Kris Allen’s new single, “Live Like We’re Dying”, debuted this week and there’s one thing I have to say:When can I have the album?!I’ve been a Kris Allen fan since he first appeared on idol, and predicted his win while everyone else was debating a Lambert/Gokey finale. I was impressed with the way he pulled off that … err …. interesting … winner’s song, “No Boundaries.”But this song is great. It promises to be an Idol winner’s project to not only kick off Allen’s career but put him in the history books with Daughtery, David Cook, Jordan Sparks and other Idol alum.Here are the lyrics to the song:Live Like We’re DyingKris AllenSometimes we fall down and cant get back upWere hiding behind skin thats too toughHow come we dont say I love you enoughTill its to late, its not too lateOur hearts are hungry for a food that wont comeWe could make a feast from these crumbsAnd were all staring down the barrel of a gunSo if your life flashed before youWhat would you wish you wouldve doneYeah gotta startLookin at the hand of the time weve been given hereThis is all we got and we gotta start pickin itEvery second counts on a clock thats tickinGotta live like were dyingWe only got86 400 seconds in a day toTurn it all around or throw it all awayWe gotta tell em that we love emWhile we got the chance to sayGotta live like were dyingAnd if your plane fell out of the skiesWho would you call with your last goodbyesShould be so careful who we live out our livesSo when we long for absolutionTherell no one on the lineYeah gotta startLookin at the hand of the time weve been given hereThis is all we got and we gotta start pickin itEvery second counts on a clock thats tickinGotta live like were dyingWe only got86 400 seconds in a day toTurn it all around or throw it all awayWe gotta tell em that we love emWhile we got the chance to sayGotta live like were dyingLike were dying oh – like were dying [x2]We only got86 400 seconds in a day toTurn it all around or throw it all awayWe gotta tell em that we love emWhile we got the chance to sayGotta live – like were dyingWe never know a good thing till its goneYou never see a crash until its head onAll those people right when were dead wrongYou never know a good thing till its goneYeah gotta startLookin at the hand of the time weve been given hereThis is all we got and we gotta start livin itEvery second counts on a clock thats tickinGotta live like were dyingWe only got86 400 seconds in a day toTurn it all around or throw it all awayWe gotta tell em that we love emWhile we got the chance to sayGotta live like were dyingLike were dying oh – like were dying [x2]We only got86 400 seconds in a day toTurn it all around or throw it all awayWe gotta tell em that we love emWhile we got the chance to sayGotta live like were dyingLive like were dying Click here to subscribe to Gospel Soundcheck by email and have the Gospel Soundcheck headlines delivered daily to your email inbox. And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!
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posted September 25, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Too bad it was a cover of someone else’s song and not an original. Very disappointing coming from the “Winner”. He talks about all this writing – didn’t he do enough covers on the show?
posted September 25, 2009 at 2:41 pm
CharliGirl – While it’s incredibly flattering to Kris that you think writing a hit single would be so easy for him, I’m glad that he’s taking his time with it. He would have recorded this song a little while back and he’s been writing and recording throughout the tour and now after. Lots of the people he’s co-written with (including Alex Band, who wrote “Wherever You Will Go”) have said great things about him, so I’m really looking forward to the album.
As for the ‘cover’ issues… this song was a B-side release, not a single, so The Script probably didn’t even pitch it to him as a cover (btw, did you know that he’s going to London to work with two of the people who wrote the song?). He seems confused by all the fuss and so am I. He sounds amazing on the song and it’s exactly the kind of style that he was planning on doing. Why fix something that isn’t broken?
posted September 25, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Kris Allen only won because the homophobes voted for him as a way of voting against Adam Lambert.
Fox News did their little ‘culture war’ against Adam by pointing out that he was gay and showing pictures of him kissing an ex and then they did another segment about how Kris was a good Christian and presented Adam as if he wasn’t religious even though it was common knowledge that Adam was Jewish.
Adam has a vastly superior vocal range than Kris and way more personality and charisma.
posted September 25, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Well, josh, I’m not a homophobe, in fact, I’m gay, and I voted for Kris Allen.
That’s nice that Adam Lambert has a greater vocal range. You know, that’s one thing I’m always checking on when I listen to the radio — the vocal range of the performer. Yep. That’s really the most important thing. Like Bruce Springsteen has a great range, right?
Good luck to Adam and Kris. It’s hard for new artists to get ahead. Kris is great and I wish him the best — can’t wait for his album!
posted September 25, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Hey Josh, I voted for Kris too and I’m not a homophobe either. I think Adam & Kris are both very talented but Kris is more my style and he’s the guy that got my votes! I wish them both success!
posted September 25, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I bought this song this morning because I am so in love with Kris but I am kind of tired of it already. It kind of felt too fast and upbeat for Kris’s vocal range. Plus it doesn’t have that “heartless” magic. I wonder if he’ll perform it live, it is kind of hard to sing along with it. Anyways, I love you Kris and I hope you have something ‘YOU’ in the CD for me.
posted September 25, 2009 at 8:12 pm
This song was released by The Script overseas, or at the very least it was played quite a bit on the radio. To those of us in the UK it’s not new. It’s definitely a cover.
And this song is a word for word beat for beat imitation. No creativity. No change ups. Nothing. If this is your style of music, well, enjoy!
Seriously, the guy does covers on American Idol for the entire season and then releases a COVER for his first single? To be honest I don’t know how this guy survived past the first few rounds. And yeah, Your Name, you may not check out the vocal range of a performer but at least it would be nice to know the winning singer actually has a vocal range that doesn’t include constant yokel yodeling.
posted September 25, 2009 at 8:20 pm
So a christian/gospel blog likes Kris Allen? Wow! Color me surprised. I mean, seriously, this chic drooled over him all season. It wasn’t like she was actually going to give him a bad review.
And please don’t compare Allen to Springsteen! The Boss has a great vocal range. In his heyday the guy shot five octaves. Allen? Not by a long shot. That’s why this song is so boring and the above writer is already sick of it. Bland voices will only carry you so far because there’s nothing to thrill to when you’re listening. It’s all middle of the word crap.
So, Your Name, vocal range does matter. At least to a lot of people. But what do I know? I voted for the red haired girl.
posted September 25, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Kris is cute. The song sucks. The vocals are boring. The writing on the wall. Another Idol winner fades into obscurity.
posted September 25, 2009 at 9:07 pm
The song is unoriginal. He didn’t even write it. Disappointing.
posted September 25, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I like Kris and think he’s got great talent and potential.
I do not like this song. I find the lyrics sappy and the beat of the song is not “Kris.” I hope for better from the album, for Kris’s sake.
posted September 25, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Wow, christian blog? I never thought of it but honestly I think Kris would do better if he went Gospel instead of pop-rock. If you get a chance pls look at ‘God of the city’ in youtube. I kind of thought he really did great and he was feeling it, you can see it in his face. As for this single, not my taste. I was hoping more of a ‘ain’t no sunshine’ vibe. So it didn’t work for me. But he is a nice boy and I wish him all the best.
posted September 25, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Already downloaded the song … love it!
posted September 26, 2009 at 12:34 am
The way you presented the lyrics on this article makes it appear like Kris wrote them. He did not — they were written by the Irish band, The Script who also recorded their song. Kris’ version is an exact copy ot The Script’s original recording (released in 2008), with the same backing track and produced by the same producers. Here is a link to a video that overlaps the two identical recordings. It is absolutely shocking that Jive/19R would do this. And, frankly, as a Kris fan I am very disappointed. Hopefully, his album will contain some material that reflects Kris as an artist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJzpoql0JWE&feature=player_embedded
posted September 26, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Dear Glamberts,
The producers are the ones who arrange the background music, not the singer. Frampton and Kipner are both the producers and the primary writers of Live Like Were Dying. They produced both versions, and that is why the background music is so similar. The two Script members have writing credits, but they are listed in third and forth position on the song, which means they had lesser input. When they did not use the song, ownership reverted to Frampton and Kipner. They pitched it to Kris’ team, using the Script vocal as the demo. It is Kris’ song now.
posted September 26, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Kris does a great job with this song. His vocals, as usual, sound soulful and wonderful. Great message, and really really catchy.
posted September 26, 2009 at 6:33 pm
is this the guy who won idol? it’s ok I guess? I like David Cook better
posted September 27, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Amy and everyone who commented on the Kris Allen song:
Thanks for the info! I listened while I was at a coffee shop, and thought I’d post the video. I haven’t listened to it again, so I appreciate everyone who was honest and said they’re bored with it already. I agree that more “Aint No Sunshine”-ish music would be better.
To the commentor about the Christian blog: my job here is to cover Christian music and mainstream artists with ties to Christian music. Kris Allen was a worship leader before Idol, so that’s why i keep up.
Since the show ended I haven’t kept up with the Idols much but I’m anxious to hear what Adam has for us, to be honest.
Joanne
host of the Gospel Soundcheck
PS: someone called me a “chick”? LOL that cracked me up!
posted September 27, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Well well well. The proof is in the pudding. Adam Lambert’s CD has been on pre-order on Amazon for less than 24 hours and is #1 in Movers and Shakers and #2 on top selling albums. Where is Kris’s? Nowhere to be found that I can see. I’m voting by buying Adam’s CD and Adam will be number one.
I’m really sorry that the producers did not do better by him. Live like we are dying is unoriginal, unremarkable fluff. I feel bad for Kris. Seriously, he is talented, but AI’s voting system was flawed. There is NO WAY Kris is a more talented singer than Adam, so I beg to disagree with your comments.
posted September 29, 2009 at 1:40 am
I think most opera singers are better than most singers on the radio. Doesn’t mean I’m going to load up on opera CD’s. I’m not a fan of opera music. Adam may have the better range, doesn’t mean we have to love and buy his album.
Kris Allen’s song is nice. Nothing too groundbreaking for me, however. I’m waiting for Danny’s CD to come out.
posted September 30, 2009 at 12:36 pm
The show has been over for months, why can’t people move on already. Who cares if Adam’s cd is 1 on Amazon, Kris’ has been available for months on itunes. It’s also available at BestBuy. Do you actually think you are accomplishing anything by spamming every single article that mentions Kris? This energy could channeled to doing something that actually matters, instead of looking bitter and silly. Are you that threatened by the idea that Kris could actually be successful, or do you actually think that Kris’ success could actually hurt Adam? None of you are doing yourselves any favors.
As far as the song goes, I love it. It’s catchy, has a great message, shows off Kris’ style, and it is very memorable.