Artiste: Shakira

Song: Waka Waka  (Single, 3 versions)

Label: Sony Music

Rating: 4/5

It doesn't take too long to get hooked onto singer Shakira's official FIFA world cup song Waka Waka (This time for Africa). The song features South African band FreshlyGround along with the Columbian pop star. After the song was released, and played on radio stations, South Africans were miffed since they preffered to have someone from their own country singing it.

Nevertheless, Shakira's version is great with positive lyrics that can appeal to a universal audience, and at the same time also has the African ingredient intact. The song has brilliant African percussion lines, that can get you grooving instantly. Plus, it also scores for the way it builds up into a celebratory vibe with the chorus line. The song has three versions -
a club mix (which sounds more like a rock song, with ambient sounds) and a 'K mix', which has a very electronic house music feel to it. Having said that, the two added versions are done tastefully, and sound unique.

For those who don't know, the 2010 FIFA world cup official song is not entirely a fresh composition, but inspired from a Cameroonian song 'Zangalewa' - which is popularly used by soldiers as an motivational anthem of sorts. It has been re-made as the theme song for the FIFA world cup. Incidentally, Cameroon, from where the original song comes, is the best soccer nation in Africa.

Waka Waka is a part of Listen Up! the official FIFA 2010 World Cup album which is scheduled to release on 31st May 2010.
The album includes 13 cuts and is a collaboration by various artists, both local African and international. Among the Indian musicians, Salim-Sulaiman have composed one of the tracks for the album. All proceeds from the single as well as from the album will be donated to the 20 Centres for 2010 campaign.

Official songs at FIFA World Cupâ„? in the past 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, it was The Time of Our Lives by the Il Divo quartet.

Stay tuned for the complete album review of Listen Up!

You can hear the original song here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibqtKBpSQ3s

Shakira's version here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4N5N-mGf4U&feature=related

Send in your comments to: chirag.sutar@indiantelevision.co.in