We Are the Champions
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| "We Are the Champions" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Queen | ||
| from the album News of the World | ||
| B-side(s) | We Will Rock You | |
| Released | October 7, 1977 | |
| Format | 7" | |
| Recorded | 1977 | |
| Genre | Rock ballad | |
| Length | 2:59 | |
| Label | EMI (UK) Elektra Records (US) |
|
| Writer(s) | Freddie Mercury | |
| Producer(s) | Queen, assisted by Mike Stone | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Queen singles chronology | ||
| "Long Away" (1977) |
"We Are the Champions" / "We Will Rock You" (1977) |
"Spread Your Wings" (1978) |
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it has since become an anthem for sporting victories and has been often used or referenced in popular culture (see below).
Musically, it is based around Mercury's piano part, with Roger Taylor and John Deacon providing a drums and bass guitar backing. Brian 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, and in live performances, Mercury often deferred to let Taylor handle the highest parts of the melody.
The single featured "We Will Rock You" as a B-side, and followed the song on the album. The two songs were often paired to close Queen concerts, and are customarily played together on radio broadcasts (in album order). 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.
Contents |
[edit] Queen about the song
| “ | Certainly it's a relationship that could be, but I was thinking about football when I wrote it. I wanted a participation song, something that the fans could latch on to. It was aimed at the masses; I thought we'd see how they took it. It worked a treat. When we performed it at a private concert in London, the fans actually broke into a football chant between numbers. Of course, I've given it more theatrical subtlety than an ordinary football chant. You know me. I certainly wasn't thinking about the press when I wrote it. I never think about the British music press these days. It was really meant to be offered the musicians the same as the fans. I suppose it could also be construed as my version of "I Did It My Way." We have made it, and it certainly wasn't easy. No bed of roses as the song says. And it's still not easy. -Freddie Mercury (1978)[1] |
” |
| “ | I have to win people over, otherwise it's not a successful gig. It's my job to make sure people have a good time. That's part of my duty. It's all to do with feeling in control. That song We Are The Champions has been taken up by football fans because it's a winners' song. I can't believe that somebody hasn't written a new song to overtake it. -Freddie Mercury (1985)[2] |
” |
[edit] Uses in popular culture
- The song has been used together with "We Will Rock You" in the film, The Mighty Ducks trilogy.
- The song has been sampled by Kanye West, Dame Dash, Beanie Sigel, Cam'ron, Young Chris & Twista for their song "Champions".
- The song appears in two episodes of The Simpsons - in "War of the Simpsons," Homer sings "I Am the Champions" [sic] after catching a legendary catfish, General Sherman. In "Wild Barts Can't Be Broken," Homer, Lenny, Carl and Barney sing it after the Springfield Isotopes win the season.
- At the end of the AFL Grand Final in Australia, the song is played over the stadium as the Premiership team does a lap of honor.
- The song is used as the entrance music of professional wrestling tag team The Kings of Wrestling.
- The song marked the climax of the ending of the 1984 hit comedy Revenge of the Nerds.
- John Cusack dances to this song after he finds out that his ex-girlfriend has not had sex with his hated neighbor in the 2000 film High Fidelity.
- Fernando Alonso sung the song after winning the 2005 Chinese Grand Prix, securing the Contructors' title for his team, Renault. The team later released an MP3 of the song being "played" by the engine they had used in that season, with the different notes played by changing engine speeds to adjust the pitch of the engine sound and exhaust note.
- The song was also in the Japanese version of DDR Extreme.
- The song was in the 2005 film Kicking & Screaming.
- The song was used in the episode of Malcolm in the Middle where Hal shows his skating abilities.
- The song has been played to celebrate numerous sports championships. It was played at the finals of 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, after Italy won the cup.
- The song was used during the end cutscene for The Matrix: Path of Neo.
- The song was used at the end of the South Park episode "Stanley's Cup".
- Liberal talk-radio personality Randi Rhodes used the song after the 2006 midterm elections to celebrate Democratic victories in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
- In the film Chicken Little (2005), Chicken Little sings the song after winning the big baseball game, but improvised the lyrics ("I Am The Champion" instead of "We Are The Champions"). Pro wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin also altered the song in this fashion in 2001.
- The song as been used in several videos on YouTube that celebrate the Wii.
- It was used as a musical extract for which to answer questions on in the 2006 Level One NCEA Music Exam
- It was used as the introductory music prior to Prince's halftime TV performance at Super Bowl XLI on February 4th, 2007 in Miami, Florida.
[edit] Cover versions and remixes
- Producer Rick Rubin remixed the song (along with "We Will Rock You") for Hollywood Records. This "ruined" mix also samples James Brown's "Funky Drummer".
- J.B.O. released a spoof version “Wir sind die Champignons” (We Are the Mushrooms) in 1997.
- Queen (May/Taylor) recorded this song for the soundtrack of the 2001 film A Knight's Tale with Robbie Williams on vocals. Williams also made a music video.
- William Hung covered this song for his second album Hung for the Holidays (2004).
- Gavin DeGraw covered this song in Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen (2005).
- Green Day covered the song at the famous Live 8 in 2005. Also, they have often covered the song at their shows.
- Crazy Frog covered the song on the album Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits (2006).
- Scatman John did a cover of this song along with Invisble Man.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Rosy Horide. "Queen Deserve Rock's Royal Crown? Freddie Mercury and Brian May Hawk their 'News Of The World'". Circus, January 1978. Retrieved from Queenzone, June 15, 2006.
- ^ Nick Ferrari. "I Am The Champion. Why Fantastic Freddie Stole Live Aid Show". The Sun, July 19, 1985. Retrieved from queen.musichall.cz, June 15, 2006.
