"It's My Life" is a song by the English band Talk Talk. Written by Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, it was the title track on the band's second album, It's My Life (1984), and released as its first single on 3 January 1984. It became a moderate hit in many countries, reaching number 46 on the UK Singles Chart, number 33 in Germany, number 32 in New Zealand, number 25 in France, number nine in Italy, and number 30 in Canada. In the United States, it reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the group's only top 40 hit in the US. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80 chart.
The single was re-released in the UK in 1985, reaching number 93. In May 1990, "It's My Life" was reissued again to promote the compilation album Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk. This time, the song reached number 13 in the UK becoming the band's highest charting single in their native country. In 2003, the American rock band No Doubt released a cover version that became a hit in several countries, including the US, where it reached number 10 on the Hot 100.
No Doubt recorded a cover version of "It's My Life" to promote their first greatest hits album The Singles 1992–2003 (2003). Because the band was on hiatus while lead singer Gwen Stefani recorded her solo debut album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004), they decided to record a cover to avoid having to write a new song.[31] After considering hundreds of songs, they narrowed it down to two contenders – "It's My Life" by Talk Talk and "Don't Change" by Australian rock band INXS. "A Question of Lust" by English electronic band Depeche Mode was another close contender.[32]
No Doubt later had second thoughts about recording a cover and contemplated writing new material.[31] However, they became more comfortable after rehearsing "It's My Life" with producer Nellee Hooper,[32] referring to it as a "feel-good" song.[31] No Doubt's version of "It's My Life" was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards.[33] Jacques Lu Cont, the song's programmer, created the Thin White Duke mix of "It's My Life", which won the award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.[34]
