Love Is a Losing Game

"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 and was also 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.

"Love Is a Losing Game"
Single by Amy Winehouse
from the album Back to Black
Released
  • 7 December 2007 (Ireland)
  • 10 December 2007 (UK)
Recorded2006
GenreSoul
Length2:35
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Amy Winehouse
Producer(s)Mark Ronson
Amy Winehouse singles chronology
"Valerie"
(2007)		 "Love Is a Losing Game"
(2007)		 "B Boy Baby"
(2007)
Music video
"Love Is a Losing Game" on YouTube

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.[1]

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.[2] 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
  1. "Love Is a Losing Game" – 2:35
  2. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Kardinal Beats Remix) – 3:22
  3. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Moody Boyz Original Ruffian Badboy Remix) – 7:12
  4. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Truth And Soul Remix) – 3:55
  5. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Enhanced Video) – 2:35

Awards
Year Award Category Title Result
2008 Ivor Novello Awards Best Song Musically and Lyrically "Love Is a Losing Game" Won

Charts
Chart (2007–08) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[3] 16
Scotland (OCC)[4] 31
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 46
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[6] 6
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 33
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 88
Scotland (OCC)[9] 41
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 33
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[11] 15

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[12] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Media usage

References
  1. Eliscu, Jenny (2007-06-14), "The Diva and Her Demons". Rolling Stone. (1028):58-69 Retrieved 2007-12-14
  2. Amy Winehouse performs at the Mercury Awards on YouTube
  3. "Amy Winehouse – Love Is a Losing Game" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  7. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Amy Winehouse". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. "Amy Winehouse – Love Is a Losing Game" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  9. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  11. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  12. "Italian single certifications – Amy Winehouse – Love Is a Losing Game" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 February 2020. Select "2014" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Love Is a Losing Game" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  13. "British single certifications – Amy Winehouse – Love Is a Losing Game". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  14. "Series 17, Coup de Grace Episode 1 of 2". BBC. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
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