Life 's What You Make It ( Talk Talk song ) - wikipedia Life 's What You Make It ( Talk Talk song ) `` Life 's What You Make It '' Original release Single by Talk Talk from the album The Colour of Spring B - side `` It 's Getting Late in the Evening '' Released 1985 ( Australia, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa ) 1986 ( UK and other countries ) 1990 ( reissue ) Format 7 '' vinyl 12 '' vinyl cassette ( reissue ) CD ( reissue ) Recorded 1985 -- 86 Genre New wave Length 4 : 29 ( 7 '' version ) Label EMI Parlophone Songwriter ( s ) Mark Hollis Tim Friese - Greene Producer ( s ) Tim Friese - Greene Talk Talk UK singles chronology `` Dum Dum Girl '' ( 1984 ) Dum Dum Girl1984 `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( 1986 ) Life 's What You Make It1986 `` Living in Another World '' ( 1986 ) Living in Another World 1986 Alternative cover 1990 reissue `` Life 's What You Make It '' is a song by the English band Talk Talk. It was released as a single in 1986, 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. Filmed at Wimbledon Common, London, the promotional video for the single shows the band performing in the early hours in a natural history setting. The video, directed by Tim Pope, enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV. Artist James Marsh created the single 's cover illustration. The track was re-released as a single in 1990, charting for a second time. Contents 1 Conception 2 Personnel 3 Track listings 4 Charts 5 Cover versions 6 In popular culture 7 References 8 External links 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 -- all backing vocals Additional musicians Martin Ditcham -- percussion Tim Friese - Greene -- organ, Mellotron, production David Rhodes -- guitar Credits as per The Colour of Spring album notes. Track listings 1985 / 86 single 7 '' / 12 '' `` Life 's What You Make It '' -- 4 : 25 ( 7 `` ) / ( extended version ) -- 8 : 16 ( 12 '' ) `` It 's Getting Late in the Evening '' -- 5 : 43 12 '' ( double ) `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( extended version ) -- 8 : 16 `` It 's Getting Late in the Evening '' -- 5 : 43 `` It 's My Life '' -- 6 : 16 `` Does Caroline Know ? '' -- 4 : 33 `` It 's My Life '' -- 3 : 50 12 '' `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( extended version ) -- 6 : 58 `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( early mix ) -- 6 : 39 `` It 's Getting Late in the Evening '' -- 5 : 43 12 '' ( U.S. ) `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( extended mix ) -- 6 : 54 `` It 's Getting Late in the Evening '' ( 7 '' version ) -- 5 : 44 `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( dub version ) -- 6 : 06 1990 single 7 '' / cassette `` Life 's What You Make It '' -- 4 : 26 `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( live from Hammersmith Odeon ) -- 4 : 41 12 '' `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( the BBG remix ) -- 6 : 14 `` Life 's What You Make It '' -- 4 : 26 `` Tomorrow Started '' ( live from Hammersmith Odeon ) -- 7 : 45 CD `` Life 's What You Make It '' -- 4 : 29 `` Tomorrow Started '' ( live from Hammersmith Odeon ) -- 7 : 47 `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( live from Hammersmith Odeon ) -- 4 : 41 12 '' `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( the Fluke remix ) -- 6 : 16 `` Life 's What You Make It '' ( the Dominic Woosey remix ) -- 8 : 21 Charts Chart ( 1985 -- 1986 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 70 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 14 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 48 France ( SNEP ) 49 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 24 Ireland ( IRMA ) 17 Italy ( FIMI ) 14 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 13 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 11 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 11 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 17 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 16 US Billboard Hot 100 90 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 22 US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi - Singles Sales 40 US Billboard Top Rock Tracks 26 US Cash Box 88 Chart ( 1990 ) Peak position Ireland ( IRMA ) 23 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 23 Remix 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. In popular culture The track appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto : Vice City in 2002, where it plays on the pop radio station, Flash FM. References Jump up ^ Phillips, Amy ( 31 August 2012 ). `` Talk Talk 's Mark Hollis Resurfaces With New Music for the Kelsey Grammer TV Show `` Boss '' ``. Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 June 2013. Jump up ^ Sendra, Tim. `` Various Artists -- Pop & Wave, Vol. 3 ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 7 May 2015. Jump up ^ Jim Irvin, Mojo, April 2006 Jump up ^ The Colour of Spring ( liner notes ). Talk Talk. EMI Records. 2012. p. 2. Jump up ^ Marsh, James ; Roberts, Chris ; Benjamin, Toby ( 2015 ). Spirit of Talk Talk ( Paperback ed. ). London : Rocket 88. p. 220. ISBN 978 - 1 - 90661 - 595 - 6. Jump up ^ Neiss, James ( December 1991 ). `` Talk Talk ''. Record Collector. London : Diamond Publishing Group. p. 23. Jump up ^ Neiss, James ( December 1991 ). `` Talk Talk ''. Record Collector. London : Diamond Publishing Group. p. 22. Jump up ^ `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Talk Talk -- Life 's What You Make It '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 0670. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Talk Talk -- Life 's What You Make It '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Talk Talk -- Life 's What You Make It ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 May 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Life 's What You Make It ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` I singoli più venduti del 1986 '' ( in Italian ). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 30 May 2013. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Talk Talk - Life 's What You Make It search results '' ( in Dutch ) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Talk Talk -- Life 's What You Make It '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Talk Talk -- Life 's What You Make It ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Talk Talk -- Life 's What You Make It ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Archive Chart : 1986 - 02 - 08 '' UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 June 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Talk Talk -- Awards ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 21 August 2008. Jump up ^ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending FEBRUARY 8, 1986 at the Wayback Machine ( archived 2 October 2012 ). Cash Box magazine. Jump up ^ `` Archive Chart : 1990 - 09 - 15 '' UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 June 2013. Jump up ^ Wert, Thaddeus ( 14 October 2012 ). `` Spirit of Talk Talk : A Well - Deserved and Respectful Tribute ''. Progarchy. Retrieved 28 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` dunesite ''. Retrieved 1 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Life 's What You Make It ''. Placeboworld.co.uk. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016. Jump up ^ Phares, Heather. `` Original Game Soundtrack -- Grand Theft Auto : Vice City, Vol. 4 : Flash FM ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 21 June 2013. External links Life 's What You Make It ( Talk Talk ) on YouTube Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Talk Talk Mark Hollis Lee Harris Paul Webb Simon Brenner Albums The Party 's Over It 's My Life The Colour of Spring Spirit of Eden Laughing Stock Live albums London 1986 Singles `` Mirror Man '' `` Talk Talk '' `` Today '' `` Another Word '' `` My Foolish Friend '' `` It 's My Life '' `` Such a Shame '' `` Dum Dum Girl '' `` Tomorrow Started ( live ) '' `` Life 's What You Make It '' `` Living in Another World '' `` Give It Up '' `` I Do n't Believe in You '' `` I Believe in You '' `` Living in Another World ' 91 ( remix ) '' `` After the Flood '' `` New Grass '' `` Ascension Day '' `` It 's My Life ( Liquid People vs. Talk Talk ) '' Compilations Natural History : The Very Best of Talk Talk History Revisited : The Remixes The Very Best of Talk Talk Asides Besides 12x12 Original Remixes The Collection Missing Pieces Introducing... Talk Talk Video Live at Montreux 1986 The Very Best Of Talk Talk - Natural History, A Video Collection 1990 Related articles Discography Tim Friese - Greene Mark Hollis ( album ). O. rang Out of Season Streets Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Life%27s_What_You_Make_It_(Talk_Talk_song)&oldid=802325655 '' Categories : 1985 songs 1985 singles 1986 singles 1990 singles EMI Records singles Songs written by Mark Hollis ( musician ) Songs written by Tim Friese - Greene Talk Talk songs Music videos directed by Tim Pope Hidden categories : CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Webarchive template wayback links Use dmy dates from May 2014 Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Italiano Nederlands Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 25 September 2017, at 13 : 19. 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Question: who sings life is what you make it
Answer: Talk Talk