"Forever Young" is a song by German synth-pop band Alphaville from their 1984 debut studio album of the same name. The single was successful in Scandinavia and in the European German-speaking countries in the same year. The single achieved more success in the United States than in the United Kingdom, but it failed to reach the American top 40 despite three separate US single releases. Though not the group's highest-charting single in Europe, "Forever Young" was one of the band's signature songs and has been covered by numerous artists. It also formed the basis of Jay-Z's song "Young Forever". "Forever Young" is written in the key of C major. Alphaville versions Original 1984 version Background and video Originally released by Alphaville as a single in 1984, "Forever Young" was available in both its original mix and in a dance version, entitled the "Special Dance Mix". Over the years, the band has released several remixes and demo versions of the song. The single initially reached number 93 in 1985 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top 40 on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/ Club Play Singles. When re-released in 1988, it peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's music video, directed by Brian Ward, shows the band performing in one of the halls at Holloway Sanatorium in Virginia Water, England. A number of people from children to the elderly, dressed in ragged finery, awake to watch the band, then walk through a diamond-shaped glowing portal. Track listings 7-inch single "Forever Young" – 3:45 "Welcome to the Sun" – 3:09 12-inch maxi single "Forever Young" (special dance version) – 6:06 "Forever Young" – 3:45 "Welcome to the Sun" – 3:09 "Welcome to the Sun" also appeared (in a remix and a re-recording) on 1999's Dreamscapes. Other releases The original album version has also appeared on the following official Alphaville releases: Alphaville Amiga Compilation, 1988 Alphaville: The Singles Collection, 1988 First Harvest 1984–92, 1992 The "Special Dance Version" and the B-side "Welcome to the Sun" were both included on so80s presents Alphaville (2014). Other versions This song has been released several times in various forms, including remixes and demos, on: Alphaville: The Singles Collection, 1988 (remixed) History, 1993 (covered live) Dreamscapes, 1999 (demo, demo remix, performed live and re-recorded acoustically) Little America, 1999 (performed live) Stark Naked and Absolutely Live, 2000 (performed live) Forever Pop, 2001 (remixed)