Queen: We Are The Champions Single (1977)

A Triumphant Rock Anthem

Queen’s “We Are The Champions” 7-inch vinyl single, was released in the UK on October 14, 1977, on EMI Records (catalogue: EMI 2708). Backed with “We Will Rock You".

Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it remains among rock's most recognizable anthems. The song was a worldwide success, reaching number 2 in the UK, number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, number 3 in Canada, and the top 10 in many other countries. In 2009, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was voted the world's favorite song in a 2005 Sony Ericsson world music poll.

Written with audience participation in mind, Mercury said "We" in the song's title refers to everyone who is singing it. Brian May called the song "unifying and positive." "We Are the Champions" has become an anthem for victories at sporting events, including its use during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and has often been used or referenced in popular culture. The song has also been covered by many artists.

On 7 October 2017, Queen released a Raw Sessions version of the track to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of News of the World. It was made from previously unheard vocal and instrumental takes from the original multi-track tapes. It also presents for the first time the original recorded length of the track, which is two choruses more than the 1977 edited single.

Music

Writing of "We Are the Champions" began as early as 1975. However, at the time, Freddie Mercury deemed it unsuitable for inclusion in the band's then-current album, and the song was not recorded until 1977. It embodies numerous elements of arena rock, with Brian May stating, "We wanted to get the crowds waving and singing. It's very unifying and positive."

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 four- and five-part vocal harmonies. The lead vocal is very demanding and strident (the 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.]

The single featured "We Will Rock You," which preceded the song on the album as its B-side. The two songs were often played consecutively at the close of Queen concerts and are customarily played together on radio broadcasts (in album order). Keeping with tradition, the two songs were 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.

Reception

Cash Box said that it contains "heroic lyrics and rapid changes in dynamics and emotional intensity" and praised guitarist Brian May's "dark backing lines and rippling fills." Record World called it a "stately rocker well-suited to its title" and suggested that "it could serve as a sort of new wave anthem."

Music video

The video for "We Are the Champions" was filmed at a special video shoot with fan club members at the New London Theatre on 6 October 1977 and was directed by Derek Burbridge. Mercury performs in a trademark Harlequin outfit—a half black, half white version—in front of an enthusiastic crowd who wave Queen scarves in a manner similar to English football fans. An alternate version, which starts in monochrome before blasting into color as the drums and guitars kick in, was broadcast on the BBC's Top of the Pops 2 and comprises alternate footage shot on the same day.

Lagacy

The first sports team known to celebrate a world championship victory with Queen’s “We Are the Champions” was Team Canada’s 1978 World Field Lacrosse Championship team, which won the title in Stockport, England.

Here’s why that’s significant:

Queen released “We Are the Champions” in October 1977, just months before that tournament.

The Canadian team defeated the United States 17–16 in overtime in the final on July 15, 1978.

According to multiple eyewitnesses and team members, the Canadians sang “We Are the Champions” during their victory celebration, making it the first recorded instance of a sports team using the song to mark a championship win.

Since then, the song has become an enduring global anthem for sports victories — but Canada’s 1978 lacrosse team appears to have been the first to do it after winning a world championship.

In 2011, a team of scientific researchers concluded that "We Are the Champions" was the catchiest song in the history of pop music, despite its not reaching #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 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."

The song is popular at sporting events, often being played after a major victory by the home team. For example, it was played at Highmark Stadium after the Buffalo Bills defeated the New England Patriots in the 2021 NFL playoffs.

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, number 4 on Billboard in the US, number 3 in Canada, the top 10 in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway, and the top 15 in Germany, Austria, and Sweden.

In 1992, 1993, and 1998, the single was re-released in France, totaling 45 weeks on the chart and peaking at number 19, number 14, and number 10 during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Data courtesy of Wikipedia.

Single Overview

Label: EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single

Country: UK

A We Are The Champions

Written-By – Mercury 3:00

B We Will Rock You

Written-By – May 2:01

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Queen Productions Ltd.

Copyright © – Queen Productions Ltd.

Published By – Queen Music Ltd.

Published By – EMI Music

Pressed By – EMI Records

Lacquer Cut By – Nick W*

Producer [Assisted By] – Mike Stone

Producer [Produced By] – Queen

Crest design © 1975 Queen Productions Ltd.

℗ 1977 Queen Productions Ltd.

Made in Gt Britain

The sleeve has a thumb-cut and flipbacks at the back.

Durations do not appear on release entered by timing the vinyl with stopwatch

The runouts are stamped, except for the etched "Nick W"

Personnel

Information is based on the album's Liner Notes

Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, piano

Brian May – guitars, backing vocals

Roger Taylor – drums, backing vocals

John Deacon – bass guitar

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UK Releases

Label: EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo

Country: UK

Released: 1977

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Label: EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mispress, Promo

Country: UK

Released: 1977

This single only contains on both sides "We will rock you"

This is a mispress of a promo

The labels are correct

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Label: EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre

Country: UK

Released: 1977

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Label:EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Four-Prong Centre

Country: UK

Released: 1977

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Country Variations (many territories used the same picture sleeve image)

Argentina - EMI - 1977

Australia - Elektra - 1977

Belgium - EMI - 1977

Bolivia - EMI International - 1977

Brazil - EMI - 1977

Canada - Elektra - 1977

Chile - EMI - 1977

France - EMI - 1977

Germany - EMI - 1977

Guatemala - EMI - 1977

Ireland - EMI - 1977

Italy - EMI - 1977

Italy - EMI - 1977

Japan - Elektra - 1977

Netherlands - EMI - 1977

New Zealand - Elektra - 1977

Peru - EMI - 1977

Philippines - EMI - 1977

Portugal - EMI - 1977

South Africa - EMI - 1977

Spain - EMI - 1977

USA - Elektra - 1977

USA - Allied Record Company - 1977

USA - PRC Recording Company - 1977

Yugoslavia - EMI - 1977

Hungary - Pepita - 1978

Mexico - EMI - 1978

USA - Elektra Spun Gold -

Chart Peak Position

Australia 8

Austrian Singles Chart 12

Belgium 10

Belgium 8

Canadian RPM Top Singles 3

German Singles Chart 13

Irish Singles Chart 3

Netherlands 2

Netherlands 2

New Zealand 8

Norwegian Singles Chart 6

Swedish Singles Chart 14

UK Singles 2

US Billboard Hot 100 4

US Cash Box Top 100 3

Sources

Wikipedia: We Are The Champions

Wikipedia: We Will Rock You

Wikipedia: News of the World

Wikipedia: Queen Discography

YouTube: We Are The Champions Official Video (2008 upload, 500M+ views)