Live Like We're Dying

Album: Kris Allen (2009)
Charted: 18
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Songfacts®:

  • This is the first single from 2009 American Idol winner Kris Allen's debut major label album. The song was premiered on the Elvis Duran Show from New York radio station Z100. When it was played, it was the first time that Allen had ever heard one of his songs on the radio.
  • The song was originally recorded by Irish pop rockers, The Script and featured on the Japanese edition of their self-titled debut album. Allen told MTV News that the tune had been earmarked as a single once he began working on his post-Idol album back in May. He explained: "[The song] was actually one that we had listened to really early on, and we kind of just fell in love with it. Everyone did."
  • The positive message of this "life wisdom" song was a factor in Allen's decision to cover it.
  • Regarding the lyric, "So if your life flashed before you / What would you wish you would have done?," Kris admitted to MTV News that if he were suddenly on his way out, "I wish I would have skydived." He explained: "It's random, but I have always wanted to. I'm really scared to, but I think that it would be the biggest rush."
  • Allen told Reuters: "It's got a really jumpy chorus that I feel people can really get into, turn the windows down in their car and sing along with it."
  • Allen recalled to Billboard magazine the filming of the song's music video: "It was really fun shooting it - we shot it from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. so it was an all-night thing with no breaks. [The shoot was] set up like a digital clock, but it's huge, it's this monstrous thing-like 25 feet tall and who knows how long. I get to hold a flare, which was pretty cool. I ended up throwing it at people on set. [laughs]."
  • Script guitarist Mark Sheehan discussed Allen's version of their tune in an interview with Virgin.com: "Before The Script we wrote for other artists. When we write for The Script, there are always extra songs that don't make the cut. They have to make sense live and come across well on the album, or we don't do it. That was one of the songs we didn't want to put out, but our sneaky label put it out in Germany without telling us. Then we heard Kris Allen was doing it, and we didn't even know we'd released it! We wouldn't have done it if we'd been asked, but it is a really good pop song and it works for him. It worked out well in the end."

Comments: 12

  • Jtxgasmaskkid from New Castle , PaLive life to the fullest. TBH, I really didnt like this song, or this genre in general.
  • Tim from New Castle, Paeveryones mission in life is to die, from the time we are born till the time we die we have to live life to its fullest and to get the best in life.
  • Cassie from Pittsburgh, Pathis song means that we need to live our lives to the fullest. we are only given one life so we need to cherish it before its too late and we are left with nothing.
  • Shane from New Castle, PaThis song tells us sinply to live every day like its ur last. Don't just sit inside and waste the day away, live each day to the fullest
  • Billy from New Castle, Pai think this song means live your life how you want to live and live everyday like it is your last
  • Tim from Turkey, BhutanNo one knows how much time we have left to live, so you should make the most out of your time that you can.

    JRSM
    New Castle
  • Brittany from New Castle, Palife is really too short, my interpretation of this song is that we should all do what we want when we went, dont hold back. actually, live like your dying. its upbeat.
  • Jewel from New Castle, PaWell, the fact that he is very attractive made me more interested in the video. The message that he is singing of, is to live like you're dying, so live everyday like it's the last and take chances, and the tone isnt in any means depressing even though the title may fool you. It's actually a very up tempo beat.
  • Brittney from New Castle, Pai think this song is about living everyday like it's your last. Take chances on things, and stop worrying about the stupid things that are not important.
  • Abbey from New Castle, Italyto me, this song means that life is short. you only have one life to live. live it to the fullest. The song also reminds me of how quick graduation is commin up. were did all this time go? Life goes by fast. live it up :) no regrets
  • Liah from New Castle, PaThis song tells us that we should not take life for granted and appreciate everything that we have
  • Sierra from New Castle, Pamt interpretation of this song would be saying that life is short so live it to the fullest, not just think of what you want to do and achieve but acually do it, you only live one time and you should do everything that you can while you can!
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