That's Just the Way It Is
Encyclopedia
"That's Just the Way It Is" is a single performed by Phil Collins
and David Crosby
that was released in 1990 from the album ...But Seriously
. The song was only released as a single in Europe, while "Do You Remember?
" was instead released in the United States. The song reached #26 in the UK Singles Chart
.
The song, according to Collins, is an anti-war ballad that heavily deals with The Troubles
of Northern Ireland. The song itself was positively received by most critics. Collins, before live performances of the song, would address the crowd with a monologue on what he thought were the "evils of war", which received criticism from critics. The B-side to the song was "Broadway Chorus", the demo version of "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
".
, about the conflict in Northern Ireland
, The Troubles
. Collins said, in an interview, "It's about Northern Ireland as far as I am concerned. Which in England we are used to it all the time I mean Ireland of course it's on the doorstep but everywhere else in the world it's, just another news report, but if you are living in England and you just sort of constantly people getting blown to smithereens because this thing that's been going on for the last twenty but also for a lot longer in Ireland it's only just come to the front in the last twenty years. You see newsreels of kids throwing petrol bombs because their brothers throw them and then their dads throw them and their dads dads and it's just bred, inbred now this violence and I just thought someone somewhere, and it's got to be from both sides has got to say 'Hang on, life means more than this. This has got to stop.'"
David Crosby
is featured in backing vocals in the song, and even sings a duet with Collins at times. During live performances of the song, Collins would precede it with a monologue about what he thought were the "evils of war". The San Jose Mercury News
criticized this, saying, "But instead of reinforcing his persona as rock's Good Old Bloke, it came across as a piece of show biz, as if he wasn't feeling it but simply reading it." The B-side of the single was "Broadway Chorus", a demo version of another hit single from the album, "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
".
however, said that the song was "so lyrically vague it lacked punch". Jon Pareles of The New York Times
thought that the song "[echoed] Bruce Hornsby
in tone and title". The San Jose Mercury News
thought the song was "pretty". Lennox Samuels of The Dallas Morning News
thought that the song "starts out as if it is going to be another "In the Air Tonight
"..."before it moves into being an anti-war song". Meanwhile, The Atlanta Journal Constitution thought that Crosby's vocals "lends challenging harmony".
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
and David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
that was released in 1990 from the album ...But Seriously
...But Seriously
-Instrumental contributions:*Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, percussion, tambourine, vocals*Nathan East — bass guitar*Daryl Stuermer — guitar*Dominic Miller — guitar*The Phoenix Horns:**Don Myrick — saxophone...
. The song was only released as a single in Europe, while "Do You Remember?
Do You Remember? (Phil Collins song)
"Do You Remember?" is a single performed by Phil Collins released in 1990 from his album ...But Seriously. The song had minor success in European countries, but went to number one on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.A live...
" was instead released in the United States. The song reached #26 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
The song, according to Collins, is an anti-war ballad that heavily deals with The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
of Northern Ireland. The song itself was positively received by most critics. Collins, before live performances of the song, would address the crowd with a monologue on what he thought were the "evils of war", which received criticism from critics. The B-side to the song was "Broadway Chorus", the demo version of "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" is a single performed by Phil Collins and released in 1990, from the album ...But Seriously. The song reached the #4 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that same year. A live performance of the song also appears on the Serious Hits... Live! album...
".
Song history
The song is an anti-war balladBallad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, about the conflict in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
. Collins said, in an interview, "It's about Northern Ireland as far as I am concerned. Which in England we are used to it all the time I mean Ireland of course it's on the doorstep but everywhere else in the world it's, just another news report, but if you are living in England and you just sort of constantly people getting blown to smithereens because this thing that's been going on for the last twenty but also for a lot longer in Ireland it's only just come to the front in the last twenty years. You see newsreels of kids throwing petrol bombs because their brothers throw them and then their dads throw them and their dads dads and it's just bred, inbred now this violence and I just thought someone somewhere, and it's got to be from both sides has got to say 'Hang on, life means more than this. This has got to stop.'"
David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
is featured in backing vocals in the song, and even sings a duet with Collins at times. During live performances of the song, Collins would precede it with a monologue about what he thought were the "evils of war". The San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
criticized this, saying, "But instead of reinforcing his persona as rock's Good Old Bloke, it came across as a piece of show biz, as if he wasn't feeling it but simply reading it." The B-side of the single was "Broadway Chorus", a demo version of another hit single from the album, "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" is a single performed by Phil Collins and released in 1990, from the album ...But Seriously. The song reached the #4 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that same year. A live performance of the song also appears on the Serious Hits... Live! album...
".
Track listing
- "That's Just the Way It Is" – 5:19
- "Broadway Chorus" ("Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" Demo Version) – 4:17
Reception
Don McLeese of The Chicago Sun-Times said that David Crosby was "used more effectively" on this song than any other song which had Crosby on the album. The Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
however, said that the song was "so lyrically vague it lacked punch". Jon Pareles of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
thought that the song "[echoed] Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
in tone and title". The San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
thought the song was "pretty". Lennox Samuels of The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
thought that the song "starts out as if it is going to be another "In the Air Tonight
In the Air Tonight
"In the Air Tonight" is a song by Phil Collins that first appeared on his 1981 album Face Value. It was recorded in 1979 and was the first single of Collins' solo career, and remains one of his best-known hits. The music video, directed by Stuart Orme, was released in 1981.-The song/recording:The...
"..."before it moves into being an anti-war song". Meanwhile, The Atlanta Journal Constitution thought that Crosby's vocals "lends challenging harmony".
Chart performance
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Singles Chart | 13 |
| German Singles Chart | 51 |
| UK Singles Charts | 26 |