What is the best-selling World Cup song ever?
Yes, the time is finally here. It only comes around every four years, but once the World Cup officially kicks off, you can guarantee that people are going to be talking about it.
Obviously, the main thing that people chat about throughout the tournament is the football, but that doesn’t mean that conversation is limited strictly to just that. Scattered amongst scores and substitutes, you’ll also hear chatter surrounding politics, the host nation, and most importantly, the music which is getting released in the build-up to a tournament.
It might seem trivial in the run-up to one of the biggest sporting tournaments in the world, but a good World Cup song, in many instances, can be what a lot of people take away from the whole thing. Look at South Africa in 2010, for example. Like every four years, it was a solid month of football, but ask anybody about it and the two things they’ll probably mention are Tshabalala’s goal and the song ‘Wavin’ Flag’.
If you walk around the streets of England during any major tournaments, you don’t even need to watch the game. You’ll be able to tell whether the team is winning or losing depending on what you hear those around you say. If they’re talking about starting Harry Kane on the bench, going back to 4-4-2 and moving away from defensive football, chances are they’ve lost. However, if everybody is screaming, “It’s coming home! It’s coming home!” You can put money on the fact they’ve won.
Plenty of other great World Cup songs roll off the tongue, such as ‘Vindaloo’, ‘World In Motion’ and Atomic Kitten’s quality-produced rendition of ‘Southgate You’re The One’; however, there are also some bad tracks released by countries as well. These songs take on their own level of infamy, as people will most likely still be singing them at tournaments, but in a mocking tone rather than one of genuine enjoyment.
This year hasn’t exactly been great for the music which has come out surrounding the tournament. The host nation hasn’t been able to put out anything that’s not horrendously cringeworthy. Not to mention, the only notable effort in England has been a strange tune by MC Devvo as he teamed up with the Brett Domino Trio.
That being said, while this tournament might not have graced us with a hit, there are plenty of other years we can look back at and steal songs from. The majority of World Cups usually guarantee an upset, some great goals, and a hit song. It begs the question, which of the latter is the most successful of all time?
What is the most successful World Cup song of all time?
You’ve probably already guessed it. Though the songs I’ve already listed above are pretty elite listens, there is a glaring omission, and it’s that omission which is the best-selling World Cup song ever. Also released in 2010 alongside the aforementioned ‘Wavin’ Flag’, it’s Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’. The song received over 15million digital downloads, taking over the world during the famous tournament, but with such an infectious nature that it now exists outside of the realm of tournament football.
Even at the club level, fans have taken Shakira’s track and adapted it, putting their own lyrics over it and singing them. This is a song that simply doesn’t need to be associated with football in order to be considered good, and that’s when you know an artist is on to a real winner. Made for a one-month tournament but on the tips of tongues for years following, Shakira hit the back of the net with this one.
