Shakira is hailed as the “Queen” of World Cup music with her hit songs “Hips Don’t Lie Bamboo,” “Waka Waka,” and “La La La.”
The artist is set to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on November 20. According to Musicmundial, FIFA invited her back due to the underwhelming performance of their previous releases. The song “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)” by Trinidad Cardona, Davido, and Aisha garnered only 27 million views on YouTube after seven months and received numerous comments requesting FIFA to use Shakira’s “Waka Waka” again.
According to Billboard, Shakira has proven her influence on the World Cup through iconic songs that subsequent artists have found challenging to surpass. Rolling Stone believes the formula for Shakira’s success lies in catchy Latin melodies, fiery dance moves, and the impact of her name.
Shakira began her World Cup journey in 2006 with “Hips Don’t Lie Bamboo.” In contrast to the solemn and profound official song that year, “The Time of Our Lives,” her song energized stadiums throughout Germany, making everyone want to dance. In an interview, the singer revealed that the title was inspired by a conversation she had with songwriters. She explained that when she hears a truly appealing rhythm, her hips unconsciously shake, stating, “My hips don’t lie. If they don’t move, it means the melody isn’t right.”
Shakira performed “Hips Don’t Lie” at the opening of the 2006 World Cup in Munich and before the final match in Berlin, attracting 500 million and 700 million TV viewers, respectively. In 2021, Time Out New York ranked “Hips Don’t Lie” as the 11th best pop song of all time.
Four years later, Shakira sang the official song of the World Cup in South Africa – “Waka Waka.” Many Africans criticized the choice of the “Latin queen” to perform at the tournament’s first edition held on the “dark continent,” suggesting that she should have given the opportunity to local artists. However, the allure of “Waka Waka” proved them wrong.
The song was written and produced by Shakira and John Hill, incorporating a sample from Cameroon’s Golden Sounds’ 1986 track. The lyrics encourage individuals to pursue their goals and fight like warriors.
Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music Chart Blog awarded the song 4/5, praising its lively fusion of African instruments. According to Fraser, beyond its football-themed meaning, “Waka Waka” addresses the efforts to solve various struggles faced in African countries. Copsey from Digital Spy described the song as “strangely appealing,” although not highly rating its lyrics. Billboard included “Waka Waka” in its list of the top 50 Latin songs of the 2010s. It consistently ranks high in various magazines’ lists of the greatest World Cup anthems of all time.
“La La La” was introduced during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as the tournament’s second song. The track features the distinctive dance music of Brazil, combining electro house beats. The lyrics and music draw inspiration from Brazilian drumming and the prayers of the country’s people, resulting in a dynamic and majestic composition. In the music video, Shakira pays tribute to the cultural characteristics of Afro-Brazilian heritage.