When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song)

This article is about the 1985 song by Billy Ocean. For the 1985 song by Raven, see Stay Hard. For other uses, see When the Going Gets Tough.

"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" is a 1985 song co-written and originally recorded by English singer Billy Ocean in 1985.

"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going"
Standard picture sleeve
Single by Billy Ocean
from the album The Jewel of the Nile Soundtrack and Love Zone
Released	15 November 1985 (1985-11-15)
Recorded	1985
Length	5:44
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Wayne Anton Brathwaite Barry James Eastmond Mutt Lange Billy Ocean
Producer(s)	Barry Eastmond Wayne Brathwaite
Billy Ocean singles chronology
"Suddenly" (1986) "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (1985) "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (1986)

Description

Written by Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond, Mutt Lange and Ocean, the song was used as the theme song for the Michael Douglas film The Jewel of the Nile (1985). The saxophone solo is by Vernon Jeffrey Smith.^[1]

The song became a major international success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in February 1986,^[2] and number two on the Billboard Hot 100, stalling behind "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston. It remains his only number-one single in the UK to date.

Music video

A music video was shot at Brixton Academy in London,^[3] and features Douglas and his Jewel of the Nile co-stars Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito as lip-synching backing vocalists. It reportedly boosted the popularity of the venue.

The video was initially banned on Top of the Pops because the actors were not part of the Musicians' Union, meaning DeVito's miming of the saxophone solo went against the rules.^[4]

Track listing

• 12-inch single

A1 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Extended Version) – 5:43

A2 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (7″ Version) – 4:08

B1 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Club Mix) – 7:35

B2 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (Instrumental) – 5:12^[5]

Other versions

• 7th Heaven Club Mix – 6:44
• 7th Heaven Radio Edit – 4:22

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" Chart (1986) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[6] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9] 1 Denmark (Tracklisten)^[10] 1 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[11] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[12] 2 France (SNEP)^[13] 6 Greece (IFPI)^[10] 2 Ireland (IRMA)^[14] 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)^[15] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[16] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[17] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[18] 3 Norway (VG-lista)^[19] 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[20] 1 Spain (AFYVE)^[21] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[22] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[23] 2 UK Singles (OCC)^[24] 1 US Billboard Hot 100^[25] 2 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[26] 2 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[27] 31 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[28] 19 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[29] 6 US Top 100 Singles (Cash Box)^[30] 1 US Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles (Cash Box)^[31] 8 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[32] 2

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" Chart (1986) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[33] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[34] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[35] 14 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[36] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[37] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[38] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[39] 23 South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[40] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[41] 16 UK Singles (Gallup)^[42] 7 US Billboard Hot 100^[43] 31 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[44] 35 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[45] 43 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles^[46] 32 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[47] 16

Certifications

Certifications for "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[48]	Platinum	70,000^^
Belgium (BEA)^[49]	Gold	25,000^*
Netherlands (NVPI)^[50]	Platinum	100,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[51]	Platinum	20,000^*
Sweden (GLF)^[52]	Gold	25,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)^[53]	Gold	500,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Boyzone version

"When the Going Gets Tough"
Single by Boyzone
from the album By Request
Released	1 March 1999 (1999-03-01)^[54]
Length	3:38
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Wayne Brathwaite Barry Eastmond Robert John Lange Billy Ocean
Producer(s)	Steve Mac
Boyzone singles chronology
"I Love the Way You Love Me" (1998) "When the Going Gets Tough" (1999) "You Needed Me" (1999)

Irish boy band Boyzone recorded a cover version for the 1999 Comic Relief telethon, shortening the title to "When the Going Gets Tough". Like the original, their version also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their fifth chart-topper. It spent two weeks at number one. The song received a platinum certification in the UK. The video included Graham Norton, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus, Mel Smith, Davina McCall, Harry Hill, Steve Collins, John McCririck, Jimmy White, Mystic Meg, Will Mellor, James Dreyfus, the cast of Emmerdale, Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish, and Ulrika Jonsson and Saracen from Gladiators.

Track listings

UK CD single^[55]

1. "When the Going Gets Tough"
2. "What a Wonderful World" (performed by Alison Moyet)
3. "Love Can Build a Bridge" (documentary track—performed by Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry)

UK cassette single^[56]

1. "When the Going Gets Tough"
2. "What a Wonderful World" (performed by Alison Moyet)

French CD single^[57]

1. "When the Going Gets Tough" – 3:35
2. "I'll Never Not Need You" – 4:07

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the By Request album booklet.^[58]

Main personnel

Wayne Brathwaite – writing Barry Eastmond – writing Robert John Lange – writing Billy Ocean – writing Wayne Hector – additional backing vocals Andy Caine – additional backing vocals

Tracy Ackerman – additional backing vocals Paul Gendler – guitars Steve Mac – production, mixing Chris Laws – engineering, programming Matt Howe – mix engineering

Orchestra

Guy Barker – trumpet Phil Todd – saxophone Ann Morfee – violin Ian Humphries – violin Rebecca Hirsch – violin Nicolette Humphries – violin Helen Paterson – violin Richard George – violin Clare Thompson – violin Anna Hemery – violin Laura Melhuish – violin Steve Morris – violin

Deborah Widdup – violin Gillian Kent – violin Clare Finnimore – viola Bruce White – viola Paul Martin – viola Sue Dench – viola Nick Cooper – cello Jonathan Tunnell – cello Audrey Riley – cello Emma Black – cello Richard Niles – string and brass arrangement Graeme Perkins – orchestra contractor

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "When the Going Gets Tough" Chart (1999) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)^[59] 7 France (SNEP)^[60] 71 Ireland (IRMA)^[14] 2 Scotland (OCC)^[61] 1 UK Singles (OCC)^[62] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "When the Going Gets Tough" Chart (1999) Position Romania (Romanian Top 100)^[63] 35 UK Singles (OCC)^[64] 10

Certifications

Certifications for "When the Going Gets Tough"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[65]	Platinum	600,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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4. When the Going Gets Tough Lyrics Meaning
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51. Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
52. "Billy Ocean Is Presented With A Golden Disc At The Montreux Rock Festival" (PDF). Music & Media. 14 June 1986. p. 5. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
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55. When the Going Gets Tough (UK CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 569 913-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
56. When the Going Gets Tough (UK cassette single sleeve). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 569 912-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
57. "Boyzone When the Going Gets Tough - Pop Up France CD single (CD5 / 5") (142509)". Eil.com. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
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External links

• "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" at Discogs (list of releases)