Slade Live on UK Television A Closer Look at We Won’t Give In and Its Broadcast Performance
On British television in the late nineteen eighties, Slade delivered a performance of We Won’t Give In that captured both the resilience of the band and the uncertain commercial climate they faced at the time. The song, written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, was first recorded for the soundtrack of the British drama Knights & Emeralds in 1986 before becoming part of Slade’s fourteenth studio album You Boyz Make Big Noize. It was released as a single in November 1987 through the band’s own Cheapskate label amid a challenging period for Slade’s chart success.
Musically, We Won’t Give In is described by Holder as a heavy ballad that stands apart from the band’s more familiar stomping rock and glam anthems. The song’s structure departs from the high energy boogie style associated with Slade’s peak chart years in the seventies, instead leaning into a measured and melodic form that reflects the lyrical message of persistence and determination. Despite the band’s confidence in the track, it reached only number 121 on the UK Singles Chart, making it their first UK single of new material not to enter the top 100 since nineteen eighty one.
The UK television performance brought We Won’t Give In into living rooms at a time when the band was working to reassert its place in British rock. Slade performed the song on mainstream broadcast shows, including a December nineteen eighty seven appearance on BBC One’s lunchtime program Daytime Live, where they also played their perennial festive hit Merry Xmas Everybody. These televised performances were part of the promotional effort around the single’s release and the broader You Boyz Make Big Noize project.
In the context of Slade’s career, We Won’t Give In represents a period of transition. By the mid nineteen eighties, the band was navigating a music industry increasingly dominated by new wave and synth oriented pop, while still drawing on its rock foundations. You Boyz Make Big Noize and its associated singles did not achieve the commercial impact of earlier Slade albums, leading RCA to end their relationship with the band. In response, Slade took greater control of their releases, exemplified by the independent single release of We Won’t Give In.
Critically, the song drew mixed responses upon release. Some reviewers noted its slower and more reflective tone compared to typical Christmas or rock fare, while others appreciated Holder’s vocal intensity and the song’s emotional resonance. In later assessments, rock writers have described We Won’t Give In as one of the more compelling moments from the You Boyz Make Big Noize sessions, highlighting its lyrical message of perseverance.
More than just a televised performance, Slade’s rendition of We Won’t Give In on UK television offers insight into a veteran rock band confronting changing tastes and the pressures of sustaining relevance. It underscores both the challenges they faced in the late eighties and their commitment to forging ahead creatively, regardless of commercial reception.