Olympia-Song - Motivation through Music: Clueso and his Olympia-Song
In professional sports, Clueso from Erfurt has never been attracted. For football, he was "too heavy" and the methods in DDR-gymnastics were too brutal for him. "I had really tied myself up with bands to tables so that the bus, which wanted to pick me up, wouldn't take me. It was very hard, and back then my brother and I didn't care for it," the 44-year-old told the German Press Agency. At least musically, Clueso ("Winner", "Chicago") has made it to the Olympics. The songwriter sings the official song for the German team. "For ever now" is released today.
Music is a constant companion for athletes and athletes on their way to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Music connects, comforts, motivates and tells stories – like sports. So the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) justified the decision to commission a team song for the first time. They wanted to give the Olympic participants from Team Germany "a musical companion for their unique journey, so that they are always reminded of their stories and emotions."
The track, which lasts only 140 seconds, has a catchy pop beat, brass, choirs, and a simple refrain ("And we run past all of them, no one expected us. Set a monument in time. For ever now"). For a motivational song, the text doesn't have to delve too deep, finds Clueso. His first attempts at songwriting were too pretentious. He then decided to approach the topic through conversations with the sports stars.
Failure for success: Clueso sings about "Risses in Gold"
"Many people don't see how often you have to fail to win. I know that from music too. That you often have to fail and often also get a lot of resistance from your friends and family with the motto: 'Why are you doing that in the first place?'"
In the second strophe, the Thuringian, who was once a passionate breakdancer, sings about these two sides of the medal: "How often do we only see perfection? And not the cracks in the gold. We top our best time, just like Usain Bolt."
For Clueso, writing a song for the Olympic team was a balancing act: On the one hand, the athletes should recognize themselves in the text lines. On the other hand, he wanted to present the song at his concerts after the games from Paris. That's why the songwriter starts with a party song above all else.
Olympic stars rely on cabin DJs and loud music
The former gymnastics world champion Pauline Schäfer-Betz (27) looks forward to the song premiere of the German team. "You notice at the European Football Championship that the team spirit is also intensively promoted through music. If a song contributes to the fans identifying with Team Germany, I find that a wonderful thing."
Music is important for many top athletes in reality to get in the mood before training or competition. The German hockey team has even appointed an "in-house DJ", and individual athletes like kitesurfer Jannis Maus (28) reach for their playlists. "Before I go out on the water, I listen to loud music and block out everything else."
A song for the German Olympic team is new musically, but the organizers have been underpinning the Games with music for decades. The epic duet "Barcelona" by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé caused a stir in 1992, although the British singer died only a few months before the opening ceremony.
The mother of all Olympic hymns, Whitney Houston's imposing "One Moment In Time," was played only at medal presentations and television broadcasts during the 1988 Seoul Games. However, it later became a worldwide hit. Megastars like Gloria Estefan (1996, Atlanta), Björk (2004, Athens), Sarah Brightman (2008, Beijing), and Muse (2012, London) have also been musical Olympians.
It is still unknown who will sing the official song for the Paris Games, which begin on July 26. German athletes, surfers, and women's football teams celebrate their medals with Clueso - who will perform the day after the opening ceremony in the German fan zone in Paris.
Press release from DOSB Clueso on Instagram Song snippet on YouTube
Clueso, hailing from Erfurt, Germany, has had a different journey in professional sports, finding football and DDR-gymnastics not appealing due to their demands. Nevertheless, he found success in music, penning the official song for the German team at the Olympic Games. His track, titled "For ever now," is a motivational anthem that resonates with athletes' emotions and stories.
The German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) commissioned a team song for the first time, acknowledging music's role in connecting, comforting, and motivating athletes. Clueso approached the task by engaging in conversations with sports stars, ensuring the text would resonate with them.
Failure and resistance are recurring themes in Clueso's lyrics, drawing parallels between music and sports. He sings about the cracks in the gold and the need to fail before winning, a sentiment well-known to athletes.
Former gymnastics world champion Pauline Schäfer-Betz looks forward to the song premiere, recognizing music's role in promoting team spirit at events like the European Football Championship. Many top athletes use music to get into the right frame of mind before training or competition, with some even appointing an "in-house DJ."
The Olympic Games have a long history of incorporating music, with famous artists like Freddie Mercury, Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan, Björk, and Sarah Brightman contributing to the Games' atmosphere. The official song for the Paris Games is yet to be announced, but Clueso will perform at the German fan zone following the opening ceremony.
The official song for the German team at the Olympic Games brings a unique blend of music and sports, providing athletes with a musical companion during their journey. For Clueso, the songwriting process was a balancing act, ensuring the athletes would recognize themselves in the lyrics while also making it suitable for his post-Games concerts.
Pyrotechnics and loud music await Olympic stars in Paris, as they gear up for their unique experiences at the Games. Clueso's music, with its catchy beat and simple refrain, is designed to mobilize and motivate, echoing the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Clueso's song, a testament to the power of music in sports, is now available for listening on YouTube. The song title, "For ever now," encapsulates the enduring impact of music on athletes, reminding them of their stories and emotions throughout their journeys.
With music playing a pivotal role in professional sports and the Olympic Games, artists like Clueso continue to inspire and motivate athletes, bridging the gap between music and sports. The "Risses in Gold" singer has mastered this art, using his lyrics to resonate with athletes and captivate audiences, turning failure into success.
