Life (Des'ree song)

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"Life"
Single cover
Single by Des'ree
from the album Supernatural
B-side
  • "Open Mind"
  • "Get a Life"
Released2 June 1998 (1998-06-02)
GenrePop
Length3:29
LabelSony Soho Square, Dusted Sound
Songwriter(s)Prince Sampson, Des'ree Weekes
Producer(s)Prince Sampson, Des'ree Weekes
Des'ree singles chronology
"Fire"
(1998) 		"Life"
(1998) 		"What's Your Sign?"
(1998)
Audio sample
Des'ree – "Life"

"Life" is a song by the British pop and soul singer Des'ree. It was the third single from her third album, Supernatural (1998), 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.

Lyrics[edit]

Taking an "innocuous tone", this playful song mixes "stories about superstitions, phobias and travels around the world". The melody is "upbeat and jubilant".[1] However, the lyrics and rhymes have been widely derided, with the song winning the "worst ever pop lyric" in a 2007 BBC poll,[2] 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[edit]

J.D. Considine for Entertainment Weekly wrote in his review of the Supernatural album, "Whether she's testifying to the inner strengths that make her 'Proud to Be a Dread' or rattling off her insecurities in the drolly upbeat 'Life', Des'ree conveys a depth and complexity that go well beyond what's on the lyric sheet."[3]

Music video[edit]

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[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[47] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[48] Platinum 50,000*
France (SNEP)[49] Platinum 500,000*
Germany (BVMI)[50] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[51] Gold 35,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[52] Gold 50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[53] Platinum 75,000^
Sweden (GLF)[54] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[55] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Gold 400,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe 2 June 1998 CD
[17]
United Kingdom 8 June 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
 [57]
Japan 10 June 1998 CD Epic Japan [22]
United States 28 July 1998
550 Music [58]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 431 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  2. ^ "6 Music reveals worst pop lyrics in the world... ever!" (Press release). BBC 6 Music. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  3. ^ Considine, J.D. (21 August 1998). "Music Review: 'Supernatural'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  4. ^ Life (UK CD1 liner notes). Des'ree. Sony Soho Square, Dusted Sound Recordings. 1998. 665930 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Life (UK CD2 liner notes). Des'ree. Sony Soho Square, Dusted Sound Recordings. 1998. 665930 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Life (UK cassette single sleeve). Des'ree. Sony Soho Square, Dusted Sound Recordings. 1998. 665930 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Life (European CD single liner notes). Des'ree. Sony Soho Square, Dusted Sound Recordings. 1998. SSQ 665594 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Life (Australian CD single liner notes). Des'ree. Sony Soho Square, Dusted Sound Recordings. 1998. 665911 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Life (Japanese CD single liner notes). Des'ree. Epic Records Japan. 1998. ESCA 6971.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Des'ree – Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Des'ree – Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Des'ree – Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Des'ree – Life" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Top National Sellers". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 44. 31 October 1998. p. 12.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 36. 5 September 1998. p. 13.
  16. ^ "Des'ree – Life" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Des'ree – Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 36. 5 September 1998. p. 15. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 285 Vikuna 13.8. – 20.8. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 14 August 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Des'ree". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 33. 15 August 1998. p. 21. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  22. ^ a b "デズリーのランキング情報" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Des'ree – Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  25. ^ "Des'ree – Life". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  26. ^ "Des'ree – Life". VG-lista. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  28. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  29. ^ "Des'ree – Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Des'ree – Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  33. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1998" (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  35. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  36. ^ "Rapports annuels 1998" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Year in Focus: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 51. 19 December 1998. p. 8.
  38. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1998" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1998" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  40. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  41. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1998". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  44. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1998" (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  46. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  47. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Des'ree – Life" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  48. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  49. ^ "French single certifications – Des'ree – Life" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  50. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Des'ree; 'Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  51. ^ "Italian single certifications – Des'ree – Life" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 December 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Life" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  52. ^ "Japanese single certifications – Des'ree – Life" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 26 December 2020. Select 1999年8月 on the drop-down menu
  53. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Des'ree – Life" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Life in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  54. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  55. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Life')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – Des'ree – Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  57. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 6 June 1998. p. 25.
  58. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1258. 24 July 1999. pp. 47, 53.
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