Livin' Thing

"Livin' Thing" makes prominent use of augmented chords. Lynne said about that: {{blockquote|"Livin' Thing" had an augmented chord. George (Harrison) used a lot of those chords, too. I think the influence of using those types of chords came from the Long Wave sort of songs. Trying to marry the two styles together, trying to put those funny old Victorian chords into a new song gives it a good lift. It makes it more of a special song, because it’s got a weird chord in it, and nobody knows how to play it. "Livin' Thing" has that. There’s a few of mine that have those type of chords in it. I tried to make the songs a little different. "Livin' Thing" would have had a much more normal run-of-the-mill chord sequence otherwise; the chorus would have been C, A minor, F and G instead of C, A minor, D minor, G augmented and back to the C. That G augmented chord adds a little bit of tension and uplift to the song. That chord is more along the lines of the Long Wave songs than the pop idiom. I’m sure I was bringing in those type of chords subconsciously, but I was exposed to all those chords early on, and I’m obviously gonna take them on board with all the more rock and roll chords. I’ve used wacky chords in a lot of my tunes, like "All Over the World", which has a naughty one, as well.{{cite web|title=Jeff Lynne revisits his roots with ELO and classic covers projects|publisher=Goldmine|date=24 June 2013|url=https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/jeff-lynne-revisits-his-roots-with-elo-and-classic-covers-projects|accessdate=2023-05-03}}}}

AllMusic's writer Stewart Mason described the song structure: "[it] opens with a mock-Spanish orchestral flourish before swinging into a more typical mid-tempo ELO rocker, driven by a battery of acoustic rhythm guitars on the verses and modulating upwards into a falsetto Jeff Lynne vocal on a chorus that’s powered by an even more prominent than usual contribution from the group's string section", adding that it lacks "that impossible-to-dislodge hook that typified Lynne's most successful songs from this era, but it's still a darn sight better than most of what was at the top of the charts in late 1976".{{cite web|first= Mason |last= Stewart |title= Electric Light Orchestra – Livin' Thing – Song Review |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 26 January 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/song/livin-thing-mt0053592045}}

Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn called it an "extremely catchy record that has all the vocal and instrumental hooks to keep you listening."{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2023-01-04|via=Newspapers.com|author=Hilburn, Robert|date=13 November 1976|page=36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115785422/the-los-angeles-times/|title=A Hit Parade Beyond the Top 10}} Billboard said that it "moves through a dark U.K. rock distillation into a soaring, ethereal chorale and a return to the minor-key mode.{{cite magazine|title= Billboard's Top Single Picks |magazine= Billboard |date= 9 October 1976 |access-date= 13 July 2020 |page= 64 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1976/Billboard%201976-10-09.pdf}} Cash Box said that "a diabolical arrangement hits hard along with some ever ready harmonies which sew this record up into sure hit potential."{{cite magazine|title= Singles Reviews |magazine= Cash Box |volume=38 |issue= 21 |page= 18 |date= 9 October 1976 |accessdate= 11 December 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-10-09.pdf}} Record World called it a "Jeff Lynne masterwork" and said that "a savory rock sound makes it happen."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=9 October 1976|page=1|accessdate=2023-03-03|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-10-09.pdf}}

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it ELO's 2nd best song, specifically praising the "string-solo opening, soulful backing vocals, synth waves occasionally crashing into the chorus and a gigantic hook."{{cite web|title=Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs | url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/elo-songs|author=Gallucci, Michael|accessdate=2022-06-04|date=30 December 2014|publisher=Ultimate Classic Rock}} Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as ELO's 6th best song.{{cite web|title=Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs|author=Kachejian, Brian|date=26 September 2022 |accessdate=2023-04-30|url=https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-10-electric-light-orchestra-songs-elo/|publisher=Classic Rock History}} Stereogum contributor Ryan Reed rated it as ELO's 5th best song, saying that "From the dramatic classical opening, incorporating pizzicato strings, to the extended chorus fade-out, this one’s pure pop pleasure."{{cite web|title=The 10 Best ELO Songs|date=7 January 2016|last=Reed|first=Ryan|accessdate=2023-05-03|publisher=Stereogum|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1850258/the-10-best-elo-songs/lists/}}

In August 2006, "Livin' Thing" was named by the UK's Q as the number 1 "Guilty Pleasure" single of all time – a list designed to celebrate "uncool" but excellent records, and which received considerable publicity.{{cite news|title= ELO top 'guilty secret' song list |publisher= BBC News |date= 2 August 2006 |access-date= 5 May 2014 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5237492.stm}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=ELO|title=Livin' Thing|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2023|id=16239-1604-1|access-date=25 August 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|title=Livin' Thing|award=Gold|relyear=1976|certyear=2021|digital=true|access-date=28 April 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song in his own home studio. It was released in a compilation album with other re-recorded ELO songs, under the ELO name.{{cite web|title= Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra |website= Elo.biz |date= 5 October 2012 |access-date= 28 February 2013 |url= http://www.elo.biz/releases/elo/mr_blue_sky_the_very_best_of_electric_light_orchestra}}

In 2001, PFR covered the track on the album Lynne Me Your Ears – A Tribute to the Music of Jeff Lynne.

In 2004, The Beautiful South covered the track for their covers album Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs. It reached number 24 on the UK charts and number 26 on the Irish charts.

;Livin' Thing – CD1 (Sony Music UK; 6753711)

1. Livin' Thing [3:17]
2. I'm Living Good [4:00]

;Livin' Thing – CD2 (Sony Music UK; 6753712)

1. Livin' Thing [3:17]
2. Lovin' You [2:53]
3. Another Night with the Boys [3:32]

In 2017, "Livin' Thing" was featured in Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy game.{{cite news|first= Graeme |last= Virtue |title= Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy gets off to a great start |work= Eurogamer |date= 4 April 2017 |access-date= 21 April 2017 |url= http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-04-18-so-far-telltales-guardians-of-the-galaxy-meets-groot-expectations}}

The 1997 feature film Boogie Nights includes the track for the final scene and end credits of the movie. Initially, Jeff Lynne refused to release the rights to the song, but changed his mind after viewing a screening of the film with director Paul Thomas Anderson and being impressed.{{cite web|first= Dave |last= Lifton |title= How ELO's 'Livin' Thing' Got into 'Boogie Nights' |website= Ultimate Classic Rock |date= 7 September 2018 |access-date= 3 March 2021 |url= https://ultimateclassicrock.com/livin-thing-boogie-nights/}}

The song was featured in the film Cruella.{{Cite web |title=Did you catch "Livin' Thing" in Disney's #Cruella?|url=https://twitter.com/jefflynneselo/status/1402709041168764929 |access-date=2023-01-24 |via=Twitter |language=en}}

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