Champion of the World (song)

"Champion of the World"
Live version cover artwork
Promotional single by Coldplay
from the album Everyday Life
Released	24 February 2020 (2020-02-24)
Genre	Rock[1] pop rock[2]
Length	4:17
Label	Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Guy Berryman Jonny Buckland Will Champion Chris Martin Scott Hutchison
Producer(s)	Bill Rahko Daniel Green Rik Simpson
Music video
"Champion of the World" on YouTube

"Champion of the World" is a song by British rock band Coldplay from their eighth studio album Everyday Life. It was first released on 20 November 2019 along with "Daddy" in anticipation for the record.[3] Despite being sent to selected radio stations in the United States and Italy, the song was not marketed as an official single.[4]

Background

"Champion of the World" is the seventh track of the Sunset part of the album and was written by the all members of Coldplay.[5] The song contains elements from "Los Angeles, Be Kind" by Scott Hutchison's Owl John, as explained by Chris Martin: "When I first heard it, I thought it was going to go one way; but it went another. Anyway 'Champion of the World' is the song that came from following the other path, and that’s why Scott is a co-writer on this song".[3]

Music video

On 25 February 2020, a music video directed by Cloé Bailly was made available on Coldplay's YouTube channel. It was filmed in Los Angeles and expressed the "magic power that kids have to switch off from reality and jump into their own world.[6]

Reception

While reviewing Everyday Life (2019), Ella Kemp from the British GQ declared that "Champion of the World" was the best song from the album.[7] Similarly, Jenesaispop ranked it among the best tracks of 2019.[8]

Track listing

• Digital download
• streaming

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Champion of the World"	4:17

Digital download – Live at NPR's Tiny Desk

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Champion of the World" (Live at NPR's Tiny Desk)	3:36

Charts

Weekly charts Chart performance for "Champion of the World" Chart (2019–2020) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[9] 37 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[10] 27 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[11] 36 Italy Airplay (EarOne)[12] 13 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[13] 7 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[14] 25 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[15] 49 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 56 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 93 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 13 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[19] 40

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Champion of the World" Chart (2020) Position Italy Airplay (EarOne)[20] 93

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	24 February 2020	Adult album alternative radio	Atlantic	[21]
	25 February 2020	Alternative radio		[22]
Italy	1 May 2020	Contemporary hit radio	Warner	[23]

References

1. "Coldplay Release Two New Songs, the Gentle Daddy and the Anthemic Champion of the World". Uproxx. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
2. "Review: Coldplay – Everyday Life". Sputnikmusic. 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
3. "Listen to Champion of the World". Coldplay. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
4. "Chris Martin Goes Back to School in Coldplay's Magical Champion of the World Video". Billboard. 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
5. "Credits / Champion Of The World / Coldplay – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
6. "Champion Of The World video out now!". Coldplay. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
7. "Coldplay's Everyday Life Is Their Best Album To-Date, Because They've Stopped Caring What People Think". British GQ. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
8. "Las Mejores Canciones de 2019" [The Best Songs of 2019]. Jenesaispop (in Spanish). 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
9. "Coldplay – Champion of the World" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
10. "Coldplay – Champion of the World" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
11. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
12. "Earone Airplay - Settimana #21 dal 15/05/2020 al 21/05/2020" (in Italian). Earone. 3 April 2020.
13. "Tipparade-lijst van week 17, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
14. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
15. "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 15/08/2020" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. August 15, 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
16. "Coldplay – Champion of the World". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
18. "Coldplay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
19. "Coldplay Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
20. "Airplay Top 100 of the year 2020" (in Italian). Earone. Archived from the original on 2021-01-08.
21. "Triple A Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
22. "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
23. Release date in Italian to contemporary hit radio:
    • "Coldplay – Champions of the World (Radio Date: 01-05-2020)" (in Italian). EarOne. 1 May 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
    • "Coldplay "Champion of the World" – (Radio Date: 01/05/2020)". radiodate.it (in Italian). May 1, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2021.