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(Forever) Live and Die

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}

{{Infobox song

| name = (Forever) Live and Die

| cover = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - (Forever) Live and Die.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

| album = The Pacific Age

| B-side = This Town

| released = 26 August 1986{{cite web |url=http://www.omd.uk.com/discography/singles/html/s_50.html |title=OMD DISCOGRAPHY – SINGLES 1984 - 86 |accessdate=27 April 2009}}

| recorded =

| studio = Studio De La Grande Armée (Paris)

| genre =

| length = 3:38

| label = Virgin

| writer = * Paul Humphreys

  • Graham Weir
  • Neil Weir

| producer = Stephen Hague

| prev_title = If You Leave

| prev_year = 1986

| next_title = We Love You

| next_year = 1986

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|moFiaQPCl04|"(Forever) Live and Die"}}

}}}}

"(Forever) Live and Die" is a 1986 song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their seventh studio album, The Pacific Age. Paul Humphreys sings lead vocals on the track. The single peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It was a top 10 hit in Canada and several European territories, and a top 20 hit in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Critical reception and legacy

Lynden Barber of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that "(Forever) Live and Die" is "almost worthy of prime period ABBA, its ethereal Euro synthetics melting around a chorus that ascends towards heaven."{{cite news|first=Lynden|last=Barber|title=Arts and Entertainment|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=23 December 1986|page=8}} Billboard selected the single as one of their "pop picks" for the week of 20 September, adding that it "achieves [the Beatles'] Magical Mystery Tour spirit with '80s tech".{{cite magazine|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Billboard|date=20 September 1986|page=73}} Record Mirror{{'}}s Andy Strickland referred to "an infectious little beast" with "some nice brass touches".{{cite magazine|last=Strickland|first=Andy|date=30 August 1986|title=Singles|magazine=Record Mirror|page=8}} Conversely, Simon Mills of Smash Hits portrayed the song as "limp, languid, wimpy and totally inoffensive".{{cite journal |title=Review: Singles |journal=Smash Hits |volume=8 |number=17 |date=13–26 August 1986 |last=Mills |first=Simon |page=73}}

In April 1987, English disc jockey (DJ) Gary Crowley identified "(Forever) Live and Die" as a "great single" and "one of [his] favourite records of the last twelve months".{{cite magazine|last=Crowley|first=Gary|author-link=Gary Crowley|title=Singles|magazine=Number One|date=25 April 1987|page=52}} In a later article, Spin{{'}}s James Hunter observed "the kind of emotionally transcendent dancepop [Pet Shop Boys'] Neil Tennant always strove for, an unqualified masterpiece of tears and aural compression, carnivalesque synth figures and Wednesday afternoon blues."{{cite magazine|last=Hunter|first=James|date=January 1999|title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: The OMD Singles|magazine=Spin|page=116}} Stewart Mason of AllMusic wrote that it "sounds oddly unfinished, albeit pleasant enough".[https://www.allmusic.com/song/forever-live-and-die-mt0012263437 "(Forever) Live and Die" review] at AllMusic Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart named the track as his favourite of OMD's, saying, "I really love '(Forever) Live and Die'. That's a great song."{{cite web|url=https://bnlfans.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/new-exclusive-interview-with-barenaked-ladies-drummer-tyler-stewart/|title=New exclusive interview with Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart|date=16 May 2016|website=Barenaked Ladies Fans|access-date=1 June 2021}}

"(Forever) Live and Die" has been listed among the best tracks of 1986.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiohitlist.com/KROQ/KROQ-1986.htm|title=Top 106.7 Songs of 1986|date=31 December 1986|publisher=KROQ-FM|access-date=20 July 2022|via=RadioHitList.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.91x.com/top-91/top-91-1986/|title=Top 91 of 1986|date=19 January 2015|publisher=91X|access-date=6 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2020/04/13/top-100-songs-of-1986/|title=Top 100 Songs of 1986: Slicing Up Eyeballs{{'}} Best of the '80s Redux — Part 7|date=13 April 2020|website=Slicing Up Eyeballs|access-date=24 February 2022}} The Pueblo Chieftain{{'}}s Jon Pompia named the "wonderful" song as one of the 10 greatest of the 1980s;{{cite web|url=https://www.chieftain.com/entertainmentlife/20200201/we-love-80s-best-of-fantastic-musical-decade|title=We love the '80s: The best of a fantastic musical decade|date=1 February 2020|website=The Pueblo Chieftain|access-date=1 June 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202102102/https://www.chieftain.com/entertainmentlife/20200201/we-love-80s-best-of-fantastic-musical-decade|archive-date=2 February 2020|df=dmy-all}} it has also appeared in "all-time" lists compiled by CFNY-FM and Q101.{{cite web|url=https://www.rocklists.com/alltime41.html|title=Top 1002 Songs of All-Time|date=November 1999|publisher=CFNY-FM|access-date=7 March 2025|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414205912/https://www.rocklists.com/alltime41.html|archive-date=14 April 2016|via=RockLists.com}}{{cite web|url=https://rocklists.com/alltime33.html|title=Top 1,011 of All-Time|date=December 1999|publisher=Q101|access-date=7 March 2025|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414181437/https://rocklists.com/alltime33.html|archive-date=14 April 2016|via=RockLists.com}}

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

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

= Weekly charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" | Chart (1986–1987)

! scope="col" | Peak
position

scope="row" | Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|location=St Ives, New South Wales|publisher=Australian Chart Book|year=1993|page=224|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}

| 19

{{single chart|Austria|5|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|song=(Forever) Live and Die|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2009}}
{{single chart|Flanders|6|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|song=(Forever) Live and Die|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|10|chartid=0865|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}
scope="row" | Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-10-25.pdf |title=European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=3 |issue=42 |date=25 October 1986 |page=14 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 7

{{single chart|Ireland2|13|song=Forever (Live & Die)|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|5|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|song=(Forever) Live and Die|rowheader=true|access-date=27 April 2009}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|14|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|song=(Forever) Live and Die|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}
scope="row" | South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web |url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(O).html |title=SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts O |website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524151634/http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(O).html |archive-date=24 May 2018}}

| 12

{{single chart|Switzerland|9|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|song=(Forever) Live and Die|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|11|artist=OMD|artistid=18250|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}
scope="row" | US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/Orchestral-Manoeuvres-in-the-Dark/chart-history/hot-100 |title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Hot 100) |work=Billboard |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924024100/https://www.billboard.com/music/Orchestral-Manoeuvres-in-the-Dark/chart-history/hot-100 |archive-date=24 September 2019}}

| 19

scope="row" | US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/Orchestral-Manoeuvres-in-the-Dark/chart-history/adult-contemporary |title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Adult Contemporary) |work=Billboard |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022403/https://www.billboard.com/music/Orchestral-Manoeuvres-in-the-Dark/chart-history/adult-contemporary |archive-date=24 September 2019}}

| 25

scope="row" | US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/Orchestral-Manoeuvres-in-the-Dark/chart-history/dance-singles-sales |title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Dance Singles Sales) |work=Billboard |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022437/https://www.billboard.com/music/Orchestral-Manoeuvres-in-the-Dark/chart-history/dance-singles-sales |archive-date=24 September 2019}}

| 37

scope="row" | US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19861206.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 6, 1986 |work=Cash Box |access-date=22 December 2020}}

| 22

{{single chart|West Germany|8|songid=1517|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|song=(Forever) Live and Die|rowheader=true|access-date=22 December 2020}}

{{col-2}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" | Chart (1986)

! scope="col" | Position

scope="row" | Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1986&cat=s |title=Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles |language=Dutch |publisher=Ultratop |access-date=22 December 2020}}

| 25

scope="row" | Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0760&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0760.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0760 |title=Top 100 Singles of '86 |magazine=RPM |volume=45 |issue=14 |date=27 December 1986 |page=5 |issn=0315-5994 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}

| 96

scope="row" | Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-12-27.pdf |title=Hot 100 of the Year 1986 – European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=3 |issue=51/52 |date=27 December 1986 |page=28 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 80

scope="row" | Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1986 |title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986 |language=Dutch |publisher=Dutch Top 40 |access-date=22 December 2020}}

| 30

scope="row" | Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1986&cat=s |title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986 |language=Dutch |publisher=Dutch Charts |access-date=22 December 2020}}

| 21

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" | Chart (1987)

! scope="col" | Position

scope="row" | Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web |url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1987 |title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1987 |website=austriancharts.at |language=German |access-date=22 December 2020}}

| 25

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{discogs master|type=single|30422}}

{{Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forever Live And Die}}

Category:1986 songs

Category:1986 singles

Category:Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark songs

Category:Songs written by Paul Humphreys

Category:Virgin Records singles