Champion (Chipmunk song)

"Champion"
Single by Chipmunk featuring Chris Brown
from the album Transition and F.A.M.E.
B-side	"Power Trip"
Released	February 6, 2011 (2011-02-06)
Format	CD single, digital download
Recorded	2010
Genre	R&B, hip hop
Length	3:58 (single edit) 5:54 (album version)
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Jahmaal Fyffe, Chris Brown
Producer	Harmony "H-Money" Samuels
Chipmunk singles chronology
"Game Over" (2010) "Champion" (2011) "Pow 2011" (2011)
Chris Brown chronology "Look at Me Now" (2011) "Champion" (2011) "Next 2 You" (2011) Music video Video on YouTube

"Champion" is a song by British rapper Chipmunk featuring American singer Chris Brown from Chipmunk's second studio album Transition. It was released as the second single from the album on February 6, 2011 in the United Kingdom. The song was written by Harmony "H-Money" Samuels, Chipmunk, Eric Bellinger, and Erika Nuri, 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). This song was sung for Scott Purdue.

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 invovlement: "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 Blog 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]

The song is featured as the theme of the WWE series Tough Enough on USA Network. It is also featured in the tribute montage BBC made of Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel, when he won his second World Championship at Japan in 2011.

The song is on the soundtrack of the videogame Madden NFL 12.

Remix

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

Music video

The music video premiered on YouTube on December 23, 2010.^[4] Fellow British rapper Skepta, makes a cameo.

The music video of the song's edited version premiered on YouTube on March 18, 2011.^[5]

Chart performance

On February 10, 2011 the song debuted at number fourteen in Ireland.^[6] In the United Kingdom, "Champion" debuted at number two on February 12, 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.^[7]

Track listing

• Digital download^[8]

1. "Champion" (featuring Chris Brown) (Explicit Version) – 3:58
2. "Champion" (featuring Chris Brown) (Clean Version) – 3:59
3. "Champion" (Remix) (featuring Chris Brown & J.Cole) - 4:59

• CD single^[9]

1. "Champion" (featuring Chris Brown)
2. "Power Trip"

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)[6]	12
Scotland (The Official Charts Company)[10]	2
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[11]	2
UK R&B (The Official Charts Company)[12]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Format
United Kingdom	February 6, 2011 (2011-02-06)[8]	Digital download
	February 7, 2011 (2011-02-07)[9]	CD single
Germany	April 1, 2011 (2011-04-01)[13]
United States	March 29, 2011 (2011-03-29)[14]	Music download

References

1. ^ Shah, Kavi (10 February 2011). "Chipmunk: ‘Champion is already No 1 in my heart’". Metro. Associated Newspapers. http://www.metro.co.uk/music/855186-chipmunk-champion-is-already-no-1-in-my-heart. Retrieved 12 February 2011. 
2. ^ Chipmunk interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' April 2011
3. ^ Robert Copsey. "Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown: 'Champion'". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a303053/chipmunk-feat-chris-brown-champion.html. 
4. ^ "Chipmunk Feat. Chris Brown - Champion". YouTube. youtube.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlnMVb2XVVk. 
5. ^ "Chipmunk - Champion (Clean Version) ft. Chris Brown". YouTube. youtube.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf72JSw7MdI&feature=relmfu. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association.
7. ^ "Jessie J wins Champion chart battle as Lady Gaga swoops into Top 3". The Official Charts Company. 13 February 2011. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/jessie-j-wins-champion-chart-battle-as-lady-gaga-swoops-into-top-3/. Retrieved 13 February 2011. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Champion (feat. Chris Brown) - Single by Chipmunk - Download Champion (feat. Chris Brown) - Single on iTunes". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/champion-feat-chris-brown/id411914817. Retrieved 12 February 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Champion': Chipmunk: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004IM1PQ4/. Retrieved 12 February 2011. 
10. ^ "Archive Chart". Scottish Singles Top 40. The Official Charts Company.
11. ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company.
12. ^ "Archive Chart" UK R&B Chart. The Official Charts Company.
13. ^ "Champion feat. Chris Brown: Chris Chipmunk Feat.Brown: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004IM1PQ4/. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 
14. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/champion-feat-chris-brown/id427084201