STEP TO THE BEAT

No Doubt – It’s My Life (Remixes) (UK Promo CD Maxi Single)

“It’s My Life” is a song by the British synthpop band Talk Talk. In 2003, No Doubt recorded a cover version of the song to promote their greatest hits album The Singles 1992–2003. Because the band was on hiatus, while lead singer Gwen Stefani recorded her solo debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., they decided to record a cover to avoid having to write a new song. The band listened to hundreds of songs and narrowed it down to “It’s My Life” and INXS‘ 1982 song “Don’t Change“.

No Doubt had doubts on recording a cover and contemplated writing new material. However, they decided on “It’s My Life” after rehearsing it with producer Nellee Hooper, referring to it as a “feel good” song. The track was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 47th Grammy Awards.

Chart Performance

The cover was successful in the United States, reaching number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and remaining on the chart for twenty-eight weeks. It was moderately successful on adult contemporary stations, reaching number twenty on the Adult Contemporary chart, but had high longevity and appeared atop the Adult Top 40‘s recurrent chart. The single was more successful in clubs, peaking at number sixteen on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and had some play on modern rock stations, reaching number thirty-two on the Modern Rock Tracks. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the digital download gold for selling half a million copies.

On the UK Singles Chart, “It’s My Life” debuted at number twenty but was unable to reach a higher position until it was released with a remix of the No Doubt song Bathwater which boasted the single up to number 17. The single dropped off the chart after seven weeks. It was more of a success across Europe, reaching the top ten in Italy, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden and the top twenty in Austria, Belgium, France, and Switzerland. The single reached number seven on the ARIA Singles Chart, lasting seventeen weeks on the chart, and was listed at number eighty-one on the 2004 end-of-year chart. The Australian Recording Industry Association certified the single platinum in 2004 for shipping 70,000 copies.

Music Video

The 1930s-style music video was directed by David LaChapelle. In the song’s music video, Stefani portrays a black widow whose look closely resembles that of actress Jean Harlow, who is put on trial and sentenced to die for the murders of three men she knew, portrayed by the other members of the band. In between the death scenes are scenes of Stefani in court and being dragged to the gas chamber where she is executed. The video ends with the three murder victims in the afterlife, laughing and watching her televised execution.

The music video was moderately successful on video chart programs. On MTV‘s Total Request Live, it reached number seven in November 2003 and was on the countdown as late as January 2004. The video peaked at number eight on MuchMusic‘s Countdown and remained on the program through March 2004. At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, “It’s My Life” won the awards for Best Group Video and Best Pop Video. It also received nominations for Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction^.

The Remixes

Stuart Price, producer and remixer of artists like Madonna, Missy Elliott, The Killers, Gwen Stefani, Seal, and Keane, created the Thin White Duke mix of “It’s My Life”, which won the award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. This version was featured on the video game Karaoke Revolution Volume 2. On December 9, 2008 it was also made available as downloadable content for the Rock Band series.

The Chocolate O’Brian Remix was produced by Stephen Bradley and Dave Tweedie. Bradley plays the trumpet, keyboard, and is a backup singer for No Doubt. In addition to his work with No Doubt, he collaborated with Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Sugar Ray as well as performing with Outkast, Black Eyed Peas, The Specials, Sly and Robbie, Sting, Bounty Killer, Eve, Phantom Planet, and Josh Groban. In 2002 Tweedie and Bradley formed Chocolate O’Brian Productions.

I don’t have producer information on The Great People Club Remix. If anybody does, please let me know and I will add it. As far as I know, this version is commercially unavailable on compact disc.

Label:

Interscope Records

Catalog Number:

NODOUBTCDP2

Track Listing and Details:

1. It’s My Life (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Remix) (6:59)

2. It’s My Life (Chocolate O’Brian Remix) (6:28)

3. It’s My Life (Great People Club Remix) (6:27)

Original version produced by Nellee Hooper and No Doubt
Tracks 1 remixed by Thin White Duke
Track 2 remixed by Chocolate O’Brian
Track 3 remixed by Great People

Rip Information:

Source: CD

Format: mp3

Bitrate: 320 kbps

Password: steptothebeatblog

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