We Will Rock You

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"We Will Rock You"
Single by Queen
from the album News of the World
B-side"We Are the Champions"
Released7 October 1977[1]
StudioWessex Sound, London
GenreArena rock[2]
Length2:02
Label
Songwriter(s)Brian May
Producer(s)
Queen singles chronology
"Long Away"
(1977) 		"We Are the Champions" / "We Will Rock You"
(1977) 		"Spread Your Wings"
(1978)
Music video
"We Will Rock You" at YouTube

"We Will Rock You" is a song by the band Queen. It is one of their most famous songs. It is used at a lot of sports events. The main song has the band stamping their feet twice, and clapping once. At the end, a short guitar part is played.

Personnel[change | change source]

Information is based on the album's Liner Notes[3]

  • Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, hand claps, foot stamping
  • Brian May – electric guitar, backing vocals, hand claps, foot stamping
  • Roger Taylor – backing vocals, hand claps, foot stamping
  • John Deacon – hand claps, foot stamping
  • Elizabeth Edwards - backing vocals, hand claps, foot stomping[4]
  • Andrew Turner - backing vocals, hand claps, foot stomping[4]

Chart performance[change | change source]

Certifications[change | change source]

Certifications for We Will Rock You
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[26] Platinum 60,000double-dagger
France (SNEP)[27]
We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions 		Gold 500,000*
Germany (BVMI)[28] Platinum 500,000double-dagger
Italy (FIMI)[29] 2× Platinum 100,000double-dagger
Japan (RIAJ)[30]
Digital single 		Gold 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[31]
Ringtone 		2× Platinum 500,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[32] 2× Platinum 120,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[33]
sales since 2011 		2× Platinum 1,200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[34] 6× Platinum 6,000,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Notable cover versions[change | change source]

Five + Queen version[change | change source]

"We Will Rock You"
File:Wwry 5ive.jpg
Single by Five + Queen
from the album Invincible
B-side
Released17 July 2000 (2000-07-17)[35]
Length3:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Five singles chronology
"Don't Wanna Let You Go"
(2000) 		"We Will Rock You"
(2000) 		"Let's Dance"
(2001)
Queen singles chronology
"Under Pressure (Rah Mix)"
(1999) 		"We Will Rock You"
(2000) 		"Flash (Vanguard Mix)"
(2003)
Music video
"We Will Rock You" at YouTube

British boy band Five released a cover of "We Will Rock You" on 17 July 2000. It was the fourth single from their second studio album, Invincible (1999). The song has rapping from Five's members Jason "J" Brown and Richard "Abs" Breen, and has two members of Queen: Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums. Freddie Mercury had died in November 1991, nearly a decade before this version's release, and John Deacon had retired from public life three years before the release of the Five cover.

The song charted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, making it Five's second number-one single, and their ninth top-ten hit.[36]

Track listings[change | change source]

"Megamix" consists of four songs by Five: "Don't Wanna Let You Go", "If Ya Gettin' Down", "Keep On Movin'", and "We Will Rock You".

UK CD1[37]

  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—enhanced track)

UK CD2[38]

  1. "We Will Rock You" (radio edit) – 3:08
  2. "Megamix" – 4:19
  3. "Megamix" video (enhanced track)

UK cassette single[39]

  1. "We Will Rock You" (radio edit) – 3:08
  2. "Keep On Movin'" (The Five-A-Side Mix) – 3:32
  3. "Megamix" – 4:19

European CD single[40]

  1. "We Will Rock You" (radio edit) – 3:08
  2. "Megamix" – 4:19

Australian CD single[41]

  1. "We Will Rock You" (radio edit) – 3:08
  2. "Megamix" – 4:19
  3. "Keep On Movin'" (The Five-A-Side Mix) – 3:32
  4. "We Will Rock You" (video—enhanced track)

Charts[change | change source]

Certifications[change | change source]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[68] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[69] Silver 200,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

KCPK version[change | change source]

A remix by KCPK, sung by a chorus of children under the name Forever Young, 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.[70]

Other versions[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Queen – We Will Rock You" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ↑
    • Gaar, Gillian G. (4 December 2012). "Album reviews of Queen's second box set of reissues". Goldmine. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
    • Konow, David (2002). Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal. Three Rivers Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0609807323. Two years later, in 1977, they would practically invent the arena-rock anthem with "We Will Rock You." The song was designed for maximum audience participation, where everyone would stomp and clap along to its beat. Even today, whenever you stomp and clap that thunderous beat at a sporting event, Queen gets royalties.
    • Serwer, Jesse (16 October 2012). "The 77 Best Rock Samples in Rap History – 41. Dame Dash Presents Dream Team f/ Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Cam'Ron, Young Chris and Twista "We Are the Champions" (2002)". Complex. Retrieved 16 March 2014. The distinctive stomp-stomp-clap drum pattern from "We Will Rock You"—the apotheosis of arena rock
  3. ↑ Queen. News of the World (Album Notes). EMI. 1977.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "News Of The World". Queen Songs. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  5. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia’s Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 227.
  8. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Queen – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  13. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions (Live At Wembley '86)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales: Nov 17, 2018". Billboard. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  17. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  18. ↑ "Queen – We Will Rock You". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 46, 16 november 2018" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  20. ↑ "Queen Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  21. ↑ "Queen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  22. ↑ "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 03.02.2024–09.02.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  24. ↑ "Rock Songs – Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  25. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  26. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "French single certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 10 February 2021. Select QUEEN and click OK. 
  28. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Queen; 'We Will Rock You')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  29. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  30. ↑ "Japanese single digital certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 10 February 2021. Select 2019年2月 on the drop-down menu
  31. ↑ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 10 February 2021. Select 2009年3月 on the drop-down menu
  32. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  33. ↑ "British single certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  34. ↑ "American single certifications – Queen – We Will Rock You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  35. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 17, 2000: Singles". Music Week. 15 July 2000. p. 23.
  36. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  37. ↑ We Will Rock You (UK CD1 liner notes). Five, Queen. RCA Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 774 022.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. ↑ We Will Rock You (UK CD2 liner notes). Five, Queen. RCA Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 774 032.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  39. ↑ We Will Rock You (UK cassette single sleeve). Five, Queen. RCA Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 774 024.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ↑ We Will Rock You (European CD single liner notes). Five, Queen. RCA Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 776 552.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ↑ We Will Rock You (Australian CD single liner notes). Five, Queen. RCA Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 78012 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  43. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  44. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  45. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Exitos Discográficos Internacionales". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  47. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 32. 5 August 2000. p. 7. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  48. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  49. ↑ "Tonlist Top 40". DV. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  50. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – We Will Rock You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  52. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  53. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  54. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  55. ↑ "Major Market Airplay – Week 38/2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 38. 23 September 2000. p. 27. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  56. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  57. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  58. ↑ "Five + Queen – We Will Rock You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  59. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  60. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  61. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 2000". Austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  62. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  63. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000 p.9" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  64. ↑ "Jahrescharts – 2000". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  65. ↑ "Top 100 of 2000". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  66. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000". Hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  67. ↑ "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 20 January 2001. p. 25.
  68. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  69. ↑ "British single certifications – Five & Queen – We Will Rock You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  70. ↑ "We Will Rock You 2003 editions". Queencollector.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2004.
  71. ↑ "KCPK – We Will Rock You (Remix)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  72. ↑ "KCPK – We Will Rock You (Remix)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  73. ↑ "KCPK – We Will Rock You (Remix)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  74. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 24. 14 June 2003. p. 65. ISSN 0006-2510.
  75. ↑ "KCPK – We Will Rock You (Remix)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  76. ↑ "KCPK – We Will Rock You (Remix)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  77. ↑ "KCPK – We Will Rock You (Remix)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  78. ↑ "Rapports annuels 2003" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  79. ↑ "Top Singles 2003". SNEP. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  80. ↑ "Topul Anului 2003". Topul Anului 2003. Archived from the original on 22 January 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  81. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2003". Hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  82. ↑ Stone, Doug. "Original Soundtrack – Gladiator [1992 Original Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  83. ↑ "Warrant – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  84. ↑ "Britney Spears Beyonce Pink-We will rock you". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010.
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