Since the time organisers in England decided to have an official song for the mascot of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, music has been an integral part of most international football tournaments. World Cup Willie was an instant hit in England, but unfortunately the lack of technology (read no satellite TV and Internet) meant it couldn’t cross the Channel and get due recognition elsewhere.
As Latin Americans started dominating the game, their music started being heard in stadiums worldwide.
Images of thousands of soccer fans painted with their national colours tapping out samba beats as Brazilian striker Ronaldo weaved his magic on the field will forever be etched in our minds.
Remember Cameroon’s Roger Milla? The 38-year-old created history by taking his team to the quarter finals in 1990. But more memorable are the images of Milla running to the corner flag every time he scored a goal and doing a jig while holding on to the flag. By the quarterfinals, Cameroon supporters would sit near these flags with drums and trumpets so they could dance along with the greatest hero their little nation had ever produced.
Cameroon’s little cameo was perhaps the start of African influence on FIFA World Cups. The momentum, which started gathering in 1990 is culminating next week in South Africa, the hosts of FIFA World Cup 2010. And the music over the last 20 years has been mind-blowing.
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 artiste 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 was 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 France, was also not exclusive 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 for the event.
Official songs at recent FIFA World Cup competitions 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.
While debates will continue to rage about which song is better, Waka Waka or Wavin’ Flag, as always, we, the listeners are the winners as we get two for the price of one.
Perhaps the chorus of Wavin’ Flag is a fitting tribute to the spirit of soccer which brings together people from around the world irrespective of country, colour, caste and creed.
When I get older, I will be stronger They’ll call me freedom, just like a Wavin’ Flag And then it goes back, and then it goes back And then it goes back