeared in HBO’s television adaptation, where Bella Ramsey performed the acoustic version as Ellie.

Who originally sang Take On Me?

A-ha.

The Norwegian band consists of Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy.

Their 1985 recording became an enormous international hit.

It’s particularly famous for its synthesizer melody and innovative music video combining live action with pencil-sketch animation.

The original song is energetic and uplifting.

That makes Ellie’s restrained acoustic interpretation especially interesting.

The melody remains recognisable.

But the emotional atmosphere changes completely.

Where does Ellie play the song?

Inside a music shop in Seattle.

Ellie and Dina are exploring the city when they discover the store.

A guitar provides an opportunity for a rare peaceful moment.

Ellie begins playing.

Then she performs “Take On Me” for Dina.

The scene stands out because much of the surrounding game involves danger, violence and uncertainty.

For a short period, the characters are simply two people enjoying music together.

Who sings Ellie’s version in the game?

Ashley Johnson.

She provides Ellie’s voice and performance in the video games.

Johnson performed the song for The Last of Us Part II.

The creative team wanted the singing to feel natural rather than like a professional concert performance.

That required an interesting adjustment.

Johnson worked with a vocal coach during production, but the team eventually wanted her performance to sound slightly less polished.

Ellie is a fictional teenager playing guitar for somebody she loves.

The moment needed to feel intimate and believable.

Who sings it in the television series?

Bella Ramsey.

Ramsey plays Ellie in HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us.

The television series recreated the guitar-shop moment during its second season in 2025.

Isabela Merced plays Dina.

The scene retains the emotional purpose of the original game.

But it belongs to the television production’s separate interpretation of the story.

That means there are now several important recordings connected with the same composition: a-ha’s original, Ashley Johnson’s game performance and Bella Ramsey’s television performance.

Why did the creators choose Take On Me?

Because it creates a moment of warmth inside a difficult story.

Game director Neil Druckmann explained that the song helped establish the connection between Ellie and Dina.

The lyrics also fit the characters’ circumstances.

They are living in a world where ordinary relationships are constantly threatened.

A song about taking a chance on somebody becomes particularly meaningful.

The musical contrast is equally important.

A bright 1980s pop hit becomes something intimate and fragile.

Was it difficult to get permission?

The creative team initially worried about obtaining the necessary rights.

“Take On Me” was already a globally famous recording.

Druckmann explained that his co-writer Halley Gross had a personal connection with the family of a-ha guitarist Pål Waaktaar-Savoy.

That helped the production establish contact and obtain permission.

It’s an unusual behind-the-scenes story.

One of the game’s most emotionally important musical moments depended partly on a personal connection.

Why does an acoustic cover change the meaning?

Because production affects how listeners interpret music.

A-ha’s original is driven by synthesizers and a strong dance-pop rhythm.

Ellie’s version removes most of those elements.

The melody becomes the focus.

Her vocal sounds vulnerable.

And the guitar creates a much smaller musical environment.

The result feels like a personal conversation rather than an international pop hit.

The underlying composition hasn’t changed, but its emotional identity has.

Is Take On Me the only song Ellie plays?

No.

Music is an important part of her character.

Another significant recording is “Future Days” by Pearl Jam.

That song is closely connected with Joel and his relationship with Ellie.

The game uses music to communicate emotions that the characters sometimes struggle to express through ordinary conversation.

That makes the guitar much more than an interactive object.

It becomes part of the storytelling.

Is the song in the game optional?

Yes, the guitar-shop moment can be missed.

Players need to explore the relevant location.

That’s an important difference between interactive games and films.

In a film, every viewer experiences the same musical sequence.

In a game, the player may discover the moment through exploration.

That can make it feel particularly personal.

You found the guitar.

You chose to interact with it.

And the character responded with music.

What does Take On Me mean?

The original song is broadly about romantic attraction and the uncertainty of pursuing a relationship.

The narrator wants somebody to take a chance.

There’s excitement but also vulnerability.

That interpretation fits Ellie and Dina particularly well.

Their relationship is developing under difficult circumstances.

The song communicates hope without pretending their situation is easy.

Songs like Ellie’s acoustic Take On Me

Try José González’s “Heartbeats”, Iron & Wine’s “Such Great Heights”, Phoebe Bridgers’ “Friday I’m in Love”, Daughter’s “Youth”, Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” and Sleeping at Last’s “Chasing Cars”.

These recordings reinterpret pop or rock songwriting through restrained arrangements.

For another example of video-game music creating a powerful emotional moment, Radar’s guide to “Still Alive” from Portal explores a very different relationship between music and fictional characters.

Why is music so important in The Last of Us?

Because the characters live in a world where ordinary experiences have become precious.

Playing guitar is something familiar.

Singing to somebody is an act of trust.

And sharing music provides a momentary escape from danger.

The contrast with the surrounding violence makes those experiences more meaningful.

The soundtrack doesn’t need to be enormous to create emotion.

Sometimes a single acoustic guitar is enough.

What song does Ellie sing to Dina?

“Take On Me” by a-ha.

Ashley Johnson performs the acoustic version in The Last of Us Part II, while Bella Ramsey sings it in the HBO adaptation.

The song became one of the franchise’s most memorable musical moments because it transforms a famous 1980s pop hit into something intimate.

In a story filled with danger, the music allows two characters to simply enjoy being together.