It's My Life (Dr. Alban song)

"It's My Life" is a song by the Nigerian-Swedish artist Dr. Alban. It was released in February 1992 in Europe and in April 1992 in the US as the first single from his second studio album, One Love. Produced by Denniz PoP, the song was a hit in most of the European countries where it was released, peaking at number one in Sweden, Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium and number two in the UK. In France, the song was marketed twice: first in 1992, then in 1993 because the song was used in a TV advert for Tampax tampons (as it was in the UK and other countries in Europe in 1992), thus giving to the single a second career.[1] The song had enough airplay on US college radio stations to reach the Billboard Modern rock tracks in 1992. "It's My Life" was re-released in 1994 in Australia, following the success of "Sing Hallelujah".

"It's My Life"
Single by Dr. Alban
from the album One Love
B-side"Remix"
Released25 February 1992
Recorded1992
Genre
Length4:00
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Denniz PoP
Dr. Alban singles chronology
"(Sing Shi-Wo-Wo) Stop the Pollution"
(1991)		 "It's My Life"
(1992)		 "One Love"
(1992)
Music video
"It's My Life" on YouTube

Dr. Alban has stated that the song took five hours to record. In the 2017 book Stars of 90's Dance Pop: 29 Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers by James Arena, he explained on the new sound of the song, "It's My Life" and another hit off the second album, "Sing Hallelujah!", had totally different sounds [compared to his 1990 debut single "Hello Afrika"], which I wanted to explore at the time. I left the "Hello Afrika" sound and did "It's My Life", which had more of a pop, catchy style. Keeping things fresh was very natural for us."[2]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine called "It's My Life" "a fast'n'furious cut".[3] He wrote that the European rapper/toaster "has previously been heralded for his sturdy dancehall releases. This time, however, he aims for mainstream approval with a gem of a jam that carefully skirts the line dividing hi-NRG and rave sectors. Anthemic chants are placed within a percolating vat of keyboard and percussion effects that will kick during peak-hour sets."[4] Linda Ryan from the Gavin Report viewed it as a "mad creation".[5] Alan Jones from Music Week commented, "A highly commercial house track, recorded in Sweden, it's basically a West Indian accented rap punctuated at regular intervals by a catchy chorus. Probable Top 10 hit."[6] R.S. Murthi from New Straits Times described the song as "a righteous declaration of independence" and added that it shows "a genuine attempt at depth."[7]

Chart performance

"It's My Life" made a huge impact on the charts in Europe, becoming one of Dr. Alban's most successful songs to date. It peaked at number-one in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In addition, the single made it to the Top 10 in Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it peaked at number two on September 20, 1992,[8] in its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart. It was held off reaching the top spot by The Shamen's "Ebeneezer Goode". Outside Europe, "It's My Life" reached number two on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart, number three on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and number 10 in Zimbabwe. In Australia and New Zealand, it was a Top 50 hit. The song was awarded with a silver record in France, after 125,000 units were sold, and a platinum record in Austria and Germany, with a sale of 30,000 and 500,000 singles.

Music video

The music video of "It's My Life" was published on Dr. Alban's official YouTube channel in November 2009. As of March 2022, it has amassed more than 153.3 million views.[9]

Track listings

Personnel

Composers

Vocals

  • Dr. Alban – primary artist
  • Chuck Anthony – background vocals
  • Atari
  • Kofi Benitez & The Girls – background vocals
  • Anneli Berg – background vocals
  • Marilyn Bergman – background vocals
  • Giovanna Bragazza – background vocals
  • Gladys del Pilar – background vocals
  • Toro Paola Choir – background vocals
  • Poe & The Afrikan Conga Association – background vocals
  • Rico – background vocals
  • Bjorn Strom – background vocals

Technical

  • Douglas Carr – engineer, producer
  • Björn Engelmann – mastering
  • Anders Hansson – arranger
  • Rene "JM Fax" Hedemyr – producer
  • Denniz Pop – producer
  • Gundars Rullis – engineer

Charts and certifications

It's My Life (Don't Worry)
"It's My Life (Don't Worry)"
Single by Chawki featuring Dr. Alban
Released13 November 2014[50]
Recorded2014
GenreEurodance
Length3:29
LabelRedOne
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)RedOne
Chawki singles chronology
"Time of Our Lives"
(2014)		 "It's My Life (Don't Worry)"
(2014)
Dr. Alban singles chronology
"Colour the World"
(1999)		 "It's My Life (Don't Worry"
(2014)
Music video
"It's My Life (Don't Worry)" on YouTube

In 2014, a remake of the song was released by Moroccan singer Chawki featuring vocals by Dr. Alban. The song with amended lyrics also known as "It's My Life (Don't Worry)" was produced by RedOne and released on RedOne Records. A music video was also shot for the release. The single charted in the French SNEP official Singles Chart.

Chawki also released a bilingual English/French version of the song titled "It's My Life (C'est Ma Vie)".

Charts
Chart performance for "It's My Life (Don't Worry)"
Chart (2015) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[51] 187

References
  1. Elia Habib (2002), Muz hit. tubes, Alinéa Bis, p. 252 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  2. Arena, James (2017). Stars of 90's Dance Pop: 29 Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc.
  3. Flick, Larry (1992-12-12). "Dance Trax: Roc & Kato Shaking Up The Deep-House Sound" (PDF). Billboard. p. 26. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  4. Flick, Larry (1993-01-09). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  5. Ryan, Linda (1993-03-05). "Alternative: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 49. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  6. Jones, Alan (1992-08-22). "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  7. Murthi, R.S. (1992-07-01). "Impassioned Mission". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 75 20 September 1992 - 26 September 1992". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  9. "Dr. Alban - It's My Life" – via YouTube.
  10. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  11. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  12. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  13. "Canadian Dance peak".
  14. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 1992-08-08. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1992-10-10. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  16. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. 1992-10-17. p. 32. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  17. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  18. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life" (in French). Les classement single.
  19. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  20. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 1992-06-20. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's My Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  22. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (20 June 1992). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dr. Alban" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  24. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  25. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life". Top 40 Singles.
  26. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life". VG-lista.
  27. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 1992-07-04. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  28. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  29. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life". Singles Top 100.
  30. "Dr. Alban – It's My Life". Swiss Singles Chart.
  31. "It's My Life", UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  32. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1992-09-12. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  33. Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  34. Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  35. "australian-charts.com > Dr. Alban - It's My Life (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  36. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  37. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  38. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1992" (in German). Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  39. "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  40. "1992 Year-End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  41. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  42. "Single top 100 over 1992" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  44. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1992" (in German). Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  45. "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
  46. "Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  47. "Austrian single certifications – Dr. Alban – It's My Life" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  48. "French single certifications – Dr Alban – It's My Life" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 12 April 2022. Select DR ALBAN and click OK. 
  49. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dr. Alban; 'It's My Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  50. "It's My Life (don't Worry) [feat. Dr. Alban] - Single by Chawki" – via music.apple.com.
  51. "Chawki Feat. Dr. Alban – It's My Life (Don't Worry)" (in French). Les classement single.
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