The World Cup is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, sporting events that happens every four years. The World Cup is accompanied by songs that help to promote the event. These songs tend to use influences from the country in which the event is held. So these songs have to unite, excite, and inspire the world to watch these soccer games. Some of these songs such as “Wavin’ Flag” by K’naan and “World in Motion” by New Order. Yet one song has become synonymous with the world cup event, that being “Waka Waka” by Shakira.
The song “Waka Waka” was produced for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The production was in a studio environment, having layered in electronic elements, sampled rhythms, and multitrack vocal recordings. No single element overwhelms another, the sound is clean and compressed. This allows for it to be designed for the radio, television, and in massive open-air stadiums. The song borrows its hook from “Zangaléwa”, a song made in 1989 by a Cameroonian group named Golden Sounds. There is a chant-like element that encapsulates the energy of African music that was or is popular. The final product is polished and did its job in building the aura for the event, and has created a nostalgia for those who watched. Having a lasting impact on the event that the world watches.