Hey, remember when Tim McGraw released that horribly sappy faux-country song “Live Like You Were Dying” in 2004 and it was insanely popular?
Now, inexplicable Idol champ Kris Allen (remember him?) is set to debut his big post-Idol single titled “Live Like We’re Dying.”
Original, right?
In his defense, it’s not like Allen wrote this song or anything. Nor did McGraw, for that matter.
(Below: Listen to Kris Allen’s new single “Live Like We’re Dying”)
Pleasant, but forgettable as usual, Allen’s track isn’t even as amusingly cringe-worthy as McGraw’s.
The country king’s corny track referenced bull riding and skydiving as activities you should partake of in order to “live like you were dying.”
Allen’s number, a cover of a song by sensitive Irish pop-rock types the Script, is less overtly cheesy…sort of. Acoustic pop with nasaly Jason Mraz/Gavin DeGraw/Jamie Cullum sing-speak vocals (and a Barenaked Ladies-like rap bit), the song spreads positive vibes through messages about telling people you love them before it’s too late.
There’s absolutely NOTHING original about Allen’s song–not only is it a cover of the Script’s song, but it’s basically an exact copy of that band’s performance. Plus, the song was hardly in need of a remake since the Script only released it a year ago (as a bonus track). So, why bother to redo a mediocre song with a new artist and make it sound almost exactly like the original–which isn’t even that popular anyway?
Someday, Allen might be the leader of a passable cover band, but this kid doesn’t have an ounce of originality in his body (which probably explains why he won American Idol).
“Live Like We’re Dying” is not awesome, but it’s certainly much better than Allen’s American Idol victory song “No Boundaries.”
(Read: Adam Lambert Wins Idol Judges w/ Awful DioGuardi Song, “No Boundaries” lyrics)
It’s sweet, but lame-which might sum up Allen. It’s like acoustic pop that your mom can totally jam to in the SUV and pretend she still rocks. She doesn’t.
BELOW: Listen to Kris Allen’s new single “Live Like We’re Dying” and the Script’s original version and tell us what you think!
BELOW: The Script’s original version of “Live Like We’re Dying”
MORE Music News:
IDOL: Brian May Praises Adam Lambert’s “2012″ Track
TV: America’s Got Talent: 2009 Winner, a Loser? Susan Boyle vs Rolling Stones
IDOL: Worst Lyrics Ever? Awful DioGuardi American Idol Song, “No Boundaries”
IDOL: Carrie Underwood “Cowboy Casanova” Written by Jay-Z, Eminem Crew.
Reya says...
09.22.09 10:59 am
WOW. Wow, so much bitterness here. Sorry about your life.
MGP added...
Spot on!!!
09.23.09 3:42 am
MGP added...
Kris Allen rockzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
09.23.09 3:43 am
sigh says...
09.22.09 11:36 am
I love how every negative review of Kris is going to be called “bitter” and every negative review of Adam will surely be called “homophobic.”
Give me Matt and Allison, omg. I’m so tired of Kris/Adam fan wars.
liz says...
09.22.09 11:52 am
really don’t think you should judge Kris on this single. lets wait until his album comes out as that will be a true representation of him as an artist. yes, this song is disappointing, but its not even his song and I’m sure we will see the real talent of Kris Allen as time goes on.
rob says...
09.22.09 12:09 pm
Hated your review and disagree with it. Great tune. It is not “sweet but lame” and neither is Kris.
Really love the song and love his singing.
britney says...
09.22.09 12:12 pm
This song is beyond words horrendous. I am convinced that the good folks at 19E understand what a stink bomb of an entertainer Kris Allen is, and are purposely trying to sabotage his career. A lead single for ANY artist off a new album, especially a NEW artist who has everything to prove, is crucial in defining who he or she is to the public. It’s supposed to be a representation of the best things about an album, and a reason for the consumer to buy the entire album. This is the best they’ve got? Really? Kris Allen is very handsome & likable. So is my next door neighbor. Neither one is destined to have a hit single or be a rock star. Sorry, Kris. Your 15 minutes are almost up… tick, tick, tick… PS- Not a Lambert fan, either. But that’s another story altogether.
jackson added...
Gee, where have I read this before? Oh yeah, on another Kris article! You troll the net for articles on Kris and paste the same reply. What a bitterbert. You better get help before it eats you away. Kris is amazing and I love his single. What are you bitterberts afraid of? Could it be that Kris is proving why he won AI.
09.23.09 5:06 pm
kaitlyn added...
OMG Jackson is so right! I’ve read this exact same comment on another blog, one that I actually just read two minutes ago. And, get this, it’s copied and pasted WORD FOR WORD. Huh.
Looks like Kris isn’t the only one doing the copying, right Britney????
And of course there’s MM below who cussed so much on another blogger’s site that her comment was removed by said (though I know it’s MM because the blogger was kind of enough to leave her name and explain why MM’s comment was removed.)
For the record, who cares if it’s a cover? It’s a nice song, catchy, and Kris sounds great singing it. And you need to change your tags because it’s stupid to say you would recommend this song to Adam Lambert haters. I happen to like both of them.
09.26.09 10:55 pm
AJ says...
09.22.09 12:50 pm
Just LOL at this whole review. Someone had a bad day apparantly. I don’t agree with any of it, but could respect your opinion up until…
‘but this kid doesn’t have an ounce of originality in his body ‘
…just, erm, what? Sure he didn’t switch up the single, but it was already a catchy song, he has had no time to do much with it and why should he? And to say he has no originality is just ridiculous. Do some research before spewing rubbish.
Oh and I love Adam Lambert. So, for the record, some people like both.
Donna added...
WOW…I agree totally with EVERYTHING you said!
09.23.09 9:58 pm
Mick says...
09.22.09 12:56 pm
Agreed. 100% agreed. And I’m not an Lambert or Allen fan. Just a music lover with good ears.
Sun says...
09.22.09 1:07 pm
I’m not a fan of this song because frankly I am disappointed in Kris. Unlike you I found him to be original and daring on the show. I loved, loved, loved Heartless and I guess I got my expectations out of control. I don’t like message songs. I can’t understand most of the lyrics and what lyrics I do understand (planes falling out of the sky) I find disturbing. I don’t like the rapping.
I guess I wanted something more. Something Kris actually had a part in creating or at least a song that was written for him with his style in mind. Now he just seems like a copycat and it really irks me that Jive is starting him out this way. Just one more song “cover.”
MM says...
09.22.09 1:50 pm
Agree no originality. Just a cover that sounds like the Script. There is a part in there that sounds like “The Macarena”. Rapping versus singing. It does seem too close to Tim McGraw’s title. And the sound imitates the first release of Season 2 finalist Josh Gracin, now a country artist. I am totally disappointed. That makes this and No Boundaries 2 releases by this kid that went no where. I hope the CD is better, but if not, when do we admit the guy just doesnt have it in him to be an artist. And no, I am not a bitterbert and I have a great life.
Anna says...
09.22.09 2:44 pm
It’s definitely Kris!!! It’s soo bland and boringly monotonous!!!
Nope says...
09.22.09 2:56 pm
It would be better for Kris if the first single is not a cover. If it’s a cover, then it should not be an exact copy because there will not be originality. This is not really a good song but maybe for the tweens, but I don’t go for it. It’s like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star then goes rap on the chorus._It is really nothing. But for an establish group as The Script it’s OK as one of the songs in their album. But for someone like Kris going out the first time into the business and be scrutinized. it is really nothing.
I believe this is a reject by The Script on their own album and found it better to offer it to a greenhorn. But not my taste. Sorry, Kris. Thanks, but no thanks.
a says...
09.22.09 4:30 pm
wow - that was a not very nice review….sheesh…..give the guy a break… it isn’t his fault they made him do a cover I’m sure he just did what he could with it…they hardly had anytime to work on an entire album …a few months? I’m sure the best is yet to come..I will not judge Kris by this song. I am an Adam fan but I am wishing the best for Kris….I was surprised they had him cover a song…was hoping for an original BUT I’m sure that will be next…and I’m sure it had to do with time and I can’t imagine it’s easy to write 12 songs in a few months? Wish they would give them more time for their records instead of rushing them…. Even if I don’t like Kris’s album I will not judge him because I doubt he has much control over it. Same with Adam. I have a feeling Allison’s is going to be realllly good because she gets more time.
Also - I am nervous for Adam too…I feel like these guys mothers!
OMG added...
yeah. SInce he won. People didnt stop bashing him.
09.23.09 3:12 pm
Maxine says...
09.22.09 4:42 pm
I don’t understand your review. You are holding “originality” up as the criteria as to whether someone has talent or will make it in the music business. If that is true, that’s pretty bad news for most of the singers out there who do not write their own songs. Kris said in an interview that his favorite song on the album is one he wrote. But, he does like this one. He obviously liked the way the Script sang it because his version is very close. The difference is - they ain’t Kris. Don’t mock the moms in the SUVs… they’re the ones with the cash who also have some influence over what their kids listen to (at least the good ones do), and I can imagine there are thousands who prefer the positive message of this song to the messages of other songs that are out there… This song is going to be a hit!
Donna added...
How true! It’s refreshing to get a song once in a while that isn’t about drugs, clubs, strippers, sex or in most cases, all of the above. Also, that doesn’t have to have 3/4 of it bleeped out on the radio.
09.23.09 10:07 pm
Margarette says...
09.22.09 8:51 pm
What is this song, I thought that the American idol eight season or the idol tour is over ( where the idols did covers of somebody else songs) Are they going to keep doing covers their entire life?, what an mediocre music carrier is that?
It was easier to make a cover than create your own music…
Donny says...
09.23.09 12:11 am
I was expecting this single to be lame, but surprisingly I like it. I don’t think it’s boring at all. It would probably be better if he hadn’t done a cover, but I don’t hate it or anything. I’m sort of sorry for him though, because music snobs (like me) will very easily write him off because he was on Idol, even if his stuff is good. It’s a rough business.
Josh says...
09.23.09 5:14 am
Face it! The song aint worth it. Why wait for the album? Kris is a good guy, but he was not given special attention in preparing for his single. If he makes it, it will only be due to the exposure of American Idol. He is suppose to be a song writer and down the road he could write a winner and people will remember he was the American Idol, but as for now, he is definately ordinary. Why talk about Lambert, the only wars are the ones who did not vote for him and really, did it stop people who are not connected with Idol to offer him an original song? Every person that was a final in American Idol only want the chance, the break they need to go on with their career. Only a few a very few have what it takes to make it in the industry. Kris said he wanted respect from the industry, and respect has nothing to do with being a star. I respect that Kris Allen won, but he does not have what it takes to have longevity in the industry.
wtdp says...
09.23.09 7:29 am
I can’t believe this is what they’re releasing for him, it’s like they’re setting him up to fail. It’s really really boring, insipid, forgettable, shockingly shockingly bad.
Mario says...
09.23.09 11:41 am
I agree 100% with this review. What a disappointment! What an annoying song! I’ll pass. Give me Mraz any day.
Nikki says...
09.23.09 2:28 pm
I don’t know what you consider talent, but Tim’s song was amazing, for any of us who actually get it because we suffer from the blasted disease and go through chemo and all the other crap, we would so love to be able to go skydiving instead, if you knew anything of Tim you would get it too, this was a tribute song he did to his dad Tug McGraw who died before it was released, it was all he could do to get through it, many many people got awhole lot of positive feelings from this song, how dare you put it down, as for this fellow’s vesion, I am sure he is giving his best but sadly there is only one Tim McGraw, kudos to him for picking such an awesome song to cover but its really a hard one to do as Tim is all over it, he won many awards for this song it even won song of the year, when Tim puts his touch like he did with this song on one its a hard one to cover, its Tim’s and don’t you dare put down something you know nothing about its tacky on your part as you are insulting everyone of us who suffer from cancer and are still fighting largely because of this song!
OMG says...
09.23.09 3:11 pm
People keep saying that it’s a cover. A cover is a song of one artist being done by another artist without official release. This is an official release and Kris obviously recorded this track with the script so The Script gave this song to him. And besides the song was B-side. ALL THE HATERS. Tsk Tsk.
Karen added...
Being an “official release” has nothing to do with being a “cover.”
A cover song is the name given to any song recorded by an artist other than the original artist.
09.23.09 4:01 pm
heather says...
09.23.09 6:25 pm
I’m shocked! I personally don’t like the song at all. And why would he be singing someone else’s song to start his career? What is 19E thinking? I think Kris is screwed.
katy says...
09.23.09 10:50 pm
Now the song is failing at radio… I think they should just give up on it & do something else… maybe a recorded version of Man In The Mirror? What a disaster!
kaitlyn added...
How do you know it’s failing on radio? Who put drugs in your weed?
09.26.09 10:59 pm
Mike says...
09.25.09 5:19 pm
Woooow!!!! You are so far off on this, it is hard to believe. You are more than welcome to your opinion on the song, but you lose all credibility when you talk about things like Kris Allen not being original. As I said, you can give your opinion about the song, but why ruin it by writing about thinks you obviously have no knowledge of. There is no way you actually watched American Idol. If you did, you could not possibly say that Kris is not original. That just sounds foolish. Turning songs like “She Works Hard For The Money” into a Santana type song is just one example of completely original things Allen has done. Of course his first single is not an original. He just won in May and immediatley left for a 50 city tour!!! I am not a huge fan of the first single myself. This blog post makes you look incredibly uninformed and lazy.
LuLu says...
09.27.09 1:40 pm
Why would anyone make this their first release from an album. The first cut is suppose to entice you to want the entire package, this does nothing of the sort. I hope Kris sells this single and does well with the CD but I have my doubts. His producers must have been using something heavy, hope Adams can do better.
adamsluvjnes says...
09.27.09 1:40 pm
I only agreed to listen to this song because Adam tweeted for his fans to go take a listen. I did not like the song. I do not have anything against Kris, but this song is like the songs that he sang on Idol - they were mediocre at best. I never got anything from them. Kris does not move me. To me, there is no passion, no oomph, no fire. But that is just me. It goes to show that there are different tastes in music. Kris is just not my taste. To do a cover, to me, for the very first single on a debut album is, once again, to ME, is just not good business. He will always be compared to the ones who did the song originally. Also, I hear those who say they are not going to judge Kris on this song. U know, that sounds vaguely familiar to what Kara said on finale night about No Boundaries. That song sucked too.
LoveKradam says...
10.4.09 1:24 am
I thought it was a bit harsh, until I listened to both songs. I love Kris and wish him well, but really, he loved this song so much to choose as his first single? He was so good at picking a song to cover on AI. I wonder what happened… He could have turn this one into a slow ballad, or something, at least. So I am a bit disappointed. But there are more songs in CD, so I am holding up the hope that there will be something remarkable in the batch.
elizabeth says...
10.4.09 11:44 am
I sensed a big OH-OH for Kris the moment the recording contracts for he and Adam were announced. Simon Fuller (19E) issued a mundane and generic press release about Kris’ “passion for music, love of performing, that will stand the test of time”, while the announcement for Adam waxed glorioulsy about “this brilliant, self confident talented etc etc young man”. (Can’t remember it all, check the web). Anyway, that was an “Ouch” for Kris, who, after all, won the frigging contest. Now Kris releases a single, (which was already a big hit for Tim McGraw in 2002, HELLO) about which he stated in a interview that he had no idea it was a previous cover, I guess the producers forgot to tell him. There is no video, and apparently, according to Kris, the full promotion will not begin until October. Just seems to me that Kris is on the B list, and was given no special attention at least for the single, and lets see what happens with the album. I fear that the humble, laid back Kris Allen doesn’t have the chops, or the original talent , to earn the respect of the cut-throat music industry
Rachel says...
10.5.09 3:51 pm
Disagree so strongly. In days where big hits are “Party in the U.S.A.” and “I Gotta Feeling”, “Live Like We’re Dying” is refreshing.
It was a B-Side from The Script, and was never released in the U.S. I’m pretty sure Kris’s managers/production company is deciding a lot of stuff for him. He doesn’t have the power and creative control over his music yet. I just can’t believe what some of you are saying. I mean, above me “I fear that the humble, laid back Kris Allen doesn’t have the chops, or the original talent, to ear the respect of the cut-throat music industry”. I think many of this year’s American Idols - Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Alison Iraheta, Matt Giraud are better than a lot of the artists already in the music industry. It’s all about the song. If there is a catchy (and even pointless song), as long as it’s got that “hot” beat it will sell. Look at the top 10 on ITunes. It’s all crap and Miley Cyrus has topped it for months. I think they just need to take it slow and give some good songs/albums to these artists. Kris Allen is original… and creative… that is why he was so popular on Idol. Remember “Heartless”? Remember “She Works Hard For the Money”? I don’t see the big deal… most artists don’t even write their songs, so why does it matter Kris didn’t write his first-ever single, which he doesn’t have much control over anyway. I thought he sang it well… it is a tad monotonous, but at the same time extremely catchy and pretty refreshing, compared to all the songs about sex out there today. I really like his voice…
I think this song needs more promoting… I haven’t seen it listed on ITunes.
Nita says...
10.10.09 5:08 am
I am a Kris fan and I loved him on the show, but why is he been given awful songs? It is good that he is a writer and can get out from under 19 and do his own stuff. I really do not think this has anything to do with the other idols and bashing only makes it worse. I think he is under contract to do stupid songs.
Leah added...
yeah, winning may b a good rep, but runner-up defintily gets it better off cuz they get 2 decide their own record deal.
10.22.09 7:59 pm
Maryj says...
10.11.09 1:07 am
I hope in the future, all the idols will do well. It is not easy being on American Idol, not only are you being judged, but songs have to be learned quickly and I am sure the schedules for the contestants are exhausting. Just to make the top ten is amazing since thousands tried out. I do not see the idols as contestants anymore, but upcoming artist.
Leah says...
10.22.09 7:57 pm
Wow. NONE of u r talking about The Script! I will most definitely search elsewhere 4 more info on the story, but right when i heard the song, i thought? what the heck! WHY IS KRIS ALLEN SINGING THIS SONG??? I mean, I’m a Script Fan 100%. i was actually a kris fan until this. now im not crazy about him. uncreative and everything he does is the same. if ur gonna buy the song, but it by THE SCRIPT.