Make a Life, Not a Living

Fellow Canadian country singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen co-wrote "Make a Life, Not a Living" and sent it to Kissel on his thirtieth birthday, telling him "if anybody is able to live, and eat, sleep and breathe these lyrics, it’s going to be you". Kissel remarked that he "immediately knew" he had to base his "entire record" and "whole new life" around the song.{{Cite web|url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2021/04/08/interview-brett-kissel-opens-up-about-how-the-pandemic-inspired-his-new-album-what-is-life/|title=Interview: Brett Kissel Opens Up About How The Pandemic Inspired His New Album 'What Is Life?'|website=Entertainment Focus|first=Pip|last=Ellwood-Hughes|date=April 8, 2021}} One month prior to the release of the song, Kissel revealed the lyrics "I'm trying to make a life... not a livin'". He announced he was taking a month off social media to 'live the lyrics', and returned to announce the new single.{{Cite web|url=https://country104.com/news/7680393/brett-kissel-makes-triumphant-return-to-social-media-with-new-song-big-album-news/|title=Brett Kissel makes triumphant return to social media with new song & big album news|website=Country 104|publisher=Corus Radio|first=Matthew|last=Weaver|date=March 5, 2021}}

"Make a Life, Not a Living" received generally positive reviews. Caleigh DeCaprio of NY Country Swag called the song a "reminder to be happy with all that you do have and to not worry about what you don’t".{{Cite web|url=https://nycountryswag.com/brett-kissel-new-song-make-a-life-not-a-living/|first=Caleigh|last=DeCaprio|title=Brett Kissel New Song "Make A Life, Not A Living"|work=NY Country Swag|date=March 9, 2021}} Isabella Mitchell of Raised Rowdy referred to the track as a "catchy, upbeat and positive song that you can’t help but dance to".{{Cite web|url=https://www.raisedrowdy.com/2021/03/09/brett-kissel-gives-some-country-music-advice-in-make-a-life-not-a-living/|first=Isabella|last=Mitchell|title=Brett Kissel Gives Some Country Music Advice in 'Make a Life, Not a Living'|work=Raised Rowdy|date=March 9, 2021}} Complete Country described the song as a 'gift', saying it is a "great reminder to seek out moments that make us genuinely happy".{{Cite web|url=https://www.completecountry.ca/article.php?article_id=5657|title=REVIEW: Brett Kissel's Single "Make a Life, Not a Living"|work=Complete Country|date=March 10, 2021}} Front Porch Music labelled the track a "down home song" and a "great message to live for life as opposed to living for work".{{Cite web|url=http://frontporchmusic.ca/music/make-a-life-not-a-living-brett-kissel/|title=Brett Kissel's New Single "Make A Life, Not A Living"|work=Front Porch Music|date=March 13, 2021}} Mallory Arbour of Countrytown favourably reviewed the song, stating it is a "song to get you through this Friday".{{cite web|url=https://countrytown.com/reviews/make-a-life-not-a-living-by-brett-kissel-song-of-the-day/z2TLw8LFxMc/23-04-21|title=Make A Life, Not A Living by Brett Kissel – Song of the Day|work=Countrytown|first=Mallory|last=Arbour|date=April 23, 2021|access-date=March 8, 2024}}

"Make a Life, Not a Living" debuted as the most downloaded song on all-formats on Canadian radio for the week ending on March 5, 2021, ahead of Maroon 5's "Beautiful Mistakes" and Justin Bieber's "Hold On".{{cite web|url=https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2021/03/07/brett-kissel-hot-make-life-not-living|title=Brett Kissel Is Hot with Make A Life, Not A Living|work=FYI Music News|date=March 7, 2021}} It subsequently debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Canada Country chart,{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canada-country/2021-03-20 |title=Canada Country chart for March 20, 2021 |work=Billboard |accessdate=March 15, 2021}}{{Subscription required}} and made history as the most-added song in a single week at Canadian country radio ever.{{cite web |url=https://canadianbeats.ca/2021/03/22/brett-kissel-releases-video-for-make-a-life-not-a-living/|title=Brett Kissel releases video for 'Make a Life Not a Living'|date=March 22, 2021|first=Nanci|last=Dagg|work=Canadian Beats Media}} One week later, it debuted at number 95 on the Canadian Hot 100.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2021-03-27 |title=Canadian Hot 100: March 27, 2021 |website=Billboard |accessdate=March 23, 2021}}{{Subscription required}} It later peaked at number 49, making it his highest charting entry there. In July 2021, "Make a Life, Not a Living" became Kissel's fourth Number One on the Canada Country chart. The song has been certified Platinum by Music Canada.

The official music video for "Make a Life, Not a Living" was directed by Megan Jackson and premiered on March 19, 2021.{{cite web|title=Brett Kissel - Make A Life, Not A Living (Official Music Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PnhGQ_Cnrs|website=YouTube|accessdate=March 21, 2021|format=video|date=March 20, 2021}} It features Kissel, his wife Cecilia, and their three children.{{cite web|first=Aynslee|last=Darmon|title=Brett Kissel Drops Music Video For Latest Single 'Make A Life, Not A Living'|url=https://etcanada.com/news/760045/brett-kissel-drops-music-video-for-latest-single-make-a-life-not-a-living/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319220109/https://etcanada.com/news/760045/brett-kissel-drops-music-video-for-latest-single-make-a-life-not-a-living/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 19, 2021|work=ET Canada|date=March 19, 2021}} The video portrays Kissel ditching an office job for life on a farm.{{cite web|title=Brett Kissel Releases Music Video For "Make A Life, Not A Living"|url=https://www.completecountry.ca/article.php?article_id=5667|work=Complete Country|date=March 23, 2021}} The video was named "Video of the Year" at the 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards.{{cite web|url=https://ccma.org/2021-nominees/|title=CCMA 2021 Award Nominees|work=Canadian Country Music Association|access-date=November 30, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Make a Life, Not a Living"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Brett Kissel|title=Make a Life, Not a Living|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2021|certyear=2023|access-date=September 14, 2023|refname="MC"}}

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{{Brett Kissel}}

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Category:2021 songs

Category:2021 singles

Category:Brett Kissel songs

Category:Songs written by Cary Barlowe

Category:Songs written by Steven Lee Olsen

Category:Warner Music Group singles