Life Is a Flower

"Life Is a Flower" is a song by the Swedish group Ace of Base, released in Europe on 6 April 1998 by Mega Records as the first single from the group's third album, Flowers (1998). The song peaked at number-one in Hungary and was a top-ten hit in Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden and the UK. In the US, it was released with different lyrics, titled "Whenever You're Near Me", and in a different key. "Life Is a Flower" was certified silver in the UK by the BPI. Jonas Berggren, writer of the song, described it as is his greatest Ace of Base song in a 2015 interview.^[1]

"Life Is a Flower"
Single by Ace of Base
from the album Flowers
B-side	"No Good Lover"
Released	6 April 1998
Recorded	1997
Length	3:47
Label	Mega
Songwriter(s)	Jonas "Joker" Berggren
Producer(s)	Jonas "Joker" Berggren Per Adebratt Tommy Ekman
Ace of Base singles chronology
"Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry" (1996) "Life Is a Flower" (1998) "Cruel Summer" (1998)
Music video
"Life Is a Flower" on YouTube

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Bryan Buss described the song as acoustic.^[2] A reviewer from Irish Evening Herald called it a gem, adding that "more of the same can often be a good thing".^[3] Sweden's Expressen viewed it as a "safe card",^[4] while Göteborgsposten wrote that it is "almost religiously positive".^[5] David Brinn from Jerusalem Post noted that the single is a staple on local radio, "with its optimistic melody and pop psychology message so full of the power of positive thinking that the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale should have received co-writing credit."^[6] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Although the sound and style on the latest single remains unmistakably that of Ace of Base, the Swedish outfit have still been able to reinvent themselves enough to stay relevant and keep pace with dance scene developments."

Bernhard Hiller, head of music at AC/CHR outlet 104.6 RTL/Berlin said, "It is a great comeback for them. The good thing is that they have managed to change their sound while still sounding like Ace of Base." He added, "Of course, this record is an absolute blessing for radio; we added it as soon as it got in, and currently we are playing it 15–20 times a week. At first audience response was less than overwhelming-but then again it is still early days; and besides, how can an audience like records when you don't allow the listeners to get to know the tracks?"^[7]

"My favorite track from Ace Of Base is Life is a Flower. I think that song shows the pure essence of what we are as a band; summer vibes, twisted happy lyrics, poppy melodies, nice beats and a choir in the end. Perfect!"

—Jonas Berggren talking to Renowned for Sound about the song.^[1]

Chart performance

"Life Is a Flower" was a major hit on the charts in Europe, peaking at number-one in Hungary. It entered the top 10 also in Denmark (3), Finland (3), Scotland (3), Spain (7), Sweden (5) and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single went straight to number five in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on 19 July 1998.^[8] It was also a top 20 hit in Austria (15), France (16), Germany (20), Ireland (19), Italy (18), Norway (20) and Switzerland (18), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it hit number 19 in August 1998. In Iceland and the Netherlands, "Life Is a Flower" went into the top 30. Outside Europe, it was a hit in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 29.

It earned a gold record in the band's native Sweden, with a sale of 15,000 singles and a silver record in the UK, after 200,000 units were sold there.

Music video

Two music videos for "Life Is a Flower" were shot, but the first was unfinished and never released. The second video, which became the official release, was created by Jenny Berggren. The video includes members of Ace of Base against a green screen background with limited elements of scenography, including a washing machine and bathtub. The video was later made available on YouTube in 2015, and it has had more than 9.2 million views on the platform as of December 2023.^[9]

Track listings

Scandinavian maxi-CD single[10] "Life Is a Flower" (original version) — 3:45 "Life Is a Flower" (reggae version) — 3:32 "Life Is a Flower" (extended version) — 5:44 "Life Is a Flower" (Soul Poets night club mix) — 5:19 "No Good Lover" — 3:53 European CD single[11] "Life Is a Flower" (original version) — 3:45 "Life Is a Flower" (extended version) — 5:49

UK CD1[12] "Life Is a Flower" (original version) "Life Is a Flower" (extended version) "Life Is a Flower" (Soul Poets' night club mix) "Life Is a Flower" (Milk Inc. long edit) UK CD2[13] "Life Is a Flower" "The Sign" (radio edit) "All That She Wants"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 42 Croatia (HRT)[16] 3 Denmark (IFPI)[17] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 19 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[19] 3 France (SNEP)[20] 16 Germany (GfK)[21] 20 Hungary (Mahasz)[22] 1 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[23] 22 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 19 Italy (Musica e dischi)[25] 18 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 25 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 40 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 29 Norway (VG-lista)[29] 20 Scotland (OCC)[30] 3 Spain (AFYVE)[31] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[8] 5 UK Airplay (Media Monitor)[34] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[35] 88 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 63 UK Singles (OCC)[37][38] 61

Sales and certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Sweden (GLF)[39]	Gold	15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[40]	Silver	200,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	23 March 1998	Radio	Mega Polydor	[41]
Germany	6 April 1998	CD		[14]
United Kingdom	13 July 1998	CD cassette	Mega Polydor London	[42]
Japan	21 August 1998	CD	Arista BMG	[43]

References

1. "Interview: Ace of Base". Renowned for Sound. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
2. "Ace of Base - Greatest Hits [Arista]". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
3. Evening Herald. 19 August 1998. p. 32.
4. Expressen. 28 March 1998.
5. Göteborgsposten. 12 June 1998.
6. Brinn, David (14 July 1998). "Summer sounds target pre-teens". Jerusalem Post.
7. "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 15. 11 April 1998. p. 14. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
9. "Ace of Base - Life Is a Flower (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
10. Life Is a Flower (Scandinavian maxi-CD single liner notes). Ace of Base. Mega Records. 1998. MRCXCD 2900.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Life Is a Flower (European CD single liner notes). Ace of Base. Mega Records, Polydor Records. 1998. 569 856-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Life Is a Flower (UK CD1 liner notes). Ace of Base. Mega Records, Polydor Records, London Records. 1998. ACE CD7, 567 343-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Life Is a Flower (UK CD2 liner notes). Ace of Base. Mega Records, Polydor Records, London Records. 1998. ACCDP 7, 567 389-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
15. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
16. "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 24 May 1998. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
17. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 24. 13 June 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 33. 15 August 1998. p. 19. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
19. "Ace of Base: Life Is a Flower" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
20. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
21. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
22. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 27. 4 July 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
23. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (11.06.1998 – 18.06.1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 12 June 1998. p. 22. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
24. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Life Is a Flower". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
25. "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 27. 4 July 1998. p. 52. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
26. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
27. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
28. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
29. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower". VG-lista. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
31. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 28. 11 July 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
32. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
33. "Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
34. "Best Sellers of 1998 : Singles" (PDF). Scans.chartarchive.org. Retrieved 12 March 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
35. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 51. 19 December 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
36. "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
37. "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
38. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
39. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
40. "British single certifications – Ace of Base – Life Is a Flower". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
41. Ferro, Charles; Lofthus, Kai R. (30 May 1998). "Ace of Base Sprouts 'Flowers'". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 22. p. 70.
42. "Singles – Releases for 13 July–19 July, 1998: 159" (PDF). Music Week. 11 July 1998. p. 23. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
43. "ライフ・イズ・ア・フラワー | エイス・オブ・ベイス" [Life Is a Flower | Ace of Base] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 19 September 2023.