(Forever) Live and Die

"(Forever) Live and Die" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their seventh studio album, The Pacific Age (1986). Paul Humphreys sings lead vocals on the track. The single peaked at No. 11 on the UK singles chart and entered the top 10 in Canada and several European countries.

"(Forever) Live and Die"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album The Pacific Age
B-side	"This Town"
Released	26 August 1986 (1986-08-26)[1]
Studio	Studio De La Grande Armée (Paris)
Length	3:38
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Paul Humphreys Graham Weir Neil Weir
Producer(s)	Stephen Hague
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"If You Leave" (1986) "(Forever) Live and Die" (1986) "We Love You" (1986)
Music video
"(Forever) Live and Die" on YouTube

Critical reception and legacy

Lynden Barber of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that "(Forever) Live and Die" is "almost worthy of prime period ABBA, its ethereal Euro synthetics melting around a chorus that ascends towards heaven."^[2] Billboard selected the single as one of their "pop picks" for the week of 20 September, adding that it "achieves [ the Beatles'] Magical Mystery Tour spirit with '80s tech".^[3] Record Mirror's Andy Strickland referred to "an infectious little beast" with "some nice brass touches".^[4] Conversely, Simon Mills of Smash Hits portrayed the song as "limp, languid, wimpy and totally inoffensive".^[5]

In April 1987, English disc jockey (DJ) Gary Crowley identified "(Forever) Live and Die" as a "great single" and "one of [his] favourite records of the last twelve months".^[6] In a later article, Spin's James Hunter observed "the kind of emotionally transcendent dancepop [ Pet Shop Boys'] Neil Tennant always strove for, an unqualified masterpiece of tears and aural compression, carnivalesque synth figures and Wednesday afternoon blues."^[7] Stewart Mason of AllMusic wrote that it "sounds oddly unfinished, albeit pleasant enough".^[8] Barenaked Ladies' drummer Tyler Stewart named the track as his favourite of OMD's, saying, "I really love '(Forever) Live and Die'. That's a great song."^[9]

"(Forever) Live and Die" has been listed among the best tracks of 1986.^[10][11][12] The Pueblo Chieftain's Jon Pompia named the "wonderful" song as one of the 10 greatest of the 1980s;^[13] it has also appeared in "all-time" lists compiled by CFNY-FM and Q101.^[14][15]

Track listings

7-inch and 7-inch picture disc

1. "(Forever) Live and Die" – 3:36
2. "This Town" – 3:44

First 12-inch

1. "(Forever) Live and Die" (John "Tokes" Potoker – extended mix) – 5:45
2. "(Forever) Live and Die" (7-inch version) – 3:36
3. "This Town" – 3:44

Second 12-inch

1. "(Forever) Live and Die" (Tom Lord-Alge – extended remix) – 5:50
2. "(Forever) Live and Die" (7-inch version) – 3:36
3. "This Town" – 3:44

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[16] 19 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 6 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 10 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[20] 7 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 13 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 14 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[25] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 9 UK Singles (OCC)[27] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 19 US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[29] 37 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[30] 25 US Cash Box Top 100[31] 22 West Germany (GfK)[32] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[33] 25 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[34] 96 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[35] 80 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 30 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 21 Chart (1987) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[38] 25