Never Surrender (Corey Hart song)

"Never Surrender"
"Never Surrender"
Single by Corey Hart
from the album Boy in the Box
B-side	"Water from the Moon"
Released	June 7, 1985
Studio	Le Studio (Quebec)
Length	4:58
Label	Aquarius (CAN); EMI America (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)	Corey Hart
Producer(s)	Phil Chapman; Jon Astley; Corey Hart;
Corey Hart singles chronology
Music video
	"Never Surrender" on YouTube

"Never Surrender" is a song written and performed by Canadian singer Corey Hart. It was released on June 7, 1985, as the lead single to his second studio album Boy in the Box (1985).

In Canada, the song topped the RPM Top Singles chart for nine consecutive weeks and was the most played song of 1985 on Canadian radio. In the United States, it became his highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three in August 1985; on the sales chart, it reached number one for one week. "Never Surrender" would later receive the Juno Award for Single of the Year at the Juno Awards of 1985 and has been certified Platinum in Canada by Music Canada for physical sales of over 100,000 copies.^[2]

In 2019, Hart released an updated version of the song on his EP Dreaming Time Again, performed as a slow piano ballad with a new "angels lead you home" coda. He released the new version as a single in 2020, highlighting its message of hope and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3]

Composition

On the lyrical content, Hart said, "My mother influenced me with this ethic of never quitting on yourself or your dreams no matter how challenging or daunting. I also greatly admired Sir Winston Churchill, reading many biographies on his life. He used this expression 'Never Surrender' during the dark days of the Nazi attacks on Great Britain as a motivating inspiration for his countrymen."^[4]

Critical reception

Dave Sholin of the Gavin Report rated it positively, saying Corey returns "even more force on a record that convinces me he is one of the mainstay singer/songwriters of the 80's."^[5] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, in a retrospective review for Boy in the Box, has since called "Never Surrender": "a soaring power ballad of empowerment, giving this album (Boy in the Box) a greater musical and emotional range than his (Hart's) debut."^[6] Regarding the song becoming another US hit single Hart said "I really think it's difficult breaking into America regardless of where you're from. I don't think it's any more difficult for a Canadian act than for a band from Oklahoma".^[7]

Music video

The music video features a story line of Hart leaving his home after an argument with his father and hitchhiking his way to a major city where he finds himself alone and ends with a 'live' performance with his band. Portions of the video were filmed on Yonge Street, Spadina Avenue and Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, including the now defunct Crest Grill. The video's director, Rob Quartly, had worked with Hart on three previous music videos and Quartly was again nominated for a Juno Award for his work on this video.

Usage in media

"Never Surrender" has been featured in the Hulu series Future Man Episode 10 "Operation: Natal Attraction", the Netflix series Stranger Things, season 3, episode 1 "Suzie, Do You Copy?", The Goldbergs, season 7, episode 13 "Geoff the Pleaser", and in the Disney+ animated series What If...?, season 2, episode 2 "What If... Peter Quill Attacked Earth's Mightiest Heroes?".

Track listings and formats

7-inch single^[8]

"Never Surrender" – 4:23
"Water from the Moon" – 3:28

Performers

Corey Hart – vocals
Gary Breit – keyboards
Jon Astley – Fairlight programming, Oberheim DMX
Michael Hehir – guitars
Russell Boswell – bass
Bruce Moffet – percussion
Andy Hamilton – saxophone
Marilyn Martin – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Never Surrender"
Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[9]	20
Canada Retail Singles (The Record)^[10]	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[11]	1
Germany (GfK)^[12]	37
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[1]	38
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[14]	8
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report)^[15]	9
US Top 40 (Gavin Report)^[16]	3
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)^[17]	6
US AOR/Hot Tracks (Radio & Records)^[18]	6
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)^[18]	3

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Never Surrender"
Chart (1985)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[19]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[20]	44
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report)^[21]	58
US Top 40 (Gavin Report)^[22]	26
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)^[23]	49
US AOR Tracks (Radio & Records)^[24]	73
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)^[25]	23

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[2]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ ^a ^b "Corey Hart – Never Surrender". Top 40 Singles.
^ ^a ^b "Canadian single certifications – Corey Hart – Never Surrender". Music Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
^ David Friend, "Corey Hart updates Never Surrender as pandemic-era salute to people's strength". CBC News, May 13, 2020.
^ Wiser, Carl (June 27, 2012). "Corey Hart : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
^ Sholin, Dave (May 24, 1985). "Personal Picks: Singles". Gavin Report. No. 1558. p. 41.
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Boy in the Box Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
^ Linda Moleski (1986-11-22), Canadian's Overjoyed At US Success - Hart Is Beside Himself, Billboard
^ Never Surrender (Canadian 7-inch single sleeve). Corey Hart. Aquarius Records. 1985. AQ-6017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 134. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
^ Lwin, Nanda (1996). Canadian Singles Chart Book 1975–1996. Mississauga, Ontario: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-09-3.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 503." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
^ "Corey Hart – Never Surrender" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
^ "Corey Hart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
^ "Corey Hart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
^ Fell, Ron, ed. (August 23, 1985). "the Gavin Report: A/C". Gavin Report. No. 1571. p. 16.
^ Sholin, Dave, ed. (August 2, 1985). "the Gavin Report: Top 40". Gavin Report. No. 1568. p. 2.
^ "The Back Page – Adult Contemporary". Radio & Records. No. 598. August 23, 1985. p. 94.
^ ^a ^b "The Back Page – National Airplay/August 2, 1985". Radio & Records. No. 595. August 2, 1985. p. 90.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 697." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
^ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
^ "Adult Contemporary Top 100". Gavin Report. No. 1587. December 13, 1985. p. 27.
^ "Top-40 Top 100". Gavin Report. No. 1587. December 13, 1985. p. 26.
^ "Top 85 of '85: Adult/Contemporary". Radio & Records. No. 614. December 13, 1985. p. 89.
^ "Top 85 of '85: AOR Tracks". Radio & Records. No. 614. December 13, 1985. p. 82.
^ "Top 85 of '85: Contemporary Hit Radio". Radio & Records. No. 614. December 13, 1985. p. 72.

Liner notes from Boy in the Box album
MVDbase Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine - List of Hart's videos
Discogs - List of Hart's singles

[nz-1] "Corey Hart – Never Surrender". Top 40 Singles.

[cria-2] "Canadian single certifications – Corey Hart – Never Surrender". Music Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2025.

[3] David Friend, "Corey Hart updates Never Surrender as pandemic-era salute to people's strength". CBC News, May 13, 2020.

[4] Wiser, Carl (June 27, 2012). "Corey Hart : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved February 28, 2021.

[5] Sholin, Dave (May 24, 1985). "Personal Picks: Singles". Gavin Report. No. 1558. p. 41.

[6] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Boy in the Box Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2009.

[7] Linda Moleski (1986-11-22), Canadian's Overjoyed At US Success - Hart Is Beside Himself, Billboard

[8] Never Surrender (Canadian 7-inch single sleeve). Corey Hart. Aquarius Records. 1985. AQ-6017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[9] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 134. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.

[10] Lwin, Nanda (1996). Canadian Singles Chart Book 1975–1996. Mississauga, Ontario: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-09-3.

[rpm-11] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 503." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2025.

[ger-12] "Corey Hart – Never Surrender" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 14, 2025.

[hot100-13] "Corey Hart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2025.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Corey_Hart-14] "Corey Hart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2025.

[15] Fell, Ron, ed. (August 23, 1985). "the Gavin Report: A/C". Gavin Report. No. 1571. p. 16.

[16] Sholin, Dave, ed. (August 2, 1985). "the Gavin Report: Top 40". Gavin Report. No. 1568. p. 2.

[17] "The Back Page – Adult Contemporary". Radio & Records. No. 598. August 23, 1985. p. 94.

[r&r82-18] "The Back Page – National Airplay/August 2, 1985". Radio & Records. No. 595. August 2, 1985. p. 90.

[rpmyearend-19] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 697." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2025.

[20] "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.

[21] "Adult Contemporary Top 100". Gavin Report. No. 1587. December 13, 1985. p. 27.

[22] "Top-40 Top 100". Gavin Report. No. 1587. December 13, 1985. p. 26.

[23] "Top 85 of '85: Adult/Contemporary". Radio & Records. No. 614. December 13, 1985. p. 89.

[24] "Top 85 of '85: AOR Tracks". Radio & Records. No. 614. December 13, 1985. p. 82.

[25] "Top 85 of '85: Contemporary Hit Radio". Radio & Records. No. 614. December 13, 1985. p. 72.

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