Get a Life (Soul II Soul song)

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"Get a Life"
Single by Soul II Soul featuring Marcia Lewis
from the album Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
Released27 November 1989 (1989-11-27)[1]
Genre
Length3:43
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Soul II Soul singles chronology
"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"
(1989) 		"Get a Life"
(1989) 		"A Dream's a Dream"
(1990)
Music video
"Get a Life" on
YouTube

"Get a Life" is a song by British musical collective Soul II Soul, released in November 1989 by Virgin as the first single from the collective's second album, Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade (1990). The song features Marcia Lewis and gained success in Europe, reaching number one in Greece, number two in the Netherlands, and number three in the UK. It became a top-10 hit in Austria, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and West Germany. Outside Europe, "Get a Life" peaked at number four in Zimbabwe and number five in New Zealand. In the UK, the single sold over 200 000 copies and was certified silver.

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics.

Philly soul in the way the bluesy 'Elevate your mind' chorus is played off against a lush string arrangements, echoes of reggae in the deep thump of the bass, and definite African undercurrents to the use of conga and shekere — even if the rest of the drum sound is straight hip-hop."[2] Bill Coleman from Billboard viewed it as a "familiar groove that's infectious nonetheless".[3] Hannsjörg Riemann from German Bravo gave it three out of three, stating that the band already have the next hit with "Get a Life". He wrote further, "The thing, which was spiced up with a loud, rather undisciplined school children's choir in the background, should become a long-running hit this carnival."[4]

Forest Green III from

rap/dance/soul/R&B fusion." He added that "helping the euphoric power of the piece are various references to the earlier singles, another perfectly crafted techno beat, a bit of the old "Feel Free" piano; flutes and strings humming in and out of the groove, and a female singer"."[5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media called it "cool, breezy, funky, simple and effective. Effortlessly seductive and supremely self-assured."[6] A reviewer from People Magazine noted that "a roiling bottom of drums, congas and bass underpins delicate instrumentation and the combined vocals of Jazzy B. rapping and Marcia Lewis and Daddae Harvey singing."[7] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits complimented Lewis' singing voice as "marvellous".[8] Nathaniel Wice from Spin wrote, "The underground club scene's party line is dance music. This is expressed perfectly in "Get a Life". The mellow, satisfied rap explains the title's imperative: 'Implement your ideas, put them in motion.... Be an asset to the collective', while a child chorus nags 'What's the meaning of life?' and Marcia Lewi's voice soars over the classical-sounding synth oceans, 'Let your body take control.'"[9]

Track listing

  • CD single, UK and Europe (1989)
  1. "Get a Life" (7-inch version) – 3:43
  2. "Get a Life" (club mix) – 4:31
  3. "Keep On Movin'" (Teddy Riley remix) – 6:00
  4. "Jazzie's Groove" (new version) – 5:03
  • CD single, US (1989)
  1. "Get a Life" (12-inch mix) – 4:48
  2. "Get a Life" (Bonus Beats) – 3:46
  3. "Get a Life" (club mix) – 4:28
  4. "Fairplay" (12-inch mix) – 5:55
  • CD single, Japan (1990)
  1. "Get a Life" – 3:44
  2. "Jazzie's Groove" (new version) – 5:04
  3. "Back to Life" (club mix) – 7:40
  4. "Keep On Movin'" (club mix) – 5:51

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "British single certifications – Soul II Soul – Get a Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. Considine, J.D. (11 May 1990). "Eurosoul: A Musical Melting Pot". The Baltimore Sun
    . p. 9. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 24 March 1990. p. 69. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  4. ^ Riemann, Hannsjörg (January 1990). "Platten-News: Singles". Bravo (in German). p. 57. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  5. ^ Green III, Forest (17 April 1990). "Records: Soul II Soul "Get a life"". The Michigan Daily. p. 5. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 December 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: 1990-a New Decade". People. 2 July 1990. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ Doyle, Tom (16 May 1990). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. No. 299. p. 54. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  9. ^ Wice, Nathaniel (1 August 1990). "SPINS". Spin. p. 74. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1247." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7921." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 3. 20 January 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  16. ISBN 951-31-2503-3
    .
  17. ^ "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 10. 10 March 1990. p. VII. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  18. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Get a Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  19. Musica e Dischi
     (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Soul II Soul".
  20. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Soul II Soul – Get a Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 5 May 1990. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  28. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 12 May 1990. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 12 May 1990. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. 19 May 1990. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soul II Soul – Get a Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  32. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  33. ^ "Year-End Charts '89 – Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 3 March 1990. p. 16.
  34. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  35. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 36. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  37. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  38. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  39. ^ "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  40. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
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