The maestro Ennio Morricone, the versatile voice of Plácido Domingo, the Italian ‘rock star’ Giana Nannini, the rock and soul singer Daryl Hall, or even Shakira… are some of the names that appear on the soundtracks of the Soccer World Cups . Do you remember what was the song of the World Championship in Spain in 1982? The title was most original. It was called ‘El Mundial’ and it was sung by Plácido Domingo. He begins like this: «The sun illuminates the stadium, Spain dresses up for a party, you can see the fans on the field and wave restless flags. The stands are occupied, happy songs are heard and thus the delighted people always applaud the best, the Mundiaaaal… ». Four years earlier, another illustrious had put on the music of Argentina 1978: the great composer Ennio Morricone, who died two years ago. With the Buenos Aires Municipal Symphony, the Italian conductor, author of some of the best soundtracks in the history of cinema, put music to that unforgettable ‘Mundial March’. Now, this year’s official World Cup anthem is a catchy track called ‘Hayya Hayya (Better together)’ and features three artists: Trinidad Cardona, an American rhythm and blues singer; Davido, an icon of Afrobeats; and the Qatari Aisha. If they put the video on YouTube, it already has 30 million views and the first footballer to appear is… Maradona.
Will Smith
The official ones four years ago in Russia were those performed by Polina Gagarina, Egor Creed and DJ Smash, the closest thing to a Eurovision song of any year and from any country. And another one also sounded like ‘Live it up’ sung by Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Isterefi. Jason de Rulo and Maluma also prepared an unofficial song called ‘Colors’. In 2014, those who signed the most listened to song for a month in Brazil were Jennifer López, Claudia Leitte and an ‘accredited’ music player like Pitbull. The song was called ‘We are one (Olé, Olá) and logically began to the rhythm of samba and batucada, which the host team did not practice with its enormous hit. Shakira also made a song with Carlinhos Brown, which was titled Dare (La, la, la). But with the one that Gerard Piqué’s ex-partner triumphed the most was, without a doubt, with the one that did not stop being heard in South Africa, the famous Waka Waka (This time for Africa, This is Africa). “The time has come, the walls fall, the only fair of battles is going to begin… now let’s go for everything, luck is with you…”.
Rod Stewart
The Colombian Shakira will perform at the opening ceremony of this World Cup in Qatar together with the Black Eyed Peas. The ‘soccer fan’ Rod Stewart will not be there, who has rejected an offer of more than one million dollars “as a matter of principle”. Rod Stewart is a lover of Celtic just like Gun and Simple Minds.
The official song of the World Cup in Germany in 2006 carried the seal of Il Divo and Tony Braxton. It was called ‘The time of our lives’. In South Korea-Japan 2002, the protagonists were Anastacia, Brown Eyes and Lena Park, in addition to the hymn composed by Vangelis. And in France 1998, another ‘hit’ stood out, ‘La Copa de la vida’ by Ricky Martin, although they also had the good taste to give prominence to a song by Youssou N’Dour. The song for the 1994 World Cup in the United States was called ‘Gloryland’, by Daryl Hall and Sounds of Blackness, a soundtrack featuring ‘We are the champions’ by Queen, ‘New stars’ by Tears for fears, ‘This is the moment’ by The Moody Blues, ‘Blow by blow’ by Fleetwood Mac, ‘Blaze of glory’ by Jon Bon Jovi, ‘The Best’ by Tina Turner, ‘Rock’n Roll 94’ by Gary Glitter, ‘Celebration’ by Kool & The Gang, ‘No pain, no gain’ by Scorpions, ‘Luz, amor y vida’ by Santana and even a version of ‘You’ll never walk alone’. Almost nothing to the device, right?
Gianna Nannini
The 1990 World Cup in Italy opted for elegance and reserved its captivating song for the torn voice of the great Gianna Nannini -the one behind the famous song ‘Bello e impossible’ and sister of former Formula 1 driver Alessandro Nannini- along with singer-songwriter Edoardo Bennato . The theme was called ‘Un’estate italiana’ (An Italian Summer) and was composed by Giorgio Moroder. It is considered the best song in the history of the World Cups. Four years earlier, in Mexico, they decided that the artist Juan Carlos Abara should sing ‘Mexico 86, the world united by a ball’. And in Chile 1962, the first edition with an official song was to the rhythm of the incipient rock of The Ramblers. ‘El rock del Mundial’ was called a lively theme that always invites you to move your hips. If you can hear it, don’t miss it: “Even if it’s in defeat, we’ll dance rock and roll.” In England 1966 they opted for Lonnie Donegan, in Mexico 1970 for Los Hermanos Zavala and in Germany 1974 for Maryla Rodowicz.
Maradona
Before we have mentioned Maradona, the first to appear in the video of the song that will be repeated thousands of times these days in Qatar. Since we are talking in this text about the music-soccer relationship, the late Argentine star starred in an unforgettable episode in the warm-up of a UEFA match in 1989, when Napoli visited Bayern Munich. With his boots untied and to the rhythm of Opus’ ‘Live is life’, number 10 danced and did magic with the ball. It is an iconic moment in football starring a legend who, when he played for Sevilla, asked that they put ‘My disease’ by Los Rodríguez on the Pizjuán. This connected him with Calamaro, who made the kid a song. As the Mano Negra did: ‘Santa Maradona’. In addition, the soccer god also recorded a song with Pimpinela and had an affair with Lucía Galán, the singer. Soccer and music relationships like Bob Marley’s with a sport he was a fan of; or the passion for Manchester City of the brothers Liam and Noel Gallaguer from Oasis, the only thing that unites them; or the Iron Maiden parties, with the 666 on their backs, on their promotional tours against journalists and other groups. In Spain they played against musicians from Def with Dos, Hamlet, Tam Tam Go and Hombres G. But those are other stories.
Themes
Carlinhos Brown, Diego Armando Maradona, Ennio Morricone, Gerard Piqué, Jennifer López, Plácido Domingo, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Tina Turner, Will Smith, Bayern Munich, El Mundo, El Sol, Iron Maiden, Manchester City, Opus Dei, UEFA , YouTube, Argentina, Bello, Brazil, Spain, United States, Mexico, Naples, Qatar, Russia, Africa (continent)
