“Endless Love” was written for the 1981 film of the same name, starring Brooke Shields. Although the movie, based on the best-selling novel Endless Love, failed to make much of an impression at the box office, its theme song became a massive hit. The track earned both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and went on to win the 1982 Marquee Award for Best Original Song.
What began as a modest project soon turned into one of the biggest hits of the 1980s. At the time, Lionel Richie was best known as the saxophonist-turned-lead-vocalist and principal songwriter of the Commodores. While still with the group, he was approached by director Franco Zeffirelli, who asked him to compose an instrumental theme reminiscent of Henry Mancini’s Love Story (1971).
Eager to break into film soundtracks, Richie reworked a melody he had written for the Commodores that had never been recorded. However, Zeffirelli later decided he wanted the piece to include lyrics—and to be performed as a duet. His suggestion that Diana Ross might join Richie took the project to another level. What began as an instrumental assignment became a full-fledged romantic duet with one of the most celebrated vocalists in America.
Drawing on his experience writing heartfelt love songs, Richie crafted sweeping lyrics filled with grand, emotional expressions—lines like “You’re every breath that I take” perfectly captured the song’s title and theme.
Released under the Motown label, which represented both artists (the Commodores and Richie as a solo artist), “Endless Love” became an instant success. Interestingly, Diana Ross left Motown just two months before the song’s release, signing a $20 million contract with RCA. Motown made the most of their remaining Ross material, featuring “Endless Love” on her 1981 compilation album All the Great Hits.
Though the film quickly faded into obscurity, the song endured—cementing “Endless Love” as one of the defining romantic duets of the decade.
