Forever Man
{{Short description|1985 single by Eric Clapton}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Forever Man
| cover = Forever Man LP Cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Eric Clapton
| album = Behind the Sun
| B-side = Too Bad
| released = 22 February 1985{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1985/Music-Week-1985-02-16.pdf|title=Music Week}}
| recorded = 1984
| studio =
| genre = Rock
| length = 3:10
| label = Warner Bros.
| writer = Jerry Lynn Williams
| producer = Lenny Waronker & Ted Templeman
| prev_title = I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = See What Love Can Do
| next_year = 1985
}}
"Forever Man" is a song from Eric Clapton's 1985 album Behind the Sun, released as the first single of the album. It reached number one on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart, becoming his second single to do so.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/301809/eric-clapton/chart?page=2&f=376|title=Eric Clapton – Chart history | Billboard (Mainstream Rock Songs)|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|work=Billboard Magazine|access-date=September 27, 2015}} In total, the single release sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide.
Composition
Clapton had just signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records when he started recording Behind the Sun. When the album was completed, the record company rejected it because they felt it did not have enough singles. They commissioned three songs by composer Jerry Lynn Williams, one of which was "Forever Man". The song begins with a riff in which a bass, guitar and synth play. The song has an intro, verse, chorus, verse solo and final chorus structure and is in the key of D Minor.{{cite web|url=http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/e/eric_clapton/forever_man_crd.htm|title=Forever Man Chords by Eric Clapton @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com|publisher=ultimate-guitar.com|access-date=September 27, 2015}}
Music video and appearance
The song produced Clapton's first music video, showing Clapton performing the song with his tour band Donald "Duck" Dunn, Jamie Oldaker, Michael Omartian, Tim Renwick, Shaun Murphy, and Marcella Detroit on a circular stage that had a raised step in the center where Clapton performs, the other members of the band being a step below. At about 2:45 into the video, a camera rig falls over, which was not intentional, but was left in the video. {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt2qBm4qS4w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/bt2qBm4qS4w| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Eric Clapton – Forever Man (Video)|publisher=youtube.com|work=Warner Bros. Records|access-date=September 27, 2015}}{{cbignore}} The video was directed by Godley and Creme.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton|year=1999|first=Eric|last=Clapton|page=2|type=DVD Cover|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|location=United States}}
"Forever Man" was featured on the Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood double CD and DVD Live From Madison Square Garden and many other compilation albums including The Cream of Eric Clapton (1987), Complete Clapton (2007) and Forever Man (2015).{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/forever-man-mt0034867448|title=Forever Man – Eric Clapton | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=AllMusic|access-date=September 27, 2015}} The original music video was released, as the sound recording, on the VHS, CD, download and DVD compilation Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton in 1999.
Reception
Cash Box described "Forever Man" as a "gutsy soul inspired work-out" with "one of Clapton’s most piercing leads in memory" and said it was "definitely Clapton’s strongest work in years."{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-03-09.pdf|date=March 9, 1985|accessdate=2022-07-26|page=11}} Billboard described it as a "a reprise of his venerable blues-boogie style"{{cite news|title=Pop Picks|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2020-06-08|date=March 9, 1985|page=79|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-03-09.pdf}} The Age critic Mike Daly described it as a "muscular rocker with a hot solo guitar and a full vocal chorus."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2025-04-14|newspaper=The Age|author=Daly, Mike|title=Jordan: guitar phenomenon|date=April 4, 1985|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age/170293189/}} Commercial Appeal critic Brown Burnett called it "the best single Clapton's had in years."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2025-04-14|newspaper=Commercial Appeal|author=Burnett, Brown|title=Superstars and Guitars|date=March 29, 1985|page=27|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal/170292876/}}
Commercial performance
In the United Kingdom, the single release entered the official music charts, compiled by the Official Charts Company at number 77 and peaked at position 51 the next week. In total, the "Forever Man" spent six weeks on the British single charts.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/forever%20man/|title=Forever Man | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|publisher=The Official Charts Company|work=Official Charts|access-date=September 27, 2015}} While on chart in the United Kingdom, the single sold a total of 19,934 copies in six weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.directupload.net/file/d/3941/gvyt6pzf_pdf.htm|title=Dossier – The Music of Eric Clapton|publisher=O'Real Associated Ltd.|work=Directuploard|first=Astrid|last=Keil|language=de|access-date=September 27, 2015}} In the United States, "Forever Man" ranked at number 26 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 singles chart and spent a total of twelve weeks on chart. In North America, it also became second number hit on the Mainstream Rock airplay chart. While charting on the single sales compilation, the single release sold a total of 193,932 records in the United States alone. In Canada, the single did not reach the RPM sales chart, but sold 3,382 copies in the country. In Australia, the single peaked at number 92, as the Kent Music Report published in 1993. "Forever Man" did also reached various national single charts in Belgium and the Netherlands. In Denmark and Japan, the single was certified with a gold disc to commemorate outstanding sales figures of the 1985 release. In total, the single sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide.
Charts and certifications
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (1985)
!Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=April 24, 2020}}
|99 |
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Japan|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certref={{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1CQEAAAAMBAJ|title=Japanese Sales Still Shooting Up|journal=Billboard Magazine|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|volume=97|number=19|issn=0006-2510|date=May 11, 1985|access-date=January 3, 2016}}|certyear=1985}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}
{{col-end}}
Beatchuggers version
{{Infobox song
| name = Forever Man (How Many Times)
| cover = Beatchuggers Feat. Eric Clapton.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Beatchuggers
| album =
| released = {{Start date|2000|10|23}}
| recorded = {{Start date|2000|10}}
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Electronic · House
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=48}}
| label = Flex
| writer = Jerry Lynn Williams
| producer = Michael Linde
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
In 2000, the then 23-year-old Danish House producer Michael Linde – also known as Beatchuggers – "fooled around" with a sample of Clapton's original "Forever Man" recording, and decided to do a demo recording of the song in his style.{{cite web|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Beatchuggers/albums-singles.html|title=Beatchuggers : tous les albums et les singles|work=Charts in France|publisher=PureCharts|language=fr|access-date=January 3, 2016}} The track, originally titled "How Many Times", was produced as a white label release by the indie Bim Bam Recordings. The disc was sent to London, where Clapton listened to the Beatchuggers version and became interested in the project. Back in Denmark, EMI–Medley's dance subsidiary, Flex, signed Michael Linde and was then set to release the recording as "Forever Man (How Many Times)" under the act name "Beatchuggers Featuring Eric Clapton". EMI–Medley director of international exploitation Ole Mortensen said that the record will be released in late October 2000 and that Clapton will be featured in the promotional music video.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-09-16.pdf|title=Global Music Pulse|work=Billboard Magazine|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|volume=112|number=38|page=49|issn=0006-2510|date=September 16, 2000|access-date=January 3, 2016}}
The more dance-oriented version was released on October 23, 2000 as a digital download,{{cite web|url=http://classic.beatport.com/track/forever-man-how-many-times-richard-fs-chuggin-the-nut-mix/6759747|title=Beatchuggers, Eric Clapton – Forever Man (How Many Times?) (Richard F's Chuggin The Nut Mix) [Chuggy Traxx] :: Beatport|work=Beatport|publisher=Beatport, LLC|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123135/http://classic.beatport.com/track/forever-man-how-many-times-richard-fs-chuggin-the-nut-mix/6759747|url-status=dead}} as a CD maxi single{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Beat-Chuggers-Featuring-Eric-Clapton-Forever-Man-How-Many-Times-/release/4215578|title=Beat Chuggers Featuring Eric Clapton – Forever Man (How Many Times?) (CD) at Discogs|work=Discogs|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=January 3, 2016}} and on 12 inch gramophone record with different B-sides of the same songs consisting of other mixes and lengths.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Beatchuggers-Featuring-Eric-Clapton-Forever-Man-How-Many-Times/release/246549|title=Beatchuggers Featuring Eric Clapton – Forever Man (How Many Times?) (Vinyl) at Discogs|work=Discogs|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=January 3, 2016}} The single is accompanied by a music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAOAffXkAmY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/iAOAffXkAmY| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Beatchuggers Feat. Eric Clapton – Forever Man (How Many Times) [HQ] – YouTube|publisher=YouTube.com|access-date=January 3, 2016}}{{cbignore}} Besides of Jacob Horney who played additional keyboards along with Nils Munk who played bass guitar on top of the original recording are no other musicians involved with the recording. Alan Mawdfley engineered the recording while the artists Fletch, Jan Eliasson and Lene Reidel remixed the B-sides for the single release. The cover artwork was created by Peter Stenbæk.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Beatchuggers-Featuring-Eric-Clapton-Forever-Man-How-Many-Times/release/54112|title=Beatchuggers Featuring Eric Clapton – Forever Man (How Many Times?) (CD) at Discogs|work=Discogs|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=January 3, 2016}}
Reviews from the Schweizer Hitparade had been positive,{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/song/Beatchuggers-feat.-Eric-Clapton/Forever-Man-(How-Many-Times...)-282724|title=Beatchuggers feat. Eric Clapton – Forever Man (How Many Times...?) – hitparade.ch|work=Swiss Music Charts|publisher=Steffen Hung – Hung Medien|language=de|access-date=January 3, 2016}} where as AllMusic did not rate the single.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/forever-man-how-many-times-us-mw0000588763|title=Forever Man (How Many Times?) [US] – Beatchuggers | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=January 3, 2016}}
=Weekly charts=
References
{{Reflist|3}}
{{Eric Clapton}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Godley and Creme
Category:Songs written by Jerry Lynn Williams
Category:Song recordings produced by Phil Collins
Category:Song recordings produced by Lenny Waronker