Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up

"Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" is a song written, produced and recorded by Barry White for his second album, Stone Gon' (1973). In June 1973, it was released as the first single in the United States and reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It became a gold record. In Europe, it was issued in early 1974 and peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up"
Side-A label of one of the US vinyl releases
Single by Barry White
from the album Stone Gon'
B-side	"Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (long version) "Honey Please, Can't Ya See" "Standing in the Shadows of Love" "I've Found Someone" "No, I'm Never Gonna Give Ya Up"
Released	June 13, 1973
Recorded	1973
Genre	Soul
Length	7:59 (Album version) 4:01 (Single version) 4:51 (Alternate edit)
Label	20th Century
Songwriter(s)	Barry White
Producer(s)	Barry White
Barry White singles chronology
"I've Got So Much to Give" (1973) "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (1973) "Love's Theme" (1973)
Music video
"Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (TopPop, 1974) on YouTube

Track listings

Australian 7" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:58
2. "I've Found Someone" – 5:55

European 7" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:58
2. "Honey Please, Can't Ya See" – 2:54

UK 7" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:05
2. "Standing in the Shadows of Love" – 3:00

North American 7" (original)[1][2] single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (short version) – 3:05
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (long version) - 4:44

North American 7" (re-release)[3] single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:05
2. "No, I'm Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (Instrumental) - 4:24

Charts

Chart (1973–74)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	8
Belgian Flanders Singles Chart[4]	10
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	36
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[5]	9
UK Singles (OCC)[6]	14
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[8]	40
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9]	2

Lisa Stansfield version

"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up"
UK/European studio CD release
Single by Lisa Stansfield
from the album Lisa Stansfield
Released	9 June 1997
Recorded	1997
Genre	R&B soul pop
Length	5:02
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Barry White
Producer(s)	Ian Devaney Peter Mokran
Lisa Stansfield singles chronology
"The Real Thing" (1997) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (1997) "The Line" (1997)
Music video
"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" on YouTube

In 1997, British singer Lisa Stansfield covered "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" for her eponymous album. The song was released as the second single from Lisa Stansfield in Europe, Australia and Japan on 9 June 1997 and first proper single in North America on 21 July 1997.

An accompanying music video, directed by Rocky Schenck, was also released. The song was remixed by prominent US producers: Frankie Knuckles, Mark Picchiotti, Hani, Steven Nikolas and Brendon Sibley. In February 1998, Knuckles won the Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" reached number twenty-five on the UK Singles Chart and seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number-one the Hot Dance Club Songs in October 1997 and number thirty-eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song was later included on The Remix Album (1998) and Biography: The Greatest Hits (2003).

In 2014, remixes of "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Lisa Stansfield. Additional remixes were featured on People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology (2014), including three previously unreleased: Frankie's Classic Club Mix, Franktified Off the Hook Dub and After Hours Mix. All was included on The Collection 1989–2003.[10][11]

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from many music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic said it is "uniformly strong", adding that Stansfield's voice "is seductive and sexy".[12] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as "a sultry rendition" and added that the singer is "breathing enough stylistic variation into the lyrics (...) maintaining a reverence that will sit well with fans of the original recording." He noted that Stansfield "is supported by a rumbling funk groove that is underlined by hip-hop-savvy turntable scratches and iced with caressing disco strings."[13] William Stevenson from Entertainment Weekly wrote that she "sings with an irresistible urgency, seductively wrapping her silky voice around each phrase while building in intensity. She’s never sounded better."[14] Irish Independent noted the song as one of the "moments" of the Lisa Stansfield album, calling it "a sultry slink through" the Barry White song.[15] Press of Atlantic City said that Stansfield "shines" on the "energetic remake".[16] USA Today described the song as a "up-tempo dance groove".[17]

Track listings

European CD single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26
2. "Change" (Live) – 5:19

Australian/European/Japanese CD maxi-single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Album Edit) – 4:04
3. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Touch 2 Mix) – 5:34
4. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie Knuckles Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:15
5. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54

European CD maxi-single #2

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Live) – 5:15
2. "Suzanne" (Live) – 4:38
3. "People Hold On" (Live) – 3:47
4. "Change" (Live) – 5:19

European 12" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26
3. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie Knuckles Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:15
4. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Touch 2 Mix) – 5:34

UK 12" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Main Mix) – 5:02
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:15
3. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54

UK promotional 12" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard R&B Club) – 6:54
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:13

UK promotional 12" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Shelter Dub) – 10:57

UK promotional 12" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Main Mix) – 5:02
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Touch 2 Mix) – 5:34
3. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (77th Heaven Mix) – 7:10
4. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26

US CD single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" – 4:45
2. "People Hold On" (DRS Mix) – 3:42

US promotional CD single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Edit) – 4:10
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Album Version) – 4:45

US promotional 12" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Album Mix) – 4:40
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Groove Mix) – 5:01
3. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard & Sexy Mix) – 4:13
4. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard R&B Club Mix) – 6:54

US promotional 2x12" single

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani Num Club Mix) – 9:03
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark Picchiotti Dub) – 8:18
3. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Nikolas & Sibley Club Mix) – 8:36
4. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Classic Morning Mix) – 8:46
5. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark Picchiotti Club Mix) – 9:55
6. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani's Vocal Reprise) – 1:56
7. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani's Bonus Beats) – 2:03
8. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani's Analog Bubble Bath) – 8:30
9. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Nikolas & Sibley Dub) – 5:23

Other remixes

1. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani Mix) – 8:54
2. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie Knuckles Mix) – 8:42
3. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Classic Club Mix) – 8:15
4. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Franktified Off the Hook Dub) – 7:14
5. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (After Hours Mix) – 7:10

Charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[18]	182
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[19]	5
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20]	74
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[21]	99
Germany (Official German Charts)[22]	74
Poland (LP3)[23]	26
Scotland (OCC)[24]	35
Spain Radio (PROMUSICAE)[25]	37
UK Singles (OCC)[26]	25
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[27]	4
US Billboard Hot 100[28]	74
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[29]	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30]	38
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[31]	40

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1997 (U.S.)

References

1. "Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up / Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up - 20th Century - Canada - 1209-2058". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
2. "Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up [Short Version] / Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up [Long Version] - 20th Century - USA - TC-2058". 45cat.com. 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
3. "Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up / No, I'm Never Gonna Give Ya Up - 20th Century - USA - TC-2058". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
4. "Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
5. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Barry White" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
6. "Barry White: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
7. "Barry White Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
8. "Barry White Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
9. "Barry White Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
10. "Lisa Stansfield – The Collection: tracklists". lisa-stansfield.com. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
11. "Exclusive: First pictures takes you inside the reissues 'The Collection 1989–2003'". lisastansfield.net. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
12. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Lisa Stansfield – Lisa Stansfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
13. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 28 June 1997. p. 75. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
14. Stevenson, William. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
15. "WET WET WET". Irish Independent. 2 April 1997. page 28. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
16. "LISA STANSFIELD FOCUSED WITH HER LATEST RELEASE". Press of Atlantic City. 10 August 1997. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
17. "Stansfield stretches skills After hiatus, R&B hitmaker explores deeper themes". USA Today. 29 July 1997. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
18. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". imgur.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
19. "Ultratop.be – Lisa Stansfield – Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3328." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
21. "The Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. 28 June 1997. Archived from the original on August 30, 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
22. "Lisa Stansfield - Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
23. "Notowanie nr809" (in Polish). LP3. 1 August 1997. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
25. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
26. "Lisa Stansfield: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
27. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
28. "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
29. "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
30. "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
31. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 254.