"Neverending Love" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released on 8 July 1986 by EMI as their debut single. The track was originally written in Swedish by Per Gessle, as "Svarta glas" ("Black Glass"), for recording artist Pernilla Wahlgren, who turned it down. However, she offered the song to her brother Niclas Wahlgren, who recorded his own version. The release of his single was cancelled at the request of EMI, when Gessle recorded an English version of the song with Marie Fredriksson.[2]
| "Neverending Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Roxette | ||||
| from the album Pearls of Passion | ||||
| B-side | "Voices" | |||
| Released | 8 July 1986 | |||
| Recorded | March–April 1986 | |||
| Studio | EMI Studios, Stockholm | |||
| Genre | Pop[1] | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Per Gessle | |||
| Producer(s) | Clarence Öfwerman | |||
| Roxette singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 French 7" cover | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Neverending Love" on YouTube | ||||
The single was originally intended to only be released outside of Sweden, as EMI believed it would interfere with Fredriksson's burgeoning solo career. The label eventually changed their minds,[3] and the single went on to peak at number three on the Swedish Singles Chart.[4] The song was later included on the duo's debut album, Pearls of Passion (1986). Two music videos were created for the song. The first was shot in Luxembourg in 1986 and features a red-haired Fredriksson. The second was directed by Rikard Petrelius and was shot one year later in Sweden.[5]
Formats and track listings
editAll lyrics by Per Gessle; all music by Gessle except "Voices", by Marie Fredriksson and Per Andersson.
- 7" single (Germany / Italy / Sweden 1362277)
- "Neverending Love" – 3:29
- "Neverending Love" (Love Mix) – 3:59
- French 7" / Swedish 12" single (France 1362567 · Sweden 1362486)
- "Neverending Love" – 3:29
- "Voices" – 4:05
- German 12" single (136237)
- "Neverending Love" (12" Mix) – 5:14
- "Neverending Love" (7" Mix) – 3:18
- "Voices" – 4:05
- French 12" single (1362576)
- "Neverending Love" (Love Mix) – 3:59
- "Neverending Love" – 3:29
- "Neverending Love" (Extended Club Mix) – 4:31
Personnel
editCredits adapted from the liner notes of The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06.[6]
- Recorded at EMI Studios in Stockholm, Sweden in March and April 1986.
Musicians
- Marie Fredriksson – lead and background vocals
- Per Gessle – lead and background vocals
- Björn Boström – engineering
- Tommy Cassemar – bass guitar
- Clarence Öfwerman – keyboards and production
- Mats "MP" Persson – electric guitar
- Alar Suurna – mixing
- Tim Werner – drums
Charts and sales
edit| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[4] | 3 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | — | 50,000[7] |
References
edit- ^ Breihan, Tom (July 5, 2021). "The Number Ones: Roxette's 'The Look'". Stereogum. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
'Neverending Love', a neat little piece of frothy and generic mid-'80s pop, was a #3 hit in Sweden.
- ^ "It was 20 years ago today..." The Daily Roxette. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Thorselius, Robert (May 2003). The Look for Roxette: The Illustrated Worldwide Discography & Price Guide (1st ed.). Sweden: Premium Förlag Publishing. ISBN 978-9197189484.
- ^ a b "Roxette – Neverending Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Ballad & Pop Hits – The Complete Video Collection (DVD liner notes). Roxette. EMI. 2003. 7243 4 90946-9 7.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Booklet". The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 (liner notes). Roxette. Stockholm, Sweden: Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. 2006. 9463 67972–2 9.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pallesen, Randi (November 6, 2012). "Roxette aflyser koncert i Brøndby". Gaffa (in Danish). Retrieved September 20, 2023.