"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 and soul recording artist and songwriter, who rose to prominence during the 1990s. Known for her distinctive contralto voice and uplifting l ...

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

Supernatural Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...

'' (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 Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums 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, and previously the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Singles and the Top 40 Hip Hop and ...

Lyrics

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

superstition A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic (supernatural), magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly app ...

phobia A phobia is an anxiety disorder, defined by an irrational, unrealistic, persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. Phobias typically result in a rapid onset of fear and are usually present for more than six months. Those affected ...

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 for ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...

'' 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

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

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fields as a

crop duster A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. In other words, a crop is a plant or plant product that is grown for a specific purpose such as food, Fiber, fibre, or fuel. When plants of the same spe ...

flies overhead, but instead of spraying

pesticide Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. They include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, and many others (see table). The most common of these are herbicides, which account for approximately 50% of all p ...

, it drops many

butterflies Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

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 1998 songs 1998 singles Des'ree songs 550 Music singles Dutch Top 40 number-one singles Epic Records 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