"Never Tear Us Apart" | ||||
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Single by INXS | ||||
from the album Kick | ||||
B-side |
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Released | June 1988 [1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | WEA | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Chris Thomas | |||
INXS singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Never Tear Us Apart" on YouTube |
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a power ballad by Australian rock band INXS, released in June 1988 by WEA as the fourth single from their sixth studio album, Kick (1987). The music was written by keyboardist Andrew Farriss, and the lyrics were written by vocalist Michael Hutchence for his then-girlfriend, Michele Bennett.
In 1988, the single peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, No. 5 on Billboard US Mainstream Rock chart, No. 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1989, the song was nominated for four ARIA Music Awards, winning two; for Best Group and Best Video. In 2014, the single peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart following the success of the miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart . It was ranked at No. 282 on Rolling Stone 's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2021.
The music was written by keyboardist Andrew Farriss, who recorded a blues-style demo; [6] vocalist Michael Hutchence wrote the lyrics for his then-girlfriend, Australian film producer Michele Bennett, who was described as Hutchence's "first real love", [7] with whom he was in a relationship from 1982 to 1987 [8] and remained close friends until his death – Bennett was the last person that Hutchence called on the morning of his death, on 22 November 1997. [9] In a 2019 interview with NME , Richard Lowenstein, who was friends with Hutchence and directed the music video for "Never Tear Us Apart", said of the song after reading Hutchence's diaries as part of his research for his 2019 documentary Mystify: Michael Hutchence :
He felt guilt over every break-up because it brought back memories of his parents' divorce and their break-up. When he got successful he'd feel the guilt of leaving his brother and it just seemed to be everywhere. Going back into his diaries, we'd find evidence of the guilt – it wasn't just all happy-go-lucky rockstar. There was always problems being presented. His break-up with Michele (Bennett, his childhood flame), he was utterly torn between this woman he loved and how their lives were going in so many different directions. That’s why it inspired ‘Never Tear Us Apart’. Kick had gone to Number One and suddenly there's this kid-in-a-candy store mentality – he was travelling around the world and thought he'd never settle down. There was the hedonistic side to him, but always an almost catholic sense of self-flagellation too. [10]
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a ballad, written in the tempo of a modern Viennese waltz, layered with synthesizers and containing dramatic pauses before the instrumental breaks. Kirk Pengilly lends a saxophone solo near the end. According to the liner notes of Shine Like It Does: The Anthology (1979–1997) , the song was composed on piano as a bluesy number in the style of Fats Domino. Producer Chris Thomas suggested a synth-based arrangement instead.[ citation needed ]
A reviewer from Cash Box said that "more impassioned crooning from Hutchence elevates this song" and also praised the "searing sax solo." [11] The Stud Brothers of Melody Maker wrote, "This pleads for passion by jump-starting a cello-like synth that kangaroos unhappily along until it collides with a great fairy of a saxophone which ultimately drags it to a sad demise." [12]
The music video for the song, featuring an extended intro, was filmed in various locations in Prague [13] along with "Guns in the Sky" and "New Sensation", all directed by Richard Lowenstein. [14] It won the ARIA Award for Best Video at the 1989 ARIA Music Awards. [15]
As of November2024, the video has a total view count of more than 150 million on YouTube from two versions, making it their most popular song on the platform. [16] [17]
In March 2024, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of "Never Tear Us Apart", INXS shared a video on their official YouTube channel featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the music video, deleted scenes and interviews with Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss. [6]
After Hutchence's death in 1997, his coffin was carried out of St Andrew's Cathedral by the remaining members of INXS and his younger brother Rhett as "Never Tear Us Apart" was played in the background. [18]
In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", listing the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Never Tear Us Apart" was ranked number 18. [19]
In 2021, it was listed at No. 282 on Rolling Stone 's "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". [20]
The song appears in Euphoria Season 2 Episode 3. During the cold open flashback, Cal dances and embraces his friend Derek to the song. [21]
The single reached No. 24 in the UK, and stayed on the charts for seven weeks. In the US, it reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In February 2014, after the Channel 7 screening of INXS: Never Tear Us Apart mini-series, "Never Tear Us Apart" charted again in Australia via download sales. It peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart, surpassing its original peak position of No. 14 back in 1988. [22] [23]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [46] | 5× Platinum | 350,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [47] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United Kingdom | June 1988 | — | [1] | |
Australia | 8 August 1988 | 7-inch vinyl | WEA | [24] |
Japan | 25 September 1988 | Mini-CD | [48] |
Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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1989 | ARIA Music Awards | Best Group | INXS – "Never Tear Us Apart" | Won | [15] |
Best Video | Richard Lowenstein – "Never Tear Us Apart" | Won | |||
Single of the Year | INXS – "Never Tear Us Apart" | Nominated | |||
Artisan Awards – Song of the Year | Andrew Farriss / Michael Hutchence | Nominated | |||
"Never Tear Us Apart" | ||||
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Single by Tom Jones feat. Natalie Imbruglia | ||||
from the album Reload | ||||
Released | 27 September 1999 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 3:08 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Johnny Douglas | |||
Tom Jonessingles chronology | ||||
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The song was covered by Tom Jones for his 1999 album Reload featuring the Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia. The cover version also includes a music video.
CD single
"Precious Heart" | ||||
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Single by Tall Paul vs. INXS | ||||
from the album INXS²: The Remixes | ||||
Released | 6 August 2001 [49] | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Paul Newman | |||
INXS singles chronology | ||||
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In August 2001, a remix called "Precious Heart" was released as a single, and credited as Tall Paul vs. INXS.
Australian CD single
UK CD single
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA) [50] | 27 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [51] | 57 |
Ireland (IRMA) [52] | 30 |
Scotland (OCC) [53] | 10 |
UK Singles (OCC) [54] | 14 |
UK Dance (OCC) [55] | 2 |
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [56] | 6 |
"Never Tear Us Apart" | ||||
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Single by INXS featuring Ben Harper | ||||
Released | 12 August 2010 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 4:00 | |||
Label | Petrol Electric | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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INXSsingles chronology | ||||
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INXS re-recorded "Never Tear Us Apart" with Ben Harper and French singer Mylène Farmer, who wrote new French lyrics, for their twelfth studio album, Original Sin . The song was released on iTunes on 12 August 2010, and also as a promotional single to radio stations prior to the release of the album.
"Never Tear Us Apart" | ||||
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Single by Paloma Faith | ||||
from the album Fall to Grace | ||||
Released | 23 September 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:05 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Paloma Faith singles chronology | ||||
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"Never Tear Us Apart" was recorded by British singer Paloma Faith for a television advertisement campaign for John Lewis. The advert began airing in the UK from 15 September 2012. [57] Faith later confirmed that the song would be released as her next single on 23 September 2012. [58] She commented "I have always loved this song and I feel honoured to sing it." [58] "Never Tear Us Apart" was released as the first single from the reissued version of Faith's second studio album Fall to Grace and serves as the third single overall. [58] The artwork for the song shows the singer saluting, while wearing a metallic gold dress, with "a honeycomb-like bottom half". [58]
Faith's version of the song can be heard on the opening scene of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fifteenth-season episode "Beast's Obsession." It is also heard in the Netflix series Umbrella Academy. Faith's version also appeared in the first episode of the Showtime series Yellowjackets. [59]
Digital Spy's Lewis Corner gave Faith's version of the song four out of five stars. [60] He stated "It's a brave task to reinterpret a much-loved hit, but Faith's soulful tones immediately thwart any doubts that she can't do the song justice." [60] He added that while it was always going to be tough topping the original, Faith comes "admirably close." [60]
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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Ireland (IRMA) [62] | 42 |
Scotland (OCC) [63] | 18 |
UK Singles (OCC) [64] | 16 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI) [65] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Release date | Format |
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United Kingdom [58] | 23 September 2012 | Digital download |
In April 2021, The Teskey Brothers released a cover of "Never Tear Us Apart" in dedication to Michael Gudinski. Upon released, Josh said "This is an all-time classic Australian song that all of us love, its a pleasure to sing it and I don't know why we didn't do it earlier. We're very proud to dedicate this release to our friend Michael Gudinski who was a huge supporter of Australian music and The Teskey Brothers. Our two worlds collided and we will always be grateful for that." [66]
Since March 2014, Australian Football League club Port Adelaide has adopted "Never Tear Us Apart" as an unofficial anthem leading up to the opening bounce at its home ground, Adelaide Oval. [67] It is a reference to various difficulties the club faced when trying to enter the AFL. [68] [69]
Port Adelaide's use of the song stemmed from a trip to Anfield in November 2012 when Port Adelaide was in England to play an exhibition match against the Western Bulldogs. [69] Seeing the Anfield crowd's rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone", Matthew Richardson, Port's general manager of marketing and consumer business, sought to replicate the pre-match experience. At a meeting in mid-2013, the idea of an anthem was raised; various songs were suggested, including "Power and the Passion" by Midnight Oil and "Power to the People" by John Schumann. "Never Tear Us Apart" was suggested by Port Adelaide's events manager Tara MacLeod. It was eventually accepted, as it resonated with Port Adelaide's history: when Port Adelaide entered the AFL in 1997, it was forced to cut ties with its traditional base, the Port Adelaide Magpies, forming separate administrations and causing division amongst supporters. [69]
Initially, the song was introduced to coincide with the 60-second countdown before the start of a match, with the music playing over a video montage. Fans adopted the song, raising scarves above their heads as it was sung. [69] By June 2014, the club printed scarves with the words "Never Tear Us Apart" on them that fans would hold aloft and sing in unison prior to the start of matches. [69] [70]
INXS were an Australian rock band, formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney. The founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist Tim Farriss, lead singer and main lyricist Michael Hutchence, and guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. For 20 years, INXS was fronted by Hutchence, whose magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the band. Initially known for their new wave/pop style, the band later developed a harder pub rock style that included funk and dance elements.
Kick is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band INXS, released on 19 October 1987 through WEA in Australia, Mercury Records in Europe, and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. The album was produced by British producer Chris Thomas, recorded by David Nicholas in Sydney and Paris and mixed by Bob Clearmountain at AIR Studios in London.
The Swing is the fourth studio album by Australian rock band INXS, released on 21 March 1984. It peaked at number one on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart for five non-consecutive weeks from early April to mid-May 1984. The lead single "Original Sin" was recorded in New York City with Nile Rodgers and featured Daryl Hall on backing vocals. Overall, the album featured a slightly harder-edged sound than their previous releases.
X is the seventh studio album by Australian rock band INXS, released on 25 September 1990 through WEA in Australia, Mercury Records in Europe, and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. The follow-up to the massive seller Kick, X scored hits with "Suicide Blonde" and "Disappear". Both singles were later used in the soundtrack to the 1991 American teen comedy Mystery Date. Two other singles from X were "Bitter Tears" and "By My Side" but they had less chart success. A fifth single, "The Stairs", was only issued in the Netherlands to coincide with the release of the Live Baby Live album.
Live Baby Live is the first live album by Australian rock band INXS. It was released on 11 November 1991 and features tracks recorded during their Summer XS Tour in Paris, New York, Chicago, London, Dublin, Glasgow, Rio de Janeiro, Montreal, Spain, Switzerland, Melbourne, Sydney, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas. The album peaked in the top 10 on both the Australian and United Kingdom albums charts. It has sold over one million copies in the United States, earning a platinum certification by the RIAA. A single, "Shining Star", was released from and ahead of the album on 21 October. It became the group's ninth Top 40 single on the UK Singles Chart, but failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, despite reaching the top 20 of the rock charts.
Shabooh Shoobah is the third studio album by Australian rock band INXS. It was released on 13 October 1982. It peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and remained on the chart for 94 weeks. It was the band's first album to be released worldwide and appeared on the United States Billboard 200 and on the Hot Pop Albums Chart. The album spawned four singles, "The One Thing", "Don't Change", "To Look at You" and "Black and White". It was produced by Mark Opitz for WEA Australia with most tracks written by band members Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence.
Switch is the eleventh studio album by the Australian rock band INXS, and their last to be composed of entirely new material. It was released on 29 November 2005 and produced by Guy Chambers. It was their first full-length studio album since the 1997 death of vocalist Michael Hutchence, and the only album to feature singer J.D. Fortune.
"Suicide Blonde" is the lead single from Australian rock band INXS's seventh studio album, X (1990). It was released on 22 August 1990 in the United States and on 3 September 1990 in the United Kingdom. The song reached number two in Australia, number nine in the United States, and number 11 in the United Kingdom. In Canada and New Zealand, the single peaked at number one for two and three weeks, respectively. At the APRA Music Awards of 1991, "Suicide Blonde" won the award Most Performed Australian Work Overseas.
The discography of INXS, an Australian rock band, consists of 12 studio albums, 71 singles, 12 compilation albums, 4 live albums and 5 extended plays.
"Need You Tonight" is a song by the Australian rock band INXS, released as the first single from their 1987 album, Kick, as well as the fourth song on the album. It is the only INXS single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also achieved their highest charting position in the United Kingdom, where the song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart; however, this peak was only reached after a re-release of the single in November 1988. On its first run on the UK charts in October 1987, it stalled at No. 58. It was one of the last songs recorded for the album, yet it would arguably become the band's signature song.
"Devil Inside" is a song by Australian rock band INXS. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence and was released as the second single from the band's sixth studio album, Kick, in February 1988. The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks. "Devil Inside" also peaked at number six in Australia, number three in Canada, and number two in New Zealand. Cash Box said that the band "[uses] a Daytripper-like guitar sound and riff it under a sultry, breathy vocal to put the point across."
"Don't Change" is a song by Australian rock band INXS. It was released as a single from the album Shabooh Shoobah in October 1982. It has been described as the song that made the band internationally famous.
"New Sensation" is a song by Australian rock group INXS. It was the third single released from their sixth studio album, Kick (1987). The music was composed by Andrew Farriss and the lyrics were written by Michael Hutchence. The song features a signature Kirk Pengilly sax solo and lyrics about a partying lifestyle.
"Original Sin" is a song by Australian rock group INXS, released as the first single from the band's fourth album, The Swing. It was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, and produced by Nile Rodgers.
"Mystify" is a song by Australian rock band INXS, released the fifth and final single from their sixth studio album, Kick (1987). The song was written by Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence and Tim Farriss as part of the first sessions for Kick. The song was first previewed to Australian audiences on the Australian Made tour in January 1987.
"Shining Star" is a song by Australian rock band INXS, released as the only single issued from the band's first live album, Live Baby Live (1991), on 21 October 1991. It is the one new studio track recorded for the album. Upon the song's release, it peaked at No. 21 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the group's ninth top-40 single in the latter country. In the United States, it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and No. 14 on the Album Rock Tracks chart.
"The One Thing" is a song by Australian rock group INXS, released in July 1982 as the first single ahead of their third studio album, Shabooh Shoobah, which appeared in October that year.
"By My Side" is a single by Australian band INXS, the third UK single and fourth Australian single taken from their seventh studio album, X (1990). The song was written by Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence and Kirk Pengilly as part of the 1990 sessions for the X album. Record producer Chris Thomas, who produced the album, is also given songwriting credits, specifically contributing to the chorus and arrangement, as explained in the liner notes for the X album special edition in 2002. Farriss has said "By My Side" was written about missing family and friends while touring.
"Bitter Tears" is a song by Australian rock band INXS, released as the third Australian and fourth UK single from their seventh studio album, X (1990). The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence as part of the sessions for the X album. It peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart and number 36 in Australia. The single was released to coincide with the band headlining the SummerXS concert at Wembley Stadium in July 1991, as documented in the Live Baby Live DVD.
INXS: Never Tear Us Apart is a two-part Australian miniseries about the rock band INXS and was originally telecast on 9 February 2014, and concluded on 16 February 2014, produced by Shine Australia and airing on the Seven Network.
First Chart Date: 25/06/1988