# 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 in January 1986, peaking at No. 16, and charted in numerous other countries, often reaching the Top 20. It appeared at No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 the weeks of February 15 and 22, 1986.
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

Credits as per The Colour of Spring album notes.

### Talk Talk

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

### Additional musicians

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

## Charts

| Chart (1985–1986) | Peak position |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 70 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 14 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 48 |
| Europe (European Top 100 Singles) | 10 |
| France (SNEP) | 49 |
| Germany (GfK) | 24 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 17 |
| Italy (Musica e dischi) | 14 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 13 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 11 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 11 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 17 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 90 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play$^1$ | 22 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales$^1$ | 40 |
| US Billboard Top Rock Tracks | 26 |
| US Cash Box | 88 |
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 66 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 23 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 23 |
$^1$Remix

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Cover versions

The song is covered in 1994 by The Divine Comedy with a string quartet during the Promenade album sessions, and released in several occasions.
In 2009, "Life's What You Make It" was covered by Australian rock musician Rowland S. Howard for his final solo album Pop Crimes.
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. 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.