| "Black and Gold" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Sam Sparro | ||||
| from the album Sam Sparro | ||||
| Released | 14 April 2008 (see release history) |
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| Format | 7", 12", CD, Digital Download | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop, electropop, R&B | |||
| Length | 3:32 (UK Radio Edit/Main Single Version) 4:37 (Album Version) |
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| Label | Island, UK | |||
| Sam Sparro singles chronology | ||||
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"Black and Gold" is the lead single from Sam Sparro's eponymous first album.[1] The song has been remixed by Max Sanna and Steve Pitron, Paul Epworth, Al Usher, Kings of the Universe, Kromatik and Russ Chimes.[2] The original version of the single was made available on iTunes on 23 March 2008, with the entire album available from 31 March.[3] On 7 April, the CD, 12" and limited edition 7" singles were released. The song explores the relationship between reason, spirituality, and love. The song was written by Sam Falson & Jesse Rogg.
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The song was produced by Jesse Rogg and nominated for a 2009 Grammy Award in the category of "Best Dance Recording". It received two nominations for the 2008 ARIA Awards in the categories for "Breakthrough Artist - Single" and "Single of the Year".[4] A music video was released to promote the single. The song was used in the 2009 movies Obsessed Soundtrack,[5] and Fame, and is on the soundtrack of the video game, FIFA 09. There is also an acoustic version, which has been famously performed by artists such as Chloe Warren and Gary Go.
In a video interview, Sparro confirmed that the song's subject is his religious faith, saying "It is about God, yeah. [...] I do like to have faith in something that is bigger than me." [6]
The music video for Black & Gold shows Sam Sparro emerging from a Limousine with many copies of himself in an underground garage. The Garage, illuminated by chains of lights, pulsates as Sparro and his copies dance, donning tuxedos decorated with lights. The video has a color theme of black and gold. The atmosphere and clothing designs used in the video have been noted to be reminiscent of the style and elements of Anthony Burgess's dystopian science-fiction novel, and Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film adaptation, A Clockwork Orange.
There were two videos produced for the song. One video was directed by Mariah Garnett,[7] the other by AlexandLiane[8]
"Black and Gold" was made available as a download (via the Apple iTunes Store) on 23 March 2008 by Island UK Records through a licensing deal with independent Los Angeles based label, Modus Vivendi Music, which is run by producer Jesse Rogg.[9]
"Black and Gold" originally appeared on the Modus Vivendi Music Vol.2 [9] compilation album, released in 2007, along with "Sally" and Sparro's edit of another Modus Vivendi artist, Love Grenades. Modus Vivendi Music released an EP entitled Black & Gold in the fall of 2007 that garnered the attention that led to the deal with Island UK. Several songs from that EP, including "Black and Gold" and "Cottonmouth" appear in new revisions on the full length Sparro release with Island UK release in May 2008, "21st Century Life".
The song was included on the soundtrack for EA Sports' FIFA 09.[10] Additionally, it appeared in the 2010 video game DJ Hero 2, where it was mixed with David Guetta's "Love Is Gone".
Canadian folk band City and Colour has added the chorus at the end of their song "Sometimes (I Wish)" during some live performances, including their televised performance on Bravo! Live at the Concert Hall.
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 14 April 2008 |
| Europe | 23 May 2008 |
| Australia | 24 May 2008 |
| United States of America | 10 June 2008 |
"Black and Gold" was remastered for the Island UK single release on CD, 7" and 12" as the album's lead single. It debuted at number twenty-three on the UK Singles Chart, and a week later it went to number four. It peaked at number 2, behind Madonna's "4 Minutes", and stayed in the top 40 for 28 weeks.
The song has also charted on the Irish Singles Chart, peaking at number five.
The song was released on the US iTunes store on 20 May 2008. Additionally, it was released as the single of the week for the week of 23 June on US iTunes and could be downloaded for free.
On 12 October 2008, the song managed to climb back up to #33 on the UK Singles Chart.
On 28 December 2008, the UK Singles Chart listed this at #10 for the year end countdown.
On 28 December 2009, Radio 1 presenter Nihal counted down "The Official Top 100 Songs of the Decade", in which "Black and Gold" came at #91.
On 3 January 2010, "Black and Gold" entered the UK Dance Chart once more, currently peaking at #29.
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart[11] | 4 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 52 |
| Belgian Singles Chart | 15 |
| Czech Republic Singles Chart[12] | 32 |
| Danish Singles Chart[13] | 10 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 29 |
| European Hot 100[14] | 5 |
| German Singles Chart | 29 |
| Global Dance Tracks Chart[15] | 22 |
| Indian Singles Chart[16] | 9 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 5 |
| Italian Singles Chart[17] | 13 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart[18] | 12 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Turkey Singles Chart[19] | 5 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Dance (The Official Charts Company)[20] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 13 |
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
| UK Dance Chart | 29 |
| Chart (2000–2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 91[21] |
It has been covered live several times by Irish band, The Blizzards, and was covered by Guillemots, On a Sensual Note, an all male a cappella group at American University and the Chordials, a co-ed collegiate a cappella group at Cornell University. Katy Perry covered the song on the album Sweetheart.[22] Ellie Goulding and Adele have also covered the song.
Recently, DC-area Rapper Wale sampled the song for his mixtape, More About Nothing.
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