The NeverEnding Story (song)
"The NeverEnding 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 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. 1 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 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. 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 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.
- Shooter Jennings and Brandi Carlile covered the song on Jennings' 2016 Giorgio Moroder tribute album Countach .
- German eurodance group Scooter's 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.
- Norwegian synth-pop act Echo Image covered the song as a b-side on their 2001 single "Skulk".
Legacy
Track listings
; 7" single- "The NeverEnding Story"
- "Ivory Tower" by Giorgio Moroder
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 6:09
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 5:28
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 5:17
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 3:30
- "Ivory Tower" by Giorgio Moroder – 5:54
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 5:20
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 3:31
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 3:54
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 6:08
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 5:27
- "Ivory Tower" by Giorgio Moroder – 3:08
- "Ivory Tower" by Giorgio Moroder – 5:55
Official mixes
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 3:28
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 5:17
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 6:09
- "The NeverEnding Story" – 5:28
Certifications
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
| Australia | 6 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary | 3 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 71 |
| German Singles Chart | 2 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 4 |
| Japanese Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 5 |
| Japanese Oricon International Singles Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 28 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Poland | 1 |
| Spain | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 10 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 23 |
| End of year chart | Position |
| Australia | 49 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 11 |
| Poland | 8 |
1 "The NeverEnding Story"/"L'Histoire Sans Fin"