Love Is a Losing Game
{{Short description|2007 single by Amy Winehouse}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Love Is a Losing Game
| cover = Loveisalosinggamesingle.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Amy Winehouse
| album = Back to Black
| released =
- 7 December 2007 (Ireland)
- 10 December 2007 (UK)
| recorded = 2006
| studio =
- Daptone Studios (New York, NY){{cite AV media notes |title=Back to Black |type=liner notes |others=Amy Winehouse |publisher=Island Records |year=2006 |id=1713041}}
- Chung King Studios (New York, NY){{cite AV media notes |title=Back to Black |type=liner notes |others=Amy Winehouse |publisher=Island Records |year=2006 |id=1713041}}
- Metropolis Studios (London, England){{cite AV media notes |title=Back to Black |type=liner notes |others=Amy Winehouse |publisher=Island Records |year=2006 |id=1713041}}
| genre = Blue-eyed soul{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616203103/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5597699.ece|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5597699.ece|title=Blue-eyed soul: Encyclopedia of Modern Music|date=1 February 2009|work=The Sunday Times|archive-date=16 June 2011|first=Dan|last=Cairns}}
| length = 2:35
| label = Island
| writer = Amy Winehouse
| producer = Mark Ronson
| prev_title = Valerie
| prev_year = 2007
| year = 2007
| next_title = B Boy Baby
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|nMO5Ko_77Hk|"Love Is a Losing Game"}}}}
}}
"Love Is a Losing Game" is a song written and performed by British singer Amy Winehouse from her second and final studio album Back to Black (2006). It was chosen as the fifth and final single from Back to Black and was also the final single released in Winehouse's lifetime. The song was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist on 7 November 2007. It was released as a single on 10 December in the United Kingdom.
Release and response
George Michael named the song as one of his eight choices on the Radio Four programme Desert Island Discs. When asked which of his eight choices he would pick if he had to choose one, he opted for "Love Is a Losing Game". Prince began performing the song live, and he sent an invitation to Winehouse. On 21 September 2007, Winehouse joined Prince at the final aftershow of his 21-gig marathon at The O2, and they performed the song together.Eliscu, Jenny (2007-06-14), [https://web.archive.org/web/20070603161220/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/amy_winehouse_back_in_black_rehab_married_soul_beehive_diva "The Diva and Her Demons"]. Rolling Stone. (1028):58-69 Retrieved 2007-12-14
The song is the lowest-charting of Winehouse's Back to Black singles, peaking at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart and spending four weeks on the UK Top 100 (46-61-{33}-64).
Winehouse performed "Love Is a Losing Game" live when she appeared at the 2007 Mercury Prize.{{YouTube|g5LsdEqSQO4|Amy Winehouse performs at the Mercury Awards}} She later performed it at the 2008 BRIT Awards. The song won the award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards on 22 May 2008, Winehouse's third award at the event.
In 2015, Sam Smith recorded a cover of the song for the re-release of their debut album In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition). A documentary film biopic, directed by film maker Asif Kapadia was released; that depicts the life and death of Winehouse, entitled Amy (2015). Winehouse's performance of the single at the Mercury Prize in 2007 was included in the film and was also featured on the original soundtrack.
A recording of Winehouse's original demo of the song is available on the Back to Black deluxe edition bonus disc. In it, Winehouse sings accompanied only by her guitar, and on completion, asks the engineer whether it is a good take.
Music video
Two alternate music videos were released: the first is a montage video, which includes photographs of Winehouse alongside live performance clips of the song, and the second is an entirely live video, taken from her I Told You I Was Trouble live performance DVD.
Track listing
;CD
- "Love Is a Losing Game" – 2:35
- "Love Is a Losing Game" (Kardinal Beats remix) – 3:22
- "Love Is a Losing Game" (Moody Boyz Original Ruffian Badboy remix) – 7:12
- "Love Is a Losing Game" (Truth and Soul remix) – 3:55
- "Love Is a Losing Game" (enhanced video) – 2:35
Awards
| class=wikitable
!Year !Award !Category !Title !Result |
| 2008
|Best Song Musically and Lyrically |"Love Is a Losing Game" |Won |
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2007–2008)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|16|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Love Is a Losing Game|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|31|date=20071216|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020}} |
| {{single chart|UK|46|date=20071216|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|6|date=20071216|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020}} |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2011)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Ireland3|33|artist=Amy Winehouse|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|88|artist=Amy Winehouse|song=Love Is a Losing Game|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|41|date=20110731|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020|refname="SCO-2011"}} |
| {{single chart|UK|33|date=20110731|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020|refname="UK2011"}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|15|date=20110731|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2020|refname="UKR&B2011"}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Amy Winehouse |title=Love Is a Losing Game|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|access-date=11 December 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Amy Winehouse|title=Love Is a Losing Game|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2014|accessdate=12 February 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Amy Winehouse|title=Love Is a Losing Game|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|accessdate=10 July 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Amy Winehouse|title=Love Is a Losing Game|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2006|certyear=2024|id=13979-1483-1|access-date=2 February 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Media usage
- The song was used in the "Coup de Grace" episode, part 1 of the BBC Silent Witness, series 17.{{cite web |title=Series 17, Coup de Grace Episode 1 of 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pjf78 |website=BBC |accessdate=2019-01-17}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Amy Winehouse}}
{{Ivor Novello Best Song}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Ronson