We Are the Champions

This article is about the Queen song. For the British TV game show, see We Are the Champions (TV series). For other uses, see We Are the Champions (disambiguation).
"We Are the Champions"
Single by Queen
from the album News of the World
B-side "We Will Rock You"
Released 7 October 1977
Format 7", CD single
Recorded 1977
Genre Hard rock
Length 2:59
Label EMI (UK)
Elektra (US)
Writer(s) Freddie Mercury
Producer(s) Queen, assisted by Mike "Clay" Stone
Queen singles chronology
"Long Away"
(1977)		 "We Are the Champions"
(1977)		 "Spread Your Wings"
(1978)
Music sample
"We Are the Champions"

"We Are the Champions" is a song by the British rock band Queen, first released on their 1977 album News of the World.[1] Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it is one of Queen's most popular songs, and one of rock's most recognisable anthems.[2]

The song was a worldwide success, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart, and number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.[3][4] In 2009, "We Are the Champions" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame,[5] and was voted the world's favourite song in a 2005 Sony Ericsson world music poll.[6] In 2011, a team of scientific researchers concluded that the song was the catchiest in the history of popular music.[7]

"We Are the Champions" has become an anthem for victories at sporting events,[2] including as official theme song for 1994 FIFA World Cup, and has been often used or referenced in popular culture. The song has also been covered by many artists.

Original Queen version

Music

Written by Freddie Mercury, "We Are the Champions" was built on audience response, with Brian May stating, "We wanted to get the crowds waving and singing. It's very unifying and positive."[8]

Musically, it is based on Mercury's piano part, with Roger Taylor and John Deacon providing a drums and bass guitar backing. May overdubbed some guitar sections, initially subtle, but building to a "solo" played simultaneously with the last chorus. Mercury employed many jazz chords (major and minor 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th harmonies), and the choruses featured these voiced as 4 and 5-part vocal harmonies. The lead vocal is very demanding and strident (highest point is a C5 both belted and in falsetto), with one of Mercury's most notable performances taking place at the Live Aid concert, at Wembley Stadium, London in 1985.[9]

The single featured "We Will Rock You" as a B-side, and followed the song on the album. The two songs were often played consecutively at the close of Queen concerts, and are customarily played together on radio broadcasts (in album order).[2] Keeping with tradition, it was also used to close the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert with all the show's acts joining in behind the lead vocal of Liza Minnelli.[2]

Music video

The video for the song was filmed at a special video shoot with fan club members at the New London Theatre Centre on 6 October 1977 and was directed by Derek Burbridge. An alternate version which starts in monochrome before blasting into colour as the drums and guitars kick in was broadcast on Top of the Pops 2 and comprises alternate footage shot on the same day.

Legacy

In 2011, a team of scientific researchers concluded that the song was the catchiest song in the history of pop music, despite its not hitting #1 in the charts in any major market. Dr. Daniel Mullensiefen said of the study, "Every musical hit is reliant on maths, science, engineering and technology; from the physics and frequencies of sound that determine pitch and harmony, to the hi-tech digital processors and synthesisers which can add effects to make a song more catchier. We’ve discovered that there’s a science behind the sing-along and a special combination of neuroscience, math and cognitive psychology that can produce the elusive elixir of the perfect sing-along song."[7]

In July 2016 the song was used to introduce Donald Trump to the first session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Queen immediately issued a statement denouncing Trump's use of the song as not authorized by the band. (Licensing for public performance of the song is administered by the performing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).)[10]

Chart performances

In 1977–1978, "We Are the Champions" was released as a single in many countries, reaching number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] number 4 on Billboard in the US.,[4] the top 10 in Ireland, Netherlands, and Norway, and top 15 in Germany, Austria and Sweden.[11][12]

In 1992, 1993 and 1998, the single was re-released in France, totalling 45 weeks on the chart and peaking respectively at #19, #14, and #10 during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[12]

Personnel

Track listings

7" single (1977 release)
  1. "We Are the Champions" – 3:00
  2. "We Will Rock You" – 2:00
3" CD single (1988 release)
  1. "We Are the Champions" – 3:02
  2. "We Will Rock You" – 2:02
  3. "Fat Bottomed Girls" – 3:23
CD single (1992 release)
  1. "We Are the Champions" – 2:59
  2. "We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions" – 5:00

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1977–78) Peak
position
Australia KMR [13] 8
Austrian Singles Chart[12] 12
Canadian RPM Top Singles[14] 3
Dutch Top 40 2
German Singles Chart[12] 13
Irish Singles Chart[11] 3
New Zealand [15] 8
Norwegian Singles Chart[12] 6
Swedish Singles Chart[12] 14
UK Singles Chart[3] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 4
Chart (1993/94) Peak
position
Dutch Mega Top 100[12] 27
French Singles Chart[12] 14
Chart (1998) Peak
position
French Singles Chart[12] 10
Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Digital Songs[4] 61
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[16] 50

Year-end charts

Chart (1978) Rank
Australia [13] 57
Austrian Singles Chart[17] 25
Canadian Top Singles[18] 27
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[19] 25
Chart (1998) Rank
French Singles Chart[20] 72

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
France (SNEP)[21] Gold + Gold 874,000[21]
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[23] 2× Platinum + Platinum 4,000,000^
Total certified sales: 5,374,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Crazy Frog version

"We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)"
Single by Crazy Frog
from the album Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits
Released 5 June 2006
Format CD single, Maxi single, Digital download
Recorded 2005
Genre Dance, electronica
Length 3:03
Label Ministry of Sound
Producer(s) Erik Wernquist
Crazy Frog singles chronology
"Jingle Bells/U Can't Touch This"
(2005)		 "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)"
(2006)		 "Last Christmas"
(2006)

"We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" is a song from 2006 by Crazy Frog inspired by Queen's hit from 1977, "We Are the Champions". It was released as a single on 5 June 2006. A cover of the 1977 song from Queen of the same name, it was released to coincide with the 2006 World Cup. Vocal arrangements include a sample portion of Queen's original rendering.

Music video

The music video depicts Crazy Frog in bed dreaming that he is competing in a football match against Killbots. Though outnumbered, he easily defeats and humiliates them. One goal rebounds off the net knocking him out and causing him to briefly wake up. Having defeated his enemies he finds himself hovering in a football universe.

He happens to glance at hundreds of clones marching toward him. He panics and runs in fear. He reaches a tall stairway leading up to a giant gold trophy. Crazy Frog becomes exhausted near the top unlike his indefatigable pursuants. The trophy turns into a giant football that begins to roll rapidly down toward Crazy Frog.

Crazy Frog is crushed and falls with the ball all the way back to the ground, startling him enough to wake up.

When the music video was originally released online, it appeared as it was released. However, the current version lacks the football being kicked and the accompanying sound effects.

Chart performances

The single had its greatest success in France. It went straight to #1 on 10 June 2006, and stayed at this position for five weeks. It remained for nine weeks in the Top 10, seventeen weeks in the top fifty, and twenty five weeks in the chart. On 30 August 2006, it was certified Gold disc two months after its release by SNEP, the French certifier, and became the fifteenth best selling single in 2006 in that country.

Track listings

CD single
  1. "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (radio edit) – 2:57
  2. "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (club mix) – 5:49
Maxi single
  1. "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (radio edit) – 2:57
  2. "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (house mix) – 6:04
  3. "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (club mix) – 5:51
  4. "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (club mix dub) – 5:17
  5. "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (video)

Certifications and sales

Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales
Belgium[24] Gold 9 September 2006 20,000
France[25] Gold 30 August 2006 200,000 205,908[26]

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[27] 13
Austrian Singles Chart[27] 4
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[27] 10
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[27] 2
Danish Singles Chart[27] 3
Dutch Mega Top 100[27] 100
Eurochart Hot 100 2
Finnish Singles Chart[27] 10
French SNEP Singles Chart[27] 1
German Singles Chart[28] 10
Irish IRMA Singles Chart[28] 23
Italian FIMI Singles Chart[27] 13
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[27] 20
Spanish Singles Chart[27] 2
Swedish Singles Chart[27] 11
Swiss Singles Chart[27] 5
UK Singles Chart[28] 11
End of year chart (2006) Position
Austrian Singles Chart[29] 44
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[30] 36
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[31] 12
French Singles Chart[32] 15

Other versions and samplings

Live covers

Preceded by
"Un'estate italiana"
by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini		 FIFA World Cup theme song
with
Gloryland by Daryl Hall
1994 		Succeeded by
"The Cup of Life" by Ricky Martin
and
"Together Now"
by Jean Michel Jarre and Tetsuya Komuro

References

  1. ↑ BRITs 25 Song Award: We Are The Champions – Queen BBC Retrieved 21 January 2011
  2. 1 2 3 4 We Are the Champions: Song Review AllMusic Retrieved 21 January 2011
  3. 1 2 3 UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  4. 1 2 3 4 Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  5. ↑ Grammy Hall of Fame Award Grammy.org Retrieved 21 April 2011
  6. ↑ Haines, Lester (29 September 2005) 'We Are The Champions' voted world's fave song (Sony Ericsson world music poll) Retrieved 21 April 2011
  7. 1 2 We Are The Champions voted catchiest pop song of all time... by scientists, The Daily Mail, 29 September 2011
  8. ↑ For the first time ever...Queen: Ten great hits from the sensational rock band Mail Online Retrieved 21 January 2011
  9. ↑ "Sacha Baron Cohen to play Freddie Mercury" BBC News Retrieved 22 January 2011
  10. ↑ Queen want Donald Trump to stop using their music. But the law might be on Trump's side.
  11. 1 2 Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "We Are the Champions", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  13. 1 2 Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  14. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  15. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1978-02-05. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  16. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  17. ↑ 1978 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  18. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  19. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  20. ↑ 1998 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  21. 1 2 French certifications and sales:
  22. ↑ "British single certifications – Queen – We Are the Champions". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 27, 2015. Enter We Are the Champions in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  23. ↑ "American single certifications – Queen – We Are the Champions". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 27, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  24. ↑ Belgian certifications Ultratop.be (Retrieved 11 August 2008)
  25. ↑ French certifications Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved 16 December 2007)
  26. ↑ 2006 French Singles Chart Fanofmusic.free.fr (Retrieved 16 December 2007)
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 16 December 2007)
  28. 1 2 3 "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)", in various singles charts Acharts.us (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  29. ↑ 2006 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved 17 May 2008)
  30. ↑ 2006 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  31. ↑ 2006 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
  32. ↑ 2006 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved 16 December 2007)
  33. ↑ Soundtrack for "A Knight's Tale". Internet Movie Database.
  34. ↑ Live 8 accounts: Berlin BBC. Retrieved 11 July 2011
  35. ↑ "Green Day American Idiot". BBC. Retrieved 4 March 2015
  36. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (20 May 2009). "Kris Allen, Adam Lambert Tear Up Queen's 'We Are The Champions' – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News". MTV. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  37. ↑ 'The Voice': Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green Perform Queen Medley The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 March 2012
  38. ↑ "Katy Perry Parties Out In London After Summertime Ball 2012 Performance". Capital FM. Retrieved 20 June 2012
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