What is the most played song at award ceremonies? Of course, the legendary We Are the Champions (“We are the Champions”) rock band Queen.
The pathetic composition has become a universal anthem for fans, appropriate in any sport. Anyone who has ever risen to the pedestal to this music knows how accurately it conveys a sense of triumph and pride.
The story of creation & the meaning of We Are the Champions by Queen
In 1977, Queen performed at Bingley Hall in Stafford. After the concert, the audience demanded the musicians for an encore, singing the song You’ll Never Walk Alone, so beloved by football fans, in chorus.
This prompted the band members to take up compositions that they could sing along with the fans. As Brian May later said:
We wanted the crowds to wave their arms and sing. This is very strong unites and sets in a positive way.
Inspired by the idea, Freddie Mercury wrote the song We Are the Champions, and Brian May wrote We Will Rock You.
Freddie later recalled:
When I wrote it, I was thinking about football. I wanted to write a song to sing together that the fans could pick up. Of course, I gave it more theatrical sophistication than the usual football anthem. I guess it could also be interpreted as my version of I Did It My Way [песня Фрэнка Синатры]. We recorded it, and it was by no means easy. Not an easy life at all [bed of roses]like the song says.
The phrase “we are the champions” seemed arrogant to many, but Roger Taylor (Roger Taylor) calmed the fans by explaining the main idea of the song We Are the Champions:
We Are the Champions refers to “we” as “all of us” collectively, not us as a group. It is a shame that some people consciously interpreted its meaning incorrectly. “No time for losers” is not the kindest line, but it really is more of “we all”. This is a celebration.
Billboard
Release and achievements
The song is featured on the album News of the World by Queen. She sounds without a pause after We Will Rock You. DJs on the radio would often launch songs as a pair.
On October 7, 1977, We Are the Champions was released as a double single with We Will Rock You. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Video Meaning We Are the Champions by Queen
The music video for “We are the Champions” was directed by Derek Burbridge. The video is in the format of a concert video, but it was a production, not a real Queen performance. Filming took place on October 6, 1977 at the New London Theater Centre.
Top of the Pops 2 featured an alternate version of Freddie Mercury and Queen’s We Are the Champions video.
We Are the Champions cover versions
The song was performed by dozens of famous artists. Let’s take a look at some famous versions.
In 2001, Brian May and Roger Taylor recorded a new version of We Are the Champions featuring Robbie Williams. This composition was included in the soundtrack of the film “A Knight’s Tale” (A Knight’s Tale). They also filmed a video clip for it.
Gavin DeGraw performed the song We Are the Champions on the Killer Queen tribute album.
In 2006, it became a hit with We Are the Champions performed by Crazy Frog.
Interesting Facts
- It was the first time in the history of music that the band invited fans to appear in a video clip.
- In 1992, high school students in Clifton, New Jersey wanted to sing We Are the Champions at their graduation ceremony. The director did not approve of this idea, since associations with Freddie Mercury, who died a year earlier from AIDS, seemed inappropriate to him. Then the schoolchildren bombarded the New York radio station Z100 with requests to play the track, which revived the audience’s interest in it.
- Legendary Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso sang We Are the Champions after winning the Chinese Grand Prix in 2005.
- In 2016, Donald Trump used the song We Are the Champtions during his presidential campaign, which caused outrage among members of the Queen group. This did not stop Trump, and in July 2018 he again included the track in the speech program at the Republican meeting in Cleveland.
- In 2011, We Are the Champions was named the most catchy song in popular music history by a team of scientists.
We Are the Champions by Queens Lyrics
I’ve paid my dues
time after time
I’ve done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I’ve made a few
I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I’ve come through
(And I need to go on and on, and on, and on)
chorus:
We are the champions, my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions of the world
I’ve taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it’s been no bed of roses
no pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain’t gonna lose
(And I need just go on and on, and on, and on)
Chorus x2
We Are the Champions by Queen Lyrics Alternative
I paid my bills
Every now and again.
I served my sentence
But he didn’t commit a crime.
And a couple of blunders
I did.
They threw my share of sand in my face
But I went through everything.
(And I need to go on and on and on.)
Chorus:
We are the champions my friend
And we will fight to the end.
We are champions,
We are champions,
Now is not the time for losers
After all, we are world champions.
I bowed in response to the applause,
And went out for an encore.
You have brought me fame, wealth and everything that comes with it.
Thank you all.
But it wasn’t easy at all
Doesn’t sound like a pleasant trip.
I consider it a challenge in the face of the entire human race,
And I’m not going to lose
(And I need to go on and on and on.)
Chorus – 2 times
