Stevie Wonder Gives BBC ‘Another Star’
Stevie Wonder has made a slightly controversial decision this week, by giving the BBC permission to use one of his tracks over the opening sequence for all of the corporation’s football coverage of this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Rio.
The Tamla-Motown legend, whose salsa-flavoured track, ‘Another Star’, will inject a little carnival atmosphere into the coverage, is known for not allowing his music to be used for such purposes as accompanying television titles. However, BBC officials were delighted when he agreed to let his song be used as part of the summer coverage for the big event.
Although released as a single, taken from the critically-acclaimed 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life, ‘Another Star’ reached a modest number 29 in the UK chart. However, after playing the song with Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams (as part of a medley with ‘Get Lucky’) at the Grammy Awards in January, Wonder, 64, saw a sudden increase in sales, demonstrating the track’s popularity with modern audiences.
‘Another Star’ will feature in the opening sequence for all of the BBC’s World Cup programming, making its debut on Wednesday the 11th of June during a BBC1 preview show for the competition. Stevie Wonder will follow in the footsteps of previous artists whose songs have been used as World Cup anthems; Pavarotti’s version of ‘Nessun Dorma’, which was sung at the final in Italy back in 1990, perfectly captured the grandeur of the country – and BBC officials are hoping that Wonder’s Latin-inflected track will capture the spirit of Brazil and get supporters in the celebratory carnival mood!
“This song perfectly captures the feel-good, carnival atmosphere we will bring to our viewers during the World Cup this summer,” said Ian Finch, senior producer for BBC Sport. “It is very rare for an artist of this stature to approve the use of their music in this way, so we are thrilled and honoured to have the opportunity.”
The World Cup will take place this summer between the 12th of June and the 13th of July, with UK television coverage split between the BBC and ITV. Stevie Wonder will soon take to the stage again, at an outdoor concert on Clapham Common on the 29th of June.