Life (Des'ree song)

"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.

"Life"
Single cover
Single by Des'ree
from the album Supernatural
B-side	"Open Mind" "Get a Life"
Released	2 June 1998 (1998-06-02)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:29
Label	Sony 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" file help

Lyrics

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

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

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

UK CD1[4] "Life" (single version) – 3:28 "Open Mind" – 4:19 "Get a Life" – 3:32 "I'm Kissing You" – 4:52 UK CD2[5] "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[6] "Life" (single version) – 3:28 "I'm Kissing You" – 4:52

European CD single[7] "Life" (single version) – 3:28 "Open Mind" – 4:19 Australian CD single[8] "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[9] "Life" (single version) "Open Mind" "Get a Life"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[10] 8 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13] 3 Denmark (IFPI)[14] 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 1 France (SNEP)[16] 2 Germany (GfK)[17] 8 Hungary (Mahasz)[18] 1 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[19] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 3 Italy (Musica e dischi)[21] 1 Japan (Oricon)[22] 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 21 Norway (VG-lista)[26] 9 Scotland (OCC)[27] 18 Spain (AFYVE)[28] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[31] 8 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[32] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA)[33] 38 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[35] 22 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[36] 17 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[37] 8 France (SNEP)[38] 11 Germany (Official German Charts)[39] 27 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[40] 49 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 21 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[44] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[45] 66

Certifications

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^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54]	Gold	30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[55]	Platinum	30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[56]	Gold	25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[57]	Gold	400,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	2 June 1998	CD	Sony Soho Square Dusted Sound	[17]
United Kingdom	8 June 1998	CD cassette		[58]
Japan	10 June 1998	CD	Epic Japan	[22]
United States	28 July 1998	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio	550 Music	[59]

References

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.
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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.
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18. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 36. 5 September 1998. p. 15. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
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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. "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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. Type "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. "Spanish single certifications – Des'ree – Life". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
55. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
56. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Life')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
57. "British single certifications – Des'ree – Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
58. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 6 June 1998. p. 25.
59. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1258. 24 July 1999. pp. 47, 53.