Never Ending Story by Limahl

Album: The Neverending Story soundtrack (1984)

Charted: 4 17

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Songfacts®:

Keith Forsey and Giorgio Moroder wrote this song for The NeverEnding Story, a 1984 film about a boy, Atreyu, who enters a magical land and must save it from destruction. It's a fantasy film, and the song matches the tone, with magical keyboards, windy sound effects, and mysterious lyrics like "Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds."

Moroder was an architect of the disco era, writing and producing most of Donna Summer's hits. In the '80s, he updated his sound and teamed up with Forsey to write the theme song to Flashdance. Forsey also co-wrote the Simple Minds hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)."
Limahl (real name: Chris Hamill), is best known as lead singer of Kajagoogoo, who had a hit in 1983 with "Too Shy." That same year, he was ousted from the group and embarked on solo career. "Never Ending Story" gave him a solid solo hit, but he never had another hit in America and had just a few minor hits in Europe. Kajagoogoo carried on without him, releasing a moderately successful album in 1984 called Islands, but going into steep decline soon after and splitting up after their next album. In the '00s, Limahl reunited with the band for various appearances.
The female voice on this track is the American singer Beth Anderson.
Shooter Jennings recorded this song with Brandi Carlile for his 2016 album Countach (For Giorgio), a tribute to Giorgio Moroder. Carlile is a huge fan of the movie and has the logo tattooed on both of her arms. When Jennings met her at a Johnny Cash tribute concert, he noticed them and asked her to sing on this track.
"Never Ending Story" plays a key role in the Netflix series Stranger Things. In the last episode of season 3 (2019), Dustin needs help from his girlfriend, Suzie, to save the world, but she won't do it until he agrees to sing the song with her - they really love the movie.

Comments: 8

Lio from StockholmIt is actually about a boy named Bastian who enters the magical land where he later meets Atreyu
Zan-d Mack from Springfield, MoThe sitar in this song really makes it sound New Agey. Awesome!!
Eddie from Ba, ArgentinaOn the back cover of the original UK single release (both 7" and 12"), Beth Anderson is credited in big letters. But neither the German nor the US release make mention of her name. One important thing to mention - the song was composed and produced by Giorgio Moroder, and the lyrics by Keith Forsey.
The UK and the German 12" releases featured the 12" Mix, with the 7" version and 'Ivory Tower' on the flipside. The US 12" is completely different, featuring the Club Mix and an Instrumental Version (which isn't 'exactly' instrumental, rather a Dub Version with almost full lyrics, just the 2nd verse missing - a great version, by the way).
Mike from Santa Barbara, CaI never liked the song "Too Shy," but I always enjoyed this one. And Beth Anderson does great back-up.
Nelson from MelbourneGood song, great movie!
Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaYes, it was. A short version was played during the opening credits; the full version during the closing credits. I think the movie came out at a fairly appropriate time. The movie was about how a young boy is asked to save a fantasy land in danger of being destroyed by a "Nothing", an unseen force that wipes everything out of existence. I think the major message of this movie is that children are slowly losing their gift of imagination, due to television, video games, and the like.
Liz from Massapequa, Nywas this used in the movie "Never Ending Story"?
Dave from Cardiff, WalesThe female vocals in the chorus were sung by actress Beth Anderson (who is actually seen in the video for the song more than Limahl!). Some singles creditted the song to 'LIMAHL (featuring Beth Anderson)', although by and large she's not creditted as a performer in her own right officially on this song. Following the acrimonious split from Kajagoogoo, Limahl also had a solo hit with "Only For Love".

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