Never Tear Us Apart

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"Never Tear Us Apart" was a single released by Australian pop group INXS in August 1988. It was also included on the band's sixth studio album, Kick. The music is by Andrew Farriss, and the lyrics are by Michael Hutchence.

"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 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, (which features an extended intro) was filmed 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 7 weeks. In the US, it reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was used in the opening sequence of the director's cut of the 2001 cult film Donnie Darko. It would have featured in the original release if the rights for its use hadn't been deemed too expensive by the producers. ("The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen served as its replacement.)^[1]

In 2006 the song was voted 'Nation's Favourite Lyric' by viewers of pay TV music channel VH1.