"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.^[1]

In a 2022 interview, Marian Gold said that it's "a great privilege" to have "Forever Young", as well as "Big in Japan", in "their luggage" when touring, and that he is grateful to be able to perform these songs.^[2]

In 2001, Alphaville released a new set of remixes in a "limited fan edition" called "Forever Young 2001". This single contained three music tracks, one spoken word track, and a PC-only track.

This CD was released to fans for free, only postage needed to be paid. The names of every fan who had requested a copy were printed on the inside cover. Copies were hand-signed by the band. The remixes that appear on the single have not appeared on other releases.

The cover is a still image from the video, which was created by The Cartoon Saloon.

Released in 2006, this CD contains two new remixes by notable remix artist Bill Hamel. It also includes a digitally remastered version of the original album version of the song. The remix reached number 31 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, peaking higher than the original version in 1986, which only charted at number 47.^[28]

In 1994, German electronic group Interactive released a cover of "Forever Young" which reached number seven in Germany and number ten in both Denmark and the Netherlands. It also made the top 20 in five other countries and on the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 34. This electronic dance version does not contain most of the song's lyrics and only includes a slightly modified chorus as the sole vocals. In 2002, German DJ and music producer Kosmonova remixed their version of "Forever Young". The remix peaked at number 21 in Germany and number 37 in the UK.

In 2005, Australian rock band Youth Group were asked by the producers of the American television series The O.C. to record a version of "Forever Young" for use in the show, following a positive response to the use of their single "Shadowland" in a previous episode. Their version of "Forever Young" was used in the show and the show's trailers and was included on the soundtrack album Music from the OC: Mix 5. Released as a single in Australia on 6 March 2006, the song reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart for two weeks. The track was included on Youth Group's third studio album, Casino Twilight Dogs, released later that year.

In 2010, American electronic music group Cash Cash released a cover of the song. It was released on 8 March 2010 through Universal Records.^[56][57] The song was serviced to radio in the United States on 12 May 2010.^[58]

In 2020, British singer Becky Hill released a cover version of the song. It was released on 13 November 2020 by Polydor Records and Eko Records.^[63] The song was selected as the soundtrack to the 2020 McDonald's Christmas advert in the UK.

• In 1985, Laura Branigan covered the song on her album Hold Me. This version was also included on her 2010 digitally remastered two-disc greatest hits compilation Shine On: The Ultimate Collection.
• In 1989, reggae artist Wayne Wonder released a cover version that achieved some popularity in Jamaica. A recording of Wonder's version was released on the Alphaville Fan Club release History (1993).
• In 1993, German heavy metal guitarist Axel Rudi Pell covered "Forever Young" on his album The Ballads, and it was also released as a single.
• In 1997, Swedish vocal group Ainbusk covered the song in Swedish, as För evigt nu, with lyrics by Marie Nilsson-Lind.^[69] They also recorded the song for their 2001 holiday album I midvintertid, en jul på Gotland.^[70]
• Karel Gott covered the song in Czech, as Být stále mlád in 1999, and in German as Für immer jung, released on his 2000 album with the same name, released on 7 February 2000.^[71]
• In 2007 by Tiffany on Monster New Wave Hits.
• In 2009, American rapper Jay-Z sampled a reworked 1992 version of the Wayne Wonder cover (which now featured Buju Banton & Stone Love) for his album The Blueprint 3. Retitled "Young Forever", Jay-Z's rap version featured Mr Hudson and reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.^[72]
• American singer Brandi Carlile included a live performance of "Forever Young" as a hidden final track on her Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony album (2011).
• In 2011, EP by Sam Concepcion in commemoration of his 10th anniversary in the show business industry. It was released in September 2011 under Universal Records. composer: Ito Rapadas of Neo Colors & Kathleen Dy Go.
• In 2019, Undressd released a cover that charted in Sweden peaking at number 40 on Sverigetopplistan, the official Swedish singles chart.^[73]
• In 2019, Frederick Lloyd, under his "Ursine Vulpine" alias, recorded a cover of the song. His cover was featured in the trailers to the 2019 film Gemini Man^[74] as well as the 2021 video game New World.^[75]
• At the end of 2019, a version of the song, sung by American singer-songwriter Andrea von Kampen, was recorded for the Hafod Hardware Christmas advertisement.^[76][77]
• In 2023, American singer Anastacia covered "Forever Young" for her studio album Our Songs.^[78]