HOWARD JONES - EVERLASTING LOVE

Released: February 20, 1989

Charts:  US: #12   UK: #62 

Howard Jones’ “Everlasting Love” is a track from his fourth studio album, “Cross That Line”. Written by Jones, the song was released as the album’s lead single on February 1989. Notably, it was among the first singles to be issued on a 3-inch CD, a format that was less popular compared to the standard 5-inch CDs of the time. The track was co-produced by Ian Stanley, a former member of Tears for Fears.

“Everlasting Love” achieved significant success in the United States, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 19 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1989. It also spent two weeks at No. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, marking Jones’ second chart-topper in this category after 1986’s “No One Is to Blame.” The song performed less impressively in Jones’ native UK, peaking at No. 62 on the UK Singles Chart.

“Everlasting Love” reflects on the search for true, enduring love while cautioning against being swayed by superficial traits such as beauty or style. In an interview, Jones emphasized the importance of prioritizing deeper qualities in relationships, stating, “You won’t be happy with [superficial things].” He also revealed that he had found his own everlasting love with his wife, Jan, to whom he has been married for over 30 years.

Jones described their relationship as a source of “absolute pure joy” and credited its success to living by the principles expressed in his lyrics. He highlighted the importance of authenticity in music, noting that listeners can sense sincerity and genuineness: “If your lyrics are going to carry any weight, then you have to be what you say in it.”