Shakira "Waka waka"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0
Musical Investigation

Candiate Name: Phichai Mekkluan

Candiate Number: 0012

Analysis of Shakira “Waka Waka “(Official world cup song)

Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll. Shakira was born on February 2, 1977 in
Barranquila, Colombia.

Shakira’s “Waka Waka” has been chosen by FIFA as the official FIFA World cup 2010 song which was held
in South Africa.The title Waka Waka is influenced by a Traditional African soldier song which is called
“Zemina mina (Zanglewa).

Meaning of the lyrics

Even though the song does not contain any words related to football but is for all about soldier’s preparation
for war the song I still related to Africa and its people supporting the country.

Structure of the songs is:

Introduction

Verse 1

Chorus (which is split into to two sections)

Small instrumental section

Verse 2

Chorus (Same as the first with some changes)

Vocals solo

Chorus

Outro.

Instrumentation
The instruments in this song are; Female lead vocals, male and female backing vocals, electric guitar, bass,
drums, shakers and synthesizer, shakers and triangles.

Analysis

0:11 – 0:19 the song starts of a male vocals and a bass both playing a single not which then leads into the
Intro of the song.

0:20 – 0:34 this section is the introduction which is played by the drums, bass and sung by the male and
female vocals. There are the idea of question an answer between the male and females vocals where the
male vocals shouts out a word and females vocals response with “Waka Waka” it is repeated throughout the
Introduction.

0:34 – 0:48 the verse starts off with Shakira and a change of beat in the drums section. The Drums now only
plays the kick drum providing a constant beat. And also the Synthesizer comes in playing a chord
progression.

0:48 – 1:02 first section of chorus where the Hi- hat is introduce and at 0:55 the snares also starts to
maintain the beat giving more feel to the song. There is a short pause in the drums and synthesizer section
before moving to the second part of the chorus.

1:03 – 1:10 second part of the chorus, this section of the chorus is only played by the drums and bass and
sung by the lead vocals and one male vocals who is emphasizing the word “Zemina mina”
Then another instrumental except from the female backing vocals and the lead vocals. Then the main phrase
of the song is sung which is “Zemina mina eh eh, Waka waka eh eh Zamina mina zangalewa, This time for
Africa” The English translation of this line is “Come! Come! eh, eh. You’re doing it. You’re doing. eh, eh.
Come! Come! Who has called you?! This time for Africa”.

1:11- 1:25 this is a small instrumental section with a guitar solo which is accompanied by the drums and
bass. There is also another electric guitar playing during the solo for example at the start of the solo section
at 1:13, the second electric guitar plays only two notes and slides down to play the same two notes but only
in a different chord.

1:27 – 1:40 Second verse, the second verse is almost the same as the first verse but this time the
synthesizer does not play during this verse the bass kind of takes over the part of the synthesizer. The drums
also changes during the second verse, the drums now plays the both snares and the kick drum together and
is the same rhythm to the instrumental section. The shakers are also introduced in the second verse which is
basically replacing the Hi- hat.

1:41 – 1:49 first section chorus 2 start in which the shakers stopped playing and is replaced by the Hi – hat.

1:49 – 2:11 (with repetition) second section of chorus 2, the synthesizer rejoins and there are not change in
lyrics is the exact same phrasing from the first chorus section 2. At 2:03 however the second of part of the
chorus repeats but before the second part of the chorus repeats the lead vocals sings “Anawa a a” which
translates to “I did it, yea”

2:11 – 2:41 this section is a small vocals solo which is sung by female vocals, the triangles are also now
introduced with only the drums playing. At 2:27 the male vocals now takes over and sings “Zamina mina

Anawa a a” meaning Come! Come! I did it, yea” these two ending phrases are one of the key phrases of the
song. There are some reverb and echoes going on with the females backing vocals.

2:42 – 2:56 the chorus comes back with no changes between any instruments just the chorus is repeated
twice and first ending phrase is “eh Zamina mina zangalewa, Anawa a a” and the ending of the repeated
chorus is “This time for Africa”.

2:56 – 3:29 long outro in which the chorus is played again but this time a bit different. The chorus originally is
sung like this “Zamina mina eeh waka waka eeh” but in the outro the lyrics changes and the lead singer sins
“Django eh, eh Django eh, eh Tsamina mina zanglalewa Anawa a a” meaning “Waiting eh, eh. Waiting eh,
eh. Come, come, who asked you to come, I did yea”
The outro is then played with an electric guitar playing a short melody which then the song fades out at 327.

Drum section of Verse 1. The Drums is only playing the kick drum which provides a simple
beat and tempo to the song.