"Fought & Lost" is a song by British singer-songwriter Sam Ryder featuring English musician Brian May and Bulgarian musical composer George Strezov. It was released as a single on 24 May 2023 by Parlophone Records. It was by written by Ryder alongside Jamie Hartman and Tom Howe, who also produced the track.[1] Ryder performed the song with Hannah Waddingham, at the Grammy Museum.[2]
| "Fought & Lost" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sam Ryder featuring Brian May | ||||
| Released | 24 May 2023 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 4:12 | |||
| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Sam Ryder singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and release
edit"Fought & Lost" is an original song written for season 3 episode 11 of the American comedy-drama series Ted Lasso.[3] Ryder explained on his social media that he was offered the opportunity to write the song after meeting series star Jason Sudeikis and composer Tom Howe at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert in September 2022.
In an interview with Chris Evans, Ryder described the song lyrically as a track "for the hope seekers & the faith keepers and the ones who foster the dream and keep its fire burning regardless of the knock backs, the almosts, the falls & the failures".[1]
Production and composition
edit"Fought & Lost" is a ballad featuring vocals from Sam Ryder with comparisons made to rock musician Freddie Mercury. It features a guitar solo from Brian May, from the British rock band Queen and with a guest appearance from George Strezov, a composer from Bulgaria. The track was written by Ryder, Jamie Hartman and Tom Howe who co-produced the song.
Critical response
editAfter "Fought & Lost" premiered for the first time on Ted Lasso, Joe Tiller in a review from Dig!, described it as "Ryder continuing to showcase his versatility as an artist and his ability to craft music that resonates deeply with listeners". He gave praise towards Ryder's vocal ability and to the song lyrics, describing it as a "unforgettable musical journey".[4]
In a breakdown from Screen Rant, Lewis Glazerbrook wrote how "Fought & Lost" is lyrically focused around individuals ability to bounce back from defeat in everyday aspects, ranging from emotional trauma, to mental health and physical injuries. They concluded that "the song centers on the ups and downs of life, and continuing to fight is better for someone than giving up completely".[5]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023
|
Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series | Jamie Hartman, Tom Howe, and Sam Ryder (from Ted Lasso) | Won | [6] |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Nominated | [7] |
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea BGM (Circle)[8] | 157 |
| UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[9] | 14 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Sam Ryder features in Ted Lasso after Almost spilling the beans to Chris Evans". Virgin Radio UK. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (8 June 2023). "Hannah Waddingham and Sam Ryder Perform 'Ted Lasso' Original Song 'Fought & Lost' at Grammy Museum Event". Variety. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Queen's Brian May featured on new Sam Ryder song, "Fought & Lost" | ABC Audio Digital Syndication". digital.abcaudio.com. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Katkins, Jamie (26 May 2023). "Sam Ryder Releases 'Fought & Lost', Featuring Brian May: Listen". Dig!. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Ted Lasso Season 3: What The "Fought & Lost" Song Really Means". ScreenRant. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "2023 HMMA Winners & Nominees". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (12 July 2023). "2023 Emmy Award Music Nominees Revealed". American Songwriter. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ "BGM Chart – Week 21 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2023.