Who Wants To Live Forever

1. 1. Who Wants To Live Forever (Sixty Six Radio Mix)     3:54
   
2. 2. Who Wants To Live Forever (South Bound Mix)     3:58
   
3. 3. One Day In Glencoe     4:49
   
4. 4. Valley Of Tears     4:58
   
5. 5. In The Air – Part II     10:28
   

℗ + © 1996 Orbit Records GmbH
Vocals: Verena von Strenge

In 1996, EMI Electrola president Helmut Fest came up with the concept of releasing a tribute album to the world-renowned British rock group Queen. This tribute would consist of many well-known German dance acts/projects contributing cover versions of famous Queen songs in the style of pop/Eurodance. These acts included DJ Bobo, Mr. President, U96, Culture Beat and Blümchen.

When DUNE was approached for this project, they chose “Who Wants To Live Forever”, which was originally written for the 1986 film ‘Highlander’. However, DUNE decided to go against the brief and produced a cover version in a classical style. Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London with the 60-man London Session Orchestra, “Who Wants To Live Forever” gave DUNE their biggest hit.

In Germany, the song peaked at No. 2, spending almost 3 months in the Top 10, selling in excess of 750,000 copies. Across Europe, the single achieved Top Ten positions in Austria, Switzerland and Hungary, reached the Top 20 in The Netherlands, and once again enabled DUNE to chart on the UK charts (No. 77).

Following the huge success of this release, DUNE decided to record a full album of classics together with The London Session Orchestra.

Chart Run

Germany: NE: 6-5-2–2-3-4-3-4-4-6-9-12-17-21-30-41-51-68 (11.11.96)

Switzerland: NE: 15-17-11-9-10-16-13-12-11-12-15-21-28-39-45 (01.12.96)

Austria: NE: 19-10-4-3–3-5-4-6-9-9-11-13-13-31-24 (01.12.96)

Netherlands: NE: 45-36-26-16-12-15-16-18-22-29-35-46-65 (30.11.96)

Sweden: NE: 59 (17.01.97)

UK: NE: 77-98 (22.03.97)

Did You Know?

• “Who Wants To Live Forever” received a platinum certification for selling over 750,000 CD’s in Germany.
• On account of the international success of “Who Wants To Live Forever”, “Queen Dance Traxx 1” was reissued, containing “Who Wants To Live Forever” as a Bonus Track.
• “Who Wants To Live Forever” was promoted as the farewell single of Verena but due to the unexpected success, Verena postponed the goodbye for a while to record a full album with pop classic tunes with DUNE. Shortly after she left the band.
• This single comes with 2 new tracks “Valley Of Tears” and “One Day In Glencoe”, unique to the Maxi-Single. Along with the album track “In The Air – Part II”, these form the ‘Highland Trilogy’.
• In 2003, German producer Sasha De Vries released a Trance/House cover of “Who Wants To Live Forever” and they asked Vanessa Hörster (singer of “Keep The Secret” and “Electric Heaven” for this release. They even promoted the single with Dune’s ‘original singer’.
• The video was shot in Glencoe, Scotland at Historical places like Kilmorich Parish Church yard and Kilchurn Castle on September 26th 1996. Matt Broadley, who had previously worked with DUNE on the “Hand In Hand” video, directed the clip.

Promo CD (Tin Box)

Alternate French CD

Official music video