Honestly, if you haven’t heard the opening piano riff of "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)," have you even watched a romantic comedy in the last thirty years? It’s that song. You know the one. It’s the sonic equivalent of a double shot of espresso and a winning lottery ticket. Natalie Cole didn't just sing a song in 1975; she unleashed a force of nature that has somehow become the universal soundtrack for falling in love, getting married, or just feeling like the main character in your own life.
But here’s the thing. There’s a weird amount of confusion about this track. People constantly mix it up with the other "Everlasting Love"—the one by Robert Knight or Carl Carlton. They are completely different songs. Natalie’s version is a gospel-infused, high-speed soul masterpiece that almost didn't happen because the industry wasn't sure if the world wanted another "Nat King Cole" in a dress.
They were wrong.
The Breakthrough That Almost Never Was
When Natalie Cole walked into the studio to record her debut album Inseparable, she was carrying the heaviest last name in music history. Imagine being the daughter of Nat King Cole. Everyone expected jazz. Everyone expected polite. Instead, she teamed up with Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy, two guys who saw a fire in her that had nothing to do with "Unforgettable" (well, not yet).
"This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" was the lead single, and it hit the airwaves like a lightning bolt. It was fast. It was joyous. It had that incredible "scat" section toward the end where Natalie proves her vocal gymnastics are second to none. Basically, she wasn't just Nat's daughter anymore. She was a powerhouse.
The song didn't just "do well." It snatched the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1976. Why is that a big deal? Because Aretha Franklin had won that specific award for eight years straight. Natalie broke the streak. That’s like a rookie showing up to the NBA Finals and outplaying Prime Michael Jordan.
Why Everlasting Love Natalie Cole Is a Movie Legend
If you grew up in the late 90s or early 2000s, you probably didn't discover this song on a soul radio station. You found it in The Parent Trap. Or A Cinderella Story. Or Taxi.
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Directors love this track because it’s a "utility player." It works for:
- The "first sight" moment where a guy sees a girl and the world stops.
- The makeover montage where someone finally gets their life together.
- The closing credits where everyone is happy and the audience leaves the theater smiling.
There’s a specific psychological lift that happens when those drums kick in. It’s a Pavlovian response at this point. We hear Natalie belt out that first "Huggin' and a-squeezin'!" and our brains immediately signal that a happy ending is coming.
The 1987 "Everlasting" Comeback
It’s important to clarify that "Everlasting Love" isn't just a song title in her world—it was the name of her massive 1987 comeback album, simply titled Everlasting. This is where things get interesting. By the mid-80s, Natalie had gone through hell. Drug addiction had nearly derailed her career and her life.
The Everlasting album was her "I’m back" statement. It featured "Jump Start," "I Live for Your Love," and that surprisingly great cover of Bruce Springsteen’s "Pink Cadillac." While the 1975 song "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" is the one everyone hums at weddings, the 1987 Everlasting era was arguably more significant for her as a person. It proved she could survive.
The Technical Brilliance You Might Miss
If you strip away the nostalgia, the song is actually a beast to sing. Most modern pop songs stay in a comfortable four-note range. Natalie, on the other hand, is all over the place.
- The Intro: That staccato piano sets a tempo that is deceptively fast.
- The Verses: She stays light, almost conversational, before building the pressure.
- The Bridge: When she hits the "You've given me the thrill of my life" line, the modulation kicks in.
- The Outro: The "loving you is some-kind-of-wonderful" section is a masterclass in breath control.
Most people try to sing this at karaoke and realize by the two-minute mark that they are out of breath and nowhere near her key.
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What Really Happened with the Chart Success
Sometimes we remember songs as being bigger than they were on the charts, but this one actually backed up the hype. It hit #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B charts. It stayed there because it appealed to everyone. It wasn't "too black" for pop radio and it wasn't "too pop" for the soul stations.
In the UK, it took a bit longer to settle in, originally peaking at #32, but its longevity is what matters. It has been certified Platinum multiple times over in the digital era because it’s one of those "perennial" tracks. It gets streamed every time someone creates a wedding playlist or a "feel good" mix.
Is It a Cover? (The Big Misconception)
Let's settle this once and for all.
If you search for "Everlasting Love," you will find a dozen versions.
- Robert Knight (1967): The original "Hearts go astray..." version.
- Love Affair (1968): The big UK hit.
- Carl Carlton (1974): The disco-fied version.
- U2 (1989): Yes, even Bono did it.
Natalie Cole's "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" is NOT a cover of that song. It is a completely original composition by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy. If you're looking for the song that goes "Hearts go astray, leaving hurt in their wake," you're looking for the Robert Knight song. If you're looking for the song that makes you want to jump for joy and celebrate a new relationship, you're looking for Natalie.
How to Actually Use This Song in 2026
If you’re a content creator, a DJ, or just someone planning an event, there’s a "right" way to use this track.
Don't bury it. This is not a "background music" song. The energy is too high. If you play this while people are trying to eat dinner, they’re going to be annoyed because they’ll want to tap their feet instead of chewing.
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The "Grand Entrance" Trick
If you’re using this for a wedding or a big reveal, start the track exactly at the 0:00 mark. That piano intro is iconic. Don't fade it in. Let it "pop."
Check the Remixes
There are some modern "Re-edits" that beef up the kick drum for club environments, but honestly? The 1975 original mix is so well-engineered that it still sounds crisp on modern Atmos systems.
Natalie Cole’s journey with "Everlasting Love" (both the song and the album) is a story of a woman finding her own voice in the shadow of a giant. She didn't just inherit a legacy; she built one from scratch with a four-minute explosion of pure, unadulterated joy.
Next time it comes on the radio, don't just listen to it. Pay attention to that grit in her voice when she hits the high notes toward the end. That’s the sound of a woman who knew exactly who she was.
Take Action:
- Check your favorite streaming platform for the Everlasting 1987 album to hear her "comeback" sound.
- If you're planning a playlist, pair "This Will Be" with "Best of My Love" by The Emotions for a seamless 70s soul transition.
- Watch the 1998 version of The Parent Trap just to see how perfectly the song is edited into the opening—it’s a masterclass in music supervision.