Battle (song) explained

Battle
Cover:	Battle Wookie CD cover.png
Type:	single
Album:	Wookie
Artist:	Wookie featuring Lain
Studio:	Soul II Soul (London, England)
Genre:	UK garage
Length:	5:01
Label:	S2S PIAS
Producer:	Wookie
Chronology:	Wookie
Prev Title:	What's Going On
Prev Year:	2000
Next Title:	Get Enuff
Next Year:	2000

"Battle" is a song by UK garage musician Wookie featuring vocals from Lain. It was released on 31 July 2000 as the third single from Wookie's self-titled debut and only studio album (2000). Upon its release, the song reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and number 81 in the Netherlands. British newspaper The Guardian ranked the track at number one on their list of the Best UK Garage Tracks in 2019.

Release and reception

S2S and PIAS Recordings released "Battle" in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2000 as a CD and 12-inch vinyl single.^[1] Six days later, the song debuted at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Wookie's first and only single to reach the UK top 30. The song also appeared on the Dutch Single Top 100, where it charted for one week at number 81 in September 2000. Critically, British trade paper Music Week called the track "innovative" and "distinctive", noting its crossover potential.^[2] In 2019, The Guardian published their list of the Best UK Garage Tracks, giving first place to "Battle" for its "beautiful" production and writing that the song's "soulful" vocals and gospel-influenced lyrics about surmounting conflict could be perceived as a response to the CeCe Rogers song "Someday".^[3] Capital Xtra included the song in their list of "The Best Old-School Garage Anthems of All Time".^[4]

Track listings

UK CD single^[5]

1. "Battle" (radio edit)
2. "Battle" (Dobie mix part 1)
3. "Battle" (M.J. Cole mix)

UK 12-inch single^[6]

A1. "Battle" (full mix)

B1. "Battle" (M.J. Cole mix)

B2. "Battle" (Dobie mix part 1)

UK cassette single^[7]

1. "Battle" (radio edit)
2. "Battle" (M.J. Cole mix)

European CD single^[8]

1. "Battle" (radio edit)
2. "Battle" (Dobie mix part 1)

Australian CD single^[9]

1. "Battle" (radio edit)
2. "Battle" (Dobie mix part 1)
3. "Battle" (M.J. Cole mix)
4. "Battle" (full mix)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the UK CD single liner notes.^[5]

Studio

• Recorded at Soul II Soul Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Wookie – writing (as Jason Chue), production
• Lain Gray – writing, vocals
• Ed Colman – engineering

• John Davis – cutting
• Tomato – sleeve artwork
• Takay – photography

Charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[10]	38
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[11]	12

Notes and References

1. New Releases – For Week Starting July 31, 2000: Singles. Music Week. 27. 29 July 2000.
2. Reviews: Singles. Music Week. 21. 15 July 2000.
3. Web site: The Best UK Garage Tracks – Ranked!. Petridis. Alexis. Alexis Petridis. The Guardian. 16 May 2019. 15 November 2021.
4. Web site: The Best Old-School Garage Anthems Of All Time. Capital XTRA.
5. Battle. Wookie. 2000. UK CD single liner notes. S2S Recordings, PIAS Recordings. S2SPCD001.
6. Battle. Wookie. 2000. UK 12-inch single sleeve. S2S Recordings, PIAS Recordings. S2SP001.
7. Battle. Wookie. 2000. UK cassette single sleeve. S2S Recordings, PIAS Recordings. S2SPMC001.
8. Battle. Wookie. 2000. European CD single liner notes. S2S Recordings, PIAS Recordings. PIASV 002 CDS, 946.0002.24.
9. Battle. Wookie. 2000. Australian CD single liner notes. S2S Recordings, PIAS Recordings. 019882.
10. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 17. 34. 23. 19 August 2000.
11. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 38, 2000. dutch. Dutch Top 40. March 16, 2023.