When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
Encyclopedia
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going" is a popular English language proverb
. A song of the same name was recorded by Billy Ocean
in 1985 at Battery Studios North London.
Taken another way the phrase could mean, "Those who act tough and proud will vacate a situation when it becomes difficult lest they be proven not as tough as they appear to be."
The origin of the phrase has been attributed both to Joseph P. Kennedy (1888–1969), father of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
, and sometimes to Norwegian-born American football player and coach Knute Rockne (1888–1931).
and Billy Ocean, the song was used as the theme song for the Michael Douglas
film, The Jewel of the Nile
, the sequel to the hit blockbuster film, Romancing the Stone
.
Aided by a video
featuring Douglas and co-stars Kathleen Turner
and Danny DeVito
as lip-synching backup singers, the song became a major international hit
reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart
for four weeks in February 1986 and number two on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart.
In 1994, the song was used for a clip of the 1986 edition of the BBC
The Rock 'n' Roll Years
featuring coverage of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines
. Three years later, it was also used as a background song in the 1985-86 football season
edition of Match of the 80s, during coverage of the challenge Kenny Dalglish
faced on his appointment as player-manager of Liverpool F.C.
.
Boyzone
recorded a cover version for the 1999 Comic Relief telethon, shortening the title to "When The Going Gets Tough". Their version reached number #1 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was the tenth best-selling single of 1999 in the UK, and the fifth best-selling single of the '90s in the UK by a boyband, selling over 671,400 copies and receiving a platinum certification. The video included Graham Norton, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus, Mel Smith, Harry Hill, the cast of Emmerdale and Ulrika Jonsson and Saracen from Gladiators.
CD2 (Limited Edition Pop Up Red Nose Digipak)
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
. A song of the same name was recorded by Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
in 1985 at Battery Studios North London.
Phrase
The phrase is a play on words involving idiomatic and distinct meanings of "go" and "tough." In context, "the going" means "the situation," "gets tough" means "becomes difficult," "the tough" means "people who are strong or enduring," and "get going" means "become fully engaged." Taken together, the meaning of the phrase is "When the situation becomes difficult, the strong will work harder to meet the challenge."Taken another way the phrase could mean, "Those who act tough and proud will vacate a situation when it becomes difficult lest they be proven not as tough as they appear to be."
The origin of the phrase has been attributed both to Joseph P. Kennedy (1888–1969), father of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, and sometimes to Norwegian-born American football player and coach Knute Rockne (1888–1931).
Song
Written by Wayne Braithwaite, Willy Head, Barry Eastmond, Robert John "Mutt" LangeRobert Lange
Robert John "Mutt" Lange is a Zambian-born British record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt". Lange is one of the most successful producers in rock history. He has produced albums for artists such as AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Outlaws, Foreigner, The Cars, Bryan...
and Billy Ocean, the song was used as the theme song for the Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
film, The Jewel of the Nile
The Jewel of the Nile
The Jewel of the Nile is a 1985 romantic adventure film, and a sequel to the 1984 film Romancing the Stone, with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito reprising their roles...
, the sequel to the hit blockbuster film, Romancing the Stone
Romancing the Stone
Romancing the Stone is a 1984 American action-adventure romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, it stars Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The film was followed by a 1985 sequel, The Jewel of the Nile....
.
Aided by a video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
featuring Douglas and co-stars Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner
Mary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, after roles in the Hollywood films Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Prizzi's Honor...
and Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
as lip-synching backup singers, the song became a major international hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
for four weeks in February 1986 and number two on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart.
In 1994, the song was used for a clip of the 1986 edition of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
The Rock 'n' Roll Years
The Rock 'n' Roll Years
The Rock 'n' Roll Years was a BBC television programme aired between 1985 and 1994. In a half-hour time slot the programme focused on a different year each week, starting with the year 1956 and ending with 1989....
featuring coverage of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Three years later, it was also used as a background song in the 1985-86 football season
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
edition of Match of the 80s, during coverage of the challenge Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
faced on his appointment as player-manager of Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
12" track listing
- 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) – 4:04
- 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
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 1 |
| Austria | 8 |
| France | 6 |
| The Netherlands Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
1 |
| New Zealand | 3 |
| Norway | 1 |
| Sweden | 2 |
| Switzerland | 2 |
| United Kingdom UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
| United States Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
2 |
Boyzone version
The Irish boybandBoy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
recorded a cover version for the 1999 Comic Relief telethon, shortening the title to "When The Going Gets Tough". Their version reached number #1 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was the tenth best-selling single of 1999 in the UK, and the fifth best-selling single of the '90s in the UK by a boyband, selling over 671,400 copies and receiving a platinum certification. The video included Graham Norton, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus, Mel Smith, Harry Hill, the cast of Emmerdale and Ulrika Jonsson and Saracen from Gladiators.
Track listing
CD1- "When The Going Gets Tough" - 3:35
- "What A Wonderful World" (Featuring Alison Moyet) - 4:00
- "Love Can Build A Bridge" - 3:59
CD2 (Limited Edition Pop Up Red Nose Digipak)
- "When The Going Gets Tough" - 3:35
- "I'll Never Not Need You" - 4:07
Charts
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Singles Chart | 71 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
2 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 10 |