Key to My Life

"Key to My Life"
"Key to My Life"
Single by Boyzone
from the album Said and Done
B-side	"When Will You Understand?"
Released	17 April 1995
Length	3:46
Label	Polydor
Songwriters	Stephen Gately; Mikey Graham; Ronan Keating; Ray Hedges; Martin Brannigan;
Producer	Ray Hedges
Boyzone singles chronology
Music video
	"Key to My Life" on YouTube

"Key to My Life" is the third single from Irish boy band Boyzone, taken from their debut album, Said and Done (1995). It was released in April 1995 by Polydor Records, and after two covers, it became their first single to be an original song, co-written by members of the group. The song became the group's second No. 1 single in Ireland and reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, receiving a silver sales certification for shipments of over 200,000 units in the UK. "Key to My Life" also reached the top 40 in Belgium, Iceland, and the Netherlands. The accompanying music video features the band performing in a classroom at a school.^[1]

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Their second hit could have suffered from not being such a well known song but the pretty teen ballad is having none of it, their second instant Top 10 hit in succession and for now there is clearly no stopping them."^[2] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "In their homeland Ireland, the boyz' own fan club is already strong enough to kick their main inspirators Take That off the top slot with another sugary ballad."^[3] Music Week gave it a top score of five out of five and named it Single of the Week, writing, "Boyzone, who reached number two with their 'Love Me for a Reason' cover, could go all the way with this excellent self-penned ballad. The cheery, cheesy dance mix, which is also included, could have made it in its own right."^[4] Smash Hits gave it four out of five, praising it as "beautiful!"^[5]

Track listings

UK CD single^[6]

"Key to My Life" (radio edit)
"Key to My Life" (Unlocked Mix)
"When Will You Understand?"

Australasian and Japanese CD single^[7]^[8]

"Key to My Life" (radio edit)
"Key to My Life" (Unlocked mix)
"When Will You Understand?"
"Boyzone, Spoken Word"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[9]	167
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[10]	15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[11]	23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[12]	6
Europe (European AC Radio)^[13]	15
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[14]	16
Germany (GfK)^[15]	64
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[16]	32
Ireland (IRMA)^[17]	1
Israel (IBA)^[18]	2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[19]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[20]	12
Scotland (OCC)^[21]	3
UK Singles (OCC)^[22]	3
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[23]	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[24]	82
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[25]	96
UK Singles (OCC)^[26]	69

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[27]	Silver	200,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	17 April 1995	CD cassette	Polydor	^[28]
Japan	25 August 1995	CD	Polydor	^[29]

References

^ "Boyzone - Key To My Life". YouTube. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^ Masterton, James (23 April 1995). "Week Ending April 29th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 18. 6 May 1995. p. 13. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
^ "Reviews: Singles – Single of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. 1 April 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
^ "Review: "We're very proud of this album!"". Smash Hits. 16 August 1995. p. 61. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
^ Key to My Life (UK CD single liner notes). Polydor Records. 1995. PZCD 342, 851895-2.
^ Key to My Life (Australasian CD single liner notes). Polydor Records. 1995. 579071-2.
^ Key to My Life (Japanese CD single liner notes). Polydor Records. 1995. POCP-7068.
^ "Boyzone ARIA chart history (singles 1995-1997), received from ARIA in May 2024". ARIA. Retrieved 8 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 19. 13 May 1995. p. 21. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
^ "European Adult Contemporary Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 27. 8 July 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 15. 3 June 1995. p. 29. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (3.6. '95 – 9.6. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 June 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Key to My Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ 30 May 1995
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 13 May 1995. p. 21. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
^ "British single certifications – Boyzone – Key to My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 15 April 1995. p. 31. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
^ "キー・トゥ・マイ・ライフ | ボーイゾーン" [Key to My Life | Boyzone] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 31 August 2023.

[1] "Boyzone - Key To My Life". YouTube. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2021.

[2] Masterton, James (23 April 1995). "Week Ending April 29th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 19 September 2021.

[3] "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 18. 6 May 1995. p. 13. Retrieved 18 May 2021.

[4] "Reviews: Singles – Single of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. 1 April 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 7 May 2021.

[5] "Review: "We're very proud of this album!"". Smash Hits. 16 August 1995. p. 61. Retrieved 14 February 2025.

[6] Key to My Life (UK CD single liner notes). Polydor Records. 1995. PZCD 342, 851895-2.

[7] Key to My Life (Australasian CD single liner notes). Polydor Records. 1995. 579071-2.

[8] Key to My Life (Japanese CD single liner notes). Polydor Records. 1995. POCP-7068.

[9] "Boyzone ARIA chart history (singles 1995-1997), received from ARIA in May 2024". ARIA. Retrieved 8 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

[sc_Flanders_Boyzone-10] "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[sc_Wallonia_Boyzone-11] "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[12] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 19. 13 May 1995. p. 21. Retrieved 13 February 2025.

[13] "European Adult Contemporary Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 27. 8 July 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 28 December 2024.

[14] "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 15. 3 June 1995. p. 29. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

[sc_Germany_Boyzone-15] "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[16] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (3.6. '95 – 9.6. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 June 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[sc_Ireland2_-17] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Key to My Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[18] 30 May 1995

[sc_Dutch40_-19] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[sc_Dutch100_Boyzone-20] "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[sc_Scotland_-21] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[sc_UK_-22] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[23] "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 13 May 1995. p. 21. Retrieved 27 April 2024.

[24] "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[25] "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[26] "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.

[United_KingdomBoyzoneKey_to_My_LifesingleCertRef-27] "British single certifications – Boyzone – Key to My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

[28] "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 15 April 1995. p. 31. Retrieved 27 June 2021.

[29] "キー・トゥ・マイ・ライフ | ボーイゾーン" [Key to My Life | Boyzone] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 31 August 2023.

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v t e Boyzone
Keith Duffy Stephen Gately Mikey Graham Ronan Keating Shane Lynch
Studio albums	Said and Done A Different Beat Where We Belong Brother BZ20 Dublin to Detroit Thank You & Goodnight
Compilation albums	By Request Ballads – The Love Song Collection Key to My Life: The Collection Back Again... No Matter What B-Sides & Rarities Love Me for a Reason – The Collection
Singles	"Working My Way Back to You" "Love Me for a Reason" "Key to My Life" "So Good" "Father and Son" "Coming Home Now" "Words" "A Different Beat" "Isn't It a Wonder" "Picture of You" "Mystical Experience" "Baby Can I Hold You" "All That I Need" "No Matter What" "I Love the Way You Love Me" "When the Going Gets Tough" "You Needed Me" "Every Day I Love You" "Love You Anyway" "Better" "Gave It All Away" "Love Is a Hurricane" "Love Will Save the Day" "Light Up the Night" "Dream" "Because" "Shooting Star"
Tours	Brother Tour BZ20 Tour Thank You & Goodnight Tour
Books	The Tree of Seasons
Related articles	Discography

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