It's My Life cover

It's My Life

The Animals · 1965

6 min · 2 tracks · hard rock

A taut bass riff and Eric Burdon’s defiant vocal turn British R&B into a declaration of independence.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    It’s My Life — A clipped bass-and-guitar figure sets up Burdon’s forceful vocal, giving the song’s insistence on independence an edge of frustration.
  • →
    I’m Going to Change the World — The B-side gives the single another declaration of ambition, placing its expansive promise alongside the A-side’s more personal defiance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

57 /100
Foothills
Higher than 6% of albums we've rated

The record showcases strong songwriting and performance but is limited in depth due to its short length.

What we noticed

  • The title track features a driving rhythm with prominent organ riffs and a powerful vocal delivery that emphasizes its defiant message.
  • The second track introduces a slower tempo, allowing for a more reflective lyrical approach while maintaining the band's characteristic bluesy sound.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This single marked a significant shift in The Animals' sound and message, gaining wider recognition.
Themes
1960s youth rebellion· British Invasion R&B· raw-throated independence
Career context
Released in 1965, “It’s My Life” followed the Animals’ international breakthrough with “The House of the Rising Sun” the previous year. The single belongs to the band’s original period with keyboardist Alan Price, who left the group in 1965.
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Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 It’s My Life 3:09
  • 2 I’m Going to Change the World 3:31

What to play next

Animal Tracks
Listen next

Animal Tracks

1965

Carries the same gritty blues-rock and R&B drive into a fuller album-length set.
Animal Tracks
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Animal Tracks

1965
Full The Animals discography Where to start with The Animals Artists like The Animals Which The Animals albums to start with
hard rock psychedelic rock

If this landed

Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.

My Generation

My Generation

The Who

Shares the same raw energy and defiance with a focus on youth and individuality.

Out of Our Heads

Out of Our Heads

The Rolling Stones

Similar blend of blues rock and R&B, showcasing a rebellious attitude and strong songwriting.

Bayou Country

Bayou Country

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Combines gritty blues influences with a sense of authenticity and storytelling reflective of personal experience.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata