The NeverEnding Story (song)

Last updated
"Never Ending Story"
The neverending story.jpg
Single by Limahl
from the album Don't Suppose and The NeverEnding Story soundtrack
B-side "Ivory Tower" or Instrumental version
ReleasedAugust 8, 1984
RecordedJanuary 1984
Genre
Length3:31
Label EMI
Songwriter(s) Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder
Limahl singles chronology
"Too Much Trouble"
(1984)
"Never Ending Story"
(1984)
"Tar Beach"
(1984)
Music video
"Never Ending Story" on YouTube

"Never Ending Story" is the title song from the English version of the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story . It was produced and composed by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder and performed by English pop singer Limahl. He released two versions of the song, one in English and one in French. The English version featured vocals by Beth Andersen, 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 both Norway and Sweden, No. 2 in Austria, West Germany and Italy, No. 4 in the UK, No. 6 in Australia and No. 6 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Contents

Background and writing

The song was composed by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Keith Forsey, though 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 Andersen recorded her words in the USA separately from Limahl's. [3] Andersen does not appear in the music video; frequent Limahl back-up singer Mandy Newton lip-syncs Andersen's part.

Legacy

In the final episode of the third season of Stranger Things , set in 1985, "Never Ending Story" is sung by Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and his long-distance girlfriend Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo) as a way to reconnect after not seeing each other for some time. [4] Following the season's release on July 4, 2019, interest in "The NeverEnding Story" surged; viewership of the original music video had increased by 800% within a few days according to YouTube, while Spotify reported an 825% increase in stream requests for the song. Limahl expressed gratitude towards Netflix for this; while he had not watched the series, he was told of the song's inclusion by his nephews and watched clips of the duet. Limahl had previously found a similar increase in his past work when the network used his band Kajagoogoo's song "Too Shy" in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch . [5] [6]

Track listings

Official mixes

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [36] Silver250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

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