Good Life (song)

***Good Life*** is a song by band OneRepublic, taken from their second studio album, *Waking Up* (2009). The song was written by group members Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, and Eddie Fisher along with group associate Noel Zancanella. It was produced by Tedder, with co-production by Kutzle and Zancanella. It is in the key of F# major/G♭ major, and it appears as the sixth track on the album.

The song was released on November 17, 2009 as the album's third single in the United States, and as its overall fourth single. Its popularity was increased by its use in various films, television series and advertisements. The single was a commercial success, peaking at number 8 on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 and eventually being certified multi-platinum, as well as reaching the top twenty of other music charts across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The song has sold over 3 million copies in the US as of January 2014.

Critical reception of "Good Life" was generally positive. This song is unique in that the band recorded various radio versions of this song for different cities and states. The line changed in the lyrics is "my friends in [city/state] they don't know, where I've been."

A remix of the song, featuring American rapper B.o.B, was released to radio stations in June 2011.

As of June 2016, Good Life is the only OneRepublic song to be rated Explicit on iTunes, for its use of the word 'bullshit' within the song.

## Promotion

Initially released as a single in November 2010, the song's popularity was increased after its use in various media. Google used the song in its 2010 Zeitgeist "year in review" video. The song is featured in the trailers for the films *Eat Pray Love* and *One Day*, in the film *Easy A*, and in the television series *Cougar Town*, *Gossip Girl*, *One Tree Hill*, *Rookie Blue*, *America's Got Talent*, and *90210*. The group performed the song at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards, 2011 Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards of 2011, *Live with Regis and Kelly*, *Dancing with the Stars*, and recently at the 2011 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. The background music of this song was played on various Walt Disney World television and radio commercials. In August 2012, "Good Life" was featured in a Honda Summer Clearance Event commercial.

## Critical reception

Giving the song five stars, *About.com* wrote, "Not only does "Good Life" have lyrics that anyone can relate to — "...please tell me what there is to complain about..." — it also has a unique musical delivery that allows the song to stand out on a radio full of same-sounding songs." *Rolling Stone* put the song on its list of the 15 Best Whistling Songs of All Time.

## Music video

The music video for "Good Life" was premiered on February 14, 2011. The video shows the band performing the song in a field, processed to look like an old film. It shows many different symbols and is a bit different from their previous videos. The original video was filmed in a mountain valley located in West Hills, California. It features cameo appearances by Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Nicolas Cage, Russell Crowe, and many more.

In December 2011, a second music video, filmed entirely at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World was released. It features the band performing at Cinderella Castle, as well as riding on several attractions.

Another video of the band playing in concert was also released on May 3, 2011, promoting the forthcoming Good Life Series

## Versions

A remix by B.o.B. was released in 2011.

In the spring of 2011, OneRepublic did a short series entitled The Good Life Series in which in various European cities after performing a scheduled concert, the band put on impromptu shows on the streets performing various songs including *Good Life*. This series was all uploaded to OneRepublicVEVO's YouTube account.

OneRepublic - The Good Life Series (Vienna)OneRepublic - The Good Life Series (Prague)OneRepublic - The Good Life Series (Luxembourg & Tilburg)OneRepublic - The Good Life Series (Good Life Tour)

## Lyrics

Woke up in London yesterday
Found myself in the city near Piccadilly
Don't really know how I got here
I got some pictures on my phone

New names and numbers that I don't know
Address to places like Abbey Road
Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want
We're young enough to say

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don't know
Where I've been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Colorado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can't jump out
(Clean version): Sometimes there's hammers that don't work now
(Explicit version): Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now
We all got our stories but please tell me-e-e-e
What there is to complain about

When you're happy like a fool
Let it take you over
When everything is out
You gotta take it in

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

Hopelessly
I feel like there might be something that I'll miss
Hopelessly
I feel like the window closes oh so quick
Hopelessly
I'm taking a mental picture of you now
'Cause hopelessly
The hope is we have so much to feel good about

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

Oh yeah
Good, good life
Good life
Ooh

Listen
To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don't know
Where I've been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Colorado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can't jump out
(Clean version): Sometimes there's textbooks that don't work now
(Explicit version): Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now
We all got our stories but please tell me-e-e-e
What there is to complain about

## Credits

Credits adapted from the liner notes of *Waking Up*

* Midnite Miracle (ASCAP)/Sony ATV
* Patriot Games Publishing (ASCAP)
* All rights administered by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing
* Acornman (ASCAP)
* Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Worldwide, America Inc.
* LJF Publishing Co (ASCAP)
* Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Worldwide, America Inc.

## References

1. ↑ http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-pitbull-kesha-eminem-riri-230734884.html
2. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0QXB5pw2qE Zeitgeist 2010: Year in Review
3. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1282140/soundtrack IMDB
4. ↑ http://top40.about.com/od/o/fr/one-republic-good-life.htm
5. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/the-15-best-whistling-songs-of-all-time-20110930/onerepublic-good-life-2011-0645213
6. ↑ http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/30029896/detail.html