Forever Young

Album: Forever Young (1984)
Charted: 65
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Songfacts®:

  • On the surface, this is a hopeful song celebrating the virtues of youth, but a closer listen reveals a fear of aging and death. The song was written during the Cold War, where the singer is "hoping for the best, but expecting the worst; are you gonna drop the bomb or not?"
  • Alphaville was a German synthpop/rock music group. The song was not a big hit when it was released, but has become well known as a result of its use in movies and TV shows. Among its uses are these TV shows:

    It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (episode 103: "Underage Drinking: A National Concern")
    Queer As Folk (season 1, episode 18)
    One Tree Hill (season 4, episode 16).

    And these movies:
    Listen To Me
    Napoleon Dynamite (in the school dance scene).

    It was also used in commercials for Saturn ION automobiles. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ben - Philadelphia, PA
  • This was written by Alphaville members Marian Gold, Bernhard Lloyd and Frank Mertens.
  • A year after this was released, Laura Branigan covered it for her album Hold Me and began performing it as an encore at her concerts. The Canadian dance group Temperance recorded the song in 1996.
  • In 2005 the Australian band Youth Group recorded this for an episode of the TV show The O.C.. Their release was a hit in Australia. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Donovan Berry - El Dorado, AR, for above 2
  • British singer Becky Hill released her version of "Forever Young" on November 13, 2020 with at least 10p from every download of the song being donated to the food charity FareShare. Hill's cover was selected as the soundtrack to the 2020 McDonald's UK Christmas TV advert; as part of the promotion, McDonald's donated five million meals to FairShare during the 2020 festive season. Becky Hill's version spent six weeks in the UK charts peaking at #35.
  • "Forever Young" trended on TikTok during the summer of 2024. Creators used it in videos about nostalgia, revisiting cherished childhood memories and paying homage to loved ones no longer around.
  • In 2024 David Guetta and Ava Max collaborated on a a modern EDM rendition of "Forever Young". Their version keeps the original's spirit while adding Guetta's EDM twist and Max's powerful vocals.

Comments: 16

  • Time Traveller from Istanbul, TurkeyHow about to learn what Quran talks about this world without any cliche added to it right get it from its first source just reading it by ourselves and to us only in a private time ? Let's see if it is garbage or not with our own findings. Let's make a crazy thing today and just have a look at the verses of Allah and listen to what He really talks about in that mysterious book ? Let me quote you one here and you take it from there ;

    …. when the earth has taken on her ornaments and is beautified, and people believe that they are masters of her, Our commandment comes by night or by day, and We make it as reaped corn as if it had never flourished. (Quran 10:24)

    Whenever I take a flight at night while looking out of the airplane windows, I cannot help noticing the appearance of the beautifully lighted cities giving an impression of a bride deked-up laced with gold and diamonds. That reminds me of the above verses.
  • Tony from Hannibal, MoI have been fighting terminal brain cancer for 5 years. I also have frontal lobe epilepsy. As a lifelong musician that was born the year this song came out. I have watched friends and family pass away and I miss them dearly. I have no desire whatsoever to see old age. I look forward to my last breath. I have a Do Not Resuscitate order in place already. Old age is nothing but being forced into a world of loneliness you barely recognize anymore and getting to watch everyone you care about die. The state the world is in these days it isnt worth the effort of adding beauty to it. You can polish a turd all day but its still a pile of s--t at the end. The only real adventure left is what comes after we die....I know im looking forward to it....you guys can cling to a world that doesnt want you but I know the inherit value in letting go of illusions. And yes I will play this at my funeral.
  • Ronsha from New JerseyImagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds covered this song and dedicated it to the late Swedish DJ Avicii, who died in 2018 due to suicide. He was only 28 years old.
  • Kathrin from Villingen-schwenningenthe song has bern played at a german TV film, not at cinema, Who knows the title of the film?
  • Hermit In The Wilderness from West Coast, UsaThis song is continually misunderstood. It is NOT about a "fear of aging". Is it about the cold war and fears of nuclear apocalypse - eg "are they gonna drop the bomb or not.".

    The singer is offering up dying young as being "forever young" It is a replacement for the future that is taken away and the (future) "adventures given up today" being lost. It is saying at least not aging like a "fading horse" is the silver lining. Everything about growing old is thrown out as being avoided, as a way to deal with the existential horror.

    In effect it is about not having opportunity to age and grow old.
  • Tony from BaltimoreI love this song it just takes me back to my late teens n early 20s in the 1980s
  • Mike from Dallas, TxCould someone clarify who the older gentleman is in the video? been mentioned he looks like Michael Constantine?
  • Dki from WaNina was the same then. They felt trapped between the powers that humbled them, scared of more and more war.
    Their music is so much happier now. Time heals, especially peaceful times.
  • Isabella from SchoolThis is a very sad but beuitiful song
  • Mary D from Manteca, Ca, UsaI don't think they're singing, It's so hard to get old without a cause but actually saying Course. It's hard to hear the "r". It makes more sense and rhymes with horse.
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesI really love this song. A pity its cover versions were more recognized than this. I hate the young people misinterpreting this song. I feel bad that one group stated below even changed the lyrics so their song is about dancing and partying. Awful. It is as if the world is just about parties and dancing.
  • Sjur from Orkanger, NorwayThe Swedish skate punk band Stoned covered this for their 1997 EP "Shopping Around" (Ampersand Records). Gives it a nice hint of punk, one of my favourite covers of all time.
  • Victor from Barcelona, SpainGerman band Dune covered this along with a London symphonic orchestra on their 1996 album "Forever".
  • Hannah from Gustavus, OhActually, this was never covered on any of the Punk Goes albums. So They Say covered the Rod Stewart song of the same title. However, electropop group Cash Cash covered this in 2010 with a more upbeat rhythm and more modern lyrics (about dancing and partying rather than Cold War fears), releasing it as a separate single.
  • Ray from Crawley W.sussex, EnglandThis video was filmed at Holloway Sanatorium, Virginia water, surrey great song!
  • Raymond from Sydney , AustraliaForever young is a wish that could come true Isaiah 65;20: the child shall die a hundred years of age. But really truth in relationships is what we need and if your looking for the fountain of youth find me.
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