That's the Way It Is (Mel and Kim song)
Encyclopedia
"That's the Way It Is" was the fourth internationally-released single of British pop duo Mel and Kim
. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
. The single was released in February 1988, and peaked at #10 in the UK, becoming their fourth consecutive top 10 hit in that country.
By the time of the release of the single, Melanie Appleby
had been diagnosed with spinal cancer and had withdrawn from the public eye in late 1987. Appleby discharged herself from hospital to record the vocals for the track. The sisters made Mel's illness public at the time of the release of this single, and both appeared on the Wogan show in April 1988 while Mel was still undergoing treatment, as part of European Cancer Week.
The b-side of the single was a new song, "You Changed My Life", which was the first song on which the sisters had a co-writer credit.
"That's the Way It Is" was not included on the group's debut album, F.L.M.
. It has been included on later compilation albums of the duo, along with "You Changed My Life".
"That's the Way It Is" was featured on the soundtrack album
of Coming to America
, starring Eddie Murphy
.
Due to Mel's illness, the sisters did not appear in the promotional videoclip for the song. Instead, it featured a team of dancers in a studio, much like the videoclip of their previous single.
It would be the last release of the duo, as they disappeared from the public eye again while Mel Appleby continued her cancer treatment. She succumbed to pneumonia in January 1990, her immune system weakened by chemotherapy. Some of the songs she co-wrote with Kim Appleby
during the last 2 years of her life were later released on Kim's solo album released in late 1990.
12" (SUPE T 117 / RCA PT 41832)
12" picture disc (SUPE TP 117)
12" remix (SUPE TX 117)
12" remix (SUPE TZ 117)
CD single (SUPCD 117)
Mel and Kim
Mel and Kim were a British pop duo, comprising sisters Melanie and Kim Appleby. They achieved success between 1986 and 1988 before Melanie succumbed to cancer.-Biography:...
. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
. The single was released in February 1988, and peaked at #10 in the UK, becoming their fourth consecutive top 10 hit in that country.
By the time of the release of the single, Melanie Appleby
Melanie Appleby
Melanie Susan Appleby was one half of the 1980s English pop duo Mel and Kim.Appleby was born in Hackney, London of mixed-race to a Jamaican father and a British mother...
had been diagnosed with spinal cancer and had withdrawn from the public eye in late 1987. Appleby discharged herself from hospital to record the vocals for the track. The sisters made Mel's illness public at the time of the release of this single, and both appeared on the Wogan show in April 1988 while Mel was still undergoing treatment, as part of European Cancer Week.
The b-side of the single was a new song, "You Changed My Life", which was the first song on which the sisters had a co-writer credit.
"That's the Way It Is" was not included on the group's debut album, F.L.M.
F.L.M. (Mel and Kim album)
F.L.M. is the first and only album by British pop duo Mel and Kim. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and made it to number three on the UK Albums Chart in 1987....
. It has been included on later compilation albums of the duo, along with "You Changed My Life".
"That's the Way It Is" was featured on the soundtrack album
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
of Coming to America
Coming to America
Coming to America is a 1988 comedy film directed by John Landis. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy, who also stars in the film. Murphy plays an African prince, who heads to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry...
, starring Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
.
Due to Mel's illness, the sisters did not appear in the promotional videoclip for the song. Instead, it featured a team of dancers in a studio, much like the videoclip of their previous single.
It would be the last release of the duo, as they disappeared from the public eye again while Mel Appleby continued her cancer treatment. She succumbed to pneumonia in January 1990, her immune system weakened by chemotherapy. Some of the songs she co-wrote with Kim Appleby
Kim Appleby
Kim Appleby , is an English singer, songwriter and actor. She participated in the duo Mel and Kim, with her sister Melanie Appleby, until her sister's death from pneumonia following treatment for cancer.- Biography :...
during the last 2 years of her life were later released on Kim's solo album released in late 1990.
UK releases
7" (SUPE 117)- "That's the Way It Is" 3:25
- "You Changed My Life" 3:21
12" (SUPE T 117 / RCA PT 41832)
- "That's the Way It Is" (12"/Club mix) 6:47
- "I'm the One Who Really Loves YouI'm the One Who Really Loves You (Mel and Kim song)"I'm the One Who Really Loves You" was a track included on F.L.M., the first and only album by British pop act Mel and Kim. Although never released internationally as a single, after being subected to a handful of remixes by Clivillés & Cole and a limited North American release, it reached number...
" (US remix) 5:57 - "You Changed My Life" 3:21
12" picture disc (SUPE TP 117)
- "That's the Way It Is" (12"/Club mix) 6:47
- "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US remix) 5:57
- "You Changed My Life" 3:21
12" remix (SUPE TX 117)
- "That's the Way It Is" (House remix/Special mix) 6:42
- "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US remix) 5:57
- "You Changed My Life" 3:21
12" remix (SUPE TZ 117)
- "That's the Way It Is" (Acid House mix) 7:38
- "That's the Way It Is" (Acid dub)
- "You Changed My Life" 3:21
CD single (SUPCD 117)
- "That's the Way It Is" (12"/Club mix) 6:47
- "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US mix) 5:57
- "You Changed My Life" 3:21
Official mixes
- Album/7" version 3:25
- 12"/Club mix 6:47
- House remix/Special mix 6:42
- Acid House mix 7:38
- Acid dub
- Razormaid mix 6:47 – by Joseph Watt for Razormaid!