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The NeverEnding Story (song)

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"Never Ending Story"
Single by Limahl
from the album Don't Suppose and The NeverEnding Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
B-side"Ivory Tower"
Released24 September 1984 (1984-09-24)[1]
Genre
Length3:32
LabelEMI
Songwriters
ProducerGiorgio Moroder
Limahl singles chronology
"Too Much Trouble"
(1984)		 "Never Ending Story"
(1984)		 "Tar Beach"
(1984)
Music video
"Never Ending Story" on YouTube

"Never Ending Story" is the title song from the English version of the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story. It was produced and composed by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder and performed by English pop singer Limahl. He released two versions of the song: one in English and one in French. The English version features vocals by Beth Andersen, and the French version, titled "L'Histoire sans fin",[5] featured vocals by Ann Calvert. It was a success in many countries, reaching No. 1 in Norway, Spain and Sweden, No. 4 in the United Kingdom, and No. 6 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Background and writing

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The song was composed by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Keith Forsey, though it (and other electronic pop elements of the soundtrack) is not present in the German version of the film, which features Klaus Doldinger's score exclusively.

Before Limahl recorded the track, the choice for lead vocalist was Daniel, Yugoslavia's representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 1983.[6] Beth Andersen recorded her words in the USA separately from Limahl's.[7] Andersen does not appear in the music video; frequent Limahl back-up singer Mandy Newton lip-syncs Andersen's part.

Legacy

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In the final episode of the third season of Stranger Things, set in 1985, "Never Ending Story" is sung by Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and his long-distance girlfriend Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo) as a way to reconnect after not seeing each other for some time.[8] Following the season's release on July 4, 2019, interest in "The NeverEnding Story" surged; viewership of the original music video had increased by 800% within a few days according to YouTube, while Spotify reported an 825% increase in stream requests for the song. Limahl expressed gratitude towards Netflix for this; while he had not watched the series, he was told of the song's inclusion by his nephews and watched clips of the duet. Limahl had previously found a similar increase in his past work when the network used his band Kajagoogoo's song "Too Shy" in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.[9][10] In June 2024, ITV used an arrangement of the song in their opening for coverage of the UEFA European Football Championship.[11] In 2022, the Spanish stage production La Historia Interminable, El Musical, welcomed Limahl to the stage to perform the song with the cast, including Teresa Ferrer as Xayide and Teresa Abarca and Alba Cuartero, who alternated as the Childlike Empress.

Track listings

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Personnel

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  • Limahl – vocals
  • Beth Andersen – featuring
  • Dee Harris – electric guitar
  • Arthur Barrow – synthesizers

Charts

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Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[41] Gold 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

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References

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  1. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week. 22 September 1984. p. 30.
  2. ↑ Publishing, Here (July 21, 1998). "The Advocate". Here Publishing – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (June 18, 2022). "A Deal With the TV God Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Katherine Yeske (December 19, 2019). "A Neverending Yuletide: Xmas With Limahl". Rock and Roll Globe.
  5. ↑ "L'Histoire Sans Fin (1985)". January 1985.
  6. ↑ Sertić, Valentina (2025-01-21). "Daniel Popović u tri poglavlja". Glazba.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  7. ↑ "'NeverEnding Story' Release Info". Limahl.co.uk. Retrieved June 17, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) (dead)
  8. ↑ Gooden, Tai (July 4, 2019). "The Song Dustin & Suzie Sing In 'Stranger Things' From 'The Neverending Story' Was An Epic Choice For The Teen Couple". Bustle. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  9. ↑ Codero, Rosy (July 9, 2019). "The NeverEnding Story theme singer Limahl celebrates newfound interest thanks to 'Stranger Things'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (July 18, 2019). "Limahl 'Gobsmacked' by Explosion of Interest in 'Neverending Story' Thanks to 'Stranger Things'". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  11. ↑ ITV (UK) UEFA Euro 2024 Intro. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ↑ "Limahl – The Never Ending Story" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 9339". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "Top 3 in Europe". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 32. 5 November 1984. p. 11.
  16. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 33. 12 November 1984. p. 6.
  17. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Limahl". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 148. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  18. ↑ "Limahl – The Never Ending Story" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Never Ending Story". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Limahl".
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  22. ↑ "Limahl – The Never Ending Story" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  23. ↑ "Limahl – The Never Ending Story". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  24. ↑ "Limahl – The Never Ending Story". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  25. ↑ "Top 3 in Europe". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 2. 14 January 1985. p. 8.
  26. ↑ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs M–O". rock.co.za. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  27. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  28. ↑ "Limahl – The Never Ending Story". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  29. ↑ "Limahl – The Never Ending Story". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  30. ↑ "Limahl Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 15 June 1985. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 11 May 1985. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  33. ↑ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 29 June 1985. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  34. ↑ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 25 May 1985. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  35. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  36. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  37. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1984" (in German). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  38. ↑ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. 26 January 1985. p. 37.
  39. ↑ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1984" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  40. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985". rock.co.za. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  41. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Limahl – Never Ending Story" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  42. ↑ "British single certifications – Limahl – Never Ending Story". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 January 2023. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Never Ending Story Limahl in the "Search:" field.
  43. ↑ Real Im-Pact – The Neverending Story, 1994
  44. ↑ Mannveille, Tim (August 11, 2004). "Dancing Stage EuroMix 2 Arcade FAQ". mannveille.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  45. ↑ Castro, Juan (September 22, 2004). "Dance Dance Revolution Extreme". IGN. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  46. ↑ Step Revolution (September 2, 2021). "StepManiaX Content Update #19 - New Songs!". Retrieved October 17, 2025.
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