Never Tear Us Apart

INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence wrote the lyrics, which describe an instant connection between 2 people who form a bond that will last forever.

Michael Hutchence died in 1997. At his funeral service, his coffin was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral by the remaining members of INXS and younger brother Rhett, as this song played in the background.

Andrew Farriss: "We were in New Zealand and the rest of the band were out playing tennis with an A&R guy called Jimmy Hendrix (!) when I first wrote the music for Never Tear Us Apart." (courtesy: michaelhutchence.org)

In 2006 the song was voted "Nation's Favorite Lyric" by viewers of pay TV music channel VH1 in Australia. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above)

This was going to be used in the 2001 movie Donnie Darko, but due to budget constraints, producers used "The Killing Moon" by Echo And The Bunnymen instead.

As part of a tribute to Michael Hutchence to mark what would have been his 50th birthday, Andrew Farriss told the story of this song: "In 1986 I sat down on an upright piano and started working on the chords that would eventually become 'Never Tear Us Apart.' I thought it had potential and asked Michael what he thought of it. He told me he really liked it so I recorded a blues style demo for him. I gave the demo to Michael and the eventual lyric that he wrote was truly inspired. Straight from the heart. I know how much that lyric meant to him. It was a personal love lyric very much in the moment for him."

Paloma Faith recorded a cover for John Lewis' autumn 2012 advertising campaign. "I have always loved this song and I feel honoured to sing it," Faith said of the track. Her version peaked at #16 on the UK singles chart.

Tunes used by the store chain in previous campaigns include Ellie Goulding's version of Elton John's "Your Song" and Slow Moving Millie's interpretation of The Smiths' "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want."