We Are the People (Empire of the Sun song)

"We Are the People" is a song by Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun, released as the second single from their debut studio album, Walking on a Dream (2008). It was released in Australia on 20 September 2008^[1] and debuted at number 85 on the ARIA Singles Chart before peaking at number 24 on 12 January 2009. It reached number one in Germany in December 2010.

"We Are the People"
Single by Empire of the Sun
from the album Walking on a Dream
Released	20 September 2008 (2008-09-20)
Studio	Soundworks Music and Linear Recording, Sydney
Genre	Electronic rock dance-rock electropop
Length	4:27 (album version) 4:02 (radio edit)
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Luke Steele Nick Littlemore Jonathan Sloan
Producer(s)	Empire of the Sun Donnie Sloan Peter Mayes
Empire of the Sun singles chronology
"Walking on a Dream" (2008) "We Are the People" (2008) "Standing on the Shore" (2009)
Alternative cover
Australian iTunes single cover
Audio sample
"We Are the People" file help
Music video
"We Are the People" on YouTube

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Josh Logue, was shot in Mexico, and was inspired by the ancient Mexican festival Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos). Locations included the surreal gardens of Sir Edward James at Las Pozas of Xilitla in the state of San Luis Potosí, Monterrey, Nuevo León and García, Nuevo León.^[2]

The Josh Logue of Mathematics-directed music video was nominated for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 2008.^[3]

Usage in media

The song has been used in media productions such as advertisements for the Special Broadcasting Service, Vizio televisions, and Idents for Channel V. From October 2010, the song was used in Vodafone TV commercials in Germany,^[4] upon which it reentered the charts and reached number 1. The song was also used in the 2011 films The Roommate and Hall Pass, as well as in episode 11 of season 6 of Entourage.

Track listings

Australian CD

1. "We Are the People" – 4:34
2. "We Are the People" (Shazam remix) – 5:44
3. "We Are the People" (Sam La More remix)" – 7:32
4. "Walking on a Dream" (Neon Neon mix) – 3:50
5. "Walking on a Dream" (Danger racing remix) – 4:37

UK iTunes EP 1

1. "We Are the People" – 4:32
2. "We Are the People" (Burns remix) – 6:52
3. "We Are the People" (The Golden Filter remix – UK edit) – 6:57
4. "We Are the People" (We Are the Cagedbaby mix – UK edit) – 6:56
5. "We Are the People" (Crazy P remix – UK edit) – 6:49

UK iTunes EP 2

1. "We Are the People" – 4:32
2. "We Are the People" (Wawa remix; UK edit) – 6:55
3. "We Are the People" (The Shapeshifters vocal remix; UK edit) – 6:47
4. "We Are the People" (Sam La More remix; UK edit) – 6:47
5. "We Are the People" (Shazam remix) – 5:44
6. "We Are the People" (Style of Eye remix; UK edit) – 6:58

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2009–2012) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 24 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 20 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] 16 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[9] 57 Denmark (Tracklisten)[10] 33 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[11] 15 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 20 Germany (GfK)[13] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 23 Israel (Media Forest)[15] 5 Italy (FIMI)[16] 19 Luxembourg Digital (Billboard)[17] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[18] 12 Scotland (OCC)[19] 49 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[20] 51 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 40 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 20 UK Singles (OCC)[23] 14 Chart (2024–2025) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 96 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[25] 96 Global 200 (Billboard)[26] 114 Greece International (IFPI)[27] 36 Latvia (LaIPA)[28] 3 Lithuania (AGATA)[29] 9 Netherlands (Single Tip)[30] 14 Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[31] 97 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[32] 80 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[33] 19 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[34] 16

Year-end charts Chart (2009) Position Australia (ARIA)[35] 98 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 78 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 80 Italy (FIMI)[38] 90 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 99 UK Singles (OCC)[40] 119 Chart (2010) Position Germany (Media Control GfK)[41] 16 Chart (2011) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[42] 23 Germany (Media Control GfK)[43] 33

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44]	5× Platinum	350,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[45]	Gold	15,000*
Austria (IFPI Austria)[46] Southstar remix	Gold	15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[47]	Gold	30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[48]	Platinum	80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[49]	Gold	45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[50]	3× Gold	450,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[51]	Gold	50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[52]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[53] Southstar remix	Gold	25,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54]	Gold	30,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[55]	Gold	15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[56]	Platinum	600,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[57]	Platinum	2,000,000†
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date	Label	Format
Australia	20 September 2008[1]	Capitol EMI	Digital single
	20 February 2009[58]		Digital EP
	20 February 2009[59]		CD single
	1 May 2009[60]		Digital remix EP
Germany	8 May 2009[61]	EMI	Digital EP
United Kingdom	24 May 2009[62]	Virgin
	31 May 2009[63]
	1 June 2009		7" single
Germany	26 November 2010[64]	EMI	CD single