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Live Is Life
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| "Live Is Life" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Opus | ||||
| from the album Live Is Life/ Up and Down (U.S. version) | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | 1984[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:14 | |||
| Label |
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| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Peter Müller | |||
| Opus singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Live Is Life" on YouTube | ||||
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| Alternative covers | ||||
Austrian release | ||||
"Live Is Life" is a song by Austrian pop rock band Opus, released in 1984 by labels Polydor and OK as the first single from their first live album, Live Is Life (1984). It was written by the band and produced by Peter Müller, and also included on the US version of their fourth studio album, Up and Down (1984). The song was a European number-one hit in the summer of 1985, and also reached number one in Canada and the top 40 in the US in 1986. It has been covered by many artists.
The title is sometimes mistaken as "Life Is Life":[2] Standard German phonology has final-obstruent devoicing, so that the word "live" sounds like "life".
Background and chart performance
[edit]After having released several singles, "Live Is Life" achieved huge success in 1985, topping the charts of many countries, including Austria (eight weeks), West Germany, France (seven weeks) and Sweden (four weeks).
The song was created during a concert in Oberwart, on 2 September 1984, while the group celebrated its eleventh anniversary. It was recorded in a live version with the audience singing along in the verses. In the lyrics, the song expresses "the enthusiastic attachment of the group to the stage".[3] The song was performed during the 1985 charity campaign, "Austria für Afrika".
It was re-recorded as the theme song of the 2024 European Women's Handball Championship in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland to mark the fortieth anniversary of the original song.
It is the current goal song of Team Canada during the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships being held in Ottawa, Ontario. The song had been used by Team Canada in the 2023 Gretzky Hlinka Championship and 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship. The Ottawa 67s also used it as their goal song during the 2023-2024 season.
Maradona's warm up
[edit]On 19 April 1989, during the warming up in Munich before the UEFA Cup semi-final return between FC Bayern Munich and S.S.C. Napoli, Diego Maradona performed an impromptu keepie uppie exhibition synchronized to the rhythm of "Live Is Life", as the song happened to be playing over the stadium's loudspeakers during warm-ups.
Some confusion persists by those who dispute that it took place in Munich. Among others, Jürgen Klinsmann claimed that it happened during the final in Stuttgart:
There were 70,000 people in the stadium and Maradona went on the field. We’re on the other side of the field, warming up like Germans: seriously, focused. There's music playing, the song "Live is Life", and to the rhythm of the song Maradona started juggling the ball. So we stopped our warm-up. What's this guy doing? He's juggling off his shoulders. And we couldn't warm up anymore because we had to watch this guy.[4]
Belgian sports anchor Frank Raes, who edited the video and distributed it via YouTube, has asserted that this warm up took place just before the semifinal in Munich. By 2013, Raes' video clip had garnered almost two million views on YouTube.[4] The 25th anniversary of Maradona's warming up was noted internationally, with newspapers commenting on his skills and on the transformative effect he had on Napoli and southern Italy.[5][6]
Personnel
[edit]- Herwig Rüdisser – lead vocals
- Ewald Pfleger – guitar, vocals
- Niki Gruber – bass, vocals
- Kurt-René Plisnier – keyboard, vocals
- Günter Grasmuck – drums
- Günter Timischl – percussion, vocals
Track listings
[edit]
1985 release[edit]
1994 release[edit]
|
2008 release[edit]
2011 version[edit]
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Charts and sales
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[36] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| France (SNEP)[37] | Gold | 500,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[38] | Gold | 500,000^ |
| Italy (FIMI)[39] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40] | Gold | 25,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[41] | Silver | 250,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Hermes House Band version
[edit]| "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Hermes House Band featuring DJ Ötzi | ||||
| from the album Today Is the Day | ||||
| B-side | "Remix" | |||
| Released | 2002 | |||
| Genre | Europop | |||
| Length | 3:30 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Hermes House Band singles chronology | ||||
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The Hermes House Band and DJ Ötzi released a version of "Live Is Life" in 2002. The single had its highest peak position in France, where it reached number two for five weeks.[42] The song was used as a soundtrack for the German youth film Das Jahr der ersten Küsse.[43] As of August 2014, the song was the 23rd best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 537,000 units sold.[44]
Track listings
[edit]- CD single
- "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (Here We Go/video mix) – 3:30
- "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (jump mix) – 3:33
- CD maxi
- "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (Here We Go/video mix) – 3:30
- "Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (jump mix) – 3:33
- "Football's Coming Home" (three lions) (radio) by Hermes House Band – 3:48
- "Everytime You Touch Me" (fireplace mix) by Hermes House Band – 3:21
- "Hey Mama" by Hermes House Band – 3:10
- Enhanced Multimediatrack : "Live Is Life" – 3:30
Charts and sales
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
Sales and certifications[edit]
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Other cover versions
[edit]The Slovenian art collective Laibach recorded two retitled versions of the song for their 1987 album Opus Dei, one in English which was used as the album's title track, and the other in German under the name "Leben heisst Leben", with guitar solo included. Both were arranged in a distinctly darker and militaristic style typical of the group's music. The song, along with their cover of Queen's "One Vision" on the same LP, gained the band mainstream airplay on outlets including MTV and The Chart Show.[61]
The song was covered by Stargo, whose version reached number 10 in France in 1985.[62] Sofia Carson's "Love Is the Name" features an interpolation of "Live Is Life".[63]
The song was also adapted by Liverpool F.C. fans as a football chant about their then manager Jürgen Klopp early in his tenure at the club.[64] The song was reused by Liverpool fans (and Klopp himself) for a chant about Klopp's successor Arne Slot.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Opus – Live Is Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ Bromley, Tom (2006). We Could Have Been the Wombles: The Weird and Wonderful World of One-Hit Wonders. Penguin. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-14-101711-2.
- ^ Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit. tubes (in French). Alinéa Bis. p. 47. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
- ^ a b Woitalla, Mike (25 September 2013). "Klinsmann recalls Maradona's 'Live is Life' warm-up". Soccer America. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ Luckhurst, Samuel (19 April 2014). "Diego Maradona's Live Is Life Warm-Up: 25 Years Ago Today". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "Video: Diego Maradona – even warming up he was a bit special". The Daily Telegraph. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "Opus – Live Is Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0614." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Opus". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 190. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Opus – Live Is Life" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Live Is Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Opus – Live Is Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Opus – Live Is Life". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (O)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Opus – Live Is Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Opus – Live Is Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 13. 4 March 1986. p. 70. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 29, 1986". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Opus – Live Is Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ "austriancharts.at – Opus – The Power Of Live Is Life". Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 7 July 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ "Opus feat. Jerry – Live Is Life 08" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Opus feat. Jerry – Live Is Life 08" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 12.10.2024–18.10.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade 1985". Austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985". Hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ "Jahrescharts – 1985". Officialcharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1986". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 11. 27 December 1986. Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Opus – Live Is Life". Music Canada.
- ^ "European Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 December 1986. p. 33. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Opus; 'Live Is Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Opus – Live Is Life" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "British single certifications – Opus – Live Is Life". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ a b "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "lescharts.com – Soundtrack – Das Jahr der ersten Küsse". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ "Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, épisode 8 (30-21)". Charts in France (in French). PureCharts. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 28. 12 July 2003. p. 45. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "– {{{song}}}" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 36, saptamina 10.09-16.09, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 27 December 2004.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Hermes House Band & DJ Ötzi – Live Is Life (Here We Go)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 2003" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ "Classement Singles – année 2003". Snepmusique.com (in French). Archived from the original on 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2003". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ^ "French single certifications – Hermes House Band – Life Is Life" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Laibach Reissues 'Opus Dei'". mute.com. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "lescharts.com – Stargo – Live Is Life". Lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ Cantor, Brian (29 March 2016). "Sofia Carson's Debut Single "Love Is the Name" Makes Radio Premiere on 4/7". Headline Planet. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ Philbin, Paul (31 January 2016). "Liverpool fans have come up with a song for Jurgen Klopp and it's brilliant". liverpoolecho.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
Live Is Life
View on GrokipediaOpus Original Version
Background and Creation
Opus, an Austrian pop-rock band, was formed in 1973 in the Styria region near Graz by keyboardist Kurt Rene Plisnier, guitarist Ewald Pfleger, and bassist Walter Bachkönig, with drummer Günter Grasmuck joining soon after for early concerts in Burgenland and Styria.[8] Initially focused on rock covers of bands like Deep Purple alongside original compositions, the group organized the Austria Rock Festival in 1978, marking a key milestone in their development. By the early 1980s, Opus transitioned to a more accessible pop-rock style, evident in their debut album Daydreams (1980), which incorporated classical influences, and the follow-up Eleven (1981), featuring hits like "Eleven" and "Flyin' High" that established their commercial presence in Austria.[8] The song "Live Is Life" originated in the context of Opus's 11th anniversary celebrations, with guitarist Ewald Pfleger composing it while vacationing on Ibiza specifically for the occasion, aiming to embody the exhilaration of live performances.[9] It premiered during the band's anniversary concert on September 2, 1984, at the stadium in Oberwart, Austria, where thousands of fans gathered; the upbeat track emerged from the electric atmosphere, capturing the spontaneous joy and vibrancy of the moment without any prior studio preparation.[8][9] An initial attempt to record the performance failed when the tape ran out, prompting an impromptu encore replay that successfully preserved the raw energy and formed the foundation of the released version.[9] Songwriting credits for "Live Is Life" are attributed to the core band members—Ewald Pfleger as primary composer on guitar, alongside Kurt Rene Plisnier on keyboards, Günter Grasmuck on drums, Niki Gruber on bass, and Herwig Rüdisser on vocals—reflecting their collaborative spirit during this pivotal live creation.[10] The feel-good theme, centered on embracing life's lively essence through communal singing and rhythm, directly drew from the infectious crowd interaction at the Oberwart event, transforming a celebratory jam into an enduring anthem.[9]Recording and Release
The song "Live Is Life" was captured live during Opus's eleventh anniversary concert at the Inform Stadium in Oberwart, Austria, on September 2, 1984.[1] The multitrack recording from this performance was selected for the single, with mixing handled to retain the spontaneous, energetic feel of the live event and minimal post-production applied to preserve its raw quality.[1][11] The production was overseen by Peter Müller, who also served as recording and mixing engineer.[12] The single was released in Austria in 1984 by OK Music on a 7-inch vinyl format, featuring "Up and Down" as the B-side.[13] This was followed by an international rollout through Polydor Records, with the track included on Opus's debut live album Live Is Life, issued in 1984. The album captured additional material from the Oberwart show, emphasizing the band's live dynamism.[12] In 2024, Opus rerecorded an updated version of the song titled "Live Is Life – Catch the Spirit" in collaboration with the Schick Sisters, serving as the official anthem for the Women's EHF EURO 2024 handball championship hosted in Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland.[14] This rerecording incorporated modern production elements, such as refreshed arrangements and vocal contributions from the guests, while maintaining the original's core melody and structure to evoke its timeless appeal.[14][1] The track premiered in August 2024, ahead of the tournament.[14]Composition and Lyrics
"Live Is Life" is an upbeat pop-rock song characterized by its energetic blend of synthesizers, a prominent horn section, and a driving rhythm section that contributes to its anthemic quality. The track is composed in the key of A minor at a tempo of approximately 96 beats per minute (BPM), creating a lively pace suitable for its celebratory mood.[15] Its structure follows a conventional verse-chorus format with extended instrumental breaks, allowing for dynamic builds and crowd engagement typical of live performances. The arrangement incorporates signature guitar riffs and percussive elements that enhance the song's infectious, danceable groove, clocking in at 4:15 for the original single version.[16] The lyrics, penned by E. Pfleger and the band Opus, emphasize themes of living in the moment and the joy of communal energy, encapsulated in the repetitive chorus line "Live is life when we all give the power." This simple, mantra-like phrasing avoids complex narratives, instead fostering an anthemic, universal appeal that invites audience participation. The verses build on this by evoking shared efforts and the power of music, reinforcing unity and positivity without delving into deeper storytelling.[4] Influenced by the 1980s Euro-pop scene, the song merges polished pop sensibilities with a raw, live jam session vibe, highlighted by its recording during a concert in Oberwart, Austria, which infuses improvisation and spontaneity into the performance. This hybrid style captures the era's enthusiasm for high-energy, accessible anthems that blend electronic and rock elements for broad appeal.[16]Personnel
The original recording of "Live Is Life" featured the core lineup of the Austrian band Opus, which had been stable since the band's formation in 1973 and remained consistent through the 1984–1985 period. Herwig Rüdisser provided lead vocals, delivering the energetic and anthemic performance that defined the track's live feel. Ewald Pfleger handled guitar and backing vocals, notably composing and playing the iconic opening guitar riff that drives the song's intro and sets its upbeat tone. Kurt René Plisnier contributed on keyboards, adding the synth elements that enhance the pop-rock energy. Niki Gruber (full name Peter Niklas Gruber) played bass and provided backing vocals, laying the rhythmic foundation. Günter Grasmuck rounded out the rhythm section on drums and percussion, supporting the track's driving beat recorded live at Oberwart Stadium on September 2, 1984. No external session musicians were involved in the recording. The song was produced by Peter Müller, who oversaw the live capture and mixing at Sound Mill Vienna. This lineup saw no major changes during the era surrounding the song's release, with the band maintaining its original configuration until they disbanded in 2021 following a farewell tour.Commercial Performance
International Chart Positions
"Live Is Life" by Opus became a major international hit in 1985, topping charts in multiple European countries and reaching number one in Canada. The song's upbeat, live-recorded energy contributed to its widespread appeal, leading to prolonged stays on various national singles charts.[17] The following table summarizes the song's peak positions and durations on key international charts:| Country | Peak Position | Weeks at #1 | Total Weeks on Chart | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1 | 4 | 18 | austriancharts.at danishcharts.dk |
| West Germany | 1 | 6 | 27 | danishcharts.dk germancharts.de |
| France | 1 | 7 | 23 | lescharts.com |
| Sweden | 1 | 4 | 11 | danishcharts.dk facebook.com (80s music group post citing Sverigetopplistan) |
| Norway | 2 | - | 15 | danishcharts.dk |
| Switzerland | 2 | - | 21 | danishcharts.dk |
| Netherlands | 3 | - | - | sacharts.wordpress.com |
| United Kingdom | 6 | - | 16 | officialcharts.com |
| Canada | 1 | 7 | - | ukmix.org (RPM chart data) |
| United States (Billboard Hot 100) | 32 | - | 16 | billboard.com |
| Australia | 28 | - | - | sacharts.wordpress.com |
