The FIFA World Cup begins in Russia on June 14, 2018. Host nation Russia will take on Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the tournament.
In all honesty, I am not an avid sports fan. I don’t follow club football and, outside of a favourite few, I don’t know many current players. What I do love, however, is the passion and patriot fervour inspired by the World Cup. I love to see fans from across the world, make the almost religious trek to follow their national teams. The anticipation and raw emotion on their faces is breathtaking at times.
I hope to do some posts about some of my favourite World Cup teams, moments and games, nearer to and during the World Cup. If you follow international football at all, you’ll know the Latino countries do quite well!
For today, I’m going to focus on another of my favourite parts of the World Cup: the official songs. Where fans will be divided in their support for their own countries, music can often provide the unifying factor.
*Note there are Official Songs, Official Anthems, Official Country specific songs and Coca-Cola Anthems.
Here are some of my favourite songs from over the last 20 years.
“We Are One (Ole Ola)” (Official Song) by Pitbull featuring Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGtWWb9emYI&w=560&h=315]
“Waka Waka” (Official Song) by Shakira featuring Freshlyground
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0&w=560&h=315]
“The Time of Our Lives” (Official Song) by Il Divo featuring Toni Braxton
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aOxDHqWyK0&w=560&h=315]
“Boom” (Official Song) by Anastacia
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ_L0jlsaOI&w=560&h=315]
“La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life)” (Official Song) by Ricky Martin
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BkYKwHLXiU&w=560&h=315]
This is the first one I recall being called an official World Cup song. My sixth form Spanish class wiled away quite a few hours learning and singing the full Spanish version of this one.
And for 2018….
So far the one getting the most attention is the Coca-Cola Anthem, “Colors†by Jason Derulo
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6E9R9qv1No&w=560&h=315]
Love them or hate them; cheesy or classics; need them or leave them… there they are.
My two favourites are La Copa de Vida and Waka Waka.
Do you have any favourite World Cup songs?
No other WC song will ever hold a flame to La Copa de Vida!
I agree. I have many happy memories associated with that song 🙂
1998 isn’t it?
Yup. Was a good year for me. Lol.
The first time I “officially” watch a football match I think ðŸ˜
Haha. First time for everything.
ðŸ˜ðŸ˜Š
I’m not a football fan, but there’s a group of English fans who play the music from the Great Escape. They’ve been going to games for 20+ years doing that. I prefer Brasil’s sense of rhythm, though. Very good with percussion.
Yes. There’s always some mention of them around World Cup or Euro time. I might be a bit biased, but I too prefer the Brazilian music. Lol
My favorite world cup song is Waka Waka by Shakira (the spanish version). No other song will come close to Shakira’s since I have many happy memories associated with the song.
Our memories really influence how we remember and feel about some things. Waka Waka is pretty awesome 😉
I don’t think that England have even bothered with a song this time. It’s part of our new ‘Let’s not build our hopes up’ approach!
Hahaha. Maybe there’ll be better results this time as a result??? 😉
Love your blog name.
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