Smith anthem divides Cup fans
LONDON: World Cup organisers divided fans by releasing the tournament’s official song on Friday - a fast-paced dance tune titled “Live It Up” featuring American actor and rapper Will Smith.
Some on social media asked how the tune’s Latin American feel fitted in with the tournament’s host country Russia - and compared it unfavourably with past efforts including Shakira’s “Waka Waka” theme for the 2010 contest in South Africa.
Some more were puzzled by the choice of performers - Will Smith is joined by Puerto Ricoborn Reggaeton artist Nicky Jam and singer Era Istrefi, who describes herself as “Albanian Kosovar” - none of them from countries competing in this year’s contest.
“The World Cup song doesn’t have any football ring to it. Blegh. How is Messi gonna dance to Live it up?!” Twitter user @arla_i said, referring to Argentina star Lionel Messi. Others were won over by the energetic track, with its affirming chorus “One life, live it up/’cos we got one life.”
“This one definitely has the World Cup vibe to it,” one user wrote, calling the song “awesome”. The trio will perform “Live It Up” in front of spectators before the World Cup final.
SLOGANS ANNOUNCED
MOSCOW: FIFA published a list of official logos on Thursday for each of 32 participating teams in the upcoming World Cup and the logo of hosts Russia is “Play With an Open Heart.”
“The votes have been counted. The fans have spoken,” FIFA said in a statement, reports Tass news agency.
“We now have the 32 slogans that captured the hearts, and votes, of the global FIFA Club community.”
Before the winning variant of “Play With an Open Heart” was approved in the course of the voting the other two variants in previous top-three had suggestions of “The Russian Bears Stride to Victory” and “With a Full Heart the Entire Nation is Pursuing the Dream.”
“The winning slogans will be displayed on the 32 team buses at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia,” the statement from FIFA said adding that each lucky slogan creator will be awarded with a trip to Russia for the world football championship.
Reigning world champions Germany will have the logo saying “Zusammen. Geschichte schreiben (Let’s Write History Together), while the 2016 UEFA Euro Cup Champions Portugal may be recognized in Russia during the World Cup under their official logo “O Passado E Gloria, O Presente E Historia” (The Past Is Glory, The Present Is History).