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Life (Des'ree song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Life'" is a song by the British pop and soul singer Des'ree. It was the third single from her third album, 'Supernatural', and was released on 2 June 1998. This song remains Des'ree's biggest hit, peaking at number one in Austria, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as on the UK R&B Chart.
In 2020, the song was covered by Sorenious Bonk and Signe Mansdotter for the Netflix TV show 'Sex Education'.[https://ventsmagazine.com/2020/05/15/gattuso-sorenious-bonk-release-new-single-life/ GATTSO & Sorenious Bonk Release New Single "Life"]
Lyrics
Taking an "innocuous tone", this playful song mixes "stories about superstitions, phobias and travels around the world". The melody is "upbeat and jubilant".Elia Habib, 'Muz hit. tubes', p. 431 However, the lyrics and rhymes have been widely derided, with the song winning the "worst ever pop lyric" in a 2007 BBC poll, particularly for the verse:
'I don't want to see a ghost'
'It's the sight that I fear most'
'I'd rather have a piece of toast'
'Watch the evening news'
Critical reception
J.D. Considine for 'Entertainment Weekly' wrote in his review of the 'Supernatural' album, "Whether shes testifying to the inner strengths that make her Proud to Be a Dread or rattling off her insecurities in the drolly upbeat Life, Desree conveys a depth and complexity that go well beyond whats on the lyric sheet."
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Mike Lipscombe. It features the singer sitting on the back seat of a black 1965 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass convertible, driven by a chauffeur. Des'ree is initially sheltered from the sun by a black umbrella, which then flies away. The car passes through sugar cane fields as a crop duster flies overhead, but instead of spraying pesticide, it drops many butterflies.
Track listings
* 'UK CD1'
# "Life" (single version) 3:28
# "Open Mind" 4:19
# "Get a Life" 3:32
# "I'm Kissing You" 4:52
* 'UK CD2'
# "Life" (long version) 4:22
# "Life" (Cosmack mix) 4:25
# "Life" (Cosmack extended mix) 7:45
# "Life" (Brooklyn Funk R&B mixno rap) 5:00
* 'UK cassette single'
# "Life" (single version) 3:28
# "I'm Kissing You" 4:52
* 'European CD single'
# "Life" (single version) 3:28
# "Open Mind" 4:19
* 'Australian CD single'
# "Life" (single version) 3:28
# "Open Mind" 4:19
# "Get a Life" 3:32
# "Life" (Cosmack mix) 4:25
# "Life" (Cosmack extended mix) 7:45
* 'Japanese CD single'
# "Life" (single version)
# "Open Mind"
# "Get a Life"
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"!Chart (1998)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)
|38
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (3 Austria Top 40)
|7
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
|22
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
|17
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
|8
|-
!scope="row"|France (SNEP)
|11
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts)
|27
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland (slenski Listinn Topp 40)
|49
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
|6
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)
|7
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
|21
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
|12
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)
|66
|}
Certifications
Release history
References
Category:Des'ree songs
Category:1998 singles
Category:1998 songs
Category:550 Music singles
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:Music videos directed by Mike Lipscombe
Category:Number-one singles in Austria
Category:Number-one singles in Italy
Category:Number-one singles in Spain
Category:S2 Records singles
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