When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song) explained

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
Cover:GoingGetsTough.jpg
Border:yes
Caption:Standard picture sleeve
Type:single
Artist:Billy Ocean
Album:The Jewel of the Nile Soundtrack Love Zone
Recorded:1985
Genre:Dance-pop[1]
Length:5:44
Label:Jive
Producer:
  • Barry Eastmond
  • Wayne Brathwaite
Prev Title:The Long and Winding Road
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)
Next Year:1986

"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" is a 1985 song co-written and originally recorded by English singer Billy Ocean in 1985.

Description

Written by Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond, Mutt Lange and Ocean, the song was used as the theme song for the Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner film The Jewel of the Nile (1985), a sequel to Romancing the Stone (1984). The saxophone solo is by Vernon Jeffrey Smith.[2]

The song became a major international success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in February 1986,[3] and number two on the Billboard Hot 100, stalling behind "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston. It remains his only number-one single in the UK to date.

Music video

A music video was shot at Brixton Academy in London,[4] and features Douglas and his Jewel of the Nile co-stars Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito as lip-synching backing vocalists. It reportedly boosted the popularity of the venue.

The video was initially banned on Top of the Pops because the actors were not part of the Musicians' Union, meaning DeVito's miming of the saxophone solo went against the rules.[5]

Critical reception

Jerry Smith of the Music Week magazine gave a critical review of "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going", stating it was a "very slick US pop number" that "lacks substance and is barely saved by Ocean's strong vocal performance".[6]

Track listing

12-inch single
  • A1 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Extended Version) – 5:43
  • A2 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (7″ Version) – 4:08
  • B1 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Club Mix) – 7:35
  • B2 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Instrumental) – 5:12[7]

    Other versions

    Charts

    Weekly charts

    Chart (1986)! scope="col"
    Peak
    position
    Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 1
    Denmark (Tracklisten)[9] 1
    Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[10] 1
    Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 2
    Greece (IFPI)2
    Italy (Musica e dischi)[12] 16
    South Africa (Springbok Radio)[13] 1
    Spain (AFYVE)[14] 2
    US Top 100 Singles (Cash Box)[15] 1
    US Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles (Cash Box)[16] 8

    Year-end charts

    Chart (1986)! scope="col"
    Position
    Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 2
    Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 3
    Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 14
    Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[20] 2
    Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 1
    Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 4
    New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 23
    South Africa (Springbok Radio)[24] 8
    Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 16
    UK Singles (Gallup)[26] 7
    US Billboard Hot 100[27] 31
    US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 35
    US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 43
    US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[30] 32
    West Germany (Official German Charts)[31] 16

    Boyzone version

    When the Going Gets Tough
    Cover:BoyzoneGoingGets.jpg
    Type:single
    Artist:Boyzone
    Album:By Request
    Length:3:38
    Label:Polydor
    Producer:Steve Mac
    Prev Title:I Love the Way You Love Me
    Prev Year:1998
    Next Title:You Needed Me
    Next Year:1999

    Irish boy band Boyzone recorded a cover version for the 1999 Comic Relief telethon, shortening the title to "When the Going Gets Tough". Like the original, their version also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks, becoming their fifth chart-topper and receiving a platinum certification in the UK. The video included Graham Norton, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus, Mel Smith, Davina McCall, Harry Hill, Steve Collins, John McCririck, Jimmy White, Mystic Meg, Will Mellor, James Dreyfus, the cast of Emmerdale, Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish, and Ulrika Jonsson and Saracen from Gladiators.

    Track listings

    UK CD single[32]

    1. "When the Going Gets Tough"
    2. "What a Wonderful World" (performed by Alison Moyet)
    3. "Love Can Build a Bridge" (documentary track—performed by Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)

    UK cassette single[33]

    1. "When the Going Gets Tough"
    2. "What a Wonderful World" (performed by Alison Moyet)

    French CD single[34]

    1. "When the Going Gets Tough" – 3:35
    2. "I'll Never Not Need You" – 4:07

    Personnel

    Personnel are lifted from the By Request album booklet.[35]

    Main personnel

    Orchestra

    Charts

    Weekly charts

    Weekly chart performance for "When the Going Gets Tough"
    Chart (1999)Peak
    position
    Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[36] 7
    Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[37] 25

    Year-end charts

    Year-end chart performance for "When the Going Gets Tough"
    Chart (1999)Position
    Romania (Romanian Top 100)[38] 35
    UK Singles (OCC)[39] 10

    Release history

    Region! scope="col"
    DateFormat(s)Label(s)
    United Kingdom1 March 1999Polydor[40]
    Japan19 May 1999CD[41]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Billy Ocean’s “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry). . December 16, 2020. When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going"... [is] a big, bold silly dance-pop song.. September 24, 2023.
    2. Web site: V. JEFFREY SMITH (TORS-Producer/Sound Engineer)... - The Outlet Radio Show . Theoutletradioshow.tumblr.com . 15 March 2015 . 30 November 2015.
    3. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 458–9. British Hit Singles & Albums.
    4. https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20402169.html Billy Ocean is Finding Out About the Important Things in Life
    5. https://www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/when-the-going-gets-tough-billy-ocean-lyrics-meaning-video/ When the Going Gets Tough Lyrics Meaning
    6. Singles . Jerry . Smith . . 25 January 1986 . 10 . World Radio History . 7 September 2023.
    7. Web site: Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going (Vinyl) . . 30 March 2014.
    8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. St. Ives, N.S.W.. Australian Chart Book. 1993. 221. 0-646-11917-6.
    9. Top 3 in Europe . . 3 . 16 . 26 April 1986 . 16 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
    10. European Hot 100 Singles . Music & Media . 3 . 16 . 26 April 1986 . 14 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
    11. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 and all that. fi . 1st . Helsinki . . 2006 . 978-951-1-21053-5.
    12. Web site: Classifiche . . it . 3 June 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Billy Ocean" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
    13. Web site: SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts O . The South African Rock Encyclopedia . 11 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170919111458/http://rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(O).html . 19 September 2017.
    14. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor/SGAE. Madrid. 84-8048-639-2.
    15. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 15, 1986 . . 19 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200807002318/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19860215.html . 7 August 2020.
    16. Web site: The Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary – Week ending February 22, 1986 . Cash Box . 3 June 2022.
    17. National Top 100 Singles for 1986 . . 650 . 29 December 1986 . Imgur.
    18. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles . nl . Ultratop . 11 November 2021.
    19. Top 100 Singles of '86 . RPM . 45 . 14 . 27 December 1986 . 5 . 0033-7064 . Library and Archives Canada.
    20. European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986 . . 3 . 51/52 . 27 December 1986 . 28 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
    21. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986 . nl . Dutch Top 40 . 11 November 2021.
    22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986 . nl . . 11 November 2021.
    23. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 1986 . . 11 November 2021.
    24. Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1986 . The South African Rock Encyclopedia . 11 November 2021.
    25. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986 . hitparade.ch . de . 11 November 2021.
    26. Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986) . . 24 January 1987 . 24 . 0265-1548 . World Radio History.
    27. 1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Pop Singles . Billboard . 98 . 52 . 27 December 1986 . Y-21 . 0006-2510 . Google Books.
    28. 1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Adult Contemporary Singles . Billboard . 98 . 52 . 27 December 1986 . Y-27 . 0006-2510 . Google Books.
    29. 1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Black Singles . Billboard . 98 . 52 . 27 December 1986 . Y-23 . 0006-2510 . Google Books.
    30. Web site: The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles . Cash Box . 27 December 1986 . 19 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210521212238/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1986YESP.html . 21 May 2021 . live.
    31. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986 . de . GfK Entertainment . 11 November 2021.
    32. When the Going Gets Tough. Boyzone. 1999. UK CD single liner notes. Polydor Records. 569 913-2.
    33. When the Going Gets Tough. Boyzone. 1999. UK cassette single sleeve. Polydor Records. 569 912-4.
    34. Web site: Boyzone When the Going Gets Tough - Pop Up France CD single (CD5 / 5") (142509). Eil.com. 4 March 2014.
    35. By Request. By Request (Boyzone album). Boyzone. 1999. UK CD album booklet. Polydor Records. 547 599-2.
    36. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 16. 12. 20 March 1999. 8. 29800226. World Radio History.
    37. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.3.'99 – 25.3.'99). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 10. 19 March 1999. 9 February 2017.
    38. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999. ro. Romanian Top 100. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050122081829/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html. 22 January 2005.
    39. Web site: Yearly Best Selling Singles. British Phonographic Industry. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100924031612/http://bpi.co.uk/assets/files/yearly%20best%20selling%20singles.pdf. 24 September 2010. 5 February 2021.
    40. New Releases – For Week Starting 1 March, 1999. Music Week. 25. 27 February 1999. 0265-1548. World Radio History.
    41. Web site: ゲット・タフ & ユー・ニーディッド・ミー ボーイゾーン. Get Tough & You Needed Me Boyzone. Oricon. ja. 12 March 2024.

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