The Champion (song)

"The Champion"
Single by Carrie Underwood featuring Ludacris
Released January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)
Genre
Length 3:43
Label Capitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jim Jonsin
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"The Fighter"
(2017)		 "The Champion"
(2018)		 "Cry Pretty"
(2018)

"The Fighter"
(2017)		 "The Champion"
(2018)		 "Cry Pretty"
(2018)
Ludacris singles chronology
"Vitamin D"
(2017)		 "The Champion"
(2018)
Music video
"The Champion" on YouTube

"The Champion" is a song recorded by American country music singer Carrie Underwood, featuring rapper Ludacris. The song was released on January 12, 2018, and was recorded to serve as an opening theme for NBC's television broadcast of Super Bowl LII. It was included as a bonus track on Underwood's sixth studio album Cry Pretty[1].

The song entered at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.[2]

Background

The song's lyrics revolve around recovery from obstacles. The song was relevant to both Super Bowl LII and the 2018 Winter Olympics, which were both being broadcast by NBC in the United States; Underwood also performs the theme song for the network's Sunday Night Football.[3] Underwood stated that "the main focus was to celebrate athletes at the top of their game, but we also wanted the song to resonate with people in their everyday lives". The song was featured in the intro for NBC's Super Bowl LII broadcast; in the sequence, Carrie Underwood performed on a soundstage with a screen showing highlights from past Super Bowl games.[4][5][6]

Composition

The song is set in the key of G♯ minor with a tempo of 90 beats per minute in common time. It follows a chord progression of G♯m–B–F♯–D♯, and Underwood's vocals span from G♯3 to C♯5.[7]

Commercial performance

"The Champion" sold 61,000 units in its first week and debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming that week's Hot Shot Debut.[8] It landed at number three on Digital Songs.[9] It fell off the chart in the following week. Following the video premiere of the song during the Super Bowl LII, it saw an increase in streaming—668,000 on-demand streams on February 5, a 110 percent rise compared to what it tallied on February 3.[10]

The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on August 21, 2018.[11] As of May 14, 2018, the single has sold 314,000 copies in the United States.[12]

Music video

The official music video for the song was released on March 2, 2018.[13] The video, directed by Jimmy Lynch, shows a montage of different embodiments of "champions" encompassing range of athletes, students and soldiers alike. There's also strong references to female empowerment, with clips of shark attack survivor and surfer Bethany Hamilton appearing next to images of the Me Too movement. Underwood also appears in the video in various clips of her recording the song in the studio, clips from her tour, as well as on a running trail, and even in footage from her audition for American Idol[14].

The video received three nominations at the 2018 CMT Music Awards for "Video of the Year", "Collaborative Video of the Year" and "Female Video of the Year", ultimately winning the last one and extending Underwood's record for most CMT Music Award wins.

Live performances

Underwood and Ludacris performed the song live for the first time at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards on June 23, 2018. The performance was accompanied by the West Los Angeles Children's Choir, who filtered through the audience and made their way to the stage towards the final chorus[15].

Awards and nominations

CMT Music Awards

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2018"The Champion"Video of the YearNominated
Female Video of the YearWon
Collaborative Video of the YearNominated

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[16] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 47
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[18] 57

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8471020/carrie-underwood-reveals-cry-pretty-track-list
  2. ↑ "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Carrie Underwood's 'The Champion,' Feat. Ludacris, Is a Winner". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  3. ↑ Norwin, Alyssa (February 4, 2018). "Carrie Underwood Debuts 'The Champion' Video Before Super Bowl: 1st Look At Her New Face?". hollywoodlife.com. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Kicks Off Super Bowl With Sexy 'Champion' Vid". Taste of Country.
  5. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Shares Anthemic Super Bowl LII Opening Song 'The Champion' With Ludacris". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ "See Carrie Underwood's Adrenalized 'The Champion' Super Bowl Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Carrie Underwood "The Champion" Sheet Music in G# Minor - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart".
  9. ↑ Trust, Gary (January 26, 2018). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Carrie Underwood's 'The Champion,' Feat. Ludacris, Is a Winner". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  10. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (February 7, 2018). "Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl Halftime Show Yields 45% Streaming Gain in U.S." Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  11. ↑ https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Carrie+underwood#search_section
  12. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (May 14, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: May 14, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ Maher, Natalie (March 2, 2018). "Carrie Underwood and Ludacris' 'The Champion' Video: Watch Triumphant Visual". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  14. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8224729/carrie-underwood-ludacris-champion-video
  15. ↑ http://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-ludacris-2018-radio-disney-awards-the-champion/
  16. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  19. ↑ "American single certifications – Carrie Underwood – The Champion". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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