Live It Up

Album: Get Lifted (2004)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • John Legend celebrates on "Live It Up," a song where he's finally out of the poorhouse and able to spend a little money. We're not talking diamond jewelry - he's happy he can take his girl to the mall and can buy something without putting it on layaway (picking it up when you have time to pay for it).

    Legend certainly did have reason to celebrate: the song is part of his debut album, Get Lifted, which launched him as a solo artist. But he had been doing well for quite some time; after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999, he connected with Kanye West and made a name for himself as a singer, songwriter and piano player for other artists. Get Lifted was released on West's label, GOOD Music.
  • The Israeli musician Miri Ben-Ari did the string arrangement on this track, giving it a lush sound that complements Legend's piano. Kanye West is credited for drum programming.
  • Devo Harris produced this song and co-wrote it with Legend. He's the man who introduced Legend to Kayne West. Other John Legend tracks Harris worked on include "So High" and "If You're Out There."
  • The main riff is an interpolation of a 1975 song called "Love Is Missing from Our Lives," recorded jointly by the vocal groups The Dells and The Dramatics.

Comments: 1

  • Nikki from Chicago, IlMiri Ben-Ari, the Hip-Hop Violinist and Tarrey Torae, one half of the duo "J. Torae" are special guests on this song. Tarrey Torae's husband, J. Ivy (who is the other half of J. Torae) gave John Stephens the name "John Legend" because he has a style like the legends of old such as: Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke and Donnie Hathaway. J. Ivy is also a poet best known for being on Def Poetry Jam and on Kanye West's first album "The College Dropout".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.