Eight songs that could be anthems for the Rio Olympics
The 2016 Rio Olympics officially begin with opening ceremonies on Friday night at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although the U.S. Women’s National Team already secured its first Olympic victory against New Zealand on Wednesday evening, Olympic action won’t really ramp up across all 40 events until Saturday. And from then on, you will undoubtedly hear Katy Perry’s song “Rise” umpteen times on NBC’s Olympic coverage until closing ceremonies on August 21. “Rise” was selected as the 2016 Rio Olympics’ anthem of sorts, to be used before and during the Games.
Perry released the surprise single specifically for the Olympics. She said, in part, in a statement, “I was inspired to finish it now, rather than save it for my next album, because now more than ever, there is a need for our world to unite,” the Grammy nominee said in a statement. “I know that together we can rise above the fear – in our country, and around the world. I can’t think of a better example than the Olympic athletes, as they gather in Rio …”
It’s hard to believe that any song could be a better fit as an Olympic anthem than a song that Perry crafted specifically for that use. (And, to be clear, it is a lovely song.) But then you remember that there are millions of songs in the world, at least one song for everything in life, and music is made to be open for interpretation for each listener, and then brainstorming different options for an Olympic anthem isn’t so hard. Below are eight songs that have taken our world by storm recently and, I feel, are perfect fits for the Olympic Games.
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ, “Cold Water”
And if you feel you're sinking, I will jump right over/Into cold, cold water for you/And although time may take us into different places/I will still be patient with you/And I hope you know/I won't let go
“Cold Water” will appear on Major Lazer’s upcoming album, Music Is The Weapon, but the single has already proved itself a hit by becoming No. 1 in over 60 countries since its July 22 release and is currently No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. This fact obviously proves the song’s lyrics' global appeal, which is important given the Olympics is a competitive convergence of the entire world.
Jon Bellion, “Maybe IDK”
First of all: if you have never exposed yourself to Jon Bellion’s music before, start listening now. It is an explosion for the senses, just like the Olympics are. With that said, there is no better song than “Maybe IDK” or platform than the Olympics to be introduced to Bellion. “Maybe IDK” is the sixth track on Bellion’s debut studio album The Human Condition, which was released on June 10, 2016.
The song explores Bellion’s struggle with accepting uncertainty, and then eventually discovering that it’s perfectly fine—and almost the entire point of life—to not know what’s going to happen. In the pre-chorus, Bellion sings, “Although I guess if I knew tomorrow/I guess I wouldn’t need faith/I guess if I never fell, I guess I wouldn’t need grace/I guess if I knew His plans, I guess He wouldn’t be God.”
Bellion’s original intent for the song, it appears, is to highlight his ongoing relationship with faith and God, but the words can easily be maneuvered to highlight an Olympic athlete’s anxieties when getting ready to compete in an event you have trained your entire life for and an opportunity that only presents itself to you every four years.
OneRepublic, “Wherever I Go”
Ryan Tedder, OneRepublic’s frontman, is one of the best songwriters we have, and so to pair his talents with those of the best athletes we have is a weird fantasy of mine. The verse(s) I’ve picked out from this song vividly illustrate what I imagine an Olympic athlete feels when comparing the adrenaline of competing for their countries on the largest stage against almost anything else in life. Recently, U.S. swimmer Allison Schmitt beautifully spoke out to ESPN’s Bonnie D. Ford about the mental and emotional struggles of coming down off of this high for Olympic athletes after the Games.
The Chainsmokers’ latest single, “Closer,” is hitting its stride perfectly in sync with the Olympics. “Closer” is currently No. 1 on the iTunes charts, and its lyrical narrative is about a couple who hasn’t seen each other in four years but are reminded why and how much they love each other as soon as they reunite—absolutely descriptive of the Summer Olympics and its athletes every four years.
Justin Bieber, “I’ll Show You”
Most importantly, I specifically want “I’ll Show You” to play over a video montage of U.S. Olympic swimmer—and most decorated Olympian of all-time—Michael Phelps carrying the American flag in the opening ceremonies because of his massive swimming comeback and personal overhaul for the better. But remembering that these world-class athletes are human beings just like everybody else who is watching them is applicable to everybody involved. While athletic feat is the spine of the Olympics, the emotional journeys each athlete took to reach their dreams along with the emotional moments caught on camera during the competitions are just as vital.
Drake, “Summer Sixteen”
All summer sixteen/...Looking like a damn football team/All in the same thing/All repping one thing/Looking for revenge
I went to Drake’s Summer Sixteen Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 23, and when Drake opened the show with “Summer Sixteen” I, for one, was ready to conquer the entire world. Aside from that, the connection between a song titled “Summer Sixteen” and an Olympics happening during August 2016 is obvious.
Demi Lovato, “Confident”
This is said, felt and thought by every athlete, ever.
Beyonce, “Formation”
Okay, okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, cause I slay
Full disclosure: this is included for two reasons. First, Beyonce is Beyonce. Second, the U.S. Women’s National Team is the most badass group of women in the world when it comes to soccer, or football—trophies and statistics back this opinion up extensively and make it fact to some extent. This song could be applied to any of the awesome women competing in the Olympics. I understand “Formation” not being the Olympic anthem given it excludes men, and Beyonce created the song for a specific social movement and that is not to be diminished, but it still has crossover appeal.
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