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Football fans in the city are looking forward to the musical side-show at the FIFA World Cup

With the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony scheduled for today,the party has already begun. While most football enthusiasts are gearing up to follow their favourite team’s progress in the tournament,on the opening and closing nights,music will take centre-stage. With a line-up that includes heavyweights like Shakira,John Legend,Alicia Keys and Black Eyed Peas,fans are sure they are in for an entertaining start-off to the tournament. However,for the Indian viewers,the performance of the tournament will be from the Indian duo of Salim and Sulaiman,who will sing at the closing ceremony of the event. The two have composed a song called Africa for the football extravaganza,and it is layered with African percussion and backing vocals. “It is wonderful that we got to compose a track for an international event as big as the World Cup. The FIFA Committee heard the song and they were very happy with the results,” says Salim,about the song that has been written by his wife Jeane. It begins with You have seen it all Africa and goes on It’s the beginning of human race,Mandela is the face. “Black Eyed Peas is my favourite band but this time I will vouch for Salim-Sulaiman simply because they are the first Indians to ever perform at the FIFA World Cup. I am expecting them to do us proud in front of millions of fans,” says Ankita Mishra,a city-based football fan.

While Shakira’s Waka Waka (This time for Africa) and Akon’s Oh Africa have been getting a lot of attention,this year’s anthem,K’naan’s Waving Flag has managed to strike a chord with fans with its beautiful evocation of the spirit of football and it’s ability to break barriers and create bonds. “It is a wonderful song and apt as an anthem for the tournament. K’naan’s rendition makes it linger long after it is over. It captures the spirit of football very well,” says Gurpreet Singh Sandhu,who plays for East Bengal Football Club.

Of course,there are people like Deepak Devrani,member of the senior national soccer team and Surinder Singh,an AFC ‘C’ coaching certificate holder,who feel that Ricky Martin’s Cup of Life in 1998 was the best World Cup anthem till date. “People related to it and to the catchy beat,” quips Singh.

With so much happening in music,the World Cup hasn’t forgotten to strike the Apple store which has fabulous football applications for all the gaming freaks. FIFA World Cup by EA Sports has 105 international teams and is available in various languages. Football Manager Handheld 2010 by SEGA,X2 Football 2010,Penalty Soccer Free and iFooty by Jeremy Debate are some that will keep you up with football.

(With inputs from Suanshu Khurana and Niharika Srivastava)