Never Tear Us Apart

"Never Tear Us Apart"
Single by INXS
from the album Kick
B-side	"Different World" (7" mix), "Guns in the Sky" (Kick Ass Remix)
Released	8 August 1988
Format	7", 12", cassette single
Recorded	1987
Genre	Alternative rock, Symphonic rock, new wave
Length	3:02
Label	Atlantic
Writer(s)	Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence
Producer	Chris Thomas
INXS singles chronology
"New Sensation" (1988) "Never Tear Us Apart" (1988) "Kick" (1988)
Kick track listing "Wild Life" (7) "Never Tear Us Apart" (8) "Mystify" (9)

"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.^[1]

"Never Tear Us Apart" is a sensuous ballad, layered with synthesizers 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^[2] 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.)^[3]

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.^[4] 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	14
Canadian Singles Chart	15
France Singles Chart	48
German Singles Chart	66
UK Singles Chart	24
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	7
U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks	5
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	28

Remix version: "Precious Heart"

"Precious Heart"
Single by Tall Paul vs. INXS
from the album INXS²: The Remixes
Released	2001
Format	CD single
Recorded	2001
Genre	Rock
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Paul Newman, Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence
Tall Paul singles chronology
– "Precious Heart" (2001)
INXS singles chronology "Searching" (1997) "Precious Heart" (2001) "I'm So Crazy" (2001)

In 2001, a remix called "Precious Heart" was released as a single, and credited as Tall Paul vs. INXS.

Track listing

Australian CD single

1. "Precious Heart" (radio edit) – 3:36
2. "Precious Heart" (Original Mix) – 7:40
3. "Precious Heart" (Riva Mix) – 7:40
4. "Precious Heart" (Marc O'Toole Remix) – 8:41
5. "Precious Heart" (Lush Mix) – 8:42

UK CD single

1. "Precious Heart" (radio edit) – 3:36
2. "Precious Heart" (original mix) – 7:40
3. "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	27
German Singles Chart	30
UK Singles Chart	14

Never Tear Us Apart (2010 re-recording with Ben Harper and Mylène Farmer)

"Never Tear Us Apart"
Single by INXS with Ben Harper
Released	12 August 2010
Format	iTunes single
Recorded	2010
Genre	Rock
Length	4:00
Label	Petrol Electric
Writer(s)	Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence
INXS singles chronology
"Dream on Black Girl (Original Sin)" (2006) "Never Tear Us Apart" (2010)

"Never Tear Us Apart" was re-recorded by INXS 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.

Cover versions

The song was covered by Tom Jones 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.^[5]

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.

References

1. ^ Never Tear Us Apart Songfacts
2. ^ Google Maps - Never Tear Us Apart locations
3. ^ Donnie Darko: The Director's Cut DVD commentary
4. ^ newcastlefootball.net - View Single Post - OFFICIAL: Song/Chant Thread
5. ^ "U2 Never Tear Us Apart - U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. http://www.u2gigs.com/Never_Tear_Us_Apart-s133.html. Retrieved 25 August 2009.