The World Cup is an amazing show. It’s one of the few examples where the entire world comes together for a common purpose. The passion and beautiful diversity of people and culture make for an experience that literally billions of people get excited for.
However, aside from football, the World Cup is also known as a time when some amazing music gets produced, these songs often set the mood and carry the world cup vibe far and near.
It also helps to promote the games and draw increased awareness. In fact, the songs mark the most sensational highlights for some of the fans, as they continue to ring in our memories for years after each tournament.
Ladies and Gentlemen, after four years of waiting, the world’s biggest soccer game is back and for that reason, let’s go down memory lane and get nostalgic as we talk about 5 POPULAR WORLD CUP THEME SONGS.
- RICKY MARTIN: LA COPA DE LA VIDA
Puerto Rican pop sensation Ricky Martin did not deliver just a song, he delivered a mega-hit. La Copa de la Vida, or The Cup of Life was the official theme song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
It went on to top the charts in several countries and also become certified platinum and gold around the world.
The groove, the energy, the horns, the sound of people cheering, and the Latin percussion, were all designed to get the party started.
- MAGIC SYSTEM: MAGIC IN THE AIR
This song by the Ivorian all-male group of four called Magic System was released in 2014 but appears to still be in vogue because of the luck it brings to the France national team who adopted it as their battle mantra.
This was the song you heard each time France scored or won a match at the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Shockingly, no permission was sought for its usage, and Magic System only heard it while watching the tournament on television.
- PITBULL, JENNIFER LOPEZ, AND CLAUDIA LEITTE: WE ARE ONE
Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez teamed with Brazilian pop sensation Claudia Leitte for the official 2014 World Cup theme song, ‘We Are One.
Despite receiving a variety of criticisms, such as being full of cliches, reinforcing Brazilian stereotypes, and featuring a lack of the Portuguese language and true Brazilian culture, ‘We Are One’ still delivers one heck of a World Cup song.
No matter who you are though, this song will surely get you excited about some football.
- K’NAAN FT. DAVID BISBAL: WAVIN’ FLAG
Although this song wasn’t selected as the official World Cup 2010 anthem, it was originally written by Somali-Canadian artist K’naan as an anthem for hope and freedom for the people of Somalia, but Coca-Cola decided to bombard the song as their own promotional anthem.
The remix features an array of additions to the drums and beat, a boosted-up chorus, as well as an appearance from Grammy-winning Spanish pop singer David Bisbal.
The song also made it into the top ten on over twenty different charts worldwide. Wavin’ Flag’s inspiring lyrics and upbeat rhythm definitely make it one of the all-time great World Cup theme songs.
- SHAKIRA: WAKA WAKA
Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’ is a must for any World Cup theme song list. The South Africa 2010 competition brought to the world this highly commercially successful World Cup theme song.
This song about the big continent of Africa was able to bring the vibe everyone wanted in a world cup song. It was adapted from Cameroonian band, Golden Sounds’ 1986 song ‘Zangalewa’.
The chorus of ‘Waka Waka’ asks the listener to ‘do it or ‘take action, something we all need to be reminded of when chasing our dreams.
See the video below for more!
