Key to My Life

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"Key to My Life"
Single by Boyzone
from the album Said and Done
Released17 April 1995 (1995-04-17)
Length3:46
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ray Hedges
Boyzone singles chronology
"Love Me for a Reason"
(1994)
"Key to My Life"
(1995)
"So Good"
(1995)
Music video
"Key to My Life" on YouTube

"Key to My Life" is the third single from Irish boy band Boyzone, taken from their debut album, Said and Done (1995). After two covers, it became their first single to be an original song, co-written by members of the group. The song became the group's second No. 1 single in Ireland and reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, receiving a silver sales certification for shipments of over 200,000 units in the UK. "Key to My Life" also reached the top 40 in Belgium, Iceland, and the Netherlands.

Critical reception[edit]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Their second hit could have suffered from not being such a well known song but the pretty teen ballad is having none of it, their second instant Top 10 hit in succession and for now there is clearly no stopping them."[1] A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "In their homeland Ireland, the boyz' own fan club is already strong enough to kick their main inspirators Take That off the top slot with another sugary ballad."[2] British magazine Music Week gave it five out of five and named it Single of the Week, writing, "Boyzone, who reached number two with their "Love Me for a Reason" cover, could go all the way with this excellent self-penned ballad. The cheery, cheesy dance mix, which is also included, could have made it in its own right."[3]

Music video[edit]

A music video was produced to promote the single, featuring the band performing in a classroom at a school.[4]

Track listings[edit]

  • UK CD single[5]
  1. "Key to My Life" (radio edit)
  2. "Key to My Life" (Unlocked Mix)
  3. "When Will You Understand?"
  • Australasian and Japanese CD single[6][7]
  1. "Key to My Life" (radio edit)
  2. "Key to My Life" (Unlocked mix)
  3. "When Will You Understand?"
  4. "Boyzone, Spoken Word"

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 17 April 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
Polydor [23]
Japan 25 August 1995 CD [24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Masterton, James (23 April 1995). "Week Ending April 29th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 6 May 1995. p. 13. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Reviews: Singles – Single of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. 1 April 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Boyzone - Key To My Life". YouTube. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  5. ^ Key to My Life (UK CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1995. PZCD 342, 851895-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Key to My Life (Australasian CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1995. 579071-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Key to My Life (Japanese CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1995. POCP-7068.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 20. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 20 May 1995. p. 45 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (3.6. '95 – 9.6. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 June 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Key to My Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  14. ^ 30 May 1995
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Boyzone – Key to My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  22. ^ "British single certifications – Boyzone – Key to My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  23. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 15 April 1995. p. 31. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  24. ^ "キー・トゥ・マイ・ライフ | ボーイゾーン" [Key to My Life | Boyzone] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 31 August 2023.