Jump to content

Life on Your Own: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
changing adverb "in" and preposition "to" —> preposition "into"—wikt:in—wikt:wikt:to—wikt:into—http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/into.html—User:Wavelength/About English/Expressions "into" and "in to"
mNo edit summary
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox single | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = Life on Your Own
| name = Life on Your Own
| Cover = Life On Your Own.jpg
| cover = Life On Your Own.jpg
| alt =
⚫
| Artist = [[The Human League]]
| type = single
⚫
| from Album = [[Hysteria (The Human League album)|Hysteria]]
⚫
| artist = [[the Human League]]
| Released = 18 June 1984<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Human-League-Life-On-Your-Own/release/213412|title=Human League* - Life On Your Own|publisher=}}</ref>
⚫
| album = [[Hysteria (The Human League album)|Hysteria]]
| Format = 7" single, 12" single
| B-side = The World Tonight
⚫
| Recorded = 1984
| released = 18 June 1984<ref>{{cite magazine |date=23 June 1984 |title=News: League life |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |page=7 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref>
⚫
| Genre = [[Synthpop]], [[New wave music|new wave]]
| recorded = 1983–1984
⚫
| Length = 4.09
| studio = [[AIR Oxford Circus|AIR]] (London)
⚫
| Label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| venue =
| Writer = [[Philip Oakey]], [[Jo Callis]] and [[Philip Adrian Wright]]
| genre =
⚫
| Producer = [[Chris Thomas (record producer)|Chris Thomas]] and [[Hugh Padgham]]
* [[Synth-pop]]
⚫
| Last single = "[[The Lebanon (song)|The Lebanon]]"<br/>(1984)
⚫
* [[New wave music|new wave]]
| This single = "'''Life on Your Own'''"<br/>(1984)
⚫
| length = 4:09
⚫
| Next single = "[[Louise (The Human League song)|Louise]]"<br/>(1984)
⚫
| label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| writer =
* [[Philip Oakey]]
* [[Jo Callis]]
* [[Philip Adrian Wright]]
| producer =
⚫
* [[Chris Thomas (record producer)|Chris Thomas]]
* [[Hugh Padgham]]
⚫
| prev_title = [[The Lebanon (song)|The Lebanon]]
⚫
| prev_year = 1984
⚫
| next_title = [[Louise (The Human League song)|Louise]]
| next_year = 1984
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|QLe8HEqdpLc|"Life on Your Own"}}}}
}}
}}
⚫
"'''Life on Your Own'''" is a song by English [[synth-pop]] band [[the Human League]]. Written jointly by lead singer [[Philip Oakey]], keyboard players [[Jo Callis]] and [[Philip Adrian Wright|Adrian Wright]], it was recorded at [[AIR Oxford Circus|AIR Studios]] during 1983–1984. Originally an album track on the band's fourth studio album ''[[Hysteria (The Human League album)|Hysteria]]'', it was then released as the second single from the album in the UK.
{{Listen
|filename = Life on Your Own.ogg
|title = Life on Your Own
|description =
}}
⚫
"'''Life on Your Own'''" is a song by the British [[synthpop]] group [[The Human League]]. Written jointly by lead singer [[Philip Oakey]], Keyboard players [[Jo Callis]] and [[Philip Adrian Wright|Adrian Wright]], it was recorded at [[Associated Independent Recording|AIR Studios]] between 1983-1984. Originally an album track on ''[[Hysteria (The Human League album)|Hysteria]]'', it was then released as a single in the UK.


== Background ==
== Background ==
The song was conceived, written and recorded at a time when the band were under considerable pressure to provide [[Virgin Records]] with a follow up album to equal the enormous international success of ''[[Dare (album)|Dare]]''. The band had taken up residence in the £1000 a day Air Studios; they were there a full year and were agonizing (and arguing) over every note of every track. ''Dare'' producer [[Martin Rushent]] had already quit because of the rows and indecision causing further delays. [[Nick Heyward]] of [[Haircut One Hundred]] famously mocked the Human League in the media for taking the same time to program one drum machine as it took him to record his entire album at Air. The drum machine in question was the [[LinnDrum]] and it was being programmed for the track "Life on Your Own", a task that took two months.<ref name="auto">Human League Biography - www.League-online.com/Bio</ref>
The song was conceived, written and recorded at a time when the band were under considerable pressure to provide [[Virgin Records]] with a follow-up album to equal the enormous international success of ''[[Dare (album)|Dare]]''. The band had taken up residence in the £1,000-per-day AIR Studios; they were there a full year and were reportedly agonising and arguing over every note of every track. ''Dare'' producer [[Martin Rushent]] had already quit because of the rows and indecision causing further delays. [[Nick Heyward]] (formerly of [[Haircut One Hundred]]) famously mocked the Human League in the media for taking the same time to program one drum machine as it took him to record his entire album at AIR Studios. The drum machine in question was the [[LinnDrum]] and it was being programmed for the track "Life on Your Own", a task that reportedly took two months.{{fact|date=February 2024}}


"Life on Your Own" is heavily drum machine and synthesizer led and is a return to the sound of the Human League pre-"[[Don't You Want Me]]" era. The overall sound is intentionally slow, downbeat and deliberately melancholy. It was released as a single in June 1984, and become a hit by getting into the UK top 20, reaching number 16. The lyrics were deemed "depressing" and starting with the line "Winter is approaching, there is snow upon the ground", it didn’t sit well with the 'happy' summer holiday records it was on sale next to. Despite this, the tune of the song is fairly upbeat in contrast to the melancholy of the lyrics. It remained in the UK charts for a further six weeks. Critically it was better appreciated and ''[[NME]]'' said "Life on Your Own" was one of ''Hysteria'''s best moments"<ref>Stuart Maconie, NME July 1990</ref>
"Life on Your Own" is heavily drum machine and synthesizer led, in stark contrast to the rock style of the band's previous single "The Lebanon". It was released as a single in June 1984, and became the band's ninth UK Top 20 hit, peaking at number 16. It remained in the UK charts for a further six weeks.

It is acknowledged since, that in rushing the single out mid-summer to capitalize on ''Hysteria'''s success in the album charts was a mistake, and waiting until Christmas 1984 would have made more commercial sense for this track.<ref name="auto"/>


==Promotional video==
==Promotional video==
⚫
The [[music video]] for the song was filmed in [[London]], UK in April 1984. After the 'Faux concert' scenario of "[[The Lebanon (song)|The Lebanon]]", the Human League returned to a themed story telling promotional video. Inspired by 1971 film ''[[The Omega Man]]'', the video features a lonely, survivalist Oakey in the role of 'the last man on Earth', roaming deserted London landmarks haunted by the ghosts of the band's female singers [[Susan Ann Sulley]] and [[Joanne Catherall]]. Some sections of the video were shot inside the empty [[White City Stadium]] just a few months before its demolition in 1985.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:loyovid.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Philip Oakey in closing scene of "Life On Your Own" video, 1984]] -->

⚫
The [[music video]] for the song was filmed in [[London]], UK in April 1984. After the 'Faux concert' scenario of "[[The Lebanon (song)|The Lebanon]]", The Human League returned to a themed story telling promotional video. Inspired by 1971 film ''[[The Omega Man]]'', the video features a lonely, survivalist Oakey in the role of 'the last man on Earth', roaming deserted London landmarks haunted by the ghosts of the band's female singers [[Susan Ann Sulley]] and [[Joanne Catherall]]. Some sections of the video were shot inside the empty [[White City Stadium]] just a few months before its demolition in 1985.
==Track listing==
; 7" vinyl (Virgin VS688)
# "Life on Your Own" – 4:10
# "The World Tonight" – 4:09

; 12" vinyl (Virgin VS688-12)
# "Life on Your Own" – 4:10
# "The World Tonight" – 4:09
# "Life on Your Own" (extended) – 5:43


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|human-league|life-on-your-own}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{Human League}}
{{Human League}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:The Human League songs]]
[[Category:The Human League songs]]

Latest revision as of 19:52, 10 July 2024

"Life on Your Own"
Single by the Human League
from the album Hysteria
B-side"The World Tonight"
Released18 June 1984[1]
Recorded1983–1984
StudioAIR (London)
Genre
Length4:09
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Human League singles chronology
"The Lebanon"
(1984) 		"Life on Your Own"
(1984) 		"Louise"
(1984)
Music video
"Life on Your Own" on YouTube

"Life on Your Own" is a song by English synth-pop band the Human League. Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey, keyboard players Jo Callis and Adrian Wright, it was recorded at AIR Studios during 1983–1984. Originally an album track on the band's fourth studio album Hysteria, it was then released as the second single from the album in the UK.

Background

[edit]

The song was conceived, written and recorded at a time when the band were under considerable pressure to provide Virgin Records with a follow-up album to equal the enormous international success of Dare. The band had taken up residence in the £1,000-per-day AIR Studios; they were there a full year and were reportedly agonising and arguing over every note of every track. Dare producer Martin Rushent had already quit because of the rows and indecision causing further delays. Nick Heyward (formerly of Haircut One Hundred) famously mocked the Human League in the media for taking the same time to program one drum machine as it took him to record his entire album at AIR Studios. The drum machine in question was the LinnDrum and it was being programmed for the track "Life on Your Own", a task that reportedly took two months.[citation needed]

"Life on Your Own" is heavily drum machine and synthesizer led, in stark contrast to the rock style of the band's previous single "The Lebanon". It was released as a single in June 1984, and became the band's ninth UK Top 20 hit, peaking at number 16. It remained in the UK charts for a further six weeks.

Promotional video

[edit]

The music video for the song was filmed in London, UK in April 1984. After the 'Faux concert' scenario of "The Lebanon", the Human League returned to a themed story telling promotional video. Inspired by 1971 film The Omega Man, the video features a lonely, survivalist Oakey in the role of 'the last man on Earth', roaming deserted London landmarks haunted by the ghosts of the band's female singers Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall. Some sections of the video were shot inside the empty White City Stadium just a few months before its demolition in 1985.

Track listing

[edit]
7" vinyl (Virgin VS688)
  1. "Life on Your Own" – 4:10
  2. "The World Tonight" – 4:09
12" vinyl (Virgin VS688-12)
  1. "Life on Your Own" – 4:10
  2. "The World Tonight" – 4:09
  3. "Life on Your Own" (extended) – 5:43

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "News: League life". Record Mirror. 23 June 1984. p. 7. ISSN 0144-5804.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Life_on_Your_Own&oldid=1233766446"