Key to My Life explained

Key to My Life
Cover:	Boyzone Key to my Life.jpeg
Type:	single
Artist:	Boyzone
Album:	Said and Done
Length:	3:46
Label:	Polydor
Producer:	Ray Hedges
Prev Title:	Love Me for a Reason
Prev Year:	1994
Next Title:	So Good
Next Year:	1995

"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 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

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

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

Track listings

• 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

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[8]	167
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	6
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[10]	32
Israel (IBA)^[11]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[12]	82
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[13]	96
UK Singles (OCC)^[14]	69

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	17 April 1995		Polydor	^[15]
Japan	25 August 1995	CD		^[16]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending April 29th 1995. Chart Watch UK. 23 April 1995. 19 September 2021. James Masterton.
2. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 13. 6 May 1995. 18 May 2021.
3. Reviews: Singles – Single of the Week. Music Week. 10. 1 April 1995. 7 May 2021.
4. Web site: Boyzone - Key To My Life. YouTube. 1 December 2009. 19 September 2021.
5. Key to My Life. Boyzone. 1995. UK CD single liner notes. Polydor Records. PZCD 342, 851895-2.
6. Key to My Life. Boyzone. 1995. Australasian CD single liner notes. Polydor Records. 579071-2.
7. Key to My Life. Boyzone. 1995. Japanese CD single liner notes. Polydor Records. POCP-7068.
8. Web site: Boyzone ARIA chart history (singles 1995-1997), received from ARIA in May 2024. ARIA. Imgur.com. 8 July 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
9. Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Google Books. 107. 20. 45. 20 May 1995.
10. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (3.6. '95 – 9.6. '95). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 26. 3 June 1995. 5 February 2021.
11. 30 May 1995
12. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1995. Ultratop. nl. 5 February 2021.
13. Web site: Rapports annuels 1995. Ultratop. fr. 5 February 2021.
14. Top 100 Singles 1995. Music Week. 9. 13 January 1996.
15. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. 15 April 1995. 27 June 2021.
16. Web site: キー・トゥ・マイ・ライフ ボーイゾーン. Key to My Life Boyzone. Oricon. ja. 31 August 2023.