(Forever) Live and Die

"(Forever) Live and Die"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album The Pacific Age
B-side "This Town"
Released 26 August 1986[1]
Format 7" vinyl,
7" picture disc,
12" vinyl
Recorded Studio De La Grande Armée, Paris
Genre New wave, jazz-funk
Length 3:38
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Producer(s) Stephen Hague
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"If You Leave"
(1986)		 "(Forever) Live and Die"
(1986)		 "We Love You"
(1986)

"(Forever) Live and Die" is a song by British synthpop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single taken from their 1986 album, The Pacific Age. It is sung by Paul Humphreys, who ordinarily functions as keyboard player and backing vocalist. The single narrowly missed the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 11, but was a significant radio hit.[2] It was a Top 10 hit in Canada and many European territories, and a Top 20 hit in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. It was the last of the group's singles to reach the UK Top 20 before Humphreys left in 1989, and Andy McCluskey continued OMD on his own.

Contactmusic journalist Dom Gourlay, in a 2011 piece, lauded "(Forever) Live and Die" as a song that "stands the test of time."[3] Critic Dave Thompson in AllMusic praised the track, writing: "OMD's last batch of singles had pushed the drumbeats to the fore...That rhythmic punch is still to be heard here, but it's the bassline that is prominent, returning the band to its more organic past and creating a much more complex rhythmic feel to the piece. The rich harmonies blend with the lush synths, the atmosphere is dense, and the lyrics are poignant."[4]

Producer Stephen Hague is also known for his work with the Pet Shop Boys, often using a chorus effect on Neil Tennant's voice, as he did with Humphreys on this song.

Track listing

7" and 7" picture disc
  1. "(Forever) Live and Die" – 3:36
  2. "This Town" – 3:44
First 12"
  1. "(Forever) Live and Die" (John "Tokes" Potoker - Extended Mix) – 5:45
  2. "(Forever) Live and Die" (7" version) – 3:36
  3. "This Town" – 3:44
Second 12"
  1. "(Forever) Live and Die" (Tom Lord-Alge - Extended Remix) – 5:50
  2. "(Forever) Live and Die" (7" version) – 3:36
  3. "This Town" – 3:44

Chart performance

Chart (1986/7) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 19
Austrian Singles Chart[5] 5
Canadian Singles Chart[6] 10
Dutch GfK Chart[7] 5
Dutch Top 40[8] 3
German Singles Chart 8
Irish Singles Chart[9] 13
New Zealand Singles Chart 14
Swiss Singles Chart[10] 9
UK Singles Chart[11] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 19
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[12] 37
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[12] 25

References

  1. ↑ "OMD DISCOGRAPHY – SINGLES 1984 - 86". Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  2. ↑ "Remembering: OMD". Uncut. October 1999. "Delivered via the FM-friendly pipes of [Paul] Humphreys, 'Forever [sic] Live and Die' was another onmipresent radio favourite."
  3. ↑ Gourlay, Dom (July 2007). "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Interview". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "(Forever) Live and Die" review at Allmusic
  5. ↑ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) - (Forever) Live And Die - austriancharts.at (German)". Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  6. ↑ "RPM Volume 45 No. 11, December 06 1986 - RPM". Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  7. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl - OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) - (Forever) Live And Die (Dutch)". Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  8. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40, week 37, 1990 (Dutch)". Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  9. ↑ "irishcharts.ie search results". Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  10. ↑ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) - (Forever) Live And Die - hitparade.ch (German)". Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  11. ↑ "Chart Stats - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - (Forever) Live And Die". Archived from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "allmusic ((( Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 27 April 2009.