The song became a major international success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in February 1986,[3] and number two on the Billboard Hot 100, stalling behind "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston. It remains his only number-one single in the UK to date.
The video was initially banned on Top of the Pops because the actors were not part of the Musicians' Union, meaning DeVito's miming of the saxophone solo went against the rules.[5]
Critical receptionedit
Jerry Smith of the Music Week magazine gave a critical review of "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going", stating it was a "very slick US pop number" that "lacks substance and is barely saved by Ocean's strong vocal performance".[6]
Track listingedit
12-inch single
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) – 4:08
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[7]
Other versions
7th Heaven Club Mix – 6:44
7th Heaven Radio Edit – 4:22
Chartsedit
Weekly chartsedit
Weekly chart performance for "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going"
^Breihan, Tom (December 16, 2020). "The Number Ones: Billy Ocean's "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)". Stereogum. Retrieved September 24, 2023. When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going"... [is] a big, bold silly dance-pop song.
^"V. JEFFREY SMITH (TORS-Producer/Sound Engineer)... - The Outlet Radio Show". Theoutletradioshow.tumblr.com. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 458–9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^Billy Ocean is Finding Out About the Important Things in Life
^ ab"Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 16. 26 April 1986. p. 16. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^"European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 16. 26 April 1986. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 and all that (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^"Billy Ocean – When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ ab"The Irish Charts – Search Results – When the Going Gets Tough". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Billy Ocean" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
^"Nederlandse Top 40 – Billy Ocean" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Billy Ocean – When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
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^"Billy Ocean – When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going". VG-lista. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts O". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
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^"Billy Ocean – When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Billy Ocean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ "Billy Ocean Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Billy Ocean Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Billy Ocean Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Billy Ocean Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 15, 1986". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^"The Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary – Week ending February 22, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
^"Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Ocean – When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. 29 December 1986 – via Imgur.
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^"1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. 27 December 1986. p. Y-21. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
^"1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. 27 December 1986. p. Y-27. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
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^"European Gold & Platinum Awards 1986 – Belgium" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 December 1986. p. 33. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
^"Billy Ocean Is Presented With A Golden Disc At The Montreux Rock Festival" (PDF). Music & Media. 14 June 1986. p. 5. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^"British single certifications – Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^When the Going Gets Tough (UK CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 569 913-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^When the Going Gets Tough (UK cassette single sleeve). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 569 912-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Boyzone When the Going Gets Tough - Pop Up France CD single (CD5 / 5") (142509)". Eil.com. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
^By Request (UK CD album booklet). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 547 599-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 12. 20 March 1999. p. 8. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
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^"Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.3.'99 – 25.3.'99)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 19 March 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
^"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2021.