Life's What You Make It (Talk Talk song)



"Life's What You Make It" is a song by the English band Talk Talk. It was released as a single in 1985, the first from the band's album The Colour of Spring. The single was a hit in the UK, peaking at No. 16, and charted in numerous other countries, often reaching the Top 20.

Artist James Marsh created the single's cover illustration. The track was re-released as a single in 1990, charting for a second time.

Conception
The song was one of the last to be conceived for The Colour of Spring, following concern from the band's management at the lack of an obvious single among accumulated work. Initially unwilling, Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, the principal source of original material for the band, accepted the task as a challenge. Friese-Greene: "I had a drum pattern loosely inspired by Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' and Mark was playing 'Green Onions' organ over the top." (Making No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart, "Running Up That Hill" had been released in August 1985.) The track was embellished with David Rhodes' guitar hook.

Personnel

 * Talk Talk
 * Lee Harris – drums
 * Mark Hollis – lead vocal, piano
 * Paul Webb – backing vocals


 * Additional musicians
 * Martin Ditcham – percussion
 * Tim Friese-Greene – organ, Mellotron
 * David Rhodes – guitar

Credits as per The Colour of Spring album notes.

Track listings

 * 1985/86 single
 * 7" / 12"
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" – 4:25 (7") / (extended version) – 8:16 (12")
 * 2) "It's Getting Late in the Evening" – 5:43


 * 12" (double)
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" (extended version) – 8:16
 * 2) "It's Getting Late in the Evening" – 5:43
 * 3) "It's My Life" – 6:16
 * 4) "Does Caroline Know?" – 4:33
 * 5) "It's My Life" – 3:50


 * 12"
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" (extended version) – 6:58
 * 2) "Life's What You Make It" (early mix) – 6:39
 * 3) "It's Getting Late in the Evening" – 5:43


 * 12" (U.S.)
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" (extended mix) – 6:54
 * 2) "It's Getting Late in the Evening" (7" version) – 5:44
 * 3) "Life's What You Make It" (dub version) – 6:06
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 * 1990 single
 * 7" / cassette
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" – 4:26
 * 2) "Life's What You Make It" (live from Hammersmith Odeon) – 4:41


 * 12"
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" (the BBG remix) – 6:14
 * 2) "Life's What You Make It" – 4:26
 * 3) "Tomorrow Started" (live from Hammersmith Odeon) – 7:45


 * CD
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" – 4:29
 * 2) "Tomorrow Started" (live from Hammersmith Odeon) – 7:47
 * 3) "Life's What You Make It" (live from Hammersmith Odeon) – 4:41


 * 12"
 * 1) "Life's What You Make It" (the Fluke remix) – 6:16
 * 2) "Life's What You Make It" (the Dominic Woosey remix) – 8:21

Charts
1Remix

Cover versions
For the 2012 benefit tribute album Spirit of Talk Talk, "Life's What You Make It" was covered by singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik in a duet with Rachael Yamagata. Several other artists have recorded the song since its original release.

The Divine Comedy recorded an acoustic version of the song in 1993, made available on a limited edition of A Secret History... The Best of the Divine Comedy. German rock band Zinoba recorded a version that featured in the closing credits of the 2004 film Gegen die Wand (Head-On) directed by Fatih Akin. The Gathering covered the song on their 2005 album Accessories – Rarities and B-Sides. A cover version was included as a bonus track on the UK release of Weezer's 2008 album Weezer. Australian post-punk singer Rowland S. Howard also covered the song for his second solo album Pop Crimes in 2009. In 2011 the Danish band Dúné recorded the song for the film ID:A.

More recently, a Placebo cover version of "Life's What You Make It" featured on both a double A-side (with "Jesus' Son") and the band's Life's What You Make It EP in 2016. American rock band Joywave covered the song for a Spotify Singles release for the music streaming service in 2018.

In popular culture
The track appeared in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, where it plays on the fictional in-game pop radio station Flash FM.