Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
Encyclopedia
"Waka Waka" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira
, featuring South African band Freshlyground
. It was the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, along with its Spanish language
version, entitled "Waka Waka (Esto es África)". The song was released on May 11 for digital download
, received generally positive critical reception, and became a worldwide hit.
It was included on Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album which was released on May 31, 2010. The K-Mix version of the song was also included on Shakira's seventh studio album, Sale el Sol
. "Waka Waka" was performed by Shakira and Freshlyground at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off concert in Soweto
on June 10, 2010, and at the final on July 11, 2010.
"Waka Waka" has sold more than four million copies worldwide making it the best-selling and the fastest-selling World Cup anthem in the digital age.
", a 1986 makossa
hit for Cameroon
ian group Golden Sounds
. Speculation is that Shakira learned of Zamina mina after Dominica
n Republic
group Las Chicas Del Can
released their merengue
version of the song called “El negro no puede. Both the group Las Chicas Del Can
and Shakira borrowed Golden Sounds
chorus and music without permission of the band. After legal intervention by the band, an undisclosed deal was struck with Sony Music.
After the song was officially chosen as the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Shakira said: "I am honored that 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup."
"Waka Waka" was written by Shakira and John Hill and co-produced by Hill. The track, which samples the chorus of the 1986 Cameroon
ian hit song "Zangaléwa
", by Cameroonian band Golden Sounds
, features Afro-Colombian
instrumentation, Soca beat and South African guitars. The song consists of rhythmical African sounds, and represents the vitality and energy of the host continent. The song is set in the time signature
of common time, with a metronome of 128 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of D major
with Shakira's vocal range spanning from the low-note of G3 to the high-note of A5.
Robert Copsey from Digital Spy gave the song 3 out of 5 stars and said "[...] she sings over beats as fat and bouncy as a well-fed baby. Thankfully, 'Waka Waka' also has a ludicrously catchy chorus cribbed from an old Cameroonian tune and plenty of hip-swingable moments, ensuring it never quite dissolves into an all-out cheese-fest." Indrajit Hazra from Hindustan Times
said "Shakira reminded everyone why football and her frenetic rhythms have been a winning team. [...] Waka Waka is the perfect cheering-on song. As far as Shakira goes, her infectious Waka Waka totally works." Martin Caballero of the Boston Herald
said that "With its catchy hook and breezy summer vibe, 'Waka Waka' sounds more like a song for a South African tourism advertisement, not the world’s biggest sports event."
chart, selling 57,000 digital downloads in its first week of release. This marked Shakira's second-highest debut on the Hot 100, after "She Wolf" opened at thirty-four in 2009. The following week, the song climbed five places to number thirty-eight. It also debuted at number forty-seven on Hot Latin Songs
and number thirty-five on Latin Pop Songs. On the successive week, dated June 26, 2010, it was named Greatest Gainer on both charts, reaching number twenty-six on Hot Latin Songs and number eleven on Latin Pop Songs. It also debuted at number thirty-one on Tropical Songs that week. The song has since reached number two on Billboards Hot Latin Songs, and number two on Latin Pop Songs. Four months after its release, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA
for sales of over 500,000 copies. It has also since become the biggest selling Latin song of the year, selling over 867,000 digital copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
In Canada, the song debuted at number sixty-five on the Canadian Hot 100
. It dropped out of the chart briefly, before re-entering at number seventy-two in the June 19, 2010 issue of Billboard, and was named Best Comeback. The following week, the song climbed almost sixty places to number fourteen. It then climbed a further three places, reaching number eleven. On the European Hot 100, the song debuted at number eighty-eight before eventually reaching number one.
"Waka Waka" debuted at number twenty-three on the Australian Physical Singles Chart
on June 14, 2010, and then rose to number six. On June 21, 2010, the song debuted at number thirty-nine on the Australian Top 50 Singles Chart
and number thirty-seven on the Top 40 Digital Track Chart. In its third week, "Waka Waka" peaked at number thirty-two. In the United Kingdom
, the song entered the chart on June 13, 2010 at number thirty-eight, eventually climbing to its peak position of number twenty-one, marking Shakira's ninth top thirty hit in the country. It has so far spent eleven weeks inside the UK top 40. In June 2011, it re-ntered the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number fifty-eight. The song also charted in Japan, debuting at number twelve on the Japan Hot 100
. On the Spanish Single Charts
for the week ending May 16, 2010, the song debuted at number eighteen as the week's strongest entry. Three weeks later, the song topped the chart. On its sixth week in the Spanish Chart, "Waka Waka" was certified Gold for sales of at least 20,000 copies, and was certified Platinum the following week. The single has become Shakira's longest-running number-one single in Spain, topping the chart for seventeen consecutive weeks. The song sold in excess of 235,000 copies in Spain.
The song debuted on the French Digital Singles Chart at number thirty-one, selling 2,100 downloads. In its second week, the song climbed twenty-nine places, reaching number two with sales of 7,900 copies. In its third week, it topped the chart with sales of almost 10,000 copies, a 26% increase on the week before. "Waka Waka" sold a total of 373,068 copies in France in 2010. In Germany, the song sold 750,000 copies and was certified 5xGold, becoming Shakira's most successful single there.
On July 12, 2010, Shakira's official website announced that "Waka Waka" was number-one in all the countries served by the radio network Los 40 Principales, including Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. Shakira became the second artist to achieve this feat after Alejandro Sanz
.
In India, 300,000 subscribers of Vodafone Essar
bought the "Waka Waka" anthem for their mobile phones. It was also the most downloaded song of the year on the Nokia Ovi Music Store
.
The single became a worldwide hit, reaching number-one in at least twenty-one different countries including Argentina
, Austria
, Belgium
, Chile
, Colombia
, Czech Republic
, Denmark
, Finland
, France
, Germany
, Hong Kong
, The Netherlands, Italy
, Luxembourg
, Poland
, Paraguay
, Portugal
, Spain
, Switzerland
, Sweden
, and the World Cup's host country, South Africa
.
According to FIFA
, "Waka Waka" has sold four million copies worldwide. It is the fastest-selling, as well as the biggest-selling World Cup single of the digital age.
, Dani Alves
, Idriss Carlos Kameni
, Rafael Márquez
and Lionel Messi
appear in the video, along with Shakira and Freshlyground. Archive footage from past World Cups is intercut with scenes of celebration and dancing. Brazilians Ronaldo
, Denilson
and Pelé
are highlighted, along with Diego Maradona
and the famous penalty miss by Roberto Baggio
in 1994 which secured the championship for Brazil. The video was directed by Marcus Raboy
. It is the only 3D video to be shown at the World Cup and is also Sony Music's first ever 3D music video.
The video is ranked number-one on The Guardian
s Viral Video Chart. The video became an international hit with daily views of around three million between June 10 and June 17, 2010. It has since reached over 400 million views on YouTube, becoming the third-most-watched video in the website's history.
said that "Joined by Africa fusion band Freshlyground and a bevy of dancers, Shakira rolls through the funky, inspirational tune with her usual blend of jittery energy and engaging charm. It also doesn't hurt that she's an excellent dancer, as are the performers (many of them children) who flank her throughout the clip. The clip is augmented by footage from soccer matches and worldwide World Cup-related celebrations in a number of foreign cities. Though Shakira's performance is excellent, she can't hold a candle to the intensity of World Cup-caliber soccer players, which means that the key scene from "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" is a killer slide tackle." Brian Banks from Music Vice wrote that "The video does a fantastic job of capturing the energy and passion of the World Cup, as so many hopes and dreams fall to the feet of the chosen few. If the hair on your neck is not raised by the football action in this video, then maybe at least your pulse will be raised by the delectable Ms. Shakira." Amy Saeyang Mattox from Gather.com
echoed their praise, stating that "It's a wonderfully crisp video and starts off with a soccer scene then there's Shakira singing very uplifting and inspiring lyrics with the main point being that (This time [is] for Africa). The Waka Waka video is very colorful and bright as to be expected from Shakira, a lot of sunny yellows and red are used. Waka Waka (This time for Africa) is a great blend of pop and drums with a dash of sassy sauciness."
, South Africa
. The outfits for Shakira's World cup performances were created by Italian designer Roberto Cavalli
. She also performed the song at the United Kingdom's Glastonbury Festival
on June 26, 2010, during the World Cup competition. Before singing the song, she said, "I just performed this in South Africa and thought it would be appropriate to sing it tonight because ... there is a big match tomorrow which I'm planning to watch in some pub in east London. Let's hear you make some noise for England!" She also performed the song as the opening number of the 2010 Premios Juventud
Awards on July 15, 2010, along with her single "Gypsy
".
in Johannesburg, along with her singles "She Wolf
" and "Hips Don't Lie
". For the opening, Shakira took to the stage in a zebra print jumpsuit under a fringe skirt resembling typical African tribal costumes, and wore leather and jeweled bracelets on her arms.
The performance was met with mostly positive critical reception. Fabiola Bohórquez Guerra from La Verdad
wrote that "the crowning moment came with the official World Cup song, "Waka Waka", which she sang with the group Freshlyground
. Dozens of singers and dancers took their places on stage to perform the infectious theme that goes It's time for Africa. With an energetic choreography, the Colombian gave football fans examples of the ideal enthusiasm to start the finals today on the playing field." Diane Coetzer from Billboard
said "[...] And when the first notes of the official 2010 FIFA World Cup Song, 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)' were heard and Shakira's South African collaborators - Afro-pop outfit Freshlyground – appeared, the crowd erupted into an unceasing cry of delight."
Despite criticising Shakira's choice of outfit - " [...] then came Shakira, in an ill-advised Roberto Cavalli outfit that looked like a costume from The Lion King" - in her review , Ann Powers from the Los Angeles Times
said "'It's time for Africa,' boomed the voice of the announcer in Johannesburg's Orlando Stadium Thursday, at the climax of the all-star concert kicking off soccer's World Cup. It's time for Shakira! Thursday, her answer to those who've criticized her song was a visual as well as a musical one: She filled the stage with African dancers, singers and musicians, who almost overshadowed her as she performed the song. It was just a symbolic gesture, but a strong one in this evening-long review of pop music’s journey from Africa to every corner of the earth, and back." She added that "Despite her fashion misstep, the Colombian powerhouse made a case for herself with a set that focused on the heavy beats in her own music." Rachel Jacoby from InStyle said that "Shakira [...] stole the show during the finale with a rendition of the World Cup Anthem 'Waka Waka' in a barely-there grass skirt and cut-away top. Goooooal!"
Diane Coetzer from Billboard said that "Shakira's second consecutive performance at the closing ceremony of a FIFA World Cup sparked an ecstatic response from the vuvuzela-blowing crowd crammed into Soweto's Soccer City. The Colombian singer - who also made a star-turn at the first ever FIFA World Cup Kick-Off a month ago (June 10) - wore a day-glo colored Roberto Cavalli outfit as she launched into "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)." Siddharth Saxena from The Times of India
said that "in all the riot of colour, light and laser show, Shakira came and swayed to her often heard World Cup anthem. It was all going according to plan, but the show stealer was left for the end of the closing ceremony. A surprise." CBS Sports
said "Then came the singing and the dancers, with Colombian star Shakira and Ladysmith Black Mambazo among a colourful cast of thousands singing their hearts out in celebration."
, The Black Eyed Peas
, Alicia Keys
and John Legend
to perform at the tournament’s kickoff concert, instead of local musicians. Stuart Derdeyn from The Province
said "Red Card for bad taste.[...] This leads to sonic vomit such as Shakira's 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa),' perhaps the stupidest official song for any major sporting event ever." Amos Barshad from New York Magazine said "The song is a perfectly innocuous bit of inspiration pop — 'when you fall get up, oh oh/and if you fall get up, eh eh,' Shakira suggests at one point — with a few vague nods toward what would be identified by a majority of Western-pop-reared individuals as 'world music.' But are you prepared to hear it over and over and over again?"
Shakira responded to the issue of a non-South African singing the song, explaining that:
Some criticism ensued when 12 year old actor Ian Hamrick, who was to be prominently featured in the video alongside Fozzie Bear was cut by the video's editors to a crowd scene. This followed the actor's appearance in the controversial genocide
depicting music video for M.I.A.
's "Born Free
" where his character is shot in the head at close range. Some commentators speculated this was the reason although Waka Waka's producers responded that Hamrick was always meant to be an extra in the video. Sean Michaels of The Guardian
said "For at least one of the redheads terrorised in MIA's Born Free video, the persecution shows no sign of letting up...the stars of this year's World Cup anthem may not wish their audience to be reminded of MIA's ginger genocide". Hamrick said of "Born Free" that he was really “proud to be a part of M.I.A.’s shout-out to the world” because “it was a great chance to tell everyone that bully’s [sic] suck no matter what country you are from."
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
, featuring South African band Freshlyground
Freshlyground
Freshlyground is a South African Afro-fusion band that formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members variously hail from South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe...
. It was the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, along with its Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
version, entitled "Waka Waka (Esto es África)". The song was released on May 11 for digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
, received generally positive critical reception, and became a worldwide hit.
It was included on Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album which was released on May 31, 2010. The K-Mix version of the song was also included on Shakira's seventh studio album, Sale el Sol
Sale el Sol
Sale el sol is the seventh studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, released on October 19, 2010. The album cover was released on August 31, 2010...
. "Waka Waka" was performed by Shakira and Freshlyground at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off concert in Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
on June 10, 2010, and at the final on July 11, 2010.
"Waka Waka" has sold more than four million copies worldwide making it the best-selling and the fastest-selling World Cup anthem in the digital age.
Background and composition
"Waka Waka" is based upon a traditional African soldiers' song named "Zamina mina (Zangalewa)Zamina mina (Zangalewa)
Tsamina or Zangaléwa is a 1986 hit song, originally sung by a makossa group from Cameroon called Golden Sounds who were beloved throughout the continent for the dances and costumes. The song was such a hit for Golden Sounds that they eventually changed their name to Zangaléwa, too. The song pays...
", a 1986 makossa
Makossa
Makossa is a type of music that is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. It is similar to soukous, except that it includes strong bass rhythm and a prominent horn section. Makossa, which means " dance" in Duala, originated from a type of Duala dance called kossa, with significant influences...
hit for Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian group Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds or Zangalewa is a makossa group from Cameroon. It was led by a career member of Cameroon's presidential guard, Jean Paul Zé Bella. The men in the group provided comical musical entertainment, often dressing in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with...
. Speculation is that Shakira learned of Zamina mina after Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
n Republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
group Las Chicas Del Can
Las Chicas Del Can
Las Chicas Del Can is an all-female merengue group from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Originally created by Wilfrido Vargas, several teams of female vocalists and musicians have alternately performed under the name Las Chicas del Can throughout the group's history.Originally founded in 1982,...
released their merengue
Merengue
Merengue can refer to one of the following:*Merengue music*Merengue *Merengue , a content management system*Méringue / Mereng Haitian Music*Venezuelan merengue music*An adjective referring to the Real Madrid football club....
version of the song called “El negro no puede. Both the group Las Chicas Del Can
Las Chicas Del Can
Las Chicas Del Can is an all-female merengue group from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Originally created by Wilfrido Vargas, several teams of female vocalists and musicians have alternately performed under the name Las Chicas del Can throughout the group's history.Originally founded in 1982,...
and Shakira borrowed Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds or Zangalewa is a makossa group from Cameroon. It was led by a career member of Cameroon's presidential guard, Jean Paul Zé Bella. The men in the group provided comical musical entertainment, often dressing in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with...
chorus and music without permission of the band. After legal intervention by the band, an undisclosed deal was struck with Sony Music.
After the song was officially chosen as the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Shakira said: "I am honored that 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup."
"Waka Waka" was written by Shakira and John Hill and co-produced by Hill. The track, which samples the chorus of the 1986 Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian hit song "Zangaléwa
Zamina mina (Zangalewa)
Tsamina or Zangaléwa is a 1986 hit song, originally sung by a makossa group from Cameroon called Golden Sounds who were beloved throughout the continent for the dances and costumes. The song was such a hit for Golden Sounds that they eventually changed their name to Zangaléwa, too. The song pays...
", by Cameroonian band Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds
Golden Sounds or Zangalewa is a makossa group from Cameroon. It was led by a career member of Cameroon's presidential guard, Jean Paul Zé Bella. The men in the group provided comical musical entertainment, often dressing in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with...
, features Afro-Colombian
Afro-Colombian
Afro Colombians refers to Colombians of African ancestry, and the great impact they have had on Colombian culture. Notable Afro-Colombians include Colombian scientists like Raul Cuero, writers like Manuel Zapata Olivella and politicians:...
instrumentation, Soca beat and South African guitars. The song consists of rhythmical African sounds, and represents the vitality and energy of the host continent. The song is set in the time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
of common time, with a metronome of 128 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
with Shakira's vocal range spanning from the low-note of G3 to the high-note of A5.
Critical reception
Chirag Sutar from Radio and Music gave the song a very positive review and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, saying that "Shakira's version is great, with positive lyrics that can appeal to a universal audience, and at the same time also has the African ingredient intact. The song has brilliant African percussion lines, that can get you grooving instantly. Plus, it also scores for the way it builds up into a celebratory vibe with the chorus line." Entertainment Weekly's Simon Vozick-Levinson wrote that "the hooks here are nowhere near as indelible or inventive as those on last year's awesome She Wolf, but they'll do."Robert Copsey from Digital Spy gave the song 3 out of 5 stars and said "[...] she sings over beats as fat and bouncy as a well-fed baby. Thankfully, 'Waka Waka' also has a ludicrously catchy chorus cribbed from an old Cameroonian tune and plenty of hip-swingable moments, ensuring it never quite dissolves into an all-out cheese-fest." Indrajit Hazra from Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 with roots in the Indian independence movement of the period ....
said "Shakira reminded everyone why football and her frenetic rhythms have been a winning team. [...] Waka Waka is the perfect cheering-on song. As far as Shakira goes, her infectious Waka Waka totally works." Martin Caballero of the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
said that "With its catchy hook and breezy summer vibe, 'Waka Waka' sounds more like a song for a South African tourism advertisement, not the world’s biggest sports event."
Chart performance
On the issue dated June 26, 2010, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" debuted at number forty-three on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, selling 57,000 digital downloads in its first week of release. This marked Shakira's second-highest debut on the Hot 100, after "She Wolf" opened at thirty-four in 2009. The following week, the song climbed five places to number thirty-eight. It also debuted at number forty-seven on Hot Latin Songs
Hot Latin Songs
Hot Latin Songs is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. It is often recognized as the most important music chart for Spanish language Latin music in the American music market. It was established by the magazine on September 6, 1986 with La Guirnalda by Rocío Dúrcal being the first song...
and number thirty-five on Latin Pop Songs. On the successive week, dated June 26, 2010, it was named Greatest Gainer on both charts, reaching number twenty-six on Hot Latin Songs and number eleven on Latin Pop Songs. It also debuted at number thirty-one on Tropical Songs that week. The song has since reached number two on Billboards Hot Latin Songs, and number two on Latin Pop Songs. Four months after its release, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for sales of over 500,000 copies. It has also since become the biggest selling Latin song of the year, selling over 867,000 digital copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
In Canada, the song debuted at number sixty-five on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
. It dropped out of the chart briefly, before re-entering at number seventy-two in the June 19, 2010 issue of Billboard, and was named Best Comeback. The following week, the song climbed almost sixty places to number fourteen. It then climbed a further three places, reaching number eleven. On the European Hot 100, the song debuted at number eighty-eight before eventually reaching number one.
"Waka Waka" debuted at number twenty-three on the Australian Physical Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
on June 14, 2010, and then rose to number six. On June 21, 2010, the song debuted at number thirty-nine on the Australian Top 50 Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and number thirty-seven on the Top 40 Digital Track Chart. In its third week, "Waka Waka" peaked at number thirty-two. In the United Kingdom
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, the song entered the chart on June 13, 2010 at number thirty-eight, eventually climbing to its peak position of number twenty-one, marking Shakira's ninth top thirty hit in the country. It has so far spent eleven weeks inside the UK top 40. In June 2011, it re-ntered the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number fifty-eight. The song also charted in Japan, debuting at number twelve on the Japan Hot 100
Japan Hot 100
The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com ....
. On the Spanish Single Charts
PROMUSICAE
Spanish Music Producers is a trade group representing the Spanish recording industry...
for the week ending May 16, 2010, the song debuted at number eighteen as the week's strongest entry. Three weeks later, the song topped the chart. On its sixth week in the Spanish Chart, "Waka Waka" was certified Gold for sales of at least 20,000 copies, and was certified Platinum the following week. The single has become Shakira's longest-running number-one single in Spain, topping the chart for seventeen consecutive weeks. The song sold in excess of 235,000 copies in Spain.
The song debuted on the French Digital Singles Chart at number thirty-one, selling 2,100 downloads. In its second week, the song climbed twenty-nine places, reaching number two with sales of 7,900 copies. In its third week, it topped the chart with sales of almost 10,000 copies, a 26% increase on the week before. "Waka Waka" sold a total of 373,068 copies in France in 2010. In Germany, the song sold 750,000 copies and was certified 5xGold, becoming Shakira's most successful single there.
On July 12, 2010, Shakira's official website announced that "Waka Waka" was number-one in all the countries served by the radio network Los 40 Principales, including Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. Shakira became the second artist to achieve this feat after Alejandro Sanz
Alejandro Sanz
Alejandro Sanz , is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician. For his work, Sanz has won a total of fifteen Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. He has won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year three times, more than any other artist...
.
In India, 300,000 subscribers of Vodafone Essar
Vodafone Essar
Vodafone Essar, formerly Hutchison Essar, is a cellular operator in India that covers 23 telecom circles in India. It is based in Mumbai. On July 2011, Vodafone Group agreed terms for the buy-out of its partner Essar from its Indian mobile phone business. The UK firm paid $5.46 billion to its...
bought the "Waka Waka" anthem for their mobile phones. It was also the most downloaded song of the year on the Nokia Ovi Music Store
Nokia Music Store
Nokia Music Store is part of the Ovi services portal from Nokia. It was launched on August 29, 2007. The idea behind the store is to provide to all Nokia MP3 capable mobile users a music store on the phone as on the PC....
.
The single became a worldwide hit, reaching number-one in at least twenty-one different countries including Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, The Netherlands, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and the World Cup's host country, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
According to FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, "Waka Waka" has sold four million copies worldwide. It is the fastest-selling, as well as the biggest-selling World Cup single of the digital age.
Music video
The video, available in standard definition as well as in 3D, premiered on June 6, 2010. Football players Gerard PiquéGerard Piqué
Gerard Piqué i Bernabeu is a Spanish footballer, currently playing as a central defender for FC Barcelona.A product of Barça's cantera, he initially left the club for Manchester United in 2004, where he remained for four years, before returning to Barça under Josep Guardiola's leadership, helping...
, Dani Alves
Daniel Alves
Daniel Alves da Silva , commonly known as Dani Alves, is a Brazilian footballer. He plays as an attacking right defender for FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. Before joining Barcelona, Alves spent a successful six year spell with Sevilla FC, winning two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey...
, Idriss Carlos Kameni
Idriss Carlos Kameni
Idriss Carlos Kameni is a Cameroonian footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol in the Spanish first division, as a goalkeeper.-France:...
, Rafael Márquez
Rafael Márquez
Rafael Márquez Álvarez is a Mexican footballer who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer and the Mexico national team. He plays as a centre back or defensive midfielder....
and Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
appear in the video, along with Shakira and Freshlyground. Archive footage from past World Cups is intercut with scenes of celebration and dancing. Brazilians Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima , commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo is widely considered to be the greatest 'pure' striker in the history of the modern game, and by some accounts, in the history of football. Ronaldo was one of the...
, Denilson
Denílson
Denílson is a Portuguese given name.It may refer to these Brazilian footballers:* Denílson Custódio Machado , retired attacking midfielder* Denílson de Oliveira Araújo , Brazilian midfielder, 2002 FIFA World Cup winner...
and Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
are highlighted, along with Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
and the famous penalty miss by Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is a retired Italian footballer. Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of his generation, Baggio won both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1993. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups. He is also one of the top 5 all-time...
in 1994 which secured the championship for Brazil. The video was directed by Marcus Raboy
Marcus Raboy
Marcus Raboy is an American film and music video director.Since the early 1990s, Raboy has amassed a large number music video credits directing music videos for Mary J...
. It is the only 3D video to be shown at the World Cup and is also Sony Music's first ever 3D music video.
The video is ranked number-one on The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
s Viral Video Chart. The video became an international hit with daily views of around three million between June 10 and June 17, 2010. It has since reached over 400 million views on YouTube, becoming the third-most-watched video in the website's history.
Reception
Kyle Anderson from MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
said that "Joined by Africa fusion band Freshlyground and a bevy of dancers, Shakira rolls through the funky, inspirational tune with her usual blend of jittery energy and engaging charm. It also doesn't hurt that she's an excellent dancer, as are the performers (many of them children) who flank her throughout the clip. The clip is augmented by footage from soccer matches and worldwide World Cup-related celebrations in a number of foreign cities. Though Shakira's performance is excellent, she can't hold a candle to the intensity of World Cup-caliber soccer players, which means that the key scene from "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" is a killer slide tackle." Brian Banks from Music Vice wrote that "The video does a fantastic job of capturing the energy and passion of the World Cup, as so many hopes and dreams fall to the feet of the chosen few. If the hair on your neck is not raised by the football action in this video, then maybe at least your pulse will be raised by the delectable Ms. Shakira." Amy Saeyang Mattox from Gather.com
Gather.com
Gather or Gather.com is a social networking website designed to encourage interaction by discussion of various social, political and cultural topics. Its headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts...
echoed their praise, stating that "It's a wonderfully crisp video and starts off with a soccer scene then there's Shakira singing very uplifting and inspiring lyrics with the main point being that (This time [is] for Africa). The Waka Waka video is very colorful and bright as to be expected from Shakira, a lot of sunny yellows and red are used. Waka Waka (This time for Africa) is a great blend of pop and drums with a dash of sassy sauciness."
Live performances
Shakira and Freshlyground performed the track at the opening ceremony of the World Cup on June 10, 2010, as well as at the closing ceremony, two hours before the final match began on July 11 in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The outfits for Shakira's World cup performances were created by Italian designer Roberto Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli is an Italian fashion designer from Florence.-Biography:Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Tuscany. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a member of the Macchiaioli Movement, whose work is exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery. Cavalli decided to enroll at the local Art Institute,...
. She also performed the song at the United Kingdom's Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival 2010
The 2010 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts took place in Pilton, Somerset, England in June 2010.The festival was headlined by Gorillaz, Muse, and Stevie Wonder. U2 were initially announced as headliners, but withdrew on 25 May 2010 citing Bono's recent back surgery...
on June 26, 2010, during the World Cup competition. Before singing the song, she said, "I just performed this in South Africa and thought it would be appropriate to sing it tonight because ... there is a big match tomorrow which I'm planning to watch in some pub in east London. Let's hear you make some noise for England!" She also performed the song as the opening number of the 2010 Premios Juventud
2010 Premios Juventud
The seventh Annual Premios Juventud or "Youth Awards" was held on 15 July 2010, live on Univision. The Univision Network announced that Mexican idol Alejandro Fernández, pop artist Anahí, the kings of bachata Aventura, multiplatinum recording artist Chayanne, popular singer/songwriter Espinoza Paz,...
Awards on July 15, 2010, along with her single "Gypsy
Gypsy (Shakira song)
-Versions:There are currently three versions released. The Original Album Version which runs 3:18 seconds. The Spanish version, 3:29, which follows the same instrumental arrangement as the "original album version" but is slightly extended, and the "Radio Edit", 3:29, which was produced by...
".
World Cup kick-off
Shakira and Freshlyground performed the song at FIFA's Kick-Off Concert on June 10, 2010 in Orlando StadiumOrlando Stadium
Orlando Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Soweto, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. The stadium was originally built in 1959, at a cost of £37,500, with a capacity of 24,000....
in Johannesburg, along with her singles "She Wolf
She Wolf
She Wolf or similar can mean:*She Wolf , a 2009 album by Shakira**"She Wolf" , Shakira's first single taken from her third English studio album, She Wolf*"She-Wolf", a track from Megadeth's Cryptic Writings album...
" and "Hips Don't Lie
Hips Don't Lie
"Hips Don't Lie" is a Latin pop song based in a salsa and cumbia performed by Colombian singer Shakira and Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released in 2006 as the second single from Shakira's second English album Oral Fixation Vol. 2...
". For the opening, Shakira took to the stage in a zebra print jumpsuit under a fringe skirt resembling typical African tribal costumes, and wore leather and jeweled bracelets on her arms.
The performance was met with mostly positive critical reception. Fabiola Bohórquez Guerra from La Verdad
La Verdad
Diario La Verdad is a Venezuelan regional newspaper, headquartered in Maracaibo, in the western state of Zulia. Its slogan is "Por la libertad intelectual del Zulia" ....
wrote that "the crowning moment came with the official World Cup song, "Waka Waka", which she sang with the group Freshlyground
Freshlyground
Freshlyground is a South African Afro-fusion band that formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members variously hail from South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe...
. Dozens of singers and dancers took their places on stage to perform the infectious theme that goes It's time for Africa. With an energetic choreography, the Colombian gave football fans examples of the ideal enthusiasm to start the finals today on the playing field." Diane Coetzer from Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
said "[...] And when the first notes of the official 2010 FIFA World Cup Song, 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)' were heard and Shakira's South African collaborators - Afro-pop outfit Freshlyground – appeared, the crowd erupted into an unceasing cry of delight."
Despite criticising Shakira's choice of outfit - " [...] then came Shakira, in an ill-advised Roberto Cavalli outfit that looked like a costume from The Lion King" - in her review , Ann Powers from the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
said "'It's time for Africa,' boomed the voice of the announcer in Johannesburg's Orlando Stadium Thursday, at the climax of the all-star concert kicking off soccer's World Cup. It's time for Shakira! Thursday, her answer to those who've criticized her song was a visual as well as a musical one: She filled the stage with African dancers, singers and musicians, who almost overshadowed her as she performed the song. It was just a symbolic gesture, but a strong one in this evening-long review of pop music’s journey from Africa to every corner of the earth, and back." She added that "Despite her fashion misstep, the Colombian powerhouse made a case for herself with a set that focused on the heavy beats in her own music." Rachel Jacoby from InStyle said that "Shakira [...] stole the show during the finale with a rendition of the World Cup Anthem 'Waka Waka' in a barely-there grass skirt and cut-away top. Goooooal!"
World Cup closing ceremony
On July 7, 2010, Shakira's official website gave a sneak preview of her final outfit for the World Cup closing ceremony on July 11. The dress differed from the outfit worn at the opening ceremony, consisting of a belly-baring tulle top, embroidered with multicolor pearls and a silk fringed skirt–complete with a floral motif and animalier print. A denim belt embroidered with African style pearls and leather bracelets with floral silk appliqué completed the outfit.Diane Coetzer from Billboard said that "Shakira's second consecutive performance at the closing ceremony of a FIFA World Cup sparked an ecstatic response from the vuvuzela-blowing crowd crammed into Soweto's Soccer City. The Colombian singer - who also made a star-turn at the first ever FIFA World Cup Kick-Off a month ago (June 10) - wore a day-glo colored Roberto Cavalli outfit as she launched into "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)." Siddharth Saxena from The Times of India
The Times of India
The Times of India is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. TOI has the largest circulation among all English-language newspaper in the world, across all formats . It is owned and managed by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd...
said that "in all the riot of colour, light and laser show, Shakira came and swayed to her often heard World Cup anthem. It was all going according to plan, but the show stealer was left for the end of the closing ceremony. A surprise." CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
said "Then came the singing and the dancers, with Colombian star Shakira and Ladysmith Black Mambazo among a colourful cast of thousands singing their hearts out in celebration."
Criticism
Some South Africans complained that they would have liked a local singer to perform the song instead, and also criticized the selection of other non-African acts such as JuanesJuanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
, The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
and John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
to perform at the tournament’s kickoff concert, instead of local musicians. Stuart Derdeyn from The Province
The Province
The Province is a daily, tabloid format newspaper published in British Columbia by Postmedia. It has been a daily newspaper since 1898.According to a recent NADbank survey, The Provinces average weekday readership was 520,100, making it British Columbia's most read newspaper...
said "Red Card for bad taste.[...] This leads to sonic vomit such as Shakira's 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa),' perhaps the stupidest official song for any major sporting event ever." Amos Barshad from New York Magazine said "The song is a perfectly innocuous bit of inspiration pop — 'when you fall get up, oh oh/and if you fall get up, eh eh,' Shakira suggests at one point — with a few vague nods toward what would be identified by a majority of Western-pop-reared individuals as 'world music.' But are you prepared to hear it over and over and over again?"
Shakira responded to the issue of a non-South African singing the song, explaining that:
"The World Cup is about this melting pot, you know, in which so many cultures come together. So when Sony ... asked me to write a song for the World Cup, I decided to bring a little bit of my culture, too, which is attached to Africa through an umbilical cord. I mean, I was raised listening to music that was heavily influenced by African music ... that's how close Colombians are to African culture. So I decided to use a little of Colombian and Afro-Caribbean elements, these chants from Cameroon ... and invite a South African artist to also bring their own flavor to this song. And I thought in that way we could create a song that would be more emblematic of what the world cup spirit is, that spirit of tolerance and integration and that melting pot that South Africa is right now."
Some criticism ensued when 12 year old actor Ian Hamrick, who was to be prominently featured in the video alongside Fozzie Bear was cut by the video's editors to a crowd scene. This followed the actor's appearance in the controversial genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
depicting music video for M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
's "Born Free
Born Free (M.I.A. song)
"Born Free" is a song by recording artist M.I.A., released alongside an accompanying short film/music video of the same name from her third album, /\/\/\Y/\. "Born Free" was released as the unofficial first single from the album and premiered on internet music stores on April 23, 2010, with the...
" where his character is shot in the head at close range. Some commentators speculated this was the reason although Waka Waka's producers responded that Hamrick was always meant to be an extra in the video. Sean Michaels of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said "For at least one of the redheads terrorised in MIA's Born Free video, the persecution shows no sign of letting up...the stars of this year's World Cup anthem may not wish their audience to be reminded of MIA's ginger genocide". Hamrick said of "Born Free" that he was really “proud to be a part of M.I.A.’s shout-out to the world” because “it was a great chance to tell everyone that bully’s [sic] suck no matter what country you are from."
Track listing and formats
- Promo CD-Single
- "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" - 3:22
- German, Australian and Italian CD-Single
- Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (English Version) - 3:23
- Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (Club Mix) also known as FreemasonsFreemasons (band)Freemasons are an English dance band from Brighton, East Sussex, England. The act consists of producers Russell Small and James Wiltshire .-2005-2007: Early Career:Their name is taken from the Brighton pub, Freemasons Tavern, Hove, which they frequently...
Remix - 3:12
- Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (K-Mix) Digital Download Single
- Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (K-Mix) - 03:04
- Waka Waka (Esto es África) (K-Mix) Digital Download Single
- Waka Waka (Esto es África) (K-Mix) - 03:04
Weekly charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Airplay Chart | 1 |
| Poland (Airplay Chart) | 1 |
| Poland (Dance Top 50 Polish Music Charts The Polish Music Charts are two official album charts and seven singles charts in Poland, provided by ZPAV, the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . The first, the Top 100, is a monthly chart based on data received from the album companies... ) |
1 |
Certificates
| Country | Provider | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Gold |
| Austria | IFPI | Platinum |
| Belgium | IFPI | Platinum |
| Denmark | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
2× Platinum |
| Finland | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
Gold |
| France | SNEP | Platinum |
| Germany | BVMI Bundesverband Musikindustrie The Bundesverband Musikindustrie or simply BVMI represents the music industry in Germany. The association represents the interests of nearly 350 labels and music industry related enterprises.... |
5× Gold |
| Italy | FIMI | 3× Platinum |
| Spain | PROMUSICAE PROMUSICAE Spanish Music Producers is a trade group representing the Spanish recording industry... |
6× Platinum |
| Sweden | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
3× Platinum |
| Switzerland | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
3× Platinum |
| United States | RIAA | Platinum |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 1 |
| Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart | 2 |
| Canadian Hot 100 | 59 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 1 |
| French Singles Chart | 1 |
| European Hot 100 Singles | 4 |
| German Singles Chart | 2 |
| German Airplay Chart | 16 |
| Hungarian Airplay Chart | 4 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Netherlands Singles Chart | 4 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 141 |
| US Latin Songs | 29 |
Chart precession and succession
|-|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | May 7, 2010 | Digital download | Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... |
| Austria | May 11, 2010 | ||
| Belgium | |||
| Denmark | |||
| Finland | |||
| Italy | |||
| Netherlands | |||
| Norway | |||
| Portugal | |||
| Spain | |||
| Sweden | |||
| Switzerland | |||
| United States | |||
| United Kingdom | May 31, 2010 | ||
| United Kingdom | June 17, 2010 | Airplay/radio (Pop Mix Version) |
|
| France | July 19, 2010 | CD single |
External links
- Official Music Video Vevo