• Source: Winner (Pet Shop Boys song)

"Winner" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, Elysium (2012). It received its UK radio premiere on The Ken Bruce Show on BBC Radio 2 on 2 July 2012. The next day, it was made available for download, followed by a CD single and two digital bundles on 6 August 2012. The track was featured as BBC Radio 2's "Record of the Week" for the second week of July 2012. Its highest chart position in the UK was 86; it reached number 12 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.




Background


In 2011, Pet Shop Boys were the opening act on Take That's Progress Live tour. During their free time, they wrote a number of songs, including "Winner". They had decided to write a mid-tempo anthem after hearing Take That perform "Greatest Day". Initially they felt the song, with its built in harmonies, was more suitable for a boy band to perform, and they offered it to One Direction as a potential Eurovision selection, but they never heard back. Producer Andrew Dawson convinced them to include it on Elysium.
Neil Tennant commented that the song "is called 'Winner' and superficially it's a sort of 'We Are the Champions' song but actually it's not. It's really about that moment...and really what's important is the camaraderie of everything that got you there. Enjoy the moment, enjoy the memory 'cause it's just a little moment." Tennant likened this feeling to the life-changing experience of "West End Girls" becoming a number one hit.




Reception


"Winner" was generally well received. Several reviews referenced the song's release in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. NME stated, "Pet Shop Boys have released one of the most uplifting songs in the history of the Pet Shop Boys." The Daily Telegraph said the song was patently timed to match the Olympic mood and was "Triumphant, low key; a very English take on things". Popjustice commented that the song "kind of works in the context of all the sport in the air at the moment, but as the lead single from a Pet Shop Boys album it's probably the worst since 'Before'", also stating that the three b-sides eclipse the lead song. Metro stated that the single reminds us the pop icons "... do gently persuasive feelgood with panache". Daily Star gave the song 9 out of 10 and commented, "Deserving a gold medal for cashing in on Olympics fever, the duo's first taste of their new album is a gorgeous epic", and added the song is "such a lovely tune nobody can begrudge them their chance" and it is "a champion performance".




Music video


The music video for "Winner" was directed by Surrender Monkeys and the features the London Rollergirls, a roller derby team, and their new rookie, Dirty Diana, who is transgender. The story highlights the inclusive message of the song and the Rollergirls, a league open to all women, including transgender and intersex, as well as non-binary and gender expansive participants. Conservative US gay commentator Andrew Sullivan, said it is "one of the very few videos I've seen that actually celebrates the life of the transgender person".
There was positive reception to the video. Music-News.com commented that the video is touching. Stereogum described the video as "an inspirational sports montage of sorts, but the inspiration doesn't come from any athletic feats; it comes from the whole community-building side effect".
The Pet Shop Boys received a letter which thanked them for positively showing the transgender community.




Track listings






Charts






References

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