We Are the Champions

Mercury began writing it as early as 1975, but did not think it suited the album Queen were then making, and it was recorded in 1977. He wrote it with audience participation in mind and said the word we in the title meant everyone singing it. May said the band wanted the crowds waving and singing, and called the song unifying and positive. It is built on Mercury's piano, with Taylor on drums and Deacon on bass, and May's guitars build to a solo played with the last chorus. The choruses use four-part vocal harmonies.

It was released on 7 October 1977 as the first single from News of the World, with We Will Rock You as the B-side. It reached number two in Britain, number four in the United States and number three in Canada. The video was filmed with fan club members at the New London Theatre on 6 October 1977, with Mercury in a half black, half white harlequin outfit. Cash Box praised its heroic lyrics. In 2017 the band released a Raw Sessions version with the full original length, two choruses longer than the single. The song joined the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009. It closed the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert with Liza Minnelli singing the lead.