Life Is a Highway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "Life Is a Highway"
Single by Tom Cochrane
from the album Mad Mad World
Released	September 20, 1991
Recorded	1990
Genre	Country rock hard rock
Length	4:26
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Tom Cochrane
Producer(s)	Tom Cochrane Joe Hardy
Tom Cochrane singles chronology
"Sail On" (1976) "Life Is a Highway" (1991) "No Regrets" (1991)

"Life Is a Highway" is a famous song by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane. It was released in 1991 on his album Mad Mad World. The song quickly became a huge hit in Canada, reaching the number one spot. It also became very popular in the United States, climbing to number six on the Billboard charts in 1992.

Many artists have covered this song. One of the most well-known covers is by the band Rascal Flatts. Their version was featured in the Disney/Pixar movie Cars. Other artists like Chris LeDoux and Home Free have also recorded their own versions.

How the Song Was Made

Tom Cochrane first thought of the song "Life Is a Highway" back in the 1980s. At that time, it was called "Love is a Highway." He was part of a band called Red Rider, but he put the song aside because he felt it wasn't ready.

Later, Tom went on a trip to East Africa with a group called World Vision. They were helping people affected by famine. Seeing the poverty there was a very difficult experience for him. When he came back, his friend John Webster suggested he look at the old song idea again.

Tom said the song became a way for him to give himself a "pep talk." It was about realizing you can't control everything in life. You just have to do your best. He wanted to find something positive after seeing so much hardship. Most of the singing for the song was recorded in his small home studio.

The Song's Success

"Life Is a Highway" was Tom Cochrane's biggest hit in the United States. It reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In Canada, it was number one for two weeks! Other songs from his album Mad Mad World also did very well. For example, "No Regrets" reached number three. The song also did great in Australia and New Zealand, reaching number two in both countries. It was a top-40 hit in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden too.

The Music Video

The music video for "Life Is a Highway" was filmed in Alberta's Badlands in Canada. This area has unique rock formations called Hoodoos. In the video, Tom Cochrane plays his guitar among these rocks. The video also shows a couple driving a 1965 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport. They even ride a ferry across the Red Deer River.

The video also features different people Tom met on his travels. It was inspired by a Canadian movie called Highway 61. Interestingly, the movie's director was offered the song for his film, but he said it was "too poppy."

Rascal Flatts' Version

In 2005, the American country band Rascal Flatts recorded their own version of "Life Is a Highway." They made it for the Pixar animated movie Cars. This version was released on June 6, 2006.

Their cover became very popular, especially through digital downloads. It reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was just one spot lower than Tom Cochrane's original song! The song was also added as a bonus track on later versions of Rascal Flatts' album Me and My Gang. It even won an award for "Favorite Song from a Movie."

The Rascal Flatts version has been used in other places too. It was featured in the TV show Top Gear: US Special. It also appeared in the video game Lego Rock Band. By 2013, the song had sold over three million copies in the US.

Rascal Flatts Music Video

The music video for Rascal Flatts' version shows the three band members arriving at a drive-in theater. They are driving three old cars that look like characters from the Cars movie. As the movie plays on the screen, the band performs the song. The video includes scenes from the Disney/Pixar movie Cars. It was directed by Shaun Silva.

Rascal Flatts' Chart Success

The Rascal Flatts version of "Life Is a Highway" was a big hit. It reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Even though it wasn't officially sent to country radio stations, many of them played it. This helped the song reach number 18 on the US Hot Country Songs chart. By June 2016, the song had sold 3.4 million copies in the US.

Other Versions

Many other artists have covered "Life Is a Highway." In 1998, Chris LeDoux released his version on his album One Road Man. The animated characters Alvin and the Chipmunks also covered the song for their video games. The Christian children's show VeggieTales included a cover on their album Bob & Larry Go Country. The country a cappella group Home Free performed the song on the TV show The Sing-Off. They later put it on their 2017 album, Timeless.