The NeverEnding Story (song)
| "The NeverEnding Story" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Limahl | ||||
| from the album Don't Suppose and The NeverEnding Story soundtrack | ||||
| B-side | "Ivory Tower" or Instrumental version | |||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Format | 7" single, 12" maxi | |||
| Recorded | January 1984 | |||
| Genre | Synthpop, new wave | |||
| Length | 3:31 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey | |||
| Producer(s) | Giorgio Moroder | |||
| Limahl singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The NeverEnding Story" is the title song from the English version of the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story. It was performed by Limahl. Limahl released two versions of the song, one in English and one in French. The English version featured vocals by Beth Anderson, and the French version titled "L'Histoire Sans Fin" featured vocals by Ann Calvert. It was a success in many countries, reaching No. 1 in Norway and Sweden, No. 2 in Austria, Germany and Italy, No. 4 in the UK, No. 6 in Australia and No. 6 in the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Original version
Background and writing
The song was composed by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Keith Forsey, although it (and other electronic pop elements of the soundtrack) is not present in the German version of the film, which features Klaus Doldinger's score exclusively.
Beth Anderson recorded her lyrics in America separately from Limahl's.[1] Anderson does not appear in the music video; frequent Limahl backup singer Mandy Newton lip syncs Anderson's lyrics.
As a reference to the film and its title, the song has no distinctive beginning, nor an end. While many songs fade out, "The NeverEnding Story" not only fades out, but also fades in, thus making it "never ending".
Personnel
- Limahl - vocals
- Beth Anderson - background vocals
- Dee Harris - guitar
- Giorgio Moroder - synthesizer
- Keith Forsey - drums, percussion
Cover versions
- For The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, the song was performed by Joe Milner, heard during the closing credits.
- J-pop group E-Girls covered a Japanese version of the song in 2013. It debuted in the second place of the Oricon weekly singles chart, selling 40,055 copies.
- American pop punk group New Found Glory covered the song on their 2000 EP From the Screen to Your Stereo.
- German eurodance group Scooter thirteenth studio album Jumping All Over the World samples the theme song from the American version of the film.
- Canadian industrial band The Birthday Massacre covered the song for their 2004 album Violet. The track was omitted from the final release, but became audible via online leaks.
- Swedish melodic power metal band Dragonland covered the song and included it as a bonus track for the Japanese version of their album Holy War.
Track listings
- 7" single
- "The NeverEnding Story"
- "Ivory Tower" by Giorgio Moroder
- 7" single
- "The NeverEnding Story" (club mix) - 6:09
- "The NeverEnding Story" (instrumental version) - 5:28
- 12" maxi
- "The NeverEnding Story" (12" mix) - 5:17
- "The NeverEnding Story" (7" mix) - 3:30
- "Ivory Tower" (12" mix) (instrumental) by Giorgio Moroder - 5:54
- iTunes single
- "The NeverEnding Story" (12" mix) - 5:20
- "The NeverEnding Story" (Giorgio 7" mix) - 3:31
- "The NeverEnding Story" (Rusty 7" mix) - 3:54
- "The NeverEnding Story" (12" dance mix) - 6:08
- "The NeverEnding Story" (12" dub mix) - 5:27
- "Ivory Tower" by Giorgio Moroder - 3:08
- "Ivory Tower" (12" mix) by Giorgio Moroder - 5:55
Official mixes
- "The NeverEnding Story" (7" Mix) - 3:28
- "The NeverEnding Story" (12" Mix) - 5:17
- "The NeverEnding Story" (Club Mix) - 6:09
- "The NeverEnding Story" (Instrumental Version) - 5:28
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK[2] | Silver | December 1, 1984 | 200,000 |
Charts
|
|
1 "The NeverEnding Story"/"L'Histoire Sans Fin"
References
- ↑ "'NeverEnding Story' Release Info". Limahl.co.uk. Archived from the original on October 10, 1999. Retrieved June 17, 2010. (dead)
- ↑ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved 3 September 2008)
- ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- 1 2 3 4 "NeverEnding Story", various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 24 February 2008)
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ↑ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de Archived 2008-12-16 at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 1 September 2008)
- ↑ Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 24 February 2008)
- ↑ Italian Singles Chart HitParadeItalia.it Archived 2008-09-13 at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 12 September 2008)
- 1 2 "Limahl - The Never Ending Story (song)". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ↑ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved 1 September 2008)
- 1 2 3 4 Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved 1 September 2008)
- ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1984". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- ↑ 1984 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved 1 September 2008)