"Champion"
Single by Fall Out Boy
from the album Mania
ReleasedJune 22, 2017 (2017-06-22)
Genre
Length3:12
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Fall Out Boy singles chronology
"Young and Menace"
(2017) 		"Champion"
(2017) 		"The Last of the Real Ones"
(2017)
Music video
"Champion (Visualizer)" on YouTube
"Champion (Official Video)" on YouTube

"Champion" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on June 22, 2017[1] in the US and on June 23 worldwide through Island Records and DCD2. It was released as the second single from their seventh studio album, Mania.

Background

While Fall Out Boy's previous single, "Young and Menace", was considered to be a major departure from their usual sound, "Champion" brought back some familiar elements from their more recent albums while still experimenting with new ideas.[1] It was co-written with pop singer-songwriter Sia.[2]

Composition

Musically, "Champion" has been described as a pop,[3] pop rock,[4] pop-punk and hip hop[5] song.

Wentz made a post on his personal Instagram regarding the meaning of the song: "This one really reminds me of this moment in "the never-ending story" . . . first they're like "wait you're just a kid lol we need a [real] warrior" then they're like "ok . . . i guess you'll do" and then "no one can help you and if you don't do this our entire world dies, so no pressure" . . . No one believes but at the same time we all need to believe in you."[6] Another of his notes was posted to Fall Out Boy's Twitter: "In my head champions aren't born, they are forged . . ."[7] In the chorus, Stump repeats the phrase "If I can live through this, I can do anything," which further connects the themes of empowerment and inspiration to the song.[1]

Promotion

TV performances

The band first performed the song live on Late Night with Seth Meyers on July 26, 2017, to promote the album.[8]

Remix

At midnight on December 15, 2017, a remix featuring South Korean rapper RM of BTS was released worldwide across all major music streaming sites. Billboard praised the collaboration, saying "...the remix offers up a grittier, hip-hop vibe thanks to a mellow tonal shift and RM’s evocative raps about the hardships of life. Like the original, the remix contains an inspirational, empowering message -- something Fall Out Boy and BTS both often incorporate into their music."[4] FUSE described the new sound as "going from rocking anthem to something of an electronic-pop burner",[9] while Bustle said the revamped track "keeps Fall Out Boy's pop rock melodies intact, but weaves in some hip-hop flair with a guest verse from RM".[10] The remix debuted at number 18 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart for the issue dated January 6, 2018. It also landed on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, peaking at number two for the week of January 3, 2018, and beating the band's previous peak position of number four with the original version.[11][12]

Appearances in other media

The song is featured in the soundtrack of WWE 2K19. It was selected by Alexa Bliss to appear in the game's soundtrack.[13][14]

Music video

The visualizer for "Champion" debuted on Fall Out Boy's official Vevo and YouTube channels. It featured Wentz and rapper Post Malone skateboarding in a warehouse, along with the llamas that were seen in the music video for "Young and Menace".[15] The band released it as an interim video, with plans to put the music video out at a later date.[16]

The official music video was released on July 28, 2017 also through Vevo and YouTube. The video observed people chasing their dreams and experiencing the world through VR headsets. American actor and rapper Jaden Smith ended the video by destroying the headset with a baseball bat.[17] A note written by Wentz was posted to Fall Out Boy's official Twitter account along with a link to the video: "I can't think of a drug worse than fake reality . . . . Smash the fake reality. Don't just sit around and kill time."[18] The concept of "fake reality" is represented by the VR headsets, while the last sentence alludes to the song's lyrics. Actor Josh Brener, The Bachelor star Ashley Iaconetti, and actor Timothy Granaderos also made appearances.[19] The video was nominated for Best Rock Video in the 2018 Video Music Awards.[20]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Patrick Stump, Andy Hurley, Jesse Shatkin, Sia Furler, Joe Trohman, and Pete Wentz

Digital download (remix)[21]
No.TitleLength
1."Champion" (Remix featuring RM of BTS)3:30

Personnel

Adapted from the liner notes of Mania.[22]

Fall Out Boy

Production

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c Bell, Sadie (June 22, 2017). "Fall Out Boy Releases 'Champion', the First Single From Forthcoming Album 'M A N I A'". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Shawgo, Kelsey (June 28, 2017). "Apparently Fall Out Boy's "Champion" was co-written by Sia". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  3. ^ Peters, Mitchell (January 19, 2018). "Stream Fall Out Boy's New Album 'MANIA'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Herman, Tamar (December 15, 2017). "Fall Out Boy Teams Up With BTS' RM For 'Champion' Remix: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Simpson, Dave (January 19, 2018). "Fall Out Boy: Mania review – songs to appal and appease the hardcore". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2023. Champion introduces Bad-era Michael Jackson to rap-pop-punk.
  6. ^ Dickman, Maggie (June 5, 2017). "Pete Wentz details new single, rapper Post Malone hints possible collaboration". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  7. ^ @falloutboy (June 22, 2017). "Champion out now in North America" (Tweet). Retrieved July 6, 2020 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Swartz, Tracy (July 27, 2017). "Watch Fall Out Boy perform 'Champion' on 'Late Night'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  9. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (December 14, 2017). "Fall Out Boy And BTS' RM Team Up For 'Champion' Remix". Fuse. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  10. ^ Getz, Dana (December 15, 2017). "Fall Out Boy & BTS' "Champion" Remix Is The Ultimate 2000s Team-Up & Fans Are Already Obsessed". Bustle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  11. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (December 27, 2017). "BTS' RM Hits the Bubbling Under Hot 100, Rock Charts & More With Fall Out Boy Remix". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  12. ^ Dickman, Maggie (December 28, 2017). "Fall Out Boy "Champion" remix makes rock chart history for BTS". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  13. ^ Artus, Matthew (September 18, 2018). "WWE 2K19 official soundtrack streaming now on Apple Music". wwe.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  14. ^ Trapp, Philip (September 18, 2018). "Fall Out Boy, BFMV, Slipknot featured on 'WWE 2K19' Soundtrack". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  15. ^ Gogia, Nikhail (June 22, 2017). "Fall Out Boy unveil new music video for "Champion" at The Berrics, featuring Post Malone". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  16. ^ Bacle, Ariana (June 22, 2017). "Fall Out Boy Channel Champions on Anthemic New Song". EW. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  17. ^ Ogweng, Sylvia (July 28, 2017). "Jaden Smith Gets Destructive In Fall Out Boy's New Video, 'Champion'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  18. ^ @falloutboy (July 28, 2017). "Watch the vid for Champion" (Tweet). Retrieved July 6, 2020 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Dickman, Maggie (July 27, 2017). "Fall Out Boy debut stellar, star-studded music video for "Champion"—watch". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  20. ^ Kim, Michelle; Phillips, Amy (August 20, 2018). "MTV VMAs 2018: See The Full List of Nominees Here | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  21. ^ "Champion (Remix) [feat. RM of BTS] – Single by Fall Out Boy". United States: iTunes Store. 15 December 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  22. ^ Mania (booklet). Fall Out Boy. Island Records. 2018. 602557663730.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  24. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  25. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  26. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  27. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  28. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  29. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  30. ^ "American single certifications – Fall Out Boy – Champion". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
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