Champion (Fall Out Boy song)

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"Champion"
FOBChampion.jpg
Single by Fall Out Boy
from the album Mania
Released June 22, 2017 (2017-06-22)
Genre
Length 3:12
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Fall Out Boy singles chronology
"Young and Menace"
(2017) 		"Champion"
(2017) 		"The Last of the Real Ones"
(2017)

"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[3] 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. A visualizer was released with the song, and a music video followed on July 28.[4] 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.[3] It was co-written with pop singer-songwriter Sia.[5]

The band first performed the song live on Late Night with Seth Meyers on July 26, 2017 to promote the album.[6]

A remix of the song featuring South Korean rapper RM was released as a single on December 15, 2017.[1]

Visualizer, music video, and meaning[edit]

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".[7] The band released it as an interim video, with plans to put the music video out at a later date.[8]

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.[9] 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."[10] 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.[11] The video was nominated for Best Rock Video in the 2018 Video Music Awards.[12]

Wentz has 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."[13] Another of his notes was posted to Fall Out Boy's Twitter: "In my head champions aren't born, they are forged . . ."[14] 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.[3]

Remix[edit]

A remix, featuring rapper RM of BTS was released worldwide on December 15 at midnight 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."[1] FUSE described the new sound as "going from rocking anthem to something of an electronic-pop burner"[15] 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".[16] The remix debuted at number 18 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart for the chart dated January 6, 2018 and also landed on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, peaking at number two for the week of January 3, 2018, beating the band's previous peak position of number four with the original version.[17][18]

Track listing[edit]

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

Digital download (remix)[19]
No.TitleLength
1."Champion" (Remix featuring RM of BTS)3:30

Personnel[edit]

Fall Out Boy

  • Patrick Stump – lead vocals, guitar, keyboard, programming, songwriting, production
  • Pete Wentz – bass guitar, backing vocals, songwriting, production
  • Joe Trohman – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboard, songwriting, production
  • Andy Hurley – drums, percussion, songwriting, production

Additional personnel[20]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2017–18) Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40)[21] 30
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[22] 9
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23]
Remix 		18
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[24] 39
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[25] 18
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[26] 10

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Herman, Tamar (December 15, 2017). "Fall Out Boy Teams Up With BTS' RM For 'Champion' Remix: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2017. 
  2. ^ Peters, Mitchell (January 19, 2018). "Stream Fall Out Boy's New Album 'MANIA'". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2018. 
  3. ^ a b c "Fall Out Boy Releases 'Champion,' the First Single From Forthcoming Album 'M A N I A'". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-07-27. 
  4. ^ "The New Fall Out Boy Video Is Dropping On Friday". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved 2017-07-27. 
  5. ^ "Apparently Fall Out Boy's "Champion" was co-written by Sia". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2017-07-27. 
  6. ^ "Fall Out Boy Performs On "Champion" On "Late Night With Seth Meyers" (Watch Now)". Headline Planet. 2017-07-26. Retrieved 2017-07-30. 
  7. ^ "Fall Out Boy unveil new music video for "Champion" at The Berrics, featuring Post Malone". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2017-07-27. 
  8. ^ "Fall Out Boy Channel Champions on Anthemic New Song". EW.com. 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2017-07-27. 
  9. ^ Ogweng, Sylvia (2017-07-28). "Jaden Smith Gets Destructive In Fall Out Boy's New Video, 'Champion'". ET Canada. Retrieved 2017-07-28. 
  10. ^ Fall Out Boy (2017-07-28). "Watch the vid for Champion". Twitter. 
  11. ^ "Fall Out Boy debut stellar, star-studded music video for "Champion"—watch". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2017-07-28. 
  12. ^ "MTV VMAs 2018: See The Full List of Nominees Here | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22. 
  13. ^ "Pete Wentz details new single, rapper Post Malone hints possible collaboration". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2017-07-27. 
  14. ^ Fall Out Boy (2017-06-22). "Champion out now in North America". Twitter. 
  15. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (December 14, 2017). "Fall Out Boy And BTS' RM Team Up For 'Champion' Remix". FUSE. Retrieved December 20, 2017. 
  16. ^ Getz, Dana (December 15, 2017). "Fall Out Boy & BTS' "Champion" Remix Is The Ultimate 2000s Team-Up & Fans Are Already Obsessed". BUSTLE. Retrieved December 20, 2017. 
  17. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (December 27, 2017). "BTS' RM Hits the Bubbling Under Hot 100, Rock Charts & More With Fall Out Boy Remix". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2017. 
  18. ^ Dickman, Maggie (December 28, 2017). "Fall Out Boy "Champion" remix makes rock chart history for BTS". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 28, 2017. 
  19. ^ "Champion (Remix) [feat. RM of BTS] – Single by Fall Out Boy". United States: iTunes Store. Retrieved July 18, 2018. 
  20. ^ Fall Out Boy – Champion, retrieved 2017-07-27 
  21. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  22. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2018. 
  23. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  24. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  25. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  26. ^ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
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