Love Is a Losing Game
Encyclopedia
"Love Is a Losing Game" is a song written and recorded by English
singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse
for her second album Back to Black
(2006). The track was chosen as the fifth single from the album. It was her last single before her death in July
of 2011. The single was released on December 10, 2007 in the United Kingdom
. The song was added to BBC Radio 1
's playlist on November 7, 2007.
named the song as one of his eight choices on the BBC 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
has taken to covering the song live. On September 21, 2007, he was joined onstage by Winehouse at the final aftershow of his 21-gig marathon at The O2
, and they performed the song together.
The song is the lowest-charting of Winehouse's Back to Black singles, peaking at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart
and spending four weeks on the UK Top 100 (46-61-76-98).
Winehouse performed "Love Is a Losing Game" live when she appeared at the 2007 Mercury Prize
. 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 May 22, 2008, Winehouse's third award at the event.
In 2008, final year English Literature
students at Cambridge University were asked to analyse lyrics to this song, as well as lyrics by Sir Walter Raleigh, Bob Dylan
and Billie Holiday
, as part of their end of year examinations in 'Practical Criticism'.
, but an unnamed source was quoted in The Sun
as saying that it was cancelled after Winehouse failed to turn up for filming. 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.
at 46 in 2007. However, following her death the song re-entered the chart at a new peak of 33.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
for her second album Back to Black
Back to Black
Back to Black is the second studio album by English recording artist Amy Winehouse, released on 27 October 2006 by Island Records. It is the last album released in her lifetime. The album incorporates 1960s soul music styles and modern R&B production, with subjective lyrics that concern...
(2006). The track was chosen as the fifth single from the album. It was her last single before her death in July
July
July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. It is, on average, the warmest month in most of the Northern hemisphere and the coldest month in much of the Southern hemisphere...
of 2011. The single was released on December 10, 2007 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The song was added to BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's playlist on November 7, 2007.
Release and response
George MichaelGeorge Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
named the song as one of his eight choices on the BBC Radio Four programme Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
. 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
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
has taken to covering the song live. On September 21, 2007, he was joined onstage by Winehouse at the final aftershow of his 21-gig marathon at The O2
The O2 (London)
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
, and they performed the song together.
The song is the lowest-charting of Winehouse's Back to Black singles, peaking at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and spending four weeks on the UK Top 100 (46-61-76-98).
Winehouse performed "Love Is a Losing Game" live when she appeared at the 2007 Mercury Prize
Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
. She later performed it at the 2008 BRIT Awards
2008 BRIT Awards
The 2008 BRIT Awards was the 28th edition of the biggest annual music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 20 February 2008 at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The ceremony attracted 6.1 million viewers, 800,000 more than the...
. The song won the award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
on May 22, 2008, Winehouse's third award at the event.
In 2008, final year English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
students at Cambridge University were asked to analyse lyrics to this song, as well as lyrics by Sir Walter Raleigh, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, as part of their end of year examinations in 'Practical Criticism'.
Music video
A video shoot was set up for "Love Is a Losing Game", reportedly costing £70,000 at Pinewood StudiosPinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
, but an unnamed source was quoted in The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
as saying that it was cancelled after Winehouse failed to turn up for filming. 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
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 2008 in music 2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such... |
Ivor Novello Awards Ivor Novello Awards The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place... |
Best Song Musically and Lyrically | "Love Is a Losing Game" | Won |
Charts
The song first entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at 46 in 2007. However, following her death the song re-entered the chart at a new peak of 33.
| Chart (2007-11) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Singles Chart | 88 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 12 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
33 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
33 |
| UK R&B Singles Chart | 6 |