This Is the Life (Amy Macdonald song)

Macdonald explained in a video posted on March 30, 2023, on her official TikTok account that she wrote the song when she was 16 years old. She shared that one night she went out using her sister's ID and had an amazing time. However, the next day, she was caught and grounded, spending the entire day in her room. It was during that confinement day that, inspired by the unforgettable night before, she wrote the song. == Composition ==

"This is the Life" is three minutes and five seconds long, and is written in the key of C-sharp minor. It is set in common time and has a tempo of 100 beats per minute. MacDonald's vocal range is from G♯3 to A4. In an interview with Expressen, MacDonald said that the song took about 10 minutes to write. ==Chart performance==

The song was first released in December 2007 in the United Kingdom but achieved only moderate success, peaking at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart and number 18 on the Scottish Singles Chart. Throughout 2008, it was released throughout most of Europe, reaching number one in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. In Flanders and the Netherlands, "This Is the Life" was the highest-selling song of 2008. The single reached the top three in France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. In Spain, the song was certified double platinum, denoting sales of over 80,000 units, in 2009. In Norway, the song reached number 10 during its initial release, but in January 2011, it re-entered the chart at number one. "This Is the Life" was Macdonald's only song to chart in North America, peaking at number 19 on the US Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart. ==In popular culture==

The song was used in a 2010 advert for the Fiat 500 shown across Europe. It was also used in a Norwegian advert in early 2011 and re-entered the country's official chart at number one. The track was released in the United States on a vinyl 45 rpm single (Decca UCGR-00199-1) with a unique picture sleeve, backed with "Let's Start a Band." ==Track listings==

UK and European CD single • "This Is the Life" • "This Much Is True" French CD single • "This Is the Life" ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts Decade-end charts ==Certifications==