Darius released "Live Twice" exactly 20 years ago today.
This track was the second single from the album of the same name and marked the last single Darius released from the album.
It came out on January 10, 2005, reaching number 7 on the UK singles chart and number 2 on the Scottish chart.
Darius dedicated the song to his father, Booth, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer but who fortunately recovered well.
Talking to 'The Record' in December 2004 whilst on a visit to India Darius said:
"When I sat down to write the second album it had been a huge time of looking back and looking at the future all at the same time. And when I look back at the past four years I’ve had so many highs – being in the final three on Pop Idol, breaking away from that, turning down Simon Cowell’s record deal, working with U2 producer Steve Lillywhite, signing with Universal, having a number one hit with Colourblind, a platinum album with Dive In, touring, supporting Shakira on her world tour…so it’s been amazing. I was just recovering from one awesome dream coming true to another. And as soon as I got some great news, more great news would come and my head was spinning. It was like living a dream. When I sat down to write the second album I got the good news of being invited to Los Angeles to work with Stephen Lipson, an Academy Award winning, Grammy nominated producer.
Then in February this year my father was diagnosed with cancer – terminal cancer. My life stopped in its tracks. My world just shattered. My father is my hero in many more ways than one and I put all thoughts of releasing a record on the shelf. I said, ‘That’s it’. My brother took a year out of university, we both said we’re just going to support the family and be together for Dad. We didn’t know how much time he had left, we were told six months, maybe less. And I thought then, for all the success that I’ve had, for all the material things I’ve been blessed with, I would give it all up for the health of my father. You’d sell your car, you’d walk away from your house, you’d sell the shirt off your back to make a loved one better. With that thought I wrote a song for him called Live Twice and I played it to him in the hospital. And Dad turned around and said, ‘Darius, life is too short. I fight to live to see the achievements of my children and I fight to see you achieve your dream. Tomorrow may be too late, you can’t stop now’. He said ‘You will give me inspiration if you continue on your path’. He encouraged me to go back into the studio.
Recording the song was so difficult because it was so intimate, and I recorded it and something burst, like a dam. Lyrics and melodies flowed out of me like I’d never experienced before and over the next six months I recorded what is now the body of work that I call the second album. It was then titled after that first song."
The video for "Live Twice" was shot in Málaga, Spain, in black and white. As the church bell tolls, Darius holds a rosary. He removes his tie and watch, symbolizing the release of material attachments. Groups of photographers and fans attempt to capture his attention, but Darius moves through them like a spirit. He is depicted chasing a white horse, but when it finally stops, it dies peacefully as a girl releases a dove, symbolizing hope.
Darius explained, "The horse is a metaphor. It's like life or love. You reach and chase after something but just can't quite grasp it."
The white stallion used in the video also appeared as Brad Pitt's horse in the movie Troy.
Darius showcased multiple live renditions of 'Live Twice' on different TV programs to support its release. He made appearances on Ministry Of Mayhem, Top Of The Pops, Cilla Live, Today With Des And Mel, among others.
Additionally, he performed the song at a live event in Glasgow, which you can view below:
"Live Twice" was released on two CDs and a DVD single. The B-sides were 'I Would Die For You', "Big Feather Bed", "Now Or Never" and "Mystery Of You" which you can listen to below: