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We Are Golden

{{Short description|2009 single by Mika}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox song

| name = We Are Golden

| cover = WeAreGoldenSINGLE.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Mika

| album = The Boy Who Knew Too Much

| released = 6 September 2009

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Glam rock|pop rock}}

| length = {{unbulleted list|3:58 {{small|(album version)}}|3:30 {{small|(single edit)}}}}

| label = CasablancaBusiness Wire (14 June 2009). "[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090714005978/en Global Pop Phenomenon, MIKA, Releases Sophomore Album, WE ARE GOLDEN, 22 September]", Business Wire. Retrieved 14 July 2009.

| writer = Mika

| producer = {{hlist|Greg Wells|Mika}}

| prev_title = Lollipop

| prev_year = 2008

| next_title = Rain

| next_year = 2009

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|hEhutIEUq8k|"We Are Golden"|link=no}}}}

}}

"We Are Golden" is the first single from English singer Mika's second studio album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/14/mika-pop-music/|title=Life in technicolor |work=The Guardian|access-date=14 June 2009 | location=London | date=14 June 2009}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lqdq0 |title=Radio 2 Programmes - Ken Bruce, 20/07/2009 |publisher=BBC |date=20 July 2009 |access-date=12 January 2012}} 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.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267694/mika-conquered-the-world-america-is-next |title=Mika Conquered The World, America Is Next |magazine=Billboard |date=14 September 2009 |access-date=12 January 2012}}

Description

In an interview with Q magazine, Mika says: {{cquote|['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.|20px|20px|Mika|Q MagazineAllen, Matt (1 June 2009). "[http://www.authoritydesign.com/mika/press/mika_press_q-mag_june09.htm Exclusive: Mika's Second Coming]", Q magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-12.}}

Critical reception

{{expand section|date= January 2015}}

The song has received mixed and generally positive reviews. {{quote|"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.

|{{Rating|3|5}} Nick Levine|Digital Spy.{{cite web|author=Nick Levine |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a175363/mika-we-are-golden.html |title=Mika: 'We Are Golden' - Music Singles Review |website=Digital Spy |date=2 September 2009 |access-date=12 January 2012}}}}

Music video

File:MikaWeAreGoldenVideo.jpg

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.it/news/news_page.asp?idnews=26741&from=rss_news |title=Mika in arrivo - Notizie online MTV |publisher=MTV |date=13 July 2009 |access-date=12 January 2012}} The video premiered on 4 August 2009 in the United Kingdom on Channel 4.[http://www.channel4.com/tv-listings/daily/2009/08/04 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728183233/http://www.channel4.com/tv-listings/daily/2009/08/04 |date=28 July 2009 }} 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.mikasounds.com/blog/post/602/We_Are_Golden_Video_-_Watch_it_now |title=MikaSounds / Blog |publisher=Mikasounds.com |access-date=12 January 2012}}

{{clear}}

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{{cite web|url=http://www.mikasounds.com/music/release/35/We_Are_Golden_-_Digital_Download |title=MikaSounds / Music / 'We Are Golden' - Digital Download |publisher=Mikasounds.com |access-date=12 January 2012}}

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| length1 = 3:59

| title2 = We Are Golden

| length2 = 3:34

| note2 = Calvin Harris Remix) (Radio Edit

| title3 = Lonely Alcoholic

| length3 = 3:05

}}

; UK digital download

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| length1 = 3:57

| title2 = Blue Eyes

| length2 = 3:34

| note2 = Live From Sadler's Wells

}}

; UK digital EP{{cite web|url=http://www.mikasounds.com/news/view/616/We_Are_Golden_-_Bsides_Remixes |title=MikaSounds / Latest News / 'We Are Golden' Release News! |publisher=Mikasounds.com |access-date=12 January 2012}}

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| length1 = 3:58

| title2 = We Are Golden

| length2 = 6:28

| note2 = Calvin Harris Club Mix

| title3 = We Are Golden

| length3 = 6:12

| note3 = Mirwais Vocal Mix

| title4 = We Are Golden

| length4 = 6:11

| note4 = Don Diablo Dub

| title5 = We Are Golden

| length5 = 6:38

| note5 = Bob Sinclar's Big Room Remix

| title6 = We Are Golden

| length6 = 3:09

| note6 = Acoustic Version

}}

; UK 12" single

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| note1 = Calvin Harris Club Remix

| title2 = We Are Golden

| note2 = Calvin Harris Dub Remix

| title3 = We Are Golden

| note3 = Mirwais Dub Remix

| title4 = We Are Golden

| note4 = Don Diablo Vocal Remix

}}

; UK 7" single

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| length1 = 3:58

| title2 = We Are Golden

| length2 = 8:10

| note2 = Jokers of the Scene Remix

}}

; German 2-track CD single{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-Golden-2-Track-Mika/dp/B002LK0XBS/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1326104764&sr=1-3 |title=We Are Golden (2-Track): Mika: Amazon.co.uk: Music |website=Amazon UK |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=12 January 2012}}

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| length1 = 3:58

| title2 = We Are Golden

| length2 = 6:38

| note2 = Bob Sinclar's Big Room Remix

}}

; German 4-track CD single{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-Golden-Mika/dp/B002KS2I32/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1326104764&sr=1-5 |title=We Are Golden: Mika: Amazon.co.uk: Music |website=Amazon UK |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=12 January 2012}}

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| length1 = 3:59

| title2 = We Are Golden

| length2 = 3:34

| note2 = Calvin Harris Remix) (Radio Edit

| title3 = Lonely Alcoholic

| length3 = 3:05

| title4 = We Are Golden

| note4 = Music Video

}}

; Italian CD single{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-Golden-Single-cardsleeve/dp/B003626WTW/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1326104942&sr=1-6 |title=We Are Golden - ITALY excl. 5 Mixes CD single cardsleeve: Mika: Amazon.co.uk: Music |website=Amazon UK |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=12 January 2012}}

{{Tracklist

| title1 = We Are Golden

| length1 = 3:58

| title2 = We Are Golden

| length2 = 6:38

| note2 = Bob Sinclar's Big Room Remix

| title3 = We Are Golden

| length3 = 3:34

| note3 = Calvin Harris Remix) (Radio Edit

| title4 = We Are Golden

| length4 = 6:28

| note4 = Calvin Harris Club Mix

| title5 = We Are Golden

| length5 = 6:12

| note5 = Mirwais Vocal Mix

}}

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.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles.shtml UK Singles Chart - 20 Sept.] 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).

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (2009)

!Peak
position

Australian Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|10

Austrian Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|17

align="left"|Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)

| style="text-align:center;"|9

align="left"|Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia)

| style="text-align:center;"|7

Czech Airplay Chart{{cite web|author=ds |url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?a=tyden&hitparada=2&tyden=1972&sec=901c9b62850244747889931aa1780958 |title=Čns Ifpi |publisher=Ifpicr.cz |access-date=12 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|39

Dutch Singles Chart{{cite news | url= http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=875994 | title= Radio 538 = 102 FM - Hitlijst| access-date= 16 August 2009}}

| style="text-align:center;"|20

Eurochart Hot 100 Singles

| style="text-align:center;"|4

French Singles Chart{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Mika&titel=We+Are+Golden&cat=s |title=Mika - We Are Golden |publisher=lescharts.com |access-date=12 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|19

align="left"|German Singles Chart[http://acharts.us/song/47218 Mika - We Are Golden at acharts.us] Accessed 25 September 2009

| style="text-align:center;"|29

align="left"|Hungarian Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|10

Irish Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp |title=>> IRMA << Irish Charts - Singles, Albums & Compilations >> |publisher=Irma.ie |date=5 January 2012 |access-date=12 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|14

Israeli Singles Chart{{cite web | title=Media Forest: Airplay chart | url=http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/HistoryWeeklyCharts.aspx?year=2009&week=31|

publisher=mediaforest.biz}}

|align="center"|8

Italian Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_digital.php |title=FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Classifiche |publisher=Fimi.it |access-date=12 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

Japan Hot 100{{cite news | url= http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100/11-50/ | title= Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN: 2009/08/10 | access-date= 11 August 2009 | date= 10 August 2009}}

| style="text-align:center;"|15

Norwegian Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|16

align="left"|Romanian Top 100[http://www.divercitycafe.ro/rt100-editia-13-septembrie-2009.html RT100 13 September]

| style="text-align:center;"|71

Slovak Airplay Chart{{cite web|author=ds |url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparadask/index.php?a=tyden&hitparada=18&tyden=1936&sec=508cb4667c0e77b85166698d228f467d |title=Sns Ifpi |publisher=Ifpicr.cz |access-date=12 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"|26

Spanish Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|37

Spanish Airplay Chart{{cite web|title=Promusicae (Week: January 1, 2009)|url=http://www.promusicae.org/files/listasradio/historial/TOP%2020%20RADIOS%2009_42.pdf|access-date=13 July 2009}}

| style="text-align:center;"|14

Spanish Physical Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://spanishcharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s2&year=2009&date=20090927|title=Physical Single Top 20|date=27 September 2009|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=19 June 2012}}

|align="center"|1

Swedish Singles Chart[http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Mika&titel=We+Are+Golden&cat=s Sverigetopplistan]

| style="text-align:center;"|30

Swiss Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|11

UK Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|4

align="left"|US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play

| style="text-align:center;"|5

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (2009)

!Position

Italian Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/dett_ddmercato.php?id=47 |title=FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Ricerche e dati di mercato |publisher=Fimi.it |date=19 January 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010}}

| style="text-align:center;"|50

Romanian Top 100{{cite news |title=Topul celor mai difuzate piese în România în 2010 |url=http://www.romanialibera.ro/arte/muzica/exclusiv-topul-celor-mai-difuzate-piese-in-romania-in-2010-211604.html |newspaper=România Liberă |language=ro |access-date=21 January 2011}}

| style="text-align:center;"|54

UK Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusYE2009.pdf |title=Charts Plus Year end 2009 |publisher=Charts Plus|access-date=19 July 2010}}

| style="text-align:center;"|170

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Mika|title=We Are Golden|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2009|access-date=23 November 2017|refname="fimi"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Mika|title=We Are Golden|award=Silver|relyear=2009|certyear=2023|id=18919-726-1|access-date=21 April 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Release history

class=wikitable
Region

!Date

!Format

Australia

|14 August 2009{{cite news | url= http://www.nova100.com.au/site/new_music/features/mika.aspx |title=What do Mika and Madonna have in common?|work=Nova 100|access-date=14 August 2009|date= 10 August 2009}}

|Digital download

United States

|18 August 2009

|Digital download

rowspan="3"|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

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Mika}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:We Are Golden (Song)}}

Category:2009 singles

Category:Mika (singer) songs

Category:Songs written by Mika (singer)

Category:Music videos directed by Jonas Åkerlund

Category:Song recordings produced by Greg Wells

Category:2009 songs

Category:Casablanca Records singles