Tag Archives: The Cup of Life

King’s “Vida” Named the Winner of Sony’s “Supersong” 2014 World Cup Song Contest

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It looks like World (Cup) is Elijah King’s oyster…

The Puerto Rican singer, who has made several appearances on the Billboard Latin charts since 2009, has been named the winner of Sony’s “Supersong” 2014 World Cup song contest.

Elijah King

King’s bilingual English and Spanish-language song “Vida” will now be recorded by Ricky Martin.

“Vida,” which has a tropical pop feel, will be produced by Salaam Remi, known for his work with The Fugees, Amy Winehouse and Nas.

The song will be included on FIFA partner Sony’s official 2014 World Cup album, to be released on RCA Records in May. And a video for “Vida,” Martin’s second World Cup song, will be shot in Brazil in March, to be included in a TV special that will air on Sony Pictures TV channels.

King was most recently featured on “Te Gusta” a song by Venezuela’s Grupo Treo that reached No. 4 on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart in 2013. His 2011 solo single “Quitate la Ropa” peaked at No. 30 on the same chart.

The Miami-based singer/songwriter beat out four lesser-known finalists who entered the contest by uploading their songs to supersong.com, including Brazilian Rodrigo Alexey, a jingle composer who has a studio in Sao Paulo; and American-born Nicolas Salazar, who works as a musician and actor in Bogotá.

Martin’s previous World Cup song, 1998’s “La Copa de La Vida” (The Cup of Life,)” propelled him into the global spotlight, taking off after he performed it on the Grammys. It charted at No. 2 on Hot Latin Songs, and went to No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Shakira‘s 2010 World Cup hit “Waka Waka,” with South African group Freshly Ground, has sold 1.7 million downloads in the U.S.

The official 2014 World Cup song will be Pitbull‘s “We Are One“ featuring Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte. The artists will perform their song at the opening ceremony of the soccer tournament, which kicks off June 12 in Sao Paulo.

Martin to Perform Fan-Penned FIFA World Cup “Super Song”

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How would you like Ricky Martin to sing one of your tunes?

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican singing sensation is inviting his fans to enter an international contest created by Sony to write a 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil song that he’ll record.

Ricky Martin

While the song will not be the official 2014 FIFA World Cup anthem, it will be included as a track on a FIFA World Cup album to be released during next summer’s tournament through RCA, according to Alexandre Schiavo, president of Sony Music Entertainment Brazil, which is coordinating the “Super Song” contest.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are you have a chance to write a song for the next World Cup and I will record it,” Martin says in a video promoting the contest on international versions World Cup sponsor Sony’s “One Stadium” website.

Sony’s Super Song contest has been open to entries from around the world in December.

“It is a song that is going to get a lot of attention,” said Schiavo. “The idea as they say is to  give power to the people. Anyone with access to a computer can create some music and have the chance to co-write [the final version of] the song with Ricky and a famous producer. The winner will be invited to attend the final match of the World Cup.  There will be a lot of prizes connected with this promotion.”

Martin’s previous World Cup song, 1998’s “La Copa de La Vida (The Cup of Life,)” propelled the Puerto Rican singer into the global spotlight. In 2010, the official FIFA World Cup anthem was Shakira‘s worldwide hit “Waka Waka” with South African group Freshly Ground. It sold 1.7 million downloads in the U.S.

Earlier this year, Coca-Cola, a longtime World Cup sponsor, announced the release of the first global World Cup Anthem: “The World is Ours.” The song, sung by David Correy and featuring Brazilian percussion group Monobloco, follows Coke’s 2010 World Cup South Africa campaign hit  “Wavin’ Flag.”