When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

This lead sheet captures a song with genuine staying power. The melody sits well for most voices, and the harmonic framework gives players room to comfortably improvise or lock into straightforward accompaniment patterns without getting lost in complex changes.

Upbeat and determined, with an infectious rhythmic drive that propels the song forward. The melody has a natural swagger that makes singers feel confident, while the harmonic movement stays accessible enough to let accompanists focus on locking in the groove.

Pianists and keyboardists preparing for pop or rock ensembles, plus vocalists working on lead sheets for jazz or contemporary music classes. This works well for musicians building confidence with chord changes in a commercial music context.

• Keep the groove grounded and confident. The song's title delivers its own message about execution, so commit fully to the pocket rather than rushing.
• Shape the vocal line with clear phrasing at the ends of phrases rather than pushing through. The strength comes from intentionality, not energy.
• Support the melody with steady rhythmic accompaniment on keyboard. A simple, repeating pattern often serves this material better than constant variation.

Include this in a contemporary music unit or pop history lesson where students explore 1980s songwriting. It pairs naturally with other lead sheet arrangements in a vocal jazz or commercial music ensemble, giving students practice with a song that sits squarely in the pop idiom.

• Reading and performing from lead sheets
• Interpreting slash chords and jazz voicings
• Accompanying singers with appropriate keyboard texture
• Understanding pop and R&B harmonic conventions