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Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song)

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"Don't Give Up"
Single by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
from the album So
B-side
  • "In Your Eyes" (Special mix), "This Is the Picture" (UK)
  • "Curtains" (US)
Released20 October 1986[1]
Length
  • 6:32 (album version)
  • 6:07 (12-inch single edit)
  • 5:40 (7-inch single edit)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"Sledgehammer"
(1986) 		"Don't Give Up"
(1986) 		"In Your Eyes"
(1986)
Kate Bush singles chronology
"The Big Sky"
(1986) 		"Don't Give Up"
(1986) 		"Experiment IV"
(1986)
Music video
"Don't Give Up" on YouTube

"Don't Give Up" is a song written by English rock musician Peter Gabriel and recorded as a duet with English singer Kate Bush for Gabriel's fifth solo studio album So (1986). The single version was released as the third single from the album in the UK on 20 October 1986 and as the fourth single in the US in March 1987.[2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK Top 75 chart in 1986, peaking at number nine.

In 1987, the song won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.[3]

Background

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The song was inspired by the Depression-era photographs of Dorothea Lange, showing poverty-stricken Americans in Dust Bowl conditions.[1] Gabriel saw Lange's images in a book entitled In This Proud Land (1973). He felt that a song based on this was appropriate to difficult economic conditions in the United Kingdom under the premiership of Margaret Thatcher.[4]

Gabriel composed lyrics about a man whose unemployment causes stress in his domestic relationship. He had watched a TV program about the consequences of unemployment on family life, and said that it "played into my own problems at that time. I think a combination of that and domestic difficulties."[5] The verses, sung by Gabriel, describe the man's feelings of isolation, loneliness and despair; the choruses, sung by Bush, offer words of hope and encouragement. The title was something that Gabriel's former wife, Jill, would say when he was experiencing emotional difficulties. "When he gets into very deep depressions, I am always saying don't give up. I think the song is very much about us."[6]

Recording

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Gabriel built the song around a tom-tom pattern with a three-against-four polyrhythm that he programmed on a drum machine.[5] The programmed tom-toms were tuned deliberately by Gabriel and assigned different pitches with intention of having bassist Tony Levin emulate the part.[7] Halfway through recording, Levin placed a nappy behind his strings to dampen the sound.[6] Levin packed the nappies in his gig bag for his two-month-old daughter and muffled the bass strings with the material to achieve a softer tone during the second half of the song.[8] Richard Tee was also brought in to contribute piano during the song's bridge to give the part more of a gospel feel.[9]

The "don't give up" lyric and the verses were developed early on, although Gabriel did not finalize the chorus until a few months after the melody was solidified. His initial demos of "Don't Give Up" were longer than the final version that appeared on the album. He did not conceive the song as a duet and originally sang all of the choruses himself, but later said that "the story would work better with a man–woman relationship."[5][10]

Gabriel wrote the song from a reference point of American roots music and approached country singer Dolly Parton to sing it with him. However, Parton turned it down, so his friend Kate Bush took her place.[11] Gabriel said that Bush was originally nervous about participating, but delivered an "excellent" vocal take on her second attempt.[10] Assistant engineer David Stallbaumer recalled that Bush's contributions improved the song "almost instantaneously".[12]

Music videos

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Two music videos were created for the song. The first, by Godley & Creme, is a single take of Gabriel and Bush, as they sing, in an embrace, while the sun behind them enters a total eclipse and re-emerges. Of the shoot, Gabriel remarked, "There are worse ways of earning a living."[13] The video was featured in the final broadcast of the channel Europa TV in November 1986.[14]

A second video, directed by Grammy Award–winning Jim Blashfield and produced by Melissa Marsland in 1988, features the singers' faces superimposed over film of a town and its people in disrepair.[15]

Legacy

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In a 2014 interview, Elton John attributed his sobriety to the song, in particular the lyric from Bush, "Rest your head. You worry too much. It's going to be all right. When times get rough you can fall back on us. Don't give up." He states, "she [Bush] played a big part in my rebirth. That record helped me so much."[16]

Similarly, actor Matthew Perry (who struggled with substance and alcohol addiction) was enamored with the song; it was played at his funeral in November 2023 and was referenced in signed copies of his autobiography Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which was released a year before his death.[17][18] Of the song, Perry said in an interview, "It was so cool and I love that. I've been writing it when I sign the book. I always put 'Don't give up' because you shouldn't give up."[19]

Live performances

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Jennie Abrahamson performing Don't Give Up at Peter Gabriel's Back to Front Tour 2014 at Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany

The song was included in Gabriel's concert film Live in Athens 1987[20] where he sang both parts[21] and Secret World Live tour featuring singer Paula Cole. The DVD release of a performance in Italy in 1993 (released in 1994) included the duet. An all-orchestral recording featuring Ane Brun was released on Gabriel's ninth studio album New Blood (2011). During Back to Front Tour from 2012 to 2014, Gabriel performed the Song live with singer Jennie Abrahamson.[22][23] During i/o The Tour in 2023, Gabriel performed the song live with cellist/pianist/singer Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Peter Gabriel

12-inch (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Give Up"6:30
2."In Your Eyes" (Special mix)7:15
3."This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)"4:16
12-inch (US)
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Give Up" (LP version)6:30
2."Don't Give Up" (edit)5:26
3."Curtains"3:35
Limited edition 7-inch poster sleeve
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Give Up"5:40
2."In Your Eyes" (Special mix)7:15

Personnel

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Charts

[edit]

Other versions

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Willie Nelson and Sinéad O'Connor version

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"Don't Give Up"
Single by Willie Nelson and Sinéad O'Connor
Released1992
GenreCountry
Length4:50
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)Don Was
Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology
"Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home"
(1992) 		"Don't Give Up"
(1992) 		"You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart"
(1994)
Music video
"Don't Give Up" on YouTube

The song was covered as a duet between American musician Willie Nelson and Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor in 1993. The single is included on Nelson's Across the Borderline studio album, produced by Don Was, Paul Simon, and Roy Halee. O'Connor sings Kate Bush's parts in the song. In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Nelson talked about the duet and how it was made. He said:

There was another lady, Dolly Parton, who was supposed to do that part, but she ended up being unavailable. At the rehearsal for the Dylan tribute show in New York, Don [Was] suggested Sinead. I'd heard about the controversy with the Pope, but I'd never heard her sing. Don said, 'She's excellent. It turned out that she and Peter Gabriel were friends and she already knew the song. At the concert, she was booed for the controversy. I asked her, 'Are you sure you still feel like coming in to sing tomorrow?' She said, 'Yes, I'll be there.' She came in the next day and sang her off.[42]

A music video was made to accompany the song, featuring both singers. It has a sepia tone. It was reported that funds raised by sales of the single were in excess of $300,000.

Critical reception

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Martin Monkman from AllMusic felt the duet is the "most stunning song" on the album, and "a brilliant piece of casting." He added, "Nelson and O'Connor's rendition is quietly triumphant and every bit as powerful as Gabriel and Bush's original."[43] John Davis from Austin American-Statesman wrote, "The teaming of his crisp, autumnal baritone with the ethereal, spun-steel counterpoint of O'Connor's voice on Gabriel's paean of hope, "Don't Give Up", is little short of haunting. It is arguably the album's most arresting interlude, as well as Nelson's most accomplished pass ever at a modern pop song. And it nearly did not happen at all."[44] Bill DeYoung from Gainesville Sun described the duet as "heartfelt".[45] Paul Freeman from Los Angeles Times called it "a striking duet".[42] Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked that Nelson's version "makes a rodeo queen out of his duet partner".[46] Roger Morton from NME felt the pair's version "is quite dignified enough to stand up on its own. It's an understated rendering which, a few country twangs aside, leaves the interaction between Nelson's grizzled tones and Sinead's frail quavers to do the work."[47] An editor from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that Nelson and O'Connor "make an odd but effective couple".[48] David Zimmerman from USA Today named it a "wonderful stop" on the album, noting its "hope-and-despair seesaw".[49]

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "Don't Give Up"
  2. "Don't Give Up" (instrumental)

Alicia Keys and Bono version

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"Don't Give Up (Africa)"
Single by Alicia Keys and Bono
Released6 December 2005 (2005-12-06)
GenreR&B
Length4:27
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"Unbreakable"
(2005) 		"Don't Give Up (Africa)"
(2005) 		"Every Little Bit Hurts"
(2006)

"Don't Give Up" was recorded by American recording artist Alicia Keys and Irish musician Bono.[50] Retitled "Don't Give Up (Africa)", the song was produced by Keys and Steve Lillywhite.[51][52] On 6 December 2005, the song was released as a single exclusively on iTunes and a ringtone version was released by Cingular Wireless.[51][53][54] The proceeds of the release went to the charity Keep a Child Alive, for which Keys is a spokesperson.[53] Keys commented that "I love this song. And I love Bono. I really respect what he has done for Africa and how he has used his fame to do good in the world. I hope I can do half as much in my life".[55] Keys and Bono performed the song live at Keys' charity event the Black Ball, which raises money for the organization Keep A Child Alive.[56] They performed the song also on The Oprah Winfrey Show in October 2006.[57]

The recording of the song took place at the Oven Studios on Long Island.[58] Keys spoke of the recording session at the studio with Bono and Steve Lillywhite:

We were playing them the backing tracks and I don't know if I started singing, or he did, but something started happening and we tracked it right here on the spot, that's it, we're done. There was a crowd in here, everybody came in from the other room because they could tell there was something going on in here.[58]

Track listing

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Digital download[59]
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Give Up (Africa)"4:27

Charts

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Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Billboard Pop 100[60] 79

Jann Klose and Annie Haslam version

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Jann Klose and Renaissance vocalist and painter Annie Haslam released their version, produced by Rave Tesar in June 2017. The recording features Jann Klose on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Annie Haslam on lead vocals, John Arbo on upright bass, Rob Mitzner on cajon and Rave Tesar on keys. Proceeds from the sale of the recording benefit Desmond Tutu's TutuDesk foundation.

Shannon Noll and Natalie Bassingthwaighte version

[edit]
"Don't Give Up"
Single by Shannon Noll and Natalie Bassingthwaighte
from the album Home: Songs of Hope & Journey
Released9 December 2006 (2006-12-09)
Recorded2006
GenrePop
Length4:39
LabelSony BMG
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)Michael Mugisha
Shannon Noll singles chronology
"Lonely"
(2006) 		"Don't Give Up"
(2006) 		"Loud"
(2007)
Natalie Bassingthwaighte singles chronology
"Don't Give Up"
(2006) 		"Alive"
(2008)

A cover version was recorded by Australian artist Shannon Noll and former Rogue Traders frontwoman Natalie Bassingthwaighte. It was produced by Michael "fingaz" Mugisha who also produced hits for Jessica Mauboy, Big Brovaz and recorded for the compilation Home: Songs of Hope & Journey. It was released as a charity single for the depression organisation Beyond Blue. It was the most added song to Australian radio in its first week.[61] It made its debut at number seven on the Australian Singles Chart, and, in its second week, climbed to number two with a Platinum certification. The song was also performed live on the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars. The music video features Noll and Bassingthwaighte in the studio recording the single.

Charts

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Weekly charts

Chart (2006–2007) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[62] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2006) Position
Australia (ARIA)[63] 51
Chart (2007) Position
Australia (ARIA)[64] 54

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65] Platinum 70,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kate Bush timeline". Kate Bush timeline.
  2. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (22 February 1995). Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
  3. ^ "Archive | the Ivors | the Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators".
  4. ^ White, Timothy (September 1986). "Gabriel". Spin. 2 (6): 63. ISSN 0886-3032.
  5. ^ a b c Bacon, Tony (29 January 2019). ""High-Tech and Hand-Made": Peter Gabriel Shares His Recording Philosophy - Bacon's Archive". Reverb. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b Scarfe, Graeme (2021). Peter Gabriel: Every Album, Every Song. United Kingdom: SonicBond. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-78952-138-2.
  7. ^ Scott 2012, 28:42.
  8. ^ Scott 2012, 34:23.
  9. ^ Scott 2012, 33:35.
  10. ^ a b Gallo, Armando (1986). Peter Gabriel. United Kingdom: SonicBond. p. 84. ISBN 0-7119-0783-8.
  11. ^ "Kate Bush replaced Dolly Parton on 'Don't Give Up', Peter Gabriel says". Digital Spy. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  12. ^ Scott 2012, 30:58.
  13. ^ Blake, Mark (December 2011). "Cash for questions: Peter Gabriel". Q. p. 43.
  14. ^ "Last transmission EUROPA-TV (29 november 1986)". YouTube. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Blank". Blashfieldstudio.com.
  16. ^ "Elton John Reveals Kate Bush Song 'Saved His Life'". Smooth Radio. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  17. ^ "'Don't give up': One of Matthew Perry's favourite songs brought his entire funeral to tears". morefm.co.nz. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  18. ^ Jack, Amberleigh (5 November 2023). "The song that brought everyone to tears at Matthew Perry's funeral". Stuff. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  19. ^ Copson, Josie (4 November 2023). "Matthew Perry's funeral song was used to send special message to fans". Metro. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Live in Athens 1987". PeterGabriel.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Genesis News Com [it]: Peter Gabriel - So25: Live In Athens - 2CD review". www.genesis-news.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  22. ^ Jennie Abrahamson (20 December 2014). "Peter Gabriel's So Back to Front Tour is over". Jennie Abrahamson. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  23. ^ Peter Gabriel - Don't Give Up Live (Back to Front Tour - London) on YouTube
  24. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 50. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
  25. ^ "De Radio 2 Top 30". Radio 2. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush – Don't Give Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  27. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0820." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  28. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 48. 6 December 1986. p. 12. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Give Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  30. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  31. ^ "Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush – Don't Give Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. ^ "Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush – Don't Give Up". Top 40 Singles.
  33. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  35. ^ "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush – Don't Give Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Download Chart Top 100 – 05 August 2022 – 11 August 2022". Official Charts. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 – 05 August 2022 – 11 August 2022". Official Charts. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  39. ^ "Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report. Retrieved 11 December 2019 – via Imgur.
  40. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  41. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  42. ^ a b "Willie Nelson 'restless soul,' settling down". Reading Eagle. 25 November 1993.
  43. ^ Monkman, Martin. "Willie Nelson – Across the Borderline". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  44. ^ Davis, John (4 March 1993). "For Nelson, time to stretch". Austin American-Statesman.
  45. ^ "Willie Nelson's Americana". Gainesville Sun. 26 March 1993. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  46. ^ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 April 1993. p. 7. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  47. ^ Morton, Roger (26 June 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 20. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  48. ^ "Timeless pop and twang". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2 April 1993. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  49. ^ Zimmerman, David (22 March 1993). "Nelson's music knows no 'Borderline'". USA Today.
  50. ^ "Bono, Keys Will Duet for Charity". Los Angeles Times. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  51. ^ a b [1] [dead link]
  52. ^ West, Dave (4 December 2005). "Bono and Keys Record Song for Africa Charity". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  53. ^ a b "Keys, Bono Team For Charity Song". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  54. ^ "Multimedia News Release -- This Holiday Season, Get a Cingular Ringtone, Give Life". PR Newswire. 1 December 2005. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  55. ^ "Alicia Keys, Bono to Raise Funds with AIDS Song". Today. 2 December 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  56. ^ "Bono and Keys Duet on Africa Song". BBC News. 4 December 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  57. ^ Serjeant, Jill (14 October 2006). "Bono Launches US Red Campaign for Aids in Africa". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  58. ^ a b Keith, John Dylan (30 April 2006). "The Studio Diary of Alicia Keys". Electronic Musician. Future. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  59. ^ "Don't Give Up (Africa) (Single Song)". U2 Wanderer.org. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  60. ^ "Alicia Keys – Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  61. ^ "SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT :: Australia :: CD Releases". 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  62. ^ "Shannon Noll & Natalie Bassingthwaighte – Don't Give Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  63. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2006". ARIA. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  64. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2007". ARIA. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  65. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 February 2021.

Bibliography

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