Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1989
That's Just the Way It Is
Buy That's Just the Way It Is now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'That's Just the Way It Is'" is a song by English drummer Phil Collins, released as a single in July 1990 from his fourth solo studio album, '...But Seriously' (1989). The track features David Crosby on background vocals. The song was only released as a single in Europe and Australasia, while "Do You Remember?" was instead released in the United States. The song reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart.
The song, according to Collins, is an anti-war ballad that heavily deals with The Troubles of Northern Ireland. The song itself was positively received by most critics. The B-side to the song was "Broadway Chorus", the demo version of "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven".
Song information
The song is an anti-war ballad, about the conflict in Northern Ireland, The Troubles. Phil Collins said of the song:
David Crosby performs backing vocals on the song and duets with Collins several times. During live performances of the song, Collins would precede it with a monologue about what he thought were the "evils of war". The 'San Jose Mercury News' criticized this, saying, "But instead of reinforcing his persona as rock's Good Old Bloke, it came across as a piece of show biz, as if he wasn't feeling it but simply reading it." The B-side of the single was "Broadway Chorus", a demo version of another hit single from the album, "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven".
Track listing
#"That's Just the Way It Is" 5:19
#"Broadway Chorus" ("Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" Demo Version) 4:17
#"In The Air Tonight" (Extended Version) 7:35
Reception
Don McLeese of 'The Chicago Sun-Times' said that David Crosby was "used more effectively" on this song than any other song which had Crosby on the album. The 'Pittsburgh Post-Gazette' however, said that the song was "so lyrically vague it lacked punch". Jon Pareles of 'The New York Times' thought that the song "[echoed] Bruce Hornsby in tone and title". The 'San Jose Mercury News' thought the song was "pretty". Lennox Samuels of 'The Dallas Morning News' thought that the song "starts out as if it is going to be another "In the Air Tonight"..."before it moves into being an anti-war song". Meanwhile, 'The Atlanta Journal-Constitution' thought that Crosby's vocals "lends challenging harmony".
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Credits
* Phil Collins vocals
* David Crosby vocals
* Brad Cole keyboards
* Daryl Stuermer guitars
* Leland Sklar bass
* Chester Thompson drums, percussion
References
Category:1990 singles
Category:Anti-war songs
Category:Phil Collins songs
Category:Songs about The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
Category:Song recordings produced by Phil Collins
Category:Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham
Category:Songs written by Phil Collins
Category:1989 songs
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Warner Music Group singles
Category:Virgin Records singles
Buy That's Just the Way It Is now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1989