"Champion"
Single by Chipmunk featuring Chris Brown
from the album Transition and F.A.M.E.
B-side"Power Trip"
Released6 February 2011 (2011-02-06)
Recorded2010
Genre
Length
  • 3:58 (single edit)
  • 5:54 (album version)
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Fyffe, Chris Brown
Producer(s)Harmony "H-Money" Samuels
Chipmunk singles chronology
"Game Over"
(2010) 		"Champion"
(2011) 		"Pow 2011"
(2011)
Chris Brown singles chronology
"Look at Me Now"
(2011) 		"Champion"
(2011) 		"My Last"
(2011)
Music video
Video on YouTube

"Champion" is a song by British rapper Chipmunk from Chipmunk's second studio album Transition (2011). It features American singer Chris Brown and was released as the second single from the album on 6 February 2011 in the United Kingdom. The song was written by Chipmunk and Chris Brown, and it was produced by Samuels. According to Chipmunk, he wants the listeners of the song to "feel like they were born a champion".[1] The song was later added to the international deluxe edition of Brown's fourth album, F.A.M.E. (2011).

The song peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Chipmunk's second highest-charting single.

Background

Speaking in April 2011 to noted UK urban writer Pete Lewis - Assistant Editor of Blues & Soul - Chipmunk shed light on the background to the song and Chris Brown's involvement: "That was definitely a big learning experience for me - not just in terms of being an artist, but in terms of LIFE! Because, with Chris being on it, people were saying that they didn't wanna support the track before they'd even HEARD it! Which meant I really had to engage myself and find the inner strength to say 'Yo, I'm gonna go with this track REGARDLESS! Because I know what this song means to ME, I know that it means to CHRIS - and if it's from the heart then it can't go WRONG!'!"[2]

Critical reception

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review stating: "Like a friend who cancels dinner plans five minutes after you've arrived at the restaurant, a British artist fleeing to the US is usually frustrating and, at times, unforgivable. Are we really that awful to be around? Anyway, on first glance we thought Chipmunk was destined to become our latest Hot 100-fixated expat, but, after a closer inspection, it's clear he's actually doing something rather more savvy. By drafting in Chris Brown while keeping his sound akin to previous hits, Chip's taken a best-of-both-worlds approach to this latest chart-botherer - a fist-clenching, anthemic midtempo electro-R&B stomper that ponders the glorious highs and depressive lows of fame over a 'Changes'-style piano line. "Some people wait their turn / Some people, but not me / I was born a champion," he insists with utter conviction. "Maybe I've just got GaGa on the brain, but could this be the harder, bloke-friendly version of 'Born This Way'?" .[3]

Chart performance

On 10 February 2011, the song debuted at number fourteen in Ireland.[4] In the United Kingdom, "Champion" debuted at number two on 12 February 2011. It was beaten to the top spot by a margin of less than 5% by Jessie J's "Price Tag", each having sold over 90,000 copies.[5]

Remix

The official remix of the song features a new verse by Chipmunk, Chris Brown's verse & chorus and a verse by American rapper J. Cole. The remix was released on 5 February 2011.

Music video

The music video (directed by Colin Tilley) premiered on YouTube on 23 December 2010.[6] Fellow British rapper Skepta, makes a cameo. The music video of the song's edited version premiered on YouTube on 18 March 2011.[7]

In popular culture

Track listing

  1. "Champion" (featuring Chris Brown) (Explicit Version) – 3:58
  2. "Champion" (featuring Chris Brown) (Clean Version) – 3:59
  1. "Champion" (featuring Chris Brown) - 3:58
  2. "Power Trip" - 3:42
  1. "Champion" (Ready For The Weekend Remix) - 6:00
  1. "Champion" (Remix featuring Chris Brown & J. Cole) - 4:59

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format
United Kingdom 6 February 2011[8][9]
Germany 1 April 2011[17] CD single

References

  1. ^ Shah, Kavi (10 February 2011). "Chipmunk: 'Champion is already No 1 in my heart'". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  2. ^ Stephen Clark - Design. "Chipmunk: Back To Take The Title". bluesandsoul.com.
  3. ^ Robert Copsey (10 February 2011). "Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown: 'Champion'". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk.
  4. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Champion". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Jessie J wins Champion chart battle as Lady Gaga swoops into Top 3". Official Charts Company. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Chipmunk Feat. Chris Brown - Champion". YouTube. youtube.com.
  7. ^ "Chipmunk - Champion (Clean Version) ft. Chris Brown". YouTube. youtube.com.
  8. ^ a b "Champion (feat. Chris Brown) - Single by Chipmunk - Download Champion (feat. Chris Brown) - Single on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Champion': Chipmunk: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  10. ^ [1][dead link]
  11. ^ [2][dead link]
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  15. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  16. ^ "British single certifications – Chipmunk ft Chris Brown – Champion". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Champion feat. Chris Brown: Chris Chipmunk Feat.Brown: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
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