That's the Way It Is (Mel and Kim song)

"That's the Way It Is" is a hit single by British pop duo Mel and Kim that was featured on the soundtrack album of Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. The single peaked at #10 in the UK, becoming their fourth consecutive top 10 hit.[1]

"That's the Way It Is"
Single by Mel and Kim
from the album Coming to America soundtrack
B-side	"You Changed My Life"
Released	15 February 1988
Recorded	October 1987–January 1988
Genre	Dance-pop
Length	3:25
Label	Supreme Records, PolyGram
Songwriter(s)	Mike Stock (musician), Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman
Producer(s)	Stock Aitken Waterman
Mel and Kim singles chronology
"F.L.M." (1987) "That's the Way It Is" (1988)

By the time of the single's release, Melanie Appleby had been diagnosed with cancer and had withdrawn from the public eye in mid-1987. Appleby discharged herself from hospital to record the vocals for the track. The sisters made Mel's illness public at the time of the release of this single, and both appeared on the Wogan show in April 1988 while Mel was still undergoing treatment, as part of European Cancer Week.

The b-side of the single was a new song, "You Changed My Life", which was the first song on which the sisters had a co-writer credit.

"That's the Way It Is" was not included on the group's debut album, F.L.M.. It has been included on later compilation albums of the duo, along with "You Changed My Life", with both tracks appearing on the 2010 deluxe edition re-issue of F.L.M.

Due to Mel's illness, the sisters did not appear in the promotional videoclip for the song. Instead, it featured a team of dancers in a studio, much like the video clip of their previous single. A second music video for the song was also released. combining footage of the dancers from the first video for the song with footage from the sisters' earlier music videos and a live performance of "F.L.M.".

It would be the last release of the duo, as they disappeared from the public eye again while Mel Appleby continued her cancer treatment. She succumbed to pneumonia in January 1990, her immune system weakened by chemotherapy. Some of the songs she co-wrote with Kim Appleby during the last 2 years of her life were later released on Kim's solo album released in late 1990.

Chart position

Weekly charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Australia (Australian Music Report)[2][3]	28
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4]	4
Denmark (IFPI)[5]	11
France (SNEP)[6]	36
Germany (Official German Charts)[7]	18
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12]	9
UK Singles (OCC)[13]	10

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[14]	68
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15]	85
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16]	71

UK releases

7" (SUPE 117)

1. "That's the Way It Is" 3:25
2. "You Changed My Life" 3:21

12" (SUPE T 117 / RCA PT 41832)

1. "That's the Way It Is" (12"/Club mix) 6:47
2. "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US remix) 5:57
3. "You Changed My Life" 3:21

12" picture disc (SUPE TP 117)

1. "That's the Way It Is" (12"/Club mix) 6:47
2. "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US remix) 5:57
3. "You Changed My Life" 3:21

12" remix (SUPE TX 117)

1. "That's the Way It Is" (House remix/Special mix) 6:42
2. "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US remix) 5:57
3. "You Changed My Life" 3:21

12" remix (SUPE TZ 117)

1. "That's the Way It Is" (Acid House mix) 7:38
2. "That's the Way It Is" (Acid dub)
3. "You Changed My Life" 3:21

CD single (SUPCD 117)

1. "That's the Way It Is" (12"/Club mix) 6:47
2. "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US mix) 5:57
3. "You Changed My Life" 3:21

Official mixes

• Album/7" version 3:25
• 12"/Club mix 6:47
• House remix/Special mix 6:42
• Acid House mix 7:38
• Acid dub

References

1. "Official Charts > Mel and Kim". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
2. "Australian Top 50 Singles Chart Week Ending 1st May, 1988". ARIA. Retrieved 26 September 2017 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The Australian Music Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 197. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. "Ultratop.be – Mel & Kim – That's the Way It Is" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
5. Danish Singles Chart 1 April 1988
6. "Lescharts.com – Mel & Kim – That's the Way It Is" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mel & Kim – That's the Way It Is". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
8. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Mel & Kim". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 2 June 2020.
10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mel & Kim – That's the Way It Is" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
11. "Charts.nz – Mel & Kim – That's the Way It Is". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
12. "Swisscharts.com – Mel & Kim – That's the Way It Is". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
14. "Jaaroverzichten 1988". Ultratop. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
15. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
16. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 June 2020.