Live Like We're Dying
"Live Like We're Dying" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Kris Allen | ||||
from the album Kris Allen | ||||
Released | September 21, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2009 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 3:32 | |||
Label | Jive | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Kris Allen singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"Live Like We're Dying" is a song written by Danny O'Donoghue, Andrew Frampton, Mark Sheehan and Steve Kipner. It appeared as a bonus track on the Script's self-titled debut studio album, and as a B-side for some of the album's singles. It is better known for being performed by American recording artist Kris Allen. The song served as the lead single from his self-titled major label debut album. It was released for digital download on September 21, 2009.
The song received positive reviews, peaking at eighteen in the United States, and charting on other U.S. charts, including the top ten of the
Background
The song had been recorded by Irish band the Script as a bonus track for the Japanese release of their
In an interview with MTV News, Allen stated that the song had been earmarked as his album's potential single since he won American Idol back in May 2009.[4] Allen stated, "[The song] was actually one that we had listened to really early on, and we kind of just fell in love with it. Everyone did."[4] When an interview for his cover story shared with, Idol runner-up, Adam Lambert, Allen explained, "It's a song that has a really good message-that we only have so much time, let's make the most of it. It's definitely got one of the choruses where I can picture people rolling down the windows of their cars and singing along to it."[5]
After the success of the single, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Allen said,
"It took a while, but it’s done really incredible. It exceeded all my expectations anyway. To be honest, I was a little worried when it first came out and it wasn’t doing great. But I think it’s just about working hard and getting people to hear the song, and then everyone started believing in it a little bit more. I remember getting a text from Keith Urban saying 'I’m not gonna lie: The first time I heard that song I wasn’t crazy about it. But after a couple listens, I really, really like it.' And I mean, I think that’s how everybody felt about the song. And I think that’s a testament to a good song. You don’t have to love ‘em the first time you hear ‘em. It grew on people."[6]
Composition
"Live Like We're Dying" is described to be in a "moderate pop rock" groove, and consisting of "shuffly" guitar playing.[7][8] The song has been referred to as "danceable", and the chorus as "grooving" and "syncopated".[9] It is written in the key of C major and Allen's vocals span from G3 to A4.[8] The song contains inspirational lyrics, as Allen gives a "muscular" and "engaged" vocal performance, and delivers the lines in a rhythmic fashion.[10] According to Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly, the song contains new-age sentiments.[11]
Critical reception
Bill Lamb of
James Montgomery of
Chart performance
The song debuted after its first week of availability at number 89 on the
Internationally, "Live Like We're Dying" had limited chart presence. It peaked at number 18 in New Zealand and number 41 in Canada.[14]
Music video
The music video was directed by Marco Puig and filmed in a desert near Los Angeles, California. The video premiered on AOL's PopEater on November 6, 2009.[19] Allen told Billboard magazine, "The video looks great. It was really fun shooting it-we shot it from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. so it was an all-night thing with no breaks. [The shoot was] set up like a digital clock, but it's huge, it's this monstrous thing-like 25 feet tall and who knows how long. I get to hold a flare, which was pretty cool. I ended up throwing it at people on set."[5]
The video begins with Allen pulling up to a junkyard in a white pickup truck at night, with a watch hanging from his key chain.[20] Then, Allen takes a power cord out of the back of the truck and carries it through the junkyard until he plugs it in and flips a switch to turn on a large countdown clock.[20] As the clock reaches zero, Allen leaves and begins walking away from the camera as the sun rises. Throughout the video, Allen is shown playing both an acoustic guitar and a piano, as well as singing with a microphone.
Michael Slezak of
Live performances
Allen performed the song on
Credits and personnel
- Production – Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton
- Background vocals– Billy Sollox
- Drums– Glen Power
- Bass – Danny O'Donoghue
- Electric guitar – Paul Inder, Mark Sheehan
- Acoustic guitar – Andrew Frampton
- Keyboards – Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner
- Mixing – Spike Stent
- Engineering– Dan Frampton, Ted Paduck
Source [25]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2009–10) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] | 41 |
Canada | 49 |
Canada | 32 |
Canada | 13 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] | 18 |
US Billboard Hot 100[31] | 18 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[32] | 8 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[33] | 3 |
US | 21 |
US | 10 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2010) | Position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100[36] | 48 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[37] | 13 |
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[38] | 9 |
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[39] | 49 |
Awards and nominations
- BMI Pop Music Award
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | "Live Like We're Dying" | Award-Winning Songs | Won |
- Billboard Music Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | "Live Like We're Dying" | Top Christian Song | Nominated |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[40] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format |
---|---|---|
United States | September 25, 2009[41] | Digital download |
October 12, 2009[42][43] |
|
References
- ^ Slezak, Michael. "Kris Allen's rumored single, 'Live Like We're Dying' Leaks". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ "TheScriptMusic.com Great Britain". thescriptmusic.com. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ "TheScriptMusic.com Australia". thescriptmusic.com. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Cantiello, Jim (September 21, 2009). "Kris Allen Talks About His New Single, 'Live Like We're Dying'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Donahue, Ann (November 20, 2010). "Kris Allen: The Billboard Cover Q&A". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Slezak, Michael (May 5, 2010). "Kris ALlen on the controversy over his new single, "The Truth", and those added Pat Monahan vocals". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ a b c d e Montgomery, James (November 7, 2009). "Kris Allen's 'Live Like We're Dying' Video: His Time, His Show". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Alfred Publishing. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
- ^ Seattle Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ About.com. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Slezak, Michael. "Kris Allen's new song 'Live Like We're Dying': What do you think?". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Herrera, Monica (September 25, 2009). "Kris Allen, "Live Like We're Dying"". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Mansfield, Brian (October 7, 2009). "Your weekly Idol sales fix: The album numbers". USA Today. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Kris Allen – Live Like We're Dying – Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Trust, Gary (March 18, 2010). "Chart Beat Thursday: Rihanna, Ludacris, Timbaland". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ "Live Like We're Dying - Billboard.com". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Mansfield, Brian (December 8, 2010). "Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson show double-barreled sales power". USA Today. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ "Live Like We're Dying". RIAA – Gold and Platinum. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ "Kris Allen 'Live Like We're Dying' Video Premiere". PopEater. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c Slezak, Michael (November 6, 2009). "Kris Allen's 'Live Like We're Dying' video: You digging it?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (October 17, 2009). "Kris Allen Sings 'Live Like We're Dying' On 'Good Morning America'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ Slezak, Michael (November 25, 2009). "Kris Allen: How to explain the 'American Idol' champ's disappointing chart performance?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ "Finalists Noelle Marsh and Nathan Trasoras Eliminated". Fox. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ Chareunsy, Don (December 30, 2009). "Kris Allen has double duty in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Kris Allen Kris Allen (Digital booklet) Jive Records (2009)
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen – Live Like We're Dying". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs - Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Adult Pop Songs - Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Pop Songs - Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "American single certifications – Kris Allen – Live Like We're Dying". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "Live Like We're Dying – Single by Kris Allen". iTunes. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ "R&R:: Going For Adds :: CHR/Top 40". Radio&Records. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ "R&R:: Going For Adds :: Hot AC". Radio&Records. Retrieved May 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
External links