Masterpiece (Basshunter song)
A 2018 single incorporating League of Legends audio.
"Masterpiece" is a track by Swedish artist Basshunter, released as a single on 19 October 2018 through PowerHouse, Extensive Music LJT, Ultra Records, and Warner Music Sweden. The song stands out for incorporating audio from the video game League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena title.
Basshunter first hinted at a new single on 3 January 2018, and four days later shared a studio snippet of the track. In mid-2018 interviews with the Westmeath Independent and The Overtake, he confirmed the single would be called "Masterpiece". On 3 October, he announced the release date of 19 October via Ultra Records. A trailer appeared on 11 October. The lyric video was uploaded by Ultra Music on the same day as the single's release. Warner Music Sweden also ran a Stream & Steam contest, offering a Steam gift card as a prize.
Basshunter used "Masterpiece" as his closing number at concerts. His manager, Scott Simons, noted that audiences reacted very positively. Basshunter himself said the song differs from his earlier hits "Boten Anna" and "Vi sitter i Ventrilo och spelar DotA", which made him famous in Sweden. In 2019, the group Den Sorte Skole performed "Masterpiece" live at Smukfest in Skanderborg, and Basshunter played it at the 2021 Øresound Festival in Copenhagen.
The track features in-game sounds from the League of Legends characters Sona and Brand. Basshunter explained this choice was meant to highlight the role gamers played early in his career. He also plays League of Legends himself. The song runs at 132 beats per minute in the key of F minor. It was written and produced by Alex Argento, Basshunter, and Robert Uhlmann.
Media outlets such as Aftonbladet, CelebMix, Festivalrykten, Gaffa, Hänt, Hallandsposten, Mynewsdesk, Nyheter24, the Official Charts Company, Top 40, and Veckorevyn covered the release. Apple Music's Turkish editors named it one of the week's best new songs. "Masterpiece" appeared on a German DJ list and reached number seven in the Euro Dance/Pop Dance category and number fifteen in the EDM category on the Juno Download store.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Basshunter
- Released
- 19 October 2018
- Genre
- Big room house
- Length
- 2:46
- Label
- PowerHouse
- Extensive Music LJT
- Ultra Records
- Warner Music Sweden
- Writer
- Alex Argento
- Basshunter
- Robert Uhlmann
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Basshunter announced on 3 January 2018 that a new single would be released soon. Four days later, he published a fragment of the song played in the studio. In June and July, in interviews for Westmeath Independent and The Overtake, Basshunter revealed that the single would be titled "Masterpiece". Basshunter announced on 3 October that the single would be released by Ultra Records on 19 October 2018. A trailer for the song was published on 11 October 2018.
The song uses in-game audio of League of Legends' characters Sona and Brand. Basshunter claimed this was to draw attention to the importance of gamers at the early stages of his career. He has also played League of Legends. "Masterpiece" was written and produced by Alex Argento, Basshunter and Robert Uhlmann. The song has a tempo of 132 beats per minute and is written in the key of F minor.
Basshunter played "Masterpiece" as the closing song at shows. His manager Scott Simons said that the reaction from the audience was overwhelmingly positive. Basshunter said that "Masterpiece" is different from his previous songs "Boten Anna" and "Vi sitter i Ventrilo och spelar DotA", for which he is known in Sweden. In 2019 Den Sorte Skole played "Masterpiece" live during Smukfest in Skanderborg. In 2021 Basshunter played the song live during Øresound Festival in Copenhangen.
Reader's Guide
"Masterpiece" represents a notable intersection between electronic dance music and gaming culture, as it directly samples audio from the popular game League of Legends. The song's release was covered by multiple media outlets including Aftonbladet, CelebMix, and Official Charts Company. It was named one of the best releases of the week by editors of the Turkish Apple Music store. The track charted on DJ list in Germany and became the seventh best-selling song of the week in the Euro Dance/Pop Dance category, and fifteenth in the EDM category, in the Juno Download store. A lyric video was published by Ultra Music on the same day as the single's release. Warner Music Sweden announced a Stream & Steam contest in which the winner would receive a Steam gift card. The song's incorporation of in-game audio and Basshunter's own history with gaming music—having previously achieved fame with songs about the game DotA—cemented its place as a continuation of his thematic focus on gaming culture.
Track listing
Digital download, streaming (19 October 2018)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masterpiece | 2:46 |
Digital download (15 December 2018)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masterpiece (Remix) (featuring Basshunter) | 2:51 |
Track listing from the source article.
Elsewhere in League of Legends
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