"Black and Gold" is the lead single from Australian singer Sam Sparro's eponymous debut album. The song was written by Sparro (as Sam Falson) and Jesse Rogg. It has been remixed by Max Sanna and Steve Pitron, Paul Epworth, Al Usher, Kings of the Universe, Kromatik and Russ Chimes.[2] The original version of the single was made available online on 31 March 2008. On 7 April, the CD, 12-inch, and limited edition 7-inch singles were released.
"Black and Gold" explores the relationship between reason, spirituality and love. It was a commercial success upon release, reaching number two in the United Kingdom, number four in Australia, and number five in Ireland and Turkey. It was also a top-20 hit in Denmark, Flanders, Italy, and New Zealand. The song was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
"Black and Gold" originally appeared on the Modus Vivendi Music Vol.2[3] compilation album, released in 2007, along with an alternate mix of the song "Sally" and Sparro's remix of "Young Lovers", by another Modus Vivendi artist, Love Grenades. Modus Vivendi Music released an EP entitled Black + Gold, featuring the song, in the autumn of 2007, which garnered the attention that led to the deal with Island UK. All songs from that EP, excluding "Miss Rexi", appear in new revisions on Sparro's debut eponymousstudio album, released with Island UK in May 2008.
"Black and Gold" was made available as a digital download on 31 March 2008 as the lead single from Sam Sparro.[4] It was released by Island UK Records through a licensing deal with independent Los Angeles based label, Modus Vivendi Music, owned and operated by Jesse Rogg, who also produced and co-wrote the song with Sparro.[3]
British singer Adele performed an acoustic cover of the song for her appearance on a 2008 Live Lounge episode.[5]
In a video interview, Sparro confirmed that the song's subject is his religious faith, saying "It is about God, yeah. [...] I do like to have faith in something that is bigger than me."[7]
The song appears on the soundtrack of the video game FIFA 09,[8] as well as appearing in the 2010 video game DJ Hero 2, where it was mixed with David Guetta's "Love Is Gone".
Sam Sparro dancing with his look-a-likes, from the second music video for "Black and Gold".
There were two music videos produced for "Black and Gold". The first was directed by Mariah Garnett.[10] Sparro appears dressed in black, white, and gold clothing, singing alone, cut between city views, shots of urban streets filmed from moving cars, and reverse action shots of gold coloured drinking glasses shattering against a black back drop. The video had a significantly low budget, and was later scrapped after Sparro's deal with Island Records.
The second music video was directed by AlexandLiane,[11] funded through Sparro's new contract. The music video depicts Sparro emerging from a Limousine with many copies of himself in an underground garage. The garage, illuminated by chains of lights, pulsating as Sparro and his copies dance, donning tuxedos decorated with lights. The video has a colour theme of black and gold after the title, a theme reminiscent of the first video. It was released in February 2008.[12] This video, directed by AlexandLiane, received a nomination for "Best Dance Video" at the 2009MTV Australia Awards.
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200832 into search. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
