Leitte, Pitbull & J-Lo team up for World Cup’s ‘official song’
RIO DE JANEIRO: One of Brazil’s hottest musical talents, Claudia Leitte, will team up with Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez on We Are One (Ole Ola) on the 2014 World Cup’s official song.
Confirmation came from FIFA and Sony Music.
FIFA said that, after the success of Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) at the 2010 World Cup, “the new single, written and co-produced by Pitbull, is set to bring the passion of Brazil to the world when it is officially released by Sony Music later this year.
“Capturing the colourful atmosphere of the 2014 host nation, the song will ignite the excitement felt by football fans around the world in the lead-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup™.”
The announcement was made at Maracanã with Leitte and Pitbull joining FIFA secretary-general Jérôme Valcke as well as local organising president José Maria Marin, Brazilian Deputy Sports Minister Luis Fernandes, organising board member Bebeto and double World Cup winner Cafu.
Valcke said: “In my many visits to this country, I’ve heard a lot about the great Brazilian music tradition and it gives me great pleasure to see a Brazilian artist at the heart of this song.”
Leitte added: “I love sharing my culture and country to people through music. The World Cup is one of the biggest events on the planet, and I look forward to dancing samba with Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez in Brazil – we are one!”
We Are One (Ole Ola) will debut later this year ahead of the World Cup, and will be included on the Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Album to be released by Sony Music Entertainment. A video is also in development.
FIFA and Sony Music have partnered in the World Cup’s official music programme ever since 1994.
The tradition of an official song dates back to the 1966 World Cup in England with a song for the first official mascot, World Cup Willie.
Official songs at recent World Cups 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, and there was also an official anthem by Vangelis featuring typical Korean and Japanese sounds.
In 2006, ” by the Il Divo quartet was a resounding success, followed in 2010 by Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) written by Shakira who performed alongside South African band Freshlyground.
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