What Is Life

When you dive into *What Is Life*, you encounter an energy that invites you to move. It's a track with a well-defined soul pulse, suggesting a dual dedication: on one hand, to a loved one, and on the other, to something more transcendent, almost spiritual. The composition is built on a descending guitar riff that, once you hear it, stays with you. It's one of those George Harrison pieces that became very beloved and that he used to include in his live performances.

The story behind *What Is Life* has an interesting origin. George Harrison wrote it in 1969, originally thinking it would be perfect for his friend Billy Preston to record. He envisioned it as a catchy pop song. However, upon arriving at the studio and seeing that Preston was exploring funkier sounds, Harrison decided to keep it for himself. He didn't record it with The Beatles during the *Abbey Road* sessions, but rather added it to other ideas he had saved for his future solo work. He revisited it a year later, with the album *All Things Must Pass* underway. For the recording, he enlisted musicians of the caliber of Eric Clapton and the full band of Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, with whom he had shared tours in the final days of The Beatles. The production, alongside Phil Spector, gave it that characteristic sound, with string arrangements by John Barham and several rhythm guitars played by the musicians of Badfinger.

This track was released as the second single from the album *All Things Must Pass* in February 1971, and it performed very well in several countries, reaching the top positions on charts like those in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, it appeared as the B-side to *My Sweet Lord*. The song has been part of the soundtrack for films such as *Goodfellas* (1990), *Patch Adams* (1998), *Big Daddy* (1999), *Away We Go* (2009), *This Is 40* (2012), and *Instant Family* (2018). Additionally, it has been covered by other artists like Olivia Newton-John, who had a hit in the United Kingdom with her rendition in 1972.