Format CD
digital download Genre Soul Label Island | Recorded 2006 Length 2:35 | |
Released 7 December 2007 (Ireland)
10 December 2007 (UK) | ||
"Love Is a Losing Game" is a song by English singer and songwriter 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. It was the final single released in Winehouse's lifetime. The single was released on 10 December 2007 in the United Kingdom. The song was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist on 7 November 2007.
Contents
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 had taken to covering the song live. On 21 September 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 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. 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 his 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.
Music video
A video shoot was set up for "Love Is a Losing Game", reportedly costing £70,000 at Pinewood Studios, but an unnamed source was quoted in The Sun as saying that it was cancelled after Winehouse failed to turn up for filming. The original video was supposed to be directed by Phil Griffin and shot by director of photography Adam Frisch. 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
- "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
Charts
The song first entered the UK Singles Chart at 46 in 2007. However, following her death the song re-entered the chart at a new peak of 33. In Italy, the single was certified gold for downloads exceeding 15,000 copies.