That's The way It Is
"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.
By the time of the single's release, Melanie Appleby had been diagnosed with cancer and had withdrawn from the public eye in mid-1987.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.