August 23 – A Qatar 2022 news item and with all the concerns around accommodation, at a quick glance and it could almost read Airbnb. It isn’t, in fact it is Arhbo, the new single from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Official Soundtrack.
Described as “upbeat”, it will come as solace for fans that are feeling downbeat, or beaten down, by the near impossibility of booking accommodation in Qatar for this winter’s World Cup.
‘Arhbo’ is the local slang word for “welcome” in Qatar, and comes from the Arabic word ‘Marhaba’. Perhaps the Arabic word for ‘good luck’ … getting a place to say, not getting arrested with your rainbow flag, and getting an alcoholic beverage that won’t require taking out a third mortgage (on top the second one you took to get here), would be more appropriate.
The video for the song premiered on Friday and follows on from the global hit Havya Havya (Better together) – you should be getting the not-so-subliminal message that would make even Disney cringe.
God (whichever one you follow) help us if the football gets even a little bit competitive, spicy and – please, please don’t let it happen – unfriendly.
RedOne (a person apparently, not a card), who is FIFA’s Creative Entertainment Executive, said: “I’m very honoured to be part of this wonderful World Cup in Qatar. We get to celebrate football and music together and welcome each other and celebrate being together and doing the things we love! These opportunities are rare; we need to grab and embrace them! That is the meaning, the heart and soul of Arhbo: ‘Welcome, brothers and sisters, wherever you are from! Let’s get together and celebrate!’”
The latest song features Puerto Rican multiplatinum award-winning superstar Ozuna and French-Congolese rapper Gims, who, according to FIFA, has the dubious, perhaps career-ending, distinction of being “the first French-speaking artist to produce and perform a World Cup soundtrack”.
The really good news in all this is that there are even more releases to come off the album – most sports events have a theme track, FIFA has a whole album, because that’s the way they monetise.
“The Official Soundtrack, spearheaded by the FIFA Sound strategy (help!!! they have a strategy), will feature more new releases as the tournament’s kick-off approaches,” said FIFA.
Who needs a kick off to spoil the party, just buy the album, stream the music and soak up the love.
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