
The song received a platinum certification in the UK. Their version reached number #1 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks, becoming their fifth chart-topper. The Irish boyband Boyzone recorded a cover version for the 1999 Comic Relief telethon, shortening the title to "When The Going Gets Tough". Songwriter(s) Billy Ocean, Barry Eastmond, Wayne Brathwaite, Mutt Lange Īided by a video featuring Douglas and co-stars Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito as lip-synching backup singers, as well as DeVito miming the saxophone solo, the song became a major international hit reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in February 1986, and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, stalling behind " How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston.

The saxophone solo is by Vernon Jeffrey Smith.

Written by Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond, Mutt Lange and Billy Ocean, the song was used as the theme song for the Michael Douglas film, The Jewel of the Nile. " When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" is a 1985 song co-written and originally recorded by English singer Billy Ocean in 1985.
