I’m sure by now many of you have heard Shakira’s “Waka Waka”, a white-washed remake of an old Cameroonian song by Zangalewa masquerading as a World Cup anthem. As I’ve heard Shakira’s version throughout the tournament, I’ve been quite confident that puppies somewhere have been dying. And then something odd happened. I started humming “Waka Waka” everywhere and I’ve been hating myself ever since.
Shakira’s version grew on me through repetition in much the same way that national pride manifests itself in unsuspecting youth. When it’s the only thing available, you can’t help but sing along, especially when alternatives are not provided. But there is an alternative to Shakira’s “Waka Waka”, and the part that pains me is that Zangalewa version 1.0 is not that much different from the the reincarnation, which begs the question: Is Africa so marginal and unattractive to consumers that it needs foreign artists to sing African music to make it commercially viable? It seems like the same people who made the World Cup music decisions are the same ones selecting coaches for African teams.
The problem is that Zangalewa should be, and could have been, a household name after the 2010 World Cup. But instead, Shakira is singing their music and receiving all the exposure from a catchy song that was simply retouched to create version 2.0. And as usual, once the festivities are over, Shakira goes home, and the world remembers that great African artist, Shakira, and her catchy Waka song.
Other than financially, I’m not even sure this was a great musical moment for Shakira. It seems she’s in that “expand as an artist” stage. I’ve met too many people who liked Shakira back in the day and long for the return of her undeniable talent. Count me in that group. It would be nice if she could re-focus and get back to what she does well, rather than Ricky Martinizing her career at the expense of already marginalized artists.
Without question, Shakira is a global star, but this is Africa’s World Cup. That doesn’t mean that only Africans should be involved, but at a minimum, why not let Africans sing African songs? Why not truly introduce the world to music that they rarely get a chance to hear? If the powers that be really wanted to introduce the world to new music, I think the World Cup just might have been the right marketing opportunity.
Anyway, check out “Waka Waka” in its original version, the way it was originally supposed to be absorbed by eardrums. Then listen to Shakira’s remake. And with that, I’ll leave you to your thoughts …
She samples the chorus, everything else is original. I can understand why they got someone like Shakira to perform the song (who does the song with an African band.) Had they got an African band it’s likely that the song would not have got as much attention. Also, this isn’t a financial moment for her – all the money goes to the 1GOAL project.
Shakira’s version of the song is fine. Let’s not pretend that the original version of the song would have ever had a chance of being heard on such a grand level. It’s idealistic but unrealistic. Shakira brought attention to an old Cameroonian classic. The original group had no intention of re-releasing it, nor did anyone else for that matter. Had an African artist released it as the official World Cup Song, it would not have received anywhere near the amount of attention that Shakira’s version has. The official video has gotten over 55 MILLION views in less than a month.
Anyways, the original group Zangalewa have already given their approval of Shakira’s version. Apparently, she brought attention to their song in such a way that it revived their career. They’ve announced that they are rejoining, going on tour, and working on new music. That sounds good to me.
C – The chorus is the song. It’s what they play everywhere. And to your point re: an African band not getting as much attention, let’s not forget that this is THE World Cup. If an African band made a good catchy song, and it was played wherever you find WC games, it might not get as much attention, but let’s not act as if it wouldn’t get any traction. It would be all over the place. The point is that there are plenty of incredibly talented African musicians who could have been highlighted. And also, exposure is financial. Artists would give an arm and a leg for this level of exposure. Yes, she’s already famous, which makes it all the more ridiculous.
Luis – Of course, I get it. Shakira gets lots of page views. Perhaps we just define success differently. This World Cup isn’t like others, in my opinion of course. Success shouldn’t be measured in just views. If an African artist had released an official WC song, it might not have as many hits as Shakira’s song, but if it was any good, it would do just fine. WC songs are on heavy rotation simply because they are World Cup songs. Maybe Shakira’s participation kicks it up a notch, but don’t think that an African artist in the same position would have been invisible. But my point is a larger one. At the end of the day, what has anyone learned about Africa? Look at the coverage leading up to the WC. It was laced with ignorance about Africa, and South Africa in particular. Sadly, more than halfway through, I’d wager people know little more about the continent than they did when we began. At least the world could have been introduced to some new music, which could have opened the door to further insights. I look at this more as a missed opportunity, rather than a matter of Shakira’s ability to get more views.
Also Shakira’s version did not have permission prior to use. That deal was negotiated post-release.