Life's What You Make It (Talk Talk song)

Last updated

"Life's What You Make It"
Life's What You Make It (Talk Talk song).jpg
Original release
Single by Talk Talk
from the album The Colour of Spring
B-side "It's Getting Late in the Evening"
ReleasedNovember 1985 (EU) [1]
6 January 1986 (UK)
Recorded1985
Studio
Genre New wave [4] [5]
Length4:29
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Tim Friese-Greene
Talk Talk UKsingles chronology
"Dum Dum Girl"
(1984)
"Life's What You Make It"
(1986)
"Living in Another World"
(1986)

Charts

Chart (1985–1986)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [11] 70
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [12] 14
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [13] 48
Europe (European Top 100 Singles) [14] 10
France (SNEP) [15] 49
Germany (Official German Charts) [16] 24
Ireland (IRMA) [17] 17
Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [18] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [19] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [20] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [21] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [22] 17
UK Singles (OCC) [23] 16
US Billboard Hot 100 [24] 90
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 1 [24] 22
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 1 [24] 40
US Billboard Top Rock Tracks [24] 26
US Cash Box [25] 88
Chart (1990)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [26] 66
Ireland (IRMA) [17] 23
UK Singles (OCC) [27] 23

1Remix

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [28] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

The song is covered in 1994 by The Divine Comedy with a string quartet during the Promenade album sessions, and released in several occasions.

In 2009, "Life's What You Make It" was covered by Australian rock musician Rowland S. Howard for his final solo album Pop Crimes . [29]

For the 2012 benefit tribute album Spirit of Talk Talk, "Life's What You Make It" was covered by singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik in a duet with Rachael Yamagata. [30] In 2011 the Danish band Dúné recorded the song for the film ID:A . [31]

More recently, a Placebo cover version of "Life's What You Make It" featured on both a double A-side (with "Jesus' Son") and the band's Life's What You Make It EP in 2016. [32] American rock band Joywave covered the song for a Spotify Singles release for the music streaming service in 2018. [33]

The track appeared in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City , where it plays on the fictional in-game pop radio station Flash FM. [34]

Related Research Articles

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