We Are Golden
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"We Are Golden" is the first single from Lebanese/British singer Mika's second studio album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much. The song was produced and mixed by Greg Wells and features the gospel choir of Andraé Crouch.
Release
The single made its radio airplay debut in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2009, on BBC Radio 2. It was made available for download on 14 August 2009 in Australia and later on 6 September 2009 in the United Kingdom. It was released physically on 7 September 2009 along with the limited edition 7" and 12" gramophone records. In the United States, "We Are Golden" became available exclusively from Apple's iTunes Store for one week starting 18 August 2009.
Description
In an interview with Q magazine, Mika says:
['We Are Golden' is] big sounding and aggressive, but in a good way. It's got a gospel choir on it and a kids' choir, but unlike the first record they're not singing sweetly, they're screaming at the top of their lungs.
— Mika, Q Magazine
Critical reception
The song has received mixed and generally positive reviews.
"We Are Golden" is unlikely to change anyone's mind. It sounds like Jim Steinman doing High School Musical and features two varieties of choir – gospel and kiddie, in case you were wondering. Mika, meanwhile, flits in and out of falsetto whenever he fancies. What do we think? Well, the big old chorus makes his foibles worth putting up with... as long as we don't have to watch the video too.
— Nick Levine, Digital Spy.
Music video
The music video for "We Are Golden" was shot on 9 July 2009 and 10 July 2009 in Elstree Studios. It was directed by the Swedish film director Jonas Åkerlund. The video premiered on 4 August 2009 in the United Kingdom on Channel 4. The video features Mika dancing around a bedroom in his underwear as a "celebration of all the years Mika spent dancing around his bedroom as a teenager."
In Other Media
The song was featured in many TeenNick promos in Fall 2009. It is also used in an ABC series, Make It or Break It.
In Malaysia, it was used for the kids@fgw promo which was shown in January 2010 on ntv7 and in the first episode of the TV show Hellcats.
Track listing
UK CD single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" | 3:59 |
| 2. | "We Are Golden" (Calvin Harris Remix) (Radio Edit) | 3:34 |
| 3. | "Lonely Alcoholic" | 3:05 |
UK digital download
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Blue Eyes" (Live From Sadler's Wells) | 3:34 |
UK digital EP
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "We Are Golden" (Calvin Harris Club Mix) | 6:28 |
| 3. | "We Are Golden" (Mirwais Vocal Mix) | 6:12 |
| 4. | "We Are Golden" (Don Diablo Dub) | 6:11 |
| 5. | "We Are Golden" (Bob Sinclar's Big Room Remix) | 6:38 |
| 6. | "We Are Golden" (Acoustic Version) | 3:09 |
UK 12" single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" (Calvin Harris Club Remix) | |
| 2. | "We Are Golden" (Calvin Harris Dub Remix) | |
| 3. | "We Are Golden" (Mirwais Dub Remix) | |
| 4. | "We Are Golden" (Don Diablo Vocal Remix) |
UK 7" single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "We Are Golden" (Jokers of the Scene Remix) | 8:10 |
German 2-track CD single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "We Are Golden" (Bob Sinclar's Big Room Remix) | 6:38 |
German 4-track CD single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" | 3:59 |
| 2. | "We Are Golden" (Calvin Harris Remix) (Radio Edit) | 3:34 |
| 3. | "Lonely Alcoholic" | 3:05 |
| 4. | "We Are Golden" (Music Video) |
Italian CD single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Are Golden" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "We Are Golden" (Bob Sinclar's Big Room Remix) | 6:38 |
| 3. | "We Are Golden" (Calvin Harris Remix) (Radio Edit) | 3:34 |
| 4. | "We Are Golden" (Calvin Harris Club Mix) | 6:28 |
| 5. | "We Are Golden" (Mirwais Vocal Mix) | 6:12 |
Chart performance
The single debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number four on 13 September 2009 before dropping out the top 10 on its second week, falling to number 11. Despite becoming Mika's second top-five single, it was his shortest-lasting single, spending only seven weeks in the top 100. The single was released in August in the United States but failed to make any impact. In Italy, it peaked at number three after 18 weeks on the charts. It was certified gold by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI).
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (FIMI) | Gold | 10,000* |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| * Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 14 August 2009 | Digital download |
| United States | 18 August 2009 | Digital download |
| United Kingdom, Ireland | 20 July 2009 | Radio airplay |
| 6 September 2009 | Digital download | |
| 7 September 2009 | CD single | |
| Italy | 24 July 2009 | Radio airplay |
Credits
- Mika – vocals, piano, keyboards, background vocals
- Greg Wells – keyboards, drums, bass, percussion, programming, guitar
- Tim Pierce – guitar
- Martin Waugh – additional guitar
- Audrey Moukataff – background vocals
- Fortune Penniman – background vocals
- Paloma Penniman – background vocals
- Zuleika Penniman – background vocals
- The Andrae Crouch Choir – background vocals