"It's My Life" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Talk Talk | ||||
from the album It's My Life | ||||
B-side | "Does Caroline Know?" | |||
Released | 3 January 1984 [1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Tim Friese-Greene | |||
Talk Talk singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"It's My Life" on YouTube |
"It's My Life" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Talk Talk | ||||
from the album Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk | ||||
A-side | "It's My Life" (Original Version) | |||
B-side | "Renée" (Live) | |||
Released | 7 May 1990 [4] | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mark Hollis | |||
Producer(s) | Tim Friese-Greene | |||
Talk Talk singles chronology | ||||
|
"It's My Life" is a song by the English new wave band Talk Talk. Written by Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, it was the title track on the band's second album, It's My Life (1984), and released as its first single in January 1984. It reached number 46 on the UK Singles Chart, but did better in several other countries, reaching number 33 in Germany, number 32 in New Zealand, number 25 in France and number 9 in Italy. In North America, it entered the Top 40 in both the United States (at number 31) and Canada (at number 30). It peaked at number 1 on the US Dance Club Songs chart.
The single was re-released in the UK in 1985, but only peaked at 93. In 1990, however, "It's My Life" was reissued again to promote the compilation album Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk . This time, the song was a hit in the UK, reaching number 13, the band's highest chart-placing single in its native country.
There are two versions of the video for "It's My Life". The first, envisioned by director Tim Pope as a statement against the banality of lip-synching, consists almost entirely of footage from the 1979 BBC wildlife documentary Life on Earth , interspersed with shots of Talk Talk lead singer Mark Hollis standing in various places throughout the London Zoo. He keeps his hands in his coat pockets and his mouth pointedly shut tight, the latter often obscured by hand-drawn animated lines that occasionally appear in the documentary footage sequences as well. [5]
The second version, recorded at the behest of EMI, consisted of the entirety of the original video projected on a green screen behind Hollis on guitar and vocals as well as his two bandmates as they lip-synched and mimed the song, deliberately poorly and with comic exaggerated gestures. [6]
Talk Talk
Additional musicians
7" single
12" single – North America
12" single – Europe
7" single
CD maxi
|
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [24] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"It's My Life" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by No Doubt | ||||
from the album The Singles 1992–2003 | ||||
Released | 20 October 2003 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:46 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
No Doubt singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"It's My Life on YouTube |
The American rock band No Doubt recorded a cover version of the song to promote their first greatest hits album The Singles 1992–2003 (2003). Because the band was on hiatus while lead singer Gwen Stefani recorded her solo debut album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004), they decided to record a cover to avoid having to write a new song. [27] Eventually, after considering hundreds of songs, they narrowed it down to two contenders – "It's My Life" by Talk Talk and "Don't Change" by Australian rock band INXS. "A Question of Lust" by English electronic band Depeche Mode was another close contender. [28] No Doubt later had second thoughts about recording a cover and contemplated writing new material. [27] However, they became more comfortable after rehearsing the song with producer Nellee Hooper, [28] referring to it as a "feel-good" song. [27] No Doubt's version of "It's My Life" was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 47th Grammy Awards. [29] Jacques Lu Cont, the song's programmer, created the Thin White Duke mix of "It's My Life", which won the award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. [30]
No Doubt's cover version was successful in the United States, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remaining on the chart for 28 weeks. [31] On the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay chart the song debuted at number 41 on the 10 October 2003 issue and after six weeks reached and peaked at number five staying there for two non-consecutive weeks, it remained on the top-ten of the chart for nine weeks and remained on it for 20 weeks. [32] It was moderately successful on adult contemporary stations, reaching number 20 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, but had high longevity and appeared atop the Adult Top 40's recurrent chart. The single was more successful at nightclubs, peaking at number 16 on the US Dance Club Songs chart, and had some play on modern rock stations, reaching number 32 on the US Alternative Songs chart. [33] The Recording Industry Association of America certified the digital download Gold for selling 500,000 copies. [34]
On the UK Singles chart, "It's My Life" debuted at number 20 but was unable to reach a higher position until it was released with a remix of the No Doubt song "Bathwater" which boosted the single up to number 17. The single dropped off the chart after seven weeks. It was more of a success across Europe, reaching the top-ten in Italy, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, and the top 20 in Austria, Belgium, France and Switzerland. [31] The single reached number seven on the ARIA Charts in Australia, lasting 17 weeks on the chart, [31] and was listed at number 81 on the 2004 year-end chart. [35] The Australian Recording Industry Association certified the single Platinum in 2004 for shipping 70,000 copies. [36]
The 1930s-style music video for the song was directed by David LaChapelle. [37] In the video, Stefani portrays a black widow whose look closely resembles that of actress Jean Harlow, whom Stefani portrayed in the Martin Scorsese film The Aviator . [38] She is put on trial and sentenced to death for the murders of three men she knew, who are portrayed by the other members of the band. She kills the first man (guitarist Tom Dumont) with rat poison mixed into his dinner, the second (bassist Tony Kanal) by running him over with his car, and the third (drummer Adrian Young) by throwing her hair dryer into the bathtub to electrocute him. These scenes are intercut with moments of Stefani in court and being dragged to the gas chamber, wearing a prison uniform, where she is executed. The video ends with the three murder victims together, presumably in the afterlife, laughing at her televised execution.
The music video was moderately successful on video chart programs. On MTV's Total Request Live , it reached number seven in November 2003 [39] and was on the countdown as late as January 2004. [40] The video peaked at number eight on MuchMusic's Countdown and remained on the program through March 2004. [41] At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, "It's My Life" won the awards for Best Group Video and Best Pop Video. It also received nominations for Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction. [42]
2-track
CD single
UK CD single [43]
UK re-issue "It's My Life" / "Bathwater" double A-side CD single [44] [45]
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [98] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [99] | Platinum | 10,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI) [100] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [101] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Version | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | "It's My Life" | 20 October 2003 | Interscope | [102] | |
Australia | 17 November 2003 | CD | [103] | ||
United Kingdom | 24 November 2003 | [104] | |||
"It's My Life" / "Bathwater" | 1 March 2004 | [105] |
"Don't Speak" is a song by American rock band No Doubt from their third studio album, Tragic Kingdom (1995). It was released in 1996 as the third single from Tragic Kingdom in the United States by Interscope Records. Lead singer Gwen Stefani and her brother Eric Stefani, former No Doubt member, wrote the song originally as a love song. The song went through several rewrites and new versions. Gwen modified it into a breakup song about her bandmate and ex-boyfriend Tony Kanal, shortly after he ended their seven-year relationship.
"In da Club" is a song by American rapper 50 Cent from his debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). Written by 50 Cent alongside producers Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo, the song, which uses an unconventional off-beat rhythm, was released on January 7, 2003, as the album's lead single and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming 50 Cent's first number-one single.
"Pieces of Me" is the debut single of American pop/rock singer Ashlee Simpson and the first single from her debut album, Autobiography (2004). The song, which was jointly written and composed by Simpson, Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks and produced by Shanks, is a blend of pop and rock with lyrics about finding comfort and happiness in a relationship with a new boyfriend.
The Singles 1992–2003 is a greatest hits album by American rock band No Doubt, released on November 14, 2003, by Interscope Records. It features 13 of the band's singles from three studio albums—Tragic Kingdom (1995), Return of Saturn (2000), and Rock Steady (2001)—and the single "Trapped in a Box" from their 1992 self-titled debut album. The album also included a cover of Talk Talk's 1984 song "It's My Life", the only new song on the album and which was released as a single. It was released alongside the DVD Rock Steady Live, a video of a concert as part of the band's Rock Steady tour in 2002, and the box set Boom Box, which contained The Singles 1992–2003, Everything in Time, The Videos 1992–2003, and Live in the Tragic Kingdom.
"American Life" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It is the title track from her ninth studio album American Life (2003), and was released digitally as the lead single from the album on March 24, 2003, by Maverick Records. It is a pop, techno and folk song written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï; the lyrics to "American Life" feature violent transitions and a political and religious view from Madonna. She questions the shallowness of modern life and the American Dream during the presidency of George W. Bush. Towards the end of the song, Madonna raps, naming the people who were working for her.
"What You Waiting For?" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). Written by Stefani and Linda Perry, the song is the album's opening track and was released as Stefani's debut solo single. Lyrically, "What You Waiting For?" details Stefani's lack of inspiration and fear of producing the album, as well as her reaction to pressures exerted by her record label. It is primarily an electropop song and introduces Stefani's four backup dancers, the Harajuku Girls, who had a major input into the album's production.
"Underneath It All" is a song by American ska band No Doubt from their fourth studio album Rock Steady (2001). It was written by the band's lead singer Gwen Stefani and David Stewart. The song features a reggae production from Sly and Robbie and guest vocals from Lady Saw. The song received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics.
"Slow" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her ninth studio album, Body Language (2003). It was released as the lead single from the album by Festival Mushroom Records and Parlophone on 3 November 2003. The song was written by Minogue, Dan Carey, Emilíana Torrini, and produced by Carey, Torrini, and Sunnyroads. "Slow" is an electropop and synth-pop song in which Minogue invites a man to "slow down" and dance with her.
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" is a song by Australian rock band Jet from their 2003 debut album, Get Born. It was released as the first single from the album on 18 August 2003 in the United States and on 1 September 2003 in Australia.
"Hella Good" is a song by American rock band No Doubt from their fifth studio album, Rock Steady (2001). Written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal and the Neptunes, and produced by Nellee Hooper and the band, "Hella Good" was released as the album's second single on March 11, 2002, and received positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who made comparisons to the work of a diverse range of artists such as Afrika Bambaataa and Madonna.
American rock band No Doubt has released six studio albums, five compilation albums, three video albums, 22 singles, five promotional singles, and 21 music videos. The band was formed in Anaheim, California in 1986. After many line-up changes, it released its self-titled debut album in 1992, but its ska-pop sound was overshadowed by the popularity of the grunge movement. Following the self-released The Beacon Street Collection, Tragic Kingdom was released in 1995 and rode the surge of ska punk to become one of the best-selling albums, largely due to the international success of its third single "Don't Speak".
"Welcome to My Life" is a song by Canadian rock band Simple Plan. "Welcome to My Life" was released to radio on September 14, 2004, as the lead single from their second studio album, Still Not Getting Any... (2004). It peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number seven in Australia, and number five in New Zealand, their highest charting song there. The song is certified gold in the United States and Italy, and platinum in Australia.
"White Flag" is a song by English singer-songwriter Dido, released as the lead single from her second studio album, Life for Rent (2003). The song was first released to US radio on 7 July 2003 and was issued in the United Kingdom as a physical single on 1 September 2003. The song performed well on record charts around the world, peaking at number one in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Portugal. In Dido's native UK, it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, and in the United States, it climbed to number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Frontin'" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams featuring fellow American rapper Jay-Z. It was written by the artists alongside Chad Hugo, who produced it with Williams as the Neptunes. At the time of its release, Williams insisted the single was a one-off, and that he was purely a producer and not an artist in his own right. However, he released his own solo studio album, In My Mind, in 2006.
"Call on Me" is a song co-written and produced by Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz. The song is based on a sample of Steve Winwood's 1982 song "Valerie" from the album Talking Back to the Night. "Call on Me" received significant sales success and topped several record charts. The song is famous for its music video, which features several young women and a man performing aerobics and dancing in a sexually suggestive manner.
"Bathwater" is a ska punk song written by Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Gwen Stefani for No Doubt's fourth studio album Return of Saturn (2000). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on November 14, 2000.
American singer Gwen Stefani has released four studio albums, two extended plays, 34 singles, six promotional singles, one video album, and 28 music videos. She has sold more than nine million albums as a solo artist. Stefani is also the lead singer of the rock band No Doubt, with which she has released several albums.
"Such a Shame" is a song written by Mark Hollis for the English band Talk Talk's second album It's My Life (1984). It was released as the album's second single and went on to become a top 10 hit across Europe.
"White Walls" is a hip-hop song by an American hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, taken from their collaborative debut studio album The Heist (2012). The song's hook is performed by singer Hollis, while American rapper Schoolboy Q, performs a guest verse. "White Walls" was released to American contemporary hit radio on October 8, 2013 as the fifth and final single from The Heist. The song debuted at number 100 and has since peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has sold 1,000,000 copies as of January 2014.
"Without Me" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth studio album The Eminem Show (2002). "Without Me" was released on May 13, 2002, as the lead single from the album, and re-released on his greatest hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits (2005). "Without Me" is one of Eminem's most successful singles, reaching number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number one in fifteen countries.
The EMI-signed group achieved reasonable commercial success; even a couple of top 20 singles in the synth-pop classic It's My Life
Mark and video supremo Tim Pope spent hours wading through footage of the BBC's 'Life on Earth' series and the results are refreshing to say the least.
...but No Doubt's lite-rock cover [of "It's My Life"] hit Number 10 in 2003.