"We Will Rock You"
Single by Queen
from the album News of the World
A-side	"We Are the Champions"
Released	7 October 1977
Format	7"
Genre	Rock
Length	2:01
Label	EMI (UK), Elektra (US)
Writer(s)	Brian May
Producer	Queen, assisted by Mike Stone
Queen singles chronology
"Long Away" (1977) "We Are the Champions" / "We Will Rock You" (1977) "Spread Your Wings" (1978)

"We Will Rock You"
Single by Five + Queen
from the album Invincible
B-side	Megamix Keep On Movin' (The Five-A-Side Mix)
Released	17 July 2000
Format	CD single, Cassette single
Recorded	1999
Genre	Pop rock, rap rock
Length	3:08
Label	Sony BMG
Writer(s)	Brian May
Producer	Richard Stannard, Julian Gallagher
Certification	Silver (UK) Gold (Australia)
Five singles chronology
"Don't Wanna Let You Go" (2000) "We Will Rock You" (2000) "Let's Dance" (2001)

	"We Will Rock You" A 13-second sample of "We Will Rock You"
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"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World.^[1] Rolling Stone ranked it number 330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004,^[2] and the RIAA placed it at number 146 on its list of Songs of the Century. In 2009, "We Will Rock You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.^[3][4]

Other than the last 30 seconds containing a guitar solo by May, the song is generally set in a cappella form, using only stomping and clapping as a rhythmic beat. In 1977, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" were issued together as a worldwide top ten single.^[5] Soon after the album was released, many radio stations began playing the songs back to back without interruption.^[6]

Since its release, "We Will Rock You" has been covered, remixed, sampled, parodied, referenced and used by multiple recording artists, TV shows, films and other media worldwide.^[7][8]

History [edit]

This song and its well-known partner "We Are the Champions" were written in response to an event occurring in the 1977 British Tour.^[9] The band had played a gig at Stafford's Bingley Hall, and, says Brian May:^[10]

'We did an encore and then went off, and instead of just keeping clapping, they sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" to us, and we were just completely knocked out and taken aback – it was quite an emotional experience really, and I think these chant things are in some way connected with that.'

One version was used as the opening track on their 1977 album News of the World. This version consists of a stomp-stomp-clap-pause beat, and a power chorus, being somewhat of an anthem. The stamping effects were created by the band overdubbing the sounds of themselves stomping and clapping many times and adding delay effects to create a sound like many people were participating. The durations of the delays were in the ratios of prime numbers, a technique now known as non-harmonic reverberation.^[11] A tape loop is used to repeat the last phrase of the guitar solo three times as opposed to Brian May playing it three separate times on the recording.^[12]

When performed live, this version is usually followed by "We Are the Champions", another of the album's hits, as they were designed to run together.^[5] The songs are often paired on the radio and at sporting events, where they are frequently played.^[5] They were the last two songs Queen performed at Live Aid in 1985.^[13] The songs are also paired back to back on the album, and they are still played together to this day on American classic rock radio stations.

Queen also performed "We Will Rock You" in another arrangement (known as the "fast version"), which featured a faster tempo and a full guitar, bass and drums backing track throughout. The band would often open their live sets in the late 1970s and early 1980s with this version, as captured on their 1979 Live Killers double album, on Queen Rock Montreal (2007), and on the Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl album released in 2004.

The "fast version" is available in a studio performance. In 1977, it was recorded for John Peel's show on BBC Radio 1. This version is on the 1992 Italian bootleg CD Queen – We Will Rock You (On Stage CD 12018). It is part of a longer cut that starts out with the slow version. In 2002, the fast version was officially released on a promo single distributed by the tabloid The Sun. The "fast" BBC studio version can also be found on The Best of King Biscuit Live Volume 4. Between the two versions, there is a brief cut of a female voice discussing Brahmanism, used in a BBC Radio documentary. The "stomp, stomp, clap" sounds were later reused in the Queen + Paul Rodgers song "Still Burnin'".^[14] This version is also used as the curtain call music after the West End show of the same title, after the finale, which is a pairing of the original "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions."

Five & Queen version [edit]

"We Will Rock You" is the fifth and final single from British boy band Five's second studio album, Invincible. Released on 17 July 2000, the song features 2 members of Queen: Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums; however, they do not sing any vocals on the track. Freddie Mercury had died in November 1991, nearly a decade before this version's release and John Deacon also retired from public life in 1997 three years before it.

The song charted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, making it Five's second number-one single, and their ninth consecutive top-ten hit.^[15]

Tracklisting [edit]

UK CD1

1. "We Will Rock You" (Radio Edit) – 3:08
2. "Keep on Movin'" (The Five-A-Side Mix) – 3:32
3. "We Will Rock You" (Video) – 3:08

UK CD2

1. "We Will Rock You" (Radio Edit) – 3:08
2. "Invincible Megamix" (Including "We Will Rock You") – 4:19
3. "Invincible Megamix" (Video) – 4:19

UK Cassette single

1. "We Will Rock You" (Radio Edit) – 3:08
2. "Keep on Movin'" (The Five-A-Side Mix) – 3:32
3. "Invincible Megamix" (Including "We Will Rock You") – 4:19

European CD single

1. "We Will Rock You" (Radio Edit) – 3:08
2. "Invincible Megamix" (Without "We Will Rock You") – 3:43
3. "We Will Rock You" (Video) – 3:08

Chart performance [edit]

Cover versions [edit]

1990s

• 1992: American glam metal band Warrant covered the song for the film Gladiator.^[20]
• 1992: Brazilian band Viper covered the fast version of the song in their third album Evolution,^[21] and later in a 1993 live album Maniacs in Japan.
• 1996: American recording artist Linda Ronstadt performed a soft lullaby version for her album Dedicated to the One I Love.^[22]

2000s

• 2000: American hip hop producer DJ Hurricane and vocalist Scott Weiland collaborated on a cover of the song for the album Don't Sleep.^[23]
• 2000: Actress Kimberly Williams performs an alternate version of the song for the television miniseries The 10th Kingdom.
• 2003: John Farnham performed a rendition for his Greatest Hits CD, featuring samples from the original recording.
• 2003: a remix by KCPK, sung by a chorus of children, was released in a series of animated Evian adverts which aired in France, Germany and Belgium. The remix was later released as a single and entered the local charts.^[24]
• 2004: Houseboyz performed a cover version for the video game Dance Dance Revolution Extreme.^[25]
• 2004: American pop singers Britney Spears, Beyoncé Knowles and Pink used this song in an international commercial Pepsi campaign and the song was released on Pepsi Music 2004: Britney Exclusive CD.^[26]
• 2005: Canadian rock band Nickelback covered the song as a bonus track, through a promotion with Walmart, for their album All the Right Reasons.
• 2008: Japanese singer Riyu Kosaka recorded a trance music version of the song.
• 2009: Australian Idol winner of season 7 Stan Walker did a cover on the show and recorded a version on his debut album Introducing Stan Walker (2010).^[27]
• 2012: German classical violinist David Garrett covered the song on his 2012 studio album Music.

Live cover performances [edit]

1990s

• 1992: Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose performed the song with Queen at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.^[28][29]
• 1992: U2 used the song as a set list opener before they performed on stage during the Zoo TV Tour.^[30]
• 1993: Nirvana performed it in São Paulo, Brazil, changing the lyrics to "we will fuck you".^[31]
• 1996: Alanis Morissette and her band ended the first encore of her "Can't Not" Tour (following the song, "You Learn") with a cover of the song.^[32]

2000s

• 2002: Erreway and other actors from Rebelde Way sang it during all their tours. It was released on every live album of the group.
• 2003: Anastacia performed a version with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor at the 46664 Mandela concert.
• 2003: English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams performed the song live at Knebworth.^[33]
• 2003: Russian pop rock band Korni performed a piano version of the song.
• 2007: Prince's performance at the Super Bowl XLI started with a rendition of the song.
• 2007, 2010: Japanese pop singer Kumi Koda covered this in her a-nation '07 performance, and three years later in a medley at her 10th anniversary concert at the Tokyo Dome.^[34]
• 2008: Finnish band Sonata Arctica played "We Will Rock You" in concerts of their 2008 tour, using the crowd as a human drum kit.
• 2008: Korn plays "We Will Rock You" as medley with their Coming Undone at their live concerts.
• 2008: Canadian singer Celine Dion performed a Queen medley with "We Will Rock You" and "The Show Must Go On" in her Taking Chances Tour.^[35]
• 2008: Stone Temple Pilots who recently reunited have played the song at many of their shows.
• 2008: New Kids on the Block interpolated this song with "Hangin' Tough" in live performances on their tour in support of their comeback album.
• 2009: American guitarist Joe Perry from Aerosmith and singer Katy Perry covered the song at the MTV's Video Music Awards 2009.^[36]
• 2009: Irish duo John & Edward performed Five's version of "We Will Rock You" on week four of the sixth series of The X Factor
• 2009/2010: Polish singers Dorota Rabczewska and Maryla Rodowicz both covered the song during New Year's Eve in Łódź (TVP2).
• 2011: American rock band My Chemical Romance performed the song with Queen guitarist Brian May at the Reading Festival.^[37]
• 2011: Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine & Blake Shelton covered the song on The Voice (U.S.).^[38]
• 2012: Canadian punk rock band Sum 41 covered the song live during their Asian tour in April.
• 2012: English pop singer Jessie J performed the song live with Brian May and Roger Taylor at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on 12 August.^[39]
• 2012: English rapper Dappy covered the song live alongside Brian May for BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. The song later appeared on UK chart-topping album, "BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge".^[40]

Remixes [edit]

• 1991: Rick Rubin did some remixes of "We Will Rock You", released by Hollywood Records. The "Ruined Remix" also contains contributions by Flea and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
• 2003: Japanese techno artist Killingscum remixed 5ive's cover of the song in the track Morning Knifreak.
• Norman Cook performed a Fatboy Slim remix on "We Will Rock You".
• 2009: French electronic duo Daft Punk mixed this song along with their own song "Robot Rock" for the game DJ Hero to create "We Will (Robot) Rock You".^[41]
• 2011: Geddy (a.k.a. Armageddon) former member from hip hop group Terror Squad mashed up "I Want It All" and "We Will Rock You" for the soundtrack to the 2011 film Sucker Punch^[42][43] and the videogame Madden NFL 12.

Sampling [edit]

1990s

• 1992: Ice Cube sampled the "stomp-clap" on his album "The Predator" for the song "When Will They Shoot?".
• 1999: The "stomp-clap" is sampled as Juvenile is introduced on the track "You Dig" from the Hot Boys album Guerrilla Warfare.

2000s

• 2002: American rapper Eminem sampled the "stomp-clap" on his album The Eminem Show for the song "'Till I Collapse".
  • 2004: He also sampled it on his song "Puke" from Encore.
  • 2010: The song "Cinderella Man" from Recovery, features the "stomp-clap" beat.
• 2005: Edson & Hudson sampled the "stomp-clap" on their hit "Galera Coração".
• 2003: Kid Rock samples the song on "Hillbilly Stomp" from his self-titled album. The song uses banjos, dobros and slide guitar to make it sound unique.
• 2006: American industrial metal band Revolting Cocks used the sampled "stomp-clap" for the song "Revolting Cock au Lait" and its shorter version "RevColution Medley", both of them from the album Cocked and Loaded.
• 2007: Bon Jovi used the song as intro of their song "Summertime" in all the Lost Highway Tour.
• 2007: Prince used the song as the introductory music of his halftime show at Super Bowl XLI on 4 February in Miami, Florida.
• 2009: Japanese Rock band Garnet Crow sampled the "stomp-clap" in their song "Doing All Right."

2010s

• 2010: Rapper Charles Hamilton sampled the beat and chorus for the song "Gameday" from his mixtape "Well This Isn't Awkward".
• 2010: Southern Gospel Group Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Sampled the song in their version of The Cathedrals song Boundless Love
• 2011: American pop singer Katy Perry uses the "stomp-stomp-clap" beat in her song E.T.^[44]
• 2011: American R&B/Pop singer Beyoncé uses the "stomp-stomp-clap" beat in her song "Dreaming", featured on the Japanese edition of her 4th album 4.^[45]
• 2011: Lady Gaga sampled the "stomp-clap" in her song "You and I", which also features the band's guitarist Brian May, from Gaga's album Born This Way.^[46]
• 2012: One Direction sampled the "stomp-stomp-clap" and references "Rock" in their song "Rock Me" featured on their sophomore album Take Me Home.^[47]
• 2012: Kesha sampled the "stomp-stomp-clap" in her song "Gold Trans Am", featured on the deluxe edition of her second album, Warrior.^[48]

Parodies and references to the song [edit]

• 1987: Henry Rollins did a parody of "We Will Rock You" titled "I Have Come to Kill You".^[49]
• 1991: Full House, in the episode "Happy Birthday Babies Part 2", when Becky is breathing to ease her contractions, she breathes to the stomp/clap rhythm, and Danny jokingly sings "We will, we will rock you."
• 2003: Blondie's song "Good Boys" uses the line "You got me on your face/A big disgrace."
• 2004: Scum of the Earth did a cover version on their debut album Blah...Blah...Blah...Love Songs for the New Millennium. However, the song title was changed to "Pornstar Champion" with modified lyrics.
• 2007: In "The Storm", an episode of Drake & Josh, all of the people in Drake and Josh's house start singing the song after the crank-able television breaks.
• 2010: The cast of the Off-Broadway musical Avenue Q performed covers of "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" in a video spoof of the Muppets' Bohemian Rhapsody.^[50]
• 2012: In "He Will Mock You", an episode of The Annoying Orange, a spoof of the song called "He Will Mock You" was sung when Orange, Pear, Midget Apple, and Marshmallow backfire after Orange gets mocked by a coconut, a lime, and a banana.
• 2012: In the edition of WWE Raw of 12 March, The Rock performed his version during the Rock Concert segment by adding references to Team Bring It and fans chanting "Cena Sucks" in the chorus while taking aim at John Cena before they square off at WrestleMania XXVIII.^[51]
• 2013: German power metal quintet Helloween released a song on their Burning Sun EP, which will be later released in their Straight Out of Hell album, called "Wanne Be God, which was created to be similar to "We Will Rock You" and is dedicated to Freddie Mercury.^[52]

Appearances in other media [edit]

• It is the most-played song at sporting events.
• The song is featured in a cold open sketch at the beginning of the 1980s sitcom Cheers episode 'Severe Crane Damage'.^[53]
• The song is prominently (and anachronistically) featured in the film A Knight's Tale as a crowd chant.
• The song is featured in the music video games Donkey Konga, Pro Evolution Soccer 2 and Lego Rock Band. For some reason, the stomp-stomp-clap part is listed as notes on Lego Rock Band, although that might be just so everyone can play, as the only parts otherwise would be Mercury's lyrics and Brian May's solo. It is also featured in the video game DJ Hero as part of a mashup with Daft Punk's "Robot Rock."
• The song is featured in commercial promotions for the 2010 Disney XD Original Series Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil.
• The song was used often as a crowd chant, on the UK TV show Gladiators.
• Sol Badguy from the video game series Guilty Gear wears a headband that reads "Rock You", one of several Queen references in the series.
• Diego Sanchez used this as his entrance song at UFC 95 and The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale.
• In the Drake & Josh episode "The Storm", near the end of the episode, Helen tells all the girls to pat twice repeatedly. Then, she tells the men to clap when the girls pause. After the "stomp stomp clap" is derived, Helen starts singing the first verse of the song while Drake does the second verse and Craig & Eric do the third.
• The beat of the song was used in an election ad by New Democratic Party candidate Jack Layton which attacked Stephen Harper for allowing alleged abuses by big business.
• The song was used in the commercial of TEAM Unity for the 2007 Philippine Senatorial Elections.
• Manny Pacquiao used this as his entrance song in the match against Oscar De La Hoya.
• A family in a Wal-Mart commercial sing the song.
• In Friends episode "The One Where Ross Moves In", Ross created a "customized" message for an answer machine that is basing on the song, the lyrics was changed to 'we will we will call you back'.
• A cover version is featured in the video game Madden NFL 11.
• The song is used in 2011 Super Bowl commercial for Kung Fu Panda 2. In the commercial, the footage of a battle is cut to the beat of the song such as each opening stomp accompanies a blow by the characters. Furthermore, the lyrics displayed on screen have the pun of "We will, we will, wok you," as Po wields a large wok on each hand against multiple assailants.
• In the "Elementary School Musical" episode of South Park, during a school basketball game the audience sings the song.
• Domino's Pizza used a modified version (changing the lyrics to "Gotta Be, Gotta Be Domino's") for a series of commercials between 1994 and 1996.
• At WrestleMania XXVII, Chris Masters and Yoshi Tatsu performed a brief humorous version of the chorus with Masters' pectorial muscles moving up and down to the beat in a parody of American Idol.
• The "stomp stomp clap" beat appeared in commercial of Regular Show on Cartoon Network.
• In the Disney film The Mighty Ducks, the crowd at the Ducks game chants a variant which goes "We will quack you".
• In the former Sentosa attraction, Magical Sentosa. A song from its soundtrack, It`s My World employs the "stomp-stomp-clap" beat replacing the stomp with a hyperbeat and clap with either a backbeat or a stomp at its chorus.
• In a Taco Bell commercial, a group of men imitate the beat of the song by slamming their elbows on the table and taking a bite of their crunchy taco. They then go "We will, we will" to an annoyed female customer who replies "Stop doing that." The commercial ends with one guy telling the other that he has cheese on his face, with another calling him a "big disgrace".
• The song was made available to download on December 7, 2010 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform in both Basic rhythm, and PRO mode which allows use of a real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to vocals.

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Official YouTube videos: original music video, fast version (live), Live at the Bowl, fast version (Live at the Bowl), Live at Wembley, Queen + Paul Rodgers, at Freddie Mercury tribute concert (with Axl Rose)
• Lyrics at Queen official website (from Queen Rocks)
• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics