"Life" is a song by the British pop and soul singer

Des'ree Desirée Annette Weekes (born 30 November 1968), known by her stage name Des'ree (), is an English pop recording artist who rose to popularity during the 1990s. She is best known for her hits "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", "Life", and " Kissi ...

. It was the third single from her third album, ''

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'', 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 The UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and the UK Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart (also known as The Official UK Hip Hop and R&B Charts, the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Singles and the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Albums, or simply the UK Urban Chart) are 40-posi ...

. In 2020, the song was covered by Sorenious Bonk and Signe Mansdotter for the

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TV show ''

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''.

Lyrics

Taking an "innocuous tone", this playful song mixes "stories about

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s and travels around the world". The melody is "upbeat and jubilant". 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 J. D. Considine (born 1957) is a music critic who has been writing about music professionally since 1977. Background J. D. Considine's work has been published in numerous newspapers and music magazines, and he has contributed to several books. ...

for ''

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'' wrote in his review of the ''

'' 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."

Music video

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

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

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fields as a

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flies overhead, but instead of spraying

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, it drops many

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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 mix—no 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

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Authority control Des'ree songs 1998 singles 1998 songs 550 Music singles Dutch Top 40 number-one singles European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles Music videos directed by Mike Lipscombe Number-one singles in Austria Number-one singles in Italy Number-one singles in Spain S2 Records singles