LONDON: RedOne, the superstar music producer and award-winning songwriter, is celebrating a major victory off the pitch at the World Cup, with his new single becoming the most successful song of football’s premier event.
The single “Dreamers” of the hit-maker, who has Moroccan and Swedish heritage, was recorded by South Korean boy band BTS member Jung Kook, and is part of the official World Cup soundtrack. It reached No. 1 on the iTunes chart in more than 100 countries and is also No. 1 on Spotify’s chart worldwide.
“Dreamers,” partnered by Katara Studios, was performed at the opening ceremony in the Al-Bayt Stadium in Doha.
The single has taken the internet by storm since its release, and its official video, which debuted on Nov. 22, received 20 million views in its first 24 hours and 35 million views within five days.
A second single “Arhbo,” featuring Ozuna and Gims, and also in partnership with Katara Studios, is another anthem from the World Cup soundtrack and was used for the players’ entrance into the stadium.
“The Official FIFA World Cup soundtrack was the brainchild of RedOne, who was appointed Creative Entertainment Executive of FIFA in December 2021,” a FIFA statement said.
“Tasked with forging new and significant connections between football fans, music fans, players and artists, RedOne, who is one of the most influential figures in modern music history, has successfully harnessed his considerable gifts and a network of talent to deliver a project that unites football fans, regardless of where they come from,” it added.
In addition to Jung Kook from BTS, RedOne selected artists including Ozuna and Davido, with whom to collaborate.
RedOne, whose name is Nadir Khayat, said: “First and foremost, I am a huge football fan, so to be part of the World Cup is a profound honor. Music is synonymous with football — the emotion, the passion, the euphoria, the unexpected, the harmonious beauty, even the moments of deep reflection. And like football, music is also a universal language, it can break down barriers and truly unite people.”
As part of the official soundtrack, RedOne released the song “Hayya Hayya” (“Better Together”), which has been rocking stadiums pre-match throughout the tournament.
The track features Afrobeats icon Davido, Qatari sensation Aisha and US breakout artist Trinidad Cardona, and combines influences from around the world including R&B and reggae.
“The World Cup is a festival as well as a competition, so when I signed up with FIFA, I wanted to capture that collective spirit. I had a vision and concept to write and produce the first-ever official soundtrack for the World Cup, collaborating with talent from both the region and from around the world,” RedOne added.
