Live Is Life

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This article is about the Opus song. For the Noah and the Whale song, see Life is Life.
"Live Is Life"
Single by Opus
from the album Live Is Life/
Up and Down (U.S. version)
B-side "Again and Again"
"Up and Down"
Released 1985
2008
Format 7" single
Genre Pop rock, reggae[1]
Length 4:15
Label Polydor, OK
Writer(s) Ewald Pfleger
Kurt Rene Plisnier
Gunter Grasmuck
Niki Gruber
Herwig Rüdisser
Opus singles chronology

"Flying High"
(1982)		 "Live Is Life"
(1985)		 "Flying High" (live)
(1985)

"Gimme Love"
(1992)
"The Power Of Live Is Life"
(1994)
"Live Is Life 08"
(2008)
Alternative covers
Austrian release

"Live Is Life" is a popular song originally recorded in 1984 by Austrian pop rock group Opus. It was a European number one hit in the summer of 1985; in the Americas, the single also reached the top position in Canada and was a top 40 hit in the US in 1986. It was covered by many artists throughout the years.

Background and writing

"Live Is Life" is their second single, released in 1985, and achieved huge success, topping the charts of many countries, including Austria (eight weeks), Germany, France (seven weeks) and Sweden (four weeks). In France, the song is the 149th best-selling single of all time with about 857,000 units sold.[2]

The song was created during a concert in Oberwart, on 2 September 1984, while the group celebrated its eleven years of existence. Recorded in a live version, the audience also sings the verses. In the lyrics, the song expresses "the enthusiastic attachment of the group to the stage".[3] The song was performed during the 1985 charity campaign Austria für Afrika.

The song has frequently been featured in sports events: Finnish Ice Hockey team Tappara have been using "Live Is Life" as their goal song since the mid-80s.

On 19 April 1989, during the warming up at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany, before the UEFA Cup semi-final return between FC Bayern Munich and SSC Napoli, Diego Maradona did a keepie uppie exhibition while the song was heard on the loudspeakers. This has become a classic among football fans.[4] The New York Islanders adopted it as their official goal song for the 2010-2011 NHL season.[5]

In 1994, Opus published another version of their hit "Live Is Life", which made it into the top-ten by Austria and to honor the 1994 FIFA World Cup has been released. Diego Maradona also did a warm up at FIFA while a cover version of the song played, with lyrics re-recorded by him.

The song was re-recorded by the group in 2008 in a solo version and featuring Jerry.

Track listings

1985 release

  • 7" single (1984 release)
  1. "Live Is Life" — 4:15
  2. "Again and Again" — 3:51
  • 7" single (1985 release)
  1. "Live Is Life" — 4:15
  2. "Up and Down" — 3:49

1994 release

  • CD maxi
  1. "The Power of Live Is Life" (Bingoboys radio mix) — 3:58
  2. "Live Is Life" (original version) — 5:06
  3. "The Power of Live Is Life" (Bingoboys club mix) — 6:33
  4. "Live Is Life" (radio version) — 3:16

2008 release

  • CD single
  1. "Live Is Life 08" (reggae version) — 4:17
  2. "Live Is Life 08" (rock version) — 3:38
  • CD maxi
  1. "Live Is Life 08" (reggae version) — 4:17
  2. "Live Is Life 08" (rock version) — 3:38
  3. "Live Is Life 08" (reggaeton version) — 3:56
  4. "Touch the Sky" by Opus — 3:47

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Chart (1985–1986) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[ 1] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[ 1] 2
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[6] 2
Canada (CHUM)[7] 1
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)[8] 7
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 3
France (SNEP)[ 1] 1
Germany (Media Control AG)[ 1] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 4
Italy (FIMI)[10] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[ 1] 3
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[ 1] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[ 1] 2
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[11] 2
Spain (AFYVE)[12] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[ 1] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[ 1] 2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 32
US Cash Box[14] 35
Chart (1994) 1 Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 3
Chart (2008) 2 Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[ 1] 16
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[ 1] 60

1 "The Power of Live Is Life"
2 "Live Is Life 08", featuring Jerry (in Austria)

Year-end charts

Chart (1985) Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 4
Germany (Media Control AG)[17] 1
Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[18] 82
Italy (FIMI)[10] 38
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 48
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[20] 47
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 1
Chart (1986) Position
Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[22] 78

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[23] 2x platinum 20,000^
Germany (BVMI)[24] Gold 250,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Silver 200,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart successions

Preceded by
"Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid		 Austrian number-one single
1 February 1985 – 15 March 1985 		Succeeded by
"You're My Heart, You're My Soul" by Modern Talking
Preceded by
"Alive and Kicking" by Simple Minds		 Canada CHUM number-one single
14 December 1985 – 21 December 1985 		Succeeded by
"Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie
Preceded by
"SOS Éthiopie" by Chanteurs sans frontières		 French SNEP number-one single
20 July 1985 – 31 August 1985 		Succeeded by
"Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora
Preceded by
"You're My Heart, You're My Soul" by Modern Talking		 German number-one single
15 April 1985 – 27 May 1985 		Succeeded by
"You Can Win If You Want" by Modern Talking
Preceded by
"We Are the World" by USA for Africa		 Swedish number-one single
31 May 1985 – 14 June 1985 		Succeeded by
"19" by Paul Hardcastle
Preceded by
Self Control by Laura Branigan
1984		 Year-end number-one single in Germany
1985 		Succeeded by
Jeanny by Falco
1986
Year-end number-one single in Switzerland
1985 		Succeeded by
Adesso Tu by Eros Ramazzotti
1986

Laibach versions

"Live is life/Opus Dei"
Single by Laibach
from the album Opus Dei
A-side Opus Dei/Live is life
B-side Germania
Released 1987
Format 7" single
Genre Industrial
Length 4:30
Laibach singles chronology

"Die Liebe"
(1985)		 "Live Is Life(Opus Dei"
(1987)		 "Geburt einer Nation"
(1987)

Slovenian avant-garde band Laibach recorded two martial-style covers of the song in their 1987 album Opus Dei. The first version, "Leben Heißt Leben" was sung in German. The second version, "Opus Dei", was promoted as a single, and its promotional video (which used the title "Life is Life") was played extensively on American cable channel MTV.[27] Opus Dei retained some of the original song's English lyrics, but was delivered in a musical style that left the meaning of the lyrics open to further interpretation. Laibach's subversive interpretation turned the feel-good anthem into a triumphant, rolling military march. With the exception of the promotional video, the refrain is at one instance translated into German, giving an example of the sensitivity of its lyrics to context.

Hermes House Band version

"Live Is Life (Here We Go)"
Single by Hermes House Band featuring DJ Ötzi
from the album Today Is the Day
B-side Remix
Released 24 June 2002
Format CD single, CD maxi
Genre Electronic
Length 3:30
Label Universal Records, Polydor
Writer(s) Gunter Grasmuck, Peter Niklas Gruber, Ewald Pfleger, Kurt Rene Plisnier, Herwig Ruedisser
Producer(s) Klaus Biedermann, Jim Binapfl, Jake Buck, Mark Duran, John Lehmkuhl, Claus Marcus, Christian Seitz
Hermes House Band singles chronology

"Que sera sera"
(2001)		 "Live Is Life (Here We Go)"
(2002)		 "Those Were the Days"
(2003)

The Hermes House Band and DJ Ötzi released a version in 2002. The single had his highest peak position in France where it reached number two for five weeks. The song was used as a soundtrack from Das Jahr der ersten Küsse.[28] It is the 523rd best-selling single in France, with about 518,000 units sold.[29]

Track listings

  • CD single
  1. "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (Here We Go/video mix) — 3:30
  2. "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (jump mix) — 3:33
  • CD maxi
  1. "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (Here We Go/video mix) — 3:30
  2. "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (jump mix) — 3:33
  3. "Football's Coming Home" (three lions) (radio) by Hermes House Band — 3:48
  4. "Everytime You Touch Me" (fireplace mix) by Hermes House Band — 3:21
  5. "Hey Mama" by Hermes House Band — 3:10
  6. Enhanced Multimediatrack : "Live Is Life" — 3:30

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Chart (2002–2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[30] 28
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[31] 16
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[32] 3
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[33] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 30
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 5
Denmark (Tracklisten)[36] 11
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[37] 9
France (SNEP)[38] 2
Germany (Media Control Charts)[39] 15
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 30
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[40] 61
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[41] 55
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 46
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 26
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 50

Year-end charts

Chart (2003) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[44] 27
France (SNEP)[45] 7

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Belgium (BEA)[46] Gold 20,000*
France (SNEP)[47] Platinum 518,000[48]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Other versions

The song was covered by many other artists, including Stargo (number 10 in France in 1985),[49] Starkoo and Quebec singer René Simard covered the song in French, "La vie chante".

A modified version with the chorus changed from "Life is life" to "Geiz ist geil" ("Miserliness is cool") is used in radio ads for the German electronics store chain Saturn.

References

  1. ↑ Leland, John (May 1986). "Singles > Sideswipes". Spin (SPIN Media LLC) 2 (2): 41. ISSN 0886-3032. 
  2. ↑ (French) "Les Meilleures Ventes Tout Temps de 45 T. / Singles". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. InfoDisc.fr. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010. 
  3. ↑ (French) Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit. tubes. Alinéa Bis. p. 47. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X. 
  4. ↑ "Diego Maradona warming up Napoli v Bayern Munich to Life is life by opus". YouTube. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2013. 
  5. ↑ Doell, Katrina (10 December 2010). "THE STORY BEHIND THE GOAL SONG". New York Islanders. 
  6. ↑ "Live Is Life - OPUS". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Retrieved 7 January 2014. "Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 2" 
  7. ↑ "CHART NUMBER 1512 - Saturday, December 14, 1985". CHUM. Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  8. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 43, No. 15, December 21 1985". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". IRMA. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 (Italian) "I singoli più venduti del 1985". HitParadeItalia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 6 July 2012. 
  11. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (O)". Rock.co.za. John Samson. Retrieved 31 May 2013. 
  12. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. 
  13. ↑ "The Opus – Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  14. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles - Week ending MARCH 29, 1986". Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  15. ↑ "austriancharts.at – Opus – The Power Of Live Is Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2013. 
  16. ↑ (German) "Jahreshitparade 1985". Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  17. ↑ (German) "Jahrescharts – 1985". Charts.de. Media Control AG. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  18. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 43, No. 16, December 28 1985". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  19. ↑ "Single Top 100 van 1985" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 September 2010. 
  20. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  21. ↑ (German) "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  22. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 45, No. 14, December 27 1986". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  23. ↑ "Canadian certifications – Opus – Live Is Life". Music Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  24. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Opus; 'Live Is Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  25. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. 
  26. ↑ "British certifications – Opus – Live Is Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 January 2014.  Enter Live Is Life in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Click Go
  27. ↑ Monroe, Alexei (2005). Interrogation machine: Laibach and NSK. MIT Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-2626-3315-4. 
  28. ↑ "lescharts.com – Soundtrack – Das Jahr der ersten Küsse". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  29. ↑ (French) "Les Meilleures Ventes Tout Temps de 45 T. / Singles". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. InfoDisc.fr. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  30. ↑ "australian-charts.com – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  31. ↑ "austriancharts.at – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  32. ↑ "100 Ultratip – 28/06/2003" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  33. ↑ (French) "50 Ultratip – 28/06/2003". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  34. ↑ "ultratop.be/nl – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  35. ↑ (French) "ultratop.be/fr – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  36. ↑ "danishcharts.com – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  37. ↑ "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 115 (28): 45. 12 July 2003. ISSN 0006-2510. 
  38. ↑ (French) "lescharts.com – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  39. ↑ (German) "Single – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Media Control Charts. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  40. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  41. ↑ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 36, saptamina 10.09-16.09, 2002". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 27 December 2004. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  42. ↑ "swedishcharts.com – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  43. ↑ "hitparade.ch – Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  44. ↑ (French) "Rapports annuels 2003". ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  45. ↑ (French) "Classement Singles – année 2003". SNEP. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  46. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2003" (in Dutch). Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  47. ↑ "French certifications – Hermes House Band – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  48. ↑ (French) "Les Singles de Platine". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. InfoDisc.fr. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  49. ↑ (French) "lescharts.com – Stargo – Live Is Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2010. 

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