FIFA says Latin diva Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) has been chosen as the official song for this edition of the World Cup. Shakira will perform the song with South African band Freshlyground during the event.
According to FIFA, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) represents the vitality and energy of the host Continent. South African guitars back up the Afro-Colombian rhythm and Soca beat. The chorus is similar to that of a popular Cameroon song made famous by Golden Voices in particular.
However (a big however), everyone other than FIFA seems to think that the official song for the Football World Cup is Somalia-born Canadian hip-hop artist K’naan’s Wavin’ Flag. The song has virtually taken over social networking sites like YouTube and is even being played in commercials.
Neither Waka Waka nor Wavin’ Flag were exclusively composed for this edition of the World Cup but no one seems to mind, as there is precedence. Ricky Martin’s La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life) which was the official song in 1998 in France, was also not exclusively for FIFA. Another version of the song is better remembered: Un, Dos, Tres, Ale, Ale, Ale. The lyrics were changed to “Here We Go, Ale Ale, Ale” for the official song. To set the record straight, Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) is the official song for FIFA World Cup 2010 while K’naan’s Wavin’ Flag is sponsor Coca Cola’s campaign anthem.
Official songs at previous FIFA World Cups have included Un’estate Italiana by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini in 1990, Gloryland by Daryl Hall with Sounds of Blackness in 1994, and La Copa de la Vida by Ricky Martin in 1998. In 2002, the official song was Boom by Anastacia, while Vangelis’ vocal official anthem featured typical Korean and Japanese sonic elements. In 2006, The Time of Our Lives by the Il Divo quartet (American Idol-famed Simon Cowell’s famous operatic crossover group) was a resounding success.
Src: [deccanchronicle]
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