Forever Young (Alphaville song)
Encyclopedia
"Forever Young" is the title track from German
rock
/synthpop
group Alphaville's
1984 debut album of the same name. Though it was not the group's highest-charting European hit and failed to reach the American Top 40 despite three separate U.S. single releases, "Forever Young" has subsequently been covered by numerous artists.
The song's music video
shows the band performing in one of the halls at Holloway Sanatorium
in Virginia Water
, Surrey
, England
. A number of ragged people ranging from children to the elderly awake to observe the band, then walk through a diamond-shaped glowing portal.
, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
(episode 103: "Underage Drinking: A National Concern"), the North American version of Queer as Folk
(season 1, episode 18), One Tree Hill
(season 4, episode 16), 30 Rock
(season 4, episode 10), Greek
(Cover version by the Youth Group in the Series finale) and Big Love
. It also plays in the movie Listen to Me and during the school dance scene of the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite
. In 2006 and 2007 the song was used in advertisements for the Scandinavia
n banks SEB
in Estonia
and Sweden
, and Nordea
in Denmark
. It also appeared in prom
-themed advertisements for Saturn Ion
automobile
s. In Argentina
it was used in advertisements for Consolidar AFJP, a pension retirement fund.
12" maxi
This CD was released to fans for free (fans only had to send in enough money for postage to have the CD mailed to them), and the names of every fan who requested a copy is printed on the inside cover. Copies were hand-signed by the band and the remixes that appear on the single have never appeared on any other release.
The cover is a still image from the video, which was created by The Cartoon Saloon
.
CD promo single
. It also includes a digitally remastered version of the original album version of the song.
Track listing
CD single
n rock
band Youth Group
were asked by the producers of the hit American television series The O.C.
to record a cover version of "Forever Young" for use in an episode of the show, after their single "Shadowland" had appeared in a previous episode and received a positive response. Their version of "Forever Young" not only played during an episode, but was used as theme music during Australian advertisements for the show's third season and was included on the soundtrack album Music from the OC: Mix 5. The song became a hit in Australia, receiving radio play on rock station Triple J
and soon being picked up by other stations. A single released in the country debuted at #2 on the ARIA
charts, was ranked #1 in digital downloads, and was certified gold in sales. The song was included on the band's album Casino Twilight Dogs
released internationally later that year. A music video was released consisting of footage from the early-1970s Australian youth television program GTK, showing Australia's first skateboarding contest being held at the Coca-Cola
factory in Frenchs Forest, New South Wales
in 1975.
Track listing
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group Alphaville's
Alphaville (band)
Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
1984 debut album of the same name. Though it was not the group's highest-charting European hit and failed to reach the American Top 40 despite three separate U.S. single releases, "Forever Young" has subsequently been covered by numerous artists.
Background and video
Originally released by Alphaville as a single in 1984, "Forever Young" was available in both its original mix and also in a dance version titled the "Special Dance Mix." Over the years the band has released several remixes and demo versions of the song.The song's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
shows the band performing in one of the halls at Holloway Sanatorium
Holloway Sanatorium
Holloway Sanatorium was an institution for the treatment of the insane, located on of parkland near the town of Virginia Water, Surrey, within the boundary of the Greater London Urban Area, about south-west of Charing Cross....
in Virginia Water
Virginia Water
Virginia Water is an affluent village, a lake and, originally, a stream, the village being in the Runnymede Borough Council in Surrey and the bodies of water stretching over the borders of Runnymede, Old Windsor and Sunninghill and Ascot, England....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. A number of ragged people ranging from children to the elderly awake to observe the band, then walk through a diamond-shaped glowing portal.
Influence
"Forever Young" has become something of a pop culture standard. It has been performed by numerous musical groups and in different versions and has appeared in television series, movies, and advertisements. The song plays during scenes in the television series PassionsPassions
Passions is an American television soap opera which aired on NBC from July 5, 1999 to September 7, 2007 and on The 101 Network from September 17, 2007 to August 7, 2008....
, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom that premiered on FX on August 4, 2005. New episodes continue to air on FX, with reruns playing on Comedy Central, general broadcast syndication, and WGN America—the first-ever cable-to-cable syndication deal for a sitcom...
(episode 103: "Underage Drinking: A National Concern"), the North American version of Queer as Folk
Queer as Folk (US TV series)
Queer as Folk is an American and Canadian television series co-production, produced by Showtime and Temple Street Productions, which was based on the British series of the same name, created by Russell T Davies...
(season 1, episode 18), One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
(season 4, episode 16), 30 Rock
30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
(season 4, episode 10), Greek
Greek (TV series)
Greek is an American comedy-drama television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University , located in Ohio, who participate in the school's Greek system...
(Cover version by the Youth Group in the Series finale) and Big Love
Big Love
Big Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy...
. It also plays in the movie Listen to Me and during the school dance scene of the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....
. In 2006 and 2007 the song was used in advertisements for the Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n banks SEB
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB is a Swedish financial group for corporate customers, institutions and private individuals with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Its activities comprise mainly banking services, but SEB also carries out significant life insurance operations and also owns Eurocard...
in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and Nordea
Nordea
Nordea Bank AB is a Stockholm-based financial services group operating in Northern Europe. The bank is the result of the successive mergers and acquisitions of the Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian banks of Nordbanken, Merita Bank, Unibank and Kreditkassen that took place between 1997 and 2000...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. It also appeared in prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
-themed advertisements for Saturn Ion
Saturn ION
The Saturn Ion was a compact car sold by the Saturn marque of American automaker General Motors between the 2003 and 2007 model years. It used the GM Delta platform. The Ion replaced the Saturn S-Series in 2003,...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s. In Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
it was used in advertisements for Consolidar AFJP, a pension retirement fund.
Track listings
7" single- "Forever Young" — 3:45
- "Welcome to the Sun" — 3:09
12" maxi
- "Forever Young" (Special Dance Version) — 6:06
- "Forever Young" — 3:45
- "Welcome to the Sun" — 3:09
- "Welcome to the Sun" also appeared (in a remix and a re-recording) on 1999's DreamscapesDreamscapesDreamscapes is a limited edition eight-CD set of rare Alphaville recordings, released in 1999. It features 124 tracks with a total playing time of around 9.5 hours...
Other releases
The original album version has also appeared on the following official Alphaville releases:- Alphaville Amiga CompilationAlphaville Amiga CompilationAlphaville Amiga Compilation was released under the Amiga label only in former East Germany, where Forever Young and Afternoons In Utopia weren't easily available...
, 1988 - Alphaville: The Singles CollectionAlphaville: The Singles CollectionAlphaville: The Singles Collection is Alphaville's first "best of" compilation, consisting of remixes of singles from their first two albums, Forever Young and Afternoons in Utopia. It was released in 1988.-Reviews:...
, 1988 - First Harvest 1984–92, 1992
Other versions
This song has been released several times in various forms, including remixes and demos, on:- Alphaville: The Singles Collection, 1988 (remixed)
- HistoryHistory (Alphaville album)History is the rarest of Alphaville albums.Released in 1993 only on cassette, and only to members of the official fan club, History is a collection of early Alphaville demo tracks, b-sides, and a few out-takes.-Track listing:...
, 1993 (covered live) - Dreamscapes, 1999 (demo, demo remix, performed live and re-recorded acoustically)
- Little AmericaLittle America (Alphaville DVD)Little America a DVD of Alphaville's 17 July 1999 concert in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.The DVD also contains the otherwise unreleased video for the single "Soul Messiah", plus other bonus material.-Track listing:# "Dream Machine "...
, 1999 (performed live) - Stark Naked and Absolutely LiveStark Naked and Absolutely Live-Credits:*Lead Vocals: Marian Gold*Keyboards: Martin Lister*Guitars: Rob Harris*Drums and percussion: Shane Meehan*Backing Vocals: Martin Lister, Rob Harris & the crowds...
, 2000 (performed live) - Forever PopForever PopForever Pop is a collection of new remixes of older Alphaville songs and singles. The people responsible for some of the remixes include notables such as Paul Van Dyk, Mark Plati, and De-Phazz.-Reviews:...
, 2001 (remixed) - "Forever Young 2001" (see below)
- "Forever Young The Remix", 2006 (see below)
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Gold | 1993 | 250,000 |
Charts
| Chart (1984–1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 17 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 18 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 13 |
| German Singles Chart | 4 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 65 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play | 32 |
Forever Young 2001
In 2001, Alphaville released a new set of remixes in a "limited fan edition" called "Forever Young 2001." This single contained 3 music tracks, 1 spoken word track, and a PC-only track.This CD was released to fans for free (fans only had to send in enough money for postage to have the CD mailed to them), and the names of every fan who requested a copy is printed on the inside cover. Copies were hand-signed by the band and the remixes that appear on the single have never appeared on any other release.
The cover is a still image from the video, which was created by The Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon is an Irish company which provides illustration, design, animation, film and TV services. The company is based in Kilkenny City. The company developed the successful cartoon series Skunk Fu!. Skunk Fu was nominated for a BAFTA Children's Award in October 2008. The company has...
.
Track listings
CD single- "Forever Young (F.A.F's Diamonds in the Sun Mix)" — 3:56
- Remixed by: F.A.F
- "Forever Young (Factory Mix)" — 4:21
- Remixed by: José Alvarez-Brill
- "Forever Young (Original Demo 1983)" — 4:43
- "Thank You (Spoken Version)" — 3:44
- "Forever Young (Magix PlayR)" (PC only)
- The "Thank You" track consisted of then-member Bernard Lloyd thanking the fans, while speaking over one of his "favorite tracks," which was a remix of "Lassie Come Home," as it was to appear on the 2001 remix album Forever PopForever PopForever Pop is a collection of new remixes of older Alphaville songs and singles. The people responsible for some of the remixes include notables such as Paul Van Dyk, Mark Plati, and De-Phazz.-Reviews:...
- The Magix PlayR track was a PC-only application that allowed fans to customize the FAF remix to their liking
CD promo single
- "Forever Young (F.A.F's Diamonds in the Sun Mix)" — 3:56
- This promotional CD was produced in a strictly limited run of 500 copies and not sold commercially
Forever Young The Remix
Released in 2006, this CD contains 2 new remixes by notable remix artist Bill HamelBill Hamel
Bill Hamel is a Grammy Award-nominated music producer from Orlando, Florida.-Discography:*Seal "The Best Of Me" On Warner Brothers*Seal "The Weight Of My Mistakes" On Warner Brothers*Kimberly Cole "Smack You" on Crystal Ship...
. It also includes a digitally remastered version of the original album version of the song.
Track listing
CD single
- "Forever Young (Hamel Album Mix)" — 4:58
- "Forever Young (Bill Hamel Club Mix)" — 7:39
- "Forever Young (Remastered Original Version)" — 3:47
Cover versions
- Just a year after the song's initial release, pop singer Laura BraniganLaura BraniganLaura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
covered "Forever Young" on her album Hold Me and began a tradition of performing the song as an encore at her concerts. - In 1987 German punk band Die Goldenen ZitronenDie Goldenen ZitronenDie Goldenen Zitronen are a punk rock band from Hamburg, Germany that are known for their entertaining and politically relevant style. Their original name was Die Deutschen Nazikartoffeln . When the band formed in 1984 at the beginning of the “Fun-Punk”-movement, punk was their main style...
re-worked the song as "Für immer Punk" ("Forever Punk") with guest appearances by the lead vocalists of SlimeSlime (band)Slime is a German punk rock band, founded in 1979 and disbanded in 1994. The pre-Slime band was called Screamer, and the post-Slime band is – contrary to the occasional rumors – not Emils , but Rubberslime, with the member Elf...
, Die Toten HosenDie Toten HosenDie Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
, and Die ÄrzteDie ÄrzteDie Ärzte is a punk band from Berlin. Die Ärzte are one of the best-known German punk rock bands and have released over 20 albums. The band consists of guitarist Farin Urlaub, drummer Bela B. and bass player Rodrigo González...
, each contributing their own lyrical variation of the chorus, and ending with Alphaville singer Marian Gold singing the original chorus. - In 1996 the Canadian eurodanceEurodanceEurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
group Temperance released a cover version of the song which reached number 8 on the Canadian Dance Chart. - Other artists to have covered "Forever Young" in the years since its original release include DJ Space C, David Monte Cristo, DJ CompanyDJ CompanyThe 1990s Eurodance, Hi-NRG and Dance-pop trio group DJ Company was a successful pop music group from Germany, consisting of Paul Strand, Stefan Benz, and Louis Lasky....
, Karel GottKarel GottKarel Gott is a Czech Schlager singer, and an amateur painter. He is considered as the most successful male singer in former Czechoslovakia and currently in the Czech Republic; he has being voted the Most Favorite Male Singer in the annual national pool Český slavík in total thirty-six times...
(in 2000, with lyrics in German as "Für immer jungFür immer jung"Für immer jung" is a song by Czech schlager singer Karel Gott, and a cover of Alphaville's hit song "Forever Young", with German song lyrics...
"), BushidoBushido (rapper)Anis Mohamed Youssef Ferchichi, , better known as Bushido, is a German rapper. The word Bushido is Japanese and means "Way of the Warrior". He also uses the pseudonym Sonny Black, based on Dominic Napolitano. As of 2009, he sold more than 1,5 million albums in Germany alone...
(in 2008, featuring Karel Gott with German lyrics) Paul MichielsPaul MichielsPaul Michiels is a Belgian singer and songwriter who became popular for his work with the Belgian music group Soulsister. He has earned the nickname Polle Pap, a name he inherited from a childhood job as a milkman in his hometown of Heist-op-den-Berg, where he was born.Paul started out with a...
, Dune & London Session OrchestraDune (German band)Dune is a German Rave/Happy Hardcore/Techno/progressive trance band, not to be confused with the Danish rock band, Dúné. The band took its name from the Dune series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert.- History :...
, B-Charme, BnH, Wakin ChauWakin ChauWakin Chau is a Hong Kong singer and actor. Chau's popularity has spread throughout Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and parts of Southeast Asia. He was known as Emil Chau through the 1980s and 1990s, and by 2000 he reverted to his given name Wakin...
, Fire & Ice, InteractiveInteractive (band)Interactive is an German electronic music group, founded in 1990. They are best known for their single "Who is Elvis", and their cover version of Alphaville's, "Forever Young".-Members:Current*Andreas Geraldo Schneider*Jens Lissat*Ramon Zenker...
, Ella, Tune Up!Tune Up!Tune Up! is a German Eurodance group consisting of DJ Manian and Yann Pfeiffer , the same team as Cascada. Markus Beilke was an early member of the group, but left shortly after its conception. The group is known for their songs "Raver's Fantasy", "Bounce", and "Another Day". They also remix and...
, Axel Rudi PellAxel Rudi PellAxel Rudi Pell is a German guitar player, playing melodic heavy metal. He started off with the band Steeler before leaving to start his solo career in 1989 with the eponymous band Axel Rudi Pell...
, Wayne WonderWayne WonderWayne Wonder is a Jamaican reggae fusion artist...
and AtrocityAtrocity (band)Atrocity is a German Heavy Metal band formed in Ludwigsburg.-History:First started in 1985 as Instigators and playing grindcore, Atrocity arose as a death metal band with their debut EP, Blue Blood, in 1989, followed soon by Hallucinations, a concept album about drug use...
. - In 2001 Swedish group Ainbusk re-wrote the song in their native languageSwedish languageSwedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
as a Christmas songChristmas musicChristmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
titled "Förevigt nu" ("Forever Now" in Swedish). - A cover version by Pluto was used in a 2007 tourism ad for New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's "youngest country on Earth" campaign. - In 2009, the song was used as the basis for the song "Young Forever" from Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. - Tangerine DreamTangerine DreamTangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
covered the song in their 2010 album Under Cover - Chapter OneUnder Cover - Chapter One (Tangerine Dream album)Under Cover - Chapter One is an album by electronic group Tangerine Dream, which was released in December of 2010. The idea for the album is said to have started in 2008 in Los Angeles. The band was touring in the west coast area at the time, and their promoter jokingly told the band they should...
. - "Forever Young" has also been covered by the German band GregorianGregorian (band)Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.- Band history :...
on their 2011 compilation Best Of 1990-2010Best Of 1990-2010- Track listing :# So Sad# Nothing Else Matters# Moment Of Peace# Voyage Voyage# Hymn# Join Me# The Raven# Angels# The Forest# Fix You# One# Happy Xmas - The War is Over# Sadness # Forever Young# Missing# Let Down# Sinners And Saints...
. - One DirectionOne DirectionOne Direction are a British-Irish boy band, consisting of members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. They finished third on the seventh series of The X Factor. Following The X Factor, the group signed a record contract with Syco Music.One Direction's debut single...
, who finished third in seventh seriesThe X Factor (UK series 7)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
of The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, recorded the song as a "winners song" for the 2010 finals had they won the competition. It was later leaked on the internet. - Kim WildeKim WildeKim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
first sang the song live as part of her Come Out and Play Tour. In 2011 she recorded a studio version which was included as a bonus track on her covers album, SnapshotsSnapshots (Kim Wilde album)Snapshots is the twelfth studio album and the first covers album by British singer Kim Wilde. It was released in Germany on 26 August 2011 by Columbia SevenOne and was released in other regions as an import on 13 September 2011...
. - Brandi CarlileBrandi CarlileBrandi Carlile is an American singer and songwriter.-Early life:At age eight, Carlile performed a rendition of the country music song "Tennessee Flat Top Box" with her mother. She began to play the guitar and write songs at fifteen. At sixteen, she began to perform as a backup singer for an Elvis...
performed the song in concert in 2011 and included the song as a hidden track on her live album Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle SymphonyLive at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle SymphonyLive at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony is a live album and fourth album overall by the American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, released on May 3, 2011 through Columbia Records...
. - In 2011, Sam ConcepcionSam ConcepcionSamuel Lawrence Lopez Concepcion born on October 17, 1992 in Manila, Philippines, is a Filipino singer, dancer, actor, host and model. He emerged as the winner for the Big Division of Little Big Star's Season 1 in April 2006. He is under STAGES and ABS-CBN's Star Magic.-Personal life:Concepcion was...
has covered the song for his third studio album with the same name under Universal Records (Philippines)Universal Records (Philippines)Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as a part of Warner Music Group. Since 1992, it became independent.-History:URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc...
. - The Killers cover the song numerous times in 2011.
Youth Group version
In 2005 AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Youth Group
Youth Group
Youth Group are a rock band based in Newtown, Sydney, Australia signed to Ivy League Records.- Biography :Youth Group formed in Sydney in the late 1990s. They have released four albums in Australia, with the three most recent albums also gaining releases worldwide...
were asked by the producers of the hit American television series The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
to record a cover version of "Forever Young" for use in an episode of the show, after their single "Shadowland" had appeared in a previous episode and received a positive response. Their version of "Forever Young" not only played during an episode, but was used as theme music during Australian advertisements for the show's third season and was included on the soundtrack album Music from the OC: Mix 5. The song became a hit in Australia, receiving radio play on rock station Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
and soon being picked up by other stations. A single released in the country debuted at #2 on the ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
charts, was ranked #1 in digital downloads, and was certified gold in sales. The song was included on the band's album Casino Twilight Dogs
Casino Twilight Dogs
-Singles:* "Forever Young" # "Forever Young" – 4:33# "Someone Else's Dream" – 2:36# "Forever Young" – 3:26* "Catching & Killing" # "Catching & Killing" – 3:04# "Late Last Night" – 3:17...
released internationally later that year. A music video was released consisting of footage from the early-1970s Australian youth television program GTK, showing Australia's first skateboarding contest being held at the Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
factory in Frenchs Forest, New South Wales
Frenchs Forest, New South Wales
-Commercial areas:Forestway shopping centre is at the intersection of Forestway and Warringah Roads. During the 1960s and 1970s, this centre had the name Arndale...
in 1975.
Track listing
- "Forever Young" – 4:33
- "Someone Else's Dream" – 2:36
- "Forever Young" (Edit) – 3:26