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

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.