Never Tear Us Apart
Encyclopedia
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a single
released by Australian rock group INXS
in August 1988. It was also included on the band's sixth studio album
, Kick. The music
was written by Andrew Farriss
, who recorded a blues-style demo and gave it to Michael Hutchence
. The INXS singer then penned a personal love lyric, which was straight from the heart.
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a sensuous ballad
, layered with synthesizer
s and containing dramatic pauses before the instrumental breaks. Kirk Pengilly
lends a cathartic saxophone
solo near the end. According to the liner notes
of Shine Like It Does: The Anthology (1979–1997), the song was originally composed on piano
as a bluesy number in the style of Fats Domino
. Producer Chris Thomas
suggested a synth-based arrangement instead.
The video
for the song, featuring an extended intro, was filmed in various locations in Prague
along with "Guns in the Sky" and "New Sensation
", all directed by Richard Lowenstein
.
The single reached #24 in the UK, and stayed on the charts for seven weeks. In the U.S., it reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
After his death in 1997, Michael Hutchence's coffin
was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral by the remaining members of INXS and younger brother Rhett, as "Never Tear Us Apart" was played in the background. This song is now thought of by many original INXS fans as Hutchence's anthem.
The song was used in the opening sequence of the director's cut of the 2001 cult film, Donnie Darko
. It would have been featured in the original release had the rights for it not been deemed too expensive by the producers. ("The Killing Moon
" by Echo & the Bunnymen
served as its replacement.)
In 2006, the song was voted "Nation's Favourite Lyric" by viewers of pay TV music channel VH1
in Australia.
Recently, the song has been adopted by The Squadron, the Newcastle United Jets
supporter group, and sung in unison at the 40th and 85th minute of their A-League association football matches. This is in homage to the line, "cause we all have wings, but some of us don't know why", used now in reference to the Jets symbol of their club. The song's popularity has prompted a move to have the song be played at the beginning of each half, first happening on 18 October 2008, when the Jets defeated the Melbourne Victory 1-0.
.
UK CD single
with Ben Harper
for their twelfth studio album, "Original Sin". The song has been released on iTunes and as a promotional single to radio stations prior to the release of the new album.
Ben Harper has been known to perform "Never Tear Us Apart" at his concerts since 2009, especially when in Australia. He revealed in an interview on Australia's Nova FM on 2 August 2010, "At this point, I've lived that song. I've lived enough years and gone through enough in my life to have earned the right to sing that song." On Sydney's Triple M, he stated "covering "Never Tear Us Apart" is like covering "Dock of the Bay". I'm not here to make grandiose over-statements - it's just a fuckin' fact. That's one of the greatest soul songs ever written."
On 1 August 2010, the song was made available on INXS.com (a playable version only, not available for download). The audio version was accompanied by a YouTube video of Ben Harper performing the song with Jon Farriss at the "Splendour in the Grass" festival at Woodfordia, Queensland, Australia, filmed on 30 July 2010.
The song was released on iTunes on 12 August 2010.
INXS re-recorded "Never Tear Us Apart" with Ben Harper
and French singer Mylène Farmer
who wrote new French lyrics for this new version. The song is due to be the first single from the 2010 INXS album in November in France and Belgium.
for his 1999 album Reload
featuring the Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia
.
The song was also covered by Joe Cocker
for his 2002 album Respect Yourself
.
A bluegrass version is occasionally performed by The Packway Handle Band
.
Bono
, a good friend of Hutchence, sometimes snippets the chorus during live performances of several U2
songs.
The hardcore band, This Is Hell
, covered the track on their 2009 EP Warbirds
.
Los Angeles based indie band Robotanists revised the song for their 2010 covers album Shapes and Variations.
"Never Tear Us Apart" was also covered by 2010 X Factor Australia winner Altiyan Childs
for his self-titled debut album
.
In 2011, punk rock supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
recorded a cover of the song on their all Australian covers EP, Go Down Under
.
The alternative rock band Neon Trees
has a cover of the song on the album Live in Soho.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
released by Australian rock group INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
in August 1988. It was also included on the band's sixth studio album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Kick. The music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
was written by Andrew Farriss
Andrew Farriss
Andrew Charles Farriss is a rock musician , best known as the keyboardist and main composer for the Australian band INXS.-Career:...
, who recorded a blues-style demo and gave it to Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
. The INXS singer then penned a personal love lyric, which was straight from the heart.
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a sensuous ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, layered with synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s and containing dramatic pauses before the instrumental breaks. Kirk Pengilly
Kirk Pengilly
Kirk Pengilly is an Australian musician, best known as a member of the rock group :INXS.-Early career:...
lends a cathartic saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
solo near the end. According to the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
of Shine Like It Does: The Anthology (1979–1997), the song was originally composed on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
as a bluesy number in the style of Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
. Producer Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas (record producer)
Chris Thomas is an English record producer who has worked extensively with The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Badfinger, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Pulp and The Pretenders. He has also produced breakthrough albums for The Sex Pistols and INXS.Thomas is quoted as saying -Early life:Thomas was...
suggested a synth-based arrangement instead.
The video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
for the song, featuring an extended intro, was filmed in various locations in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
along with "Guns in the Sky" and "New Sensation
New Sensation
"New Sensation" is a song by the Australian rock group INXS. It was the third single from their 1987 album Kick. The music was written by Andrew Farriss and the lyrics by Michael Hutchence...
", all directed by Richard Lowenstein
Richard Lowenstein
Richard Lowenstein is an Australian film director. He has written, produced and directed the feature films He Died With A Felafel In His Hand, Dogs In Space, Say a Little Prayer, Strikebound and Ghost Story, as well as numerous ground-breaking and award-winning music videos for bands such as INXS...
.
The single reached #24 in the UK, and stayed on the charts for seven weeks. In the U.S., it reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
After his death in 1997, Michael Hutchence's coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...
was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral by the remaining members of INXS and younger brother Rhett, as "Never Tear Us Apart" was played in the background. This song is now thought of by many original INXS fans as Hutchence's anthem.
The song was used in the opening sequence of the director's cut of the 2001 cult film, Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
. It would have been featured in the original release had the rights for it not been deemed too expensive by the producers. ("The Killing Moon
The Killing Moon
The Killing Moon is a single by the band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on their 1984 album, Ocean Rain. It is one of the band's highest-charting hits, reaching number nine in the UK Singles Chart.-Lyrics:...
" by Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
served as its replacement.)
In 2006, the song was voted "Nation's Favourite Lyric" by viewers of pay TV music channel VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
in Australia.
Recently, the song has been adopted by The Squadron, the Newcastle United Jets
Newcastle United Jets
Newcastle United Jets Football Club is a professional football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The club competes in the A-League and plays its home games at Ausgrid Stadium . The Jets have won one A-League championship, defeating arch rivals the 1–0 in the 2007–08 Grand Final...
supporter group, and sung in unison at the 40th and 85th minute of their A-League association football matches. This is in homage to the line, "cause we all have wings, but some of us don't know why", used now in reference to the Jets symbol of their club. The song's popularity has prompted a move to have the song be played at the beginning of each half, first happening on 18 October 2008, when the Jets defeated the Melbourne Victory 1-0.
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
14 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
15 |
| France Singles Chart | 48 |
| German Singles Chart | 66 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
24 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 28 |
Remix version: "Precious Heart"
In 2001, a remix called "Precious Heart" was released as a single, and credited as Tall Paul vs. INXSINXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
.
Track listing
Australian CD single- "Precious Heart" (radio edit) – 3:36
- "Precious Heart" (Original Mix) – 7:40
- "Precious Heart" (Riva Mix) – 7:40
- "Precious Heart" (Marc O'Toole Remix) – 8:41
- "Precious Heart" (Lush Mix) – 8:42
UK CD single
- "Precious Heart" (radio edit) – 3:36
- "Precious Heart" (original mix) – 7:40
- "Precious Heart" (Lush Mix) – 8:42
Official versions
- "Precious Heart" (original mix) – 7:40
- "Precious Heart" (radio edit) – 3:36
- "Precious Heart" (Lush Mix) – 8:42
- "Precious Heart" (Marc O'Toole Remix) – 8:41
- "Precious Heart" (Riva Mix) – 7:40
Charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
27 |
| German Singles Chart | 30 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
14 |
Never Tear Us Apart (2010 re-recording with Ben Harper and Mylène Farmer)
"Never Tear Us Apart" was re-recorded by INXSINXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
with Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
for their twelfth studio album, "Original Sin". The song has been released on iTunes and as a promotional single to radio stations prior to the release of the new album.
Ben Harper has been known to perform "Never Tear Us Apart" at his concerts since 2009, especially when in Australia. He revealed in an interview on Australia's Nova FM on 2 August 2010, "At this point, I've lived that song. I've lived enough years and gone through enough in my life to have earned the right to sing that song." On Sydney's Triple M, he stated "covering "Never Tear Us Apart" is like covering "Dock of the Bay". I'm not here to make grandiose over-statements - it's just a fuckin' fact. That's one of the greatest soul songs ever written."
On 1 August 2010, the song was made available on INXS.com (a playable version only, not available for download). The audio version was accompanied by a YouTube video of Ben Harper performing the song with Jon Farriss at the "Splendour in the Grass" festival at Woodfordia, Queensland, Australia, filmed on 30 July 2010.
The song was released on iTunes on 12 August 2010.
INXS re-recorded "Never Tear Us Apart" with Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
and French singer Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer, , born Marie-Hélène Jeanne Gautier, , , is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author....
who wrote new French lyrics for this new version. The song is due to be the first single from the 2010 INXS album in November in France and Belgium.
Cover versions
The song was covered by Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
for his 1999 album Reload
Reload (album)
Reload is the title of an album, released in 1999 by Welsh singer Tom Jones.After a lengthy career, and a notable absence from the music charts for several years, Jones resurrected his career with this album of 15 cover versions and 2 original tracks recorded as duets with current artists...
featuring the Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...
.
The song was also covered by Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
for his 2002 album Respect Yourself
Respect Yourself (album)
Respect Yourself is the eighteenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in 2002 .-Track listing:#"You Can't Have My Heart" - 4:01 Respect Yourself is the eighteenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in 2002 (see 2002 in music).-Track listing:#"You Can't Have My Heart" - 4:01 Respect Yourself is...
.
A bluegrass version is occasionally performed by The Packway Handle Band
Packway Handle Band
The Packway Handle Band is a bluegrass quintet originating as a part of Music of Athens, Georgia in 2001. The band is known for tight three- and four-part vocal harmonies, extensive and progressive original material, off-the-wall covers, and energetic performance dynamics around two tightly-spaced...
.
Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
, a good friend of Hutchence, sometimes snippets the chorus during live performances of several U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
songs.
The hardcore band, This Is Hell
This Is Hell
This Is Hell are a Long Island, New York-based hardcore band. The band is known for extensive touring and high energy concerts. To date, the band has released three studio albums, and four EPs.- Early days and formation :...
, covered the track on their 2009 EP Warbirds
Warbirds
Warbirds is an extended play by American hardcore punk band This Is Hell. The album was released on August 18, 2009 through Think Fast! Records. Similar to This Is Hell's 2007 extended play, Cripplers, this release features unreleased new material in addition to cover songs...
.
Los Angeles based indie band Robotanists revised the song for their 2010 covers album Shapes and Variations.
"Never Tear Us Apart" was also covered by 2010 X Factor Australia winner Altiyan Childs
Altiyan Childs
Altiyan Juric , best known by his stage name Altiyan Childs, is an Australian singer-songwriter. He was the winner of the second season of The X Factor Australia in 2010. After X Factor ended, Childs subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia...
for his self-titled debut album
Altiyan Childs (album)
-Release history:...
.
In 2011, punk rock supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in 1995. The Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. The band is named after a children's book of the same name by Gerald G. Jampolsky and Diane V. Cirincione...
recorded a cover of the song on their all Australian covers EP, Go Down Under
Go Down Under
-Credits:* Spike Slawson – vocals* Fat Mike – bass* Chris Shiflett – lead guitar* Joey Cape – rhythm guitar* Dave Raun – drums...
.
The alternative rock band Neon Trees
Neon Trees
Neon Trees is an American alternative rock band from Provo, Utah, with origins in Murrieta, California. The band received nationwide exposure in late 2008 when they opened several North American tour dates for the rock band The Killers. Not long after, the band was signed by Mercury Records and...
has a cover of the song on the album Live in Soho.