Pepsi pledged to spend about a third of its budget on social media and its Refresh Project in 2010 and it seems to be learning quickly, choosing multiple points of contact within social media and impressing with high-production values and star power. The spot, featuring a number of the world's top soccer stars, including Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ricardo Kakà (Real Madrid), Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and others, is set in a field in South Africa.
World Cup Song 2010 Akon
A group of kids ask to play the stars and lead them to a field whose boundaries are formed by the villagers. The rest of the engaging 2:30 spot I'll let you watch for yourself. (I want to discuss the social media aspects.) The soundtrack was recorded by Akon along with the award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and singers selected from around the world. Proceeds from the download of the song go to underprivileged African youth. The song will also be on Akon's new album. And, of course, there is a Pepsi \"Oh Africa\" Facebook page.
But the real question is who does the World Cup (and Africa) better: Shakira or Akon? Shakira's "Waka Waka (Time for Africa)" is THE official anthem for the 2010 World Cup. Akon's "Oh Africa" featuring Keri Hilson doubles as a charity single and the centerpiece for Pepsi's World Cup promotion. Both have infused their videos and songs with African art and singers and both stars have international clout. So who pulls it off best?
Akon often provides vocals as a featured artist and is currently credited with over 300 guest appearances and more than 35 Billboard Hot 100 songs, resulting in five Grammy Award nominations. He is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. Akon has had four songs certified as 3Ã platinum, three songs certified as 2Ã platinum, more than ten songs certified as 1Ã platinum and more than ten songs certified as gold by the RIAA. He was listed by Guinness World Records as the number-one selling artist for master ringtones in the world.
He produced and featured on Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape" which has reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Akon performed at the American leg of Live Earth. He later recorded a remix of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" by Michael Jackson for the 25th-anniversary rerelease of Jackson's Thriller. He also worked with bachata group Aventura and Reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel on All Up 2 You. The song received two nominations at the Premios Lo Nuestro 2010 for "Urban Song of the Year" and "Video Collaboration of the Year". He signed Jayko, a Hispanic R&B and Reggaeton artist, to his label.
After the unexpected death of Michael Jackson, who Akon was working with, Akon released a tribute song called "Cry Out of Joy". Akon claimed to be close friends with Jackson near the end of Jackson's life in an interview with UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning 'Blues & Soul' in October 2008. In July 2008, a song called "Hold My Hand", an R&B duet/collaboration between Michael Jackson and Akon, circulated the internet. It was not included in the tracklist for Freedom as Akon previously stated. During an interview with Tavis Smiley, Akon said that Jackson had planned on a high-profile release including a music video until the track had leaked. This is Jackson's last known song before he died on June 25, 2009. Akon finished work on the song for Jackson's posthumous album, Michael, and it was released as a single in November 2010.
Akon co-wrote and recorded "Put It on My Tab" with New Kids on the Block for their 2008 reunion album The Block. He also co-wrote and produced Leona Lewis' single "Forgive Me" and worked with X Factor 2008 winner Alexandra Burke on her debut album. He later worked with Whitney Houston for her 2009 comeback album I Look to You, appearing on the track "Like I Never Left". Akon collaborated with Pitbull on the single "Shut It Down" from the album "Rebelution" and worked with Matisyahu to remix his single "One Day" on his album Light. He also co-produced singer Natalia Kills' debut single, "Mirrors", from her debut album, Perfectionist. IsThereSomethingICanDo.com, launched On March 25, 2009, The social action collaboration project between the artists Peter Buffett and Akon has partnered with DoSomething.org, to coincide with the release of "Blood Into Gold". ..... The song reached number 1 in more than six countries and charted at 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He produced and recorded "Oh Africa" for the 2010 World Cup with Pepsi.
A single, "Angel", produced by Guetta, was released in September 2010, which peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard charts, significantly lower than his previous outings. Akon performed the song during the 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Akon travelled to Jamaica to work with Damian, Julian and Stephen Marley. Around the same time, Akon collaborated with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on "Kush", charting on number 36 on the Billboard charts. The single was first intended to from Dr. Dre's forthcoming album Detox; however, it was removed from the final album track list, with the album eventually being unreleased. He also contributed "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti", a charity single in aid of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. After an almost three-year hiatus from solo work, Akon released the promotional single "Dirty Work", featuring Wiz Khalifa, which was released in February 2013, peaking at number 31 on the Rhythmic Billboard charts.
The soundtrack, which already had songs by Davido, Lil Baby, Balqees, and Trinidad Cardona, now has a song by another famous singer. Akon has told his fans that he is going to make music for the upcoming world cup.
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