Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1985
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song)
Buy When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going'" is a 1985 song co-written and originally recorded by English singer Billy Ocean in 1985.
Description
Written by Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond, Mutt Lange and Ocean, the song was used as the theme song for the Michael Douglas film 'The Jewel of the Nile'. The saxophone solo is by Vernon Jeffrey Smith.
The song became a major international success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in February 1986, and number two on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, stalling behind "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston. It remains his only number-one single in the UK to date.
Music video
A music video was shot at the Brixton Academy,[https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20402169.html Billy Ocean is Finding Out About the Important Things in Life] and features Douglas and his 'Jewel of the Nile' co-stars Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito as lip-synching backup singers. It reportedly boosted the popularity of the venue.
The video was initially banned on 'Top of the Pops' because the actors were not part of the musician's union, meaning DeVito's miming of the saxophone solo went against the rules.[https://www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/when-the-going-gets-tough-billy-ocean-lyrics-meaning-video/ When the Going Gets Tough Lyrics Meaning]
Track listing
*'12-inch single'
:A1 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Extended Version) 5:43
:A2 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (7 Version) 4:08
:B1 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Club Mix) 7:35
:B2 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Instrumental) 5:12
'Other versions'
* 7th Heaven Club Mix 6:44
* 7th Heaven Radio Edit 4:22
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Boyzone version
Irish boy band Boyzone recorded a cover version for the 1999 Comic Relief telethon, shortening the title to "When the Going Gets Tough". Like the original, their version also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their fifth chart-topper. It spent two weeks at number one. The song received a platinum certification in the UK. The video included Graham Norton, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus, Mel Smith, Davina McCall, Harry Hill, Steve Collins, John McCririck, Jimmy White, Mystic Meg, Will Mellor, James Dreyfus, the cast of 'Emmerdale', Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish, and Ulrika Jonsson and Saracen from 'Gladiators'.
Track listings
'UK CD single'# "When the Going Gets Tough"
# "What a Wonderful World" (performed by Alison Moyet)
# "Love Can Build a Bridge" (documentary trackperformed by Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)
'UK cassette single'
# "When the Going Gets Tough"
# "What a Wonderful World" (performed by Alison Moyet)
'French CD single'
# "When the Going Gets Tough" 3:35
# "I'll Never Not Need You" 4:07
Personnel
Personnel are lifted from the 'By Request' album booklet.'Main personnel'
* Wayne Brathwaite writing
* Barry Eastmond writing
* Robert John Lange writing
* Billy Ocean writing
* Wayne Hector additional backing vocals
* Andy Caine additional backing vocals
* Tracy Ackerman additional backing vocals
* Paul Gendler guitars
* Steve Mac production, mixing
* Chris Laws engineering, programming
* Matt Howe mix engineering
'Orchestra'
* Guy Barker trumpet
* Phil Todd saxophone
* Ann Morfee violin
* Ian Humphries violin
* Rebecca Hirsch violin
* Nicolette Humphries violin
* Helen Paterson violin
* Richard George violin
* Clare Thompson violin
* Anna Hemery violin
* Laura Melhuish violin
* Steve Morris violin
* Deborah Widdup violin
* Gillian Kent violin
* Clare Finnimore viola
* Bruce White viola
* Paul Martin viola
* Sue Dench viola
* Nick Cooper cello
* Jonathan Tunnell cello
* Audrey Riley cello
* Emma Black cello
* Richard Niles string and brass arrangement
* Graeme Perkins orchestra contractor
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Category:1985 songs
Category:1985 singles
Category:1986 singles
Category:1996 singles
Category:1999 singles
Category:Billy Ocean songs
Category:Boyzone songs
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Comic Relief singles
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Jive Records singles
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in Belgium
Category:Number-one singles in Denmark
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Number-one singles in Scotland
Category:Polydor Records singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Mac
Category:Songs written by Barry Eastmond
Category:Songs written by Billy Ocean
Category:Songs written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Category:Songs written by Wayne Brathwaite
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
Buy When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1985