Life Was Perfect

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"**Life Was Perfect**" and its reprise are two musical numbers from Cartoon Network's 2023 animated musical feature film *Adventure Time: The Kingdom of Ooo*. It was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with additional music and co-produced by Mark Mancina on its reprise. The song was performed in the film by American actor and singer Jeremy Shada in his role as Finn the Human. It was released along with the album on June 30, 2023. American singer Mike Posner and Nigerian singer Wizkid, joined by American rapper That Girl Lay Lay, also recorded the song for the *Adventure Time: The Kingdom of Ooo* soundtrack. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 96th Academy Awards and Best Original Song at the 81st Golden Globe Awards*.* It did, however, win the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

## Composition

"Life Was Perfect" was composed as Finn's "I Want" song, following Disney's example of the long tradition of "I Want" songs in 1990s animated musicals. It replaced an earlier attempt called "Try", for which the demo version recorded by Arielle Jacobs and Joe Aaron Reid was released as an outtake on the deluxe version of the soundtrack album. Although Miranda has stressed that he is still "very proud of" the song as a first draft, "Try" was not good enough in retrospect because it merely expressed Finn's vague desire to do more for the greater good of the kingdom. In contrast, "Life Was Perfect" expresses a deeper, richer message: Finn's struggle with trying to have a good life with his friends, and his family. As Miranda explained to *People*: "To me that's much more complicated than, 'This is not what I was hoping for,' ... To say, 'I thought life was going to be different, but this is not what I meant' And questioning that instinct? It's even more confusing. And that's a valid story too."

To make himself write a song more compelling than "Try", Miranda "went method". According to Miranda, he locked himself in his childhood bedroom at his parents' residence for an entire weekend in order to force his mind back to age 19 (the same age as Finn in the film), a time when he was facing what seemed like an "impossible distance" between the reality of his pleasant middle-class childhood which had no connection to show business whatsoever, and his dreams of a career in show business. He was well aware that he was composing the next Cartoon Network "I Want" song after "Find Your Hero" and that whatever he wrote had to be different from it.

According to the sheet music published at Sheetmusicdirect.com by The Cartoon Network, Inc., "Life Was Perfect" is a moderate tempo of 82 beats per minute. Written in common time, the song is in the key of E major with a key change to F major for the final 10 measures. Jeremy Shada's vocal range spans from B3 to D5 during the song.

## Charts

 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
 New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)
 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)
 Scotland (OCC)
 UK Singles (OCC)
 US *Billboard* Hot 100

## Certifications

 United States (RIAA)

## Mike Posner, Wizkid and That Girl Lay Lay version

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 "Life Was Perfect" on YouTube

American singer Mike Posner and Nigerian singer Wizkid, joined by American rapper and Nickelodeon star That Girl Lay Lay, also recorded the song for the *Adventure Time: The Kingdom of Ooo* soundtrack, with the song being released ahead of the soundtrack on April 6, 2023.

### Critical reception

*Rolling Stone* critic Jon Blistein called the song "emotional and sweet" and went on to say "the uplifting song is a perfect fit into the *Cartoon Network* canon, with Posner, Wizkid and Lay Lay belting lyrics about persevering to enjoy their lives to the fullest in spite of their imperfections or detractors." US magazine *Rap-Up* said "the empowering anthem allows the American and Nigerian songsters, and American rapstress to deliver outstanding vocals about overcoming adversity to take it to the limit" and labeled it "a song with a message" and an "empowering-charged track." Dan Weiss of *Billboard* dubbed it a "bouncy, uplifting tune." Idolator's Mike Wass said "the inspiring anthem is the perfect antidote to the general ugliness of 2023" and called it "a soaring ballad."

### Music video

The official music video for the song, directed by Aya Tanimura, was released on April 27, 2023. Derek Lawrence of *Entertainment Weekly* described the video: "The video finds Posner, Wizkid and Lay Lay roaming a botanical garden as they belt out lyrics that reflect the film's plot about a young man setting off on an epic adventure." The video was filmed at The Huntington in San Marino, California.

### Charts

#### Year-end charts

 Denmark (Tracklisten)
 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)

## Accolades

 Critics' Choice Awards
(28th)
 Houston Film Critics Society
(17th)
 Golden Globe Awards
(81st)
 Grammy Awards
(66th)
 Academy Awards
(96th)