To be forever young – this idea is appealing to many. Even to singer Marian Gold. He is responsible for a hit that doesn’t get old even 40 years after its release.
Even after 40 years, this song remains refreshingly young – and current: “Do you really want to live forever? Forever and ever”. With these lyrics, the German band Alphaville created a musical monument for themselves. Their third single “Forever Young”, which was released on September 3, 1984, is currently experiencing a rejuvenation thanks to the platform Tiktok.
“It’s crazy. You have no control over it. It depends on so many coincidences and that’s why it’s like a miracle that comes over you,” said Alphaville singer Marian Gold (70) to the German Press Agency. Hundreds of thousands of users of the platform have accompanied their short videos with a snippet of the classic song in recent months – often with emotional images from their lives.
“Forever Young is received by people in very different contexts: at birthdays, weddings or funerals – at very contradictory events. This song can apparently make a statement about very different things,” said Gold.
Song is often covered – even by a world star
The synth-pop trio was founded in Münster in 1982 and released their first three singles in 1984 – which are still their biggest hits today: “Big in Japan”, “Sounds Like A Melody” and “Forever Young”. The latter is used in many films and series and has been covered by rapper Bushido, pop singer Karel Gott and global star Beyoncé, among others.
“The lyrics are nothing more than a collection of film titles and dialogues. For me, the really big Hollywood films back then had a kind of eternal character. That could be combined very well with the basic idea behind Forever Young,” explains singer Gold today. The chorus was the “only conscious formulation”.
The lyrics are primarily about the worries of the youth of the time that the Cold War could end in a destructive nuclear attack. The fact that the song is still internationally known and popular 40 years after its release makes the musician from Herford (North Rhine-Westphalia) proud. “It gives you a certain satisfaction because you have covered this long road in a fairly cool way.”
“Forever Young” singer finds aging “unacceptable”
The idea of being “forever young” also makes the 70-year-old sentimental. “I can’t cope with aging at all. I find it terrible. There is absolutely no sensible reason to grow old. Why are we born? To die? That’s nonsense. I find it unacceptable.”
Your own decay is constantly visible through physical ailments. “In this respect, Forever Young is such a wonderful idea. There is something pure and hopeful about it. That is a great temptation.”
Alphaville will release their best-of album “Alphaville Forever! – Best Of 40 Years” at the end of September and will go on tour from November 2nd.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
