2002FIFAWorldCupAnthemEUFrontIntroduction

In the summer of 2002 the FIFA World Cup football championship was organized in Japan and South Korea. As an official theme for the event Vangelis composed ‘Anthem’, which was extensively played during official ceremonies, television specials and football matches, this way reaching an audience of millions of television viewers worldwide.

Vangelis’ composition premiered on the 1st of December 2001 when it was played live by an orchestra conducted by Blake Neely during the drawing ceremony at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in South Korea. A single release followed on the 27th of March 2002 in Japan, including both the orchestral and Vangelis’ original synthesizer versions, whereas a European release of the single early in May 2002 added two DJ remixes of the theme, by JS16 and Takkyu Ishino. The latter remix was released separately in Japan on a CD single as well as a 12” maxi single.

Several promotional releases of Anthem would be interesting for completists and collectors, for instance a promotional 12” maxi single that includes the JS16 Club Mix, a longer version of the JS16 remix. Also worth a mention is the Japanese promotional CD single that includes Anastacia’s ‘Boom’ as well as an early mix of Vangelis’ synthesizer version, and several promotional CD’s that feature snippets and jingles for media broadcasts.

To promote the singles no less than three videoclips were made, one for Vangelis synthesizer version, one for the JS 16 remix and one for the Takkyu Ishino remix. Apart from the singles Anthem was also made available on the Official Album Of The 2002 FIFA World Cup (sometimes issued as ‘Fever Pitch’) and the 2002 FIFA World Cup Songs of Korea/Japan album.

After the success of ‘Conquest Of Paradise’ in 1995 and "Mythodea" in 2001 the FIFA World Cup Anthem was another major exposure for Vangelis that reached a global audience. ’Anthem’ was especially successful in Japan, where the single sold more than 100,000 copies and reached the 5th place in the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart in July 2002. It was awarded ‘Song of the Year’ by the Recording Industry Association of Japan in March 2003.

 

2002FIFAWorldCupAnthemTakkyuIshinoFrontTracklist and credits

  1. Anthem (orchestral version with choral intro)1
  2. Anthem (synthesizer version)2
  3. Anthem (JS 16 remix) (radio edit)3
  4. Anthem (Takku Ishino remix) (radio edit)4

1 London Metropolitan Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Blake Neely. With KODO: Kim Duk Soo, Lee Jun Woo, Han Jae Seok and Han Sang Uk.
2 Music composed, arranged, performed and produced by Vangelis.
3 Additional production and remix by Jaakko Salovaara and Heikki Liimatainen.
4 Engineered by Takkyu Ishino and Takashi Watanabe.

  • Music composed, arranged and produced by Vangelis.
  • Electronic keyboards by Vangelis.

 

Discography

CD

  • 2002 The Official Album Of The 2002 FIFA World Cup (Epic, also issued as ‘Fever Pitch’ in several countries), released worldwide. Includes ‘Anthem’ JS Radio Edit and Orchestral versions.
  • 2002 The Official Album Of The 2002 FIFA World Cup (PROMO 02 Sony Music) Spain. Promotional 4-track sampler, includes ‘Anthem’ JS Radio Edit.
  • 2002 2002 FIFA World Cup Songs of Korea/Japan (Sony Music), released in Asia. Includes ‘Anthem’ Takkyu Ishino remix. 

2002FIFAWorldCupAnthemJPPromoCD single

  • 2002 Anthem (Sony Classical SICP 102) Japan (2-track version: orchestral and synthesizer version)
  • 2002 Anthem (Sony Classical SICP 102) Japan (2-track version: orchestral and synthesizer version) promotional
  • 2002 Anthem (Sony Classical SSK 89991) Europe (4-track version: includes JS16 and Takkyu Ishino remixes)
  • 2002 Anthem (Sony Classical SSK 55982) Europe (4-track version: includes JS16 and Takkyu Ishino remixes) promotional
  • 2002 Anthem Takkyu Ishino remix (Ki/oon Records KSCP 924) Japan (2-track version: includes Anthem Takkyu Ishino remix radio edit and full version)
  • 2002 Anthem Takkyu Ishino remix (Ki/oon Records KSCP 924) Japan (2-track version: includes Anthem Takkyu Ishino remix radio edit and full version) promotional
  • 2002 2002 FIFA World Cup Official Anthem (Epic 80014) Japan (2-track version: ‘Official Anthem’ (early mix of the synthesizer version) and ‘Boom’ by Anastacia)
  • 2002 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, Official Jingles And Snippets (Sony SAMPCM 11401-2) United States (includes ‘Boom’ by Anastacia, ‘Anthem’ by Vangelis and a collection of snippets and jingles of both songs) promotional
  • 2002 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, Official Song, Anthem, Jingles And Snippets (Sony SAMPCM 11375-2) United States (includes ‘Boom’ by Anastacia, ‘Anthem’ by Vangelis and a collection of snippets and jingles of both songs) promotional

12” maxi single

  • 2002 Anthem (Sony Classical SAS 55952) UK (promotioal). Includes JS16 Club Mix, Orchestral version with choral introduction, Takkyu Ishino remix and the Synthesizer version. The JS16 Club Mix is exclusive to this single.
  • 2002 Anthem Takkyu Ishino remix (Ki/oon SYUM 0225) Japan. Includes Anthem Takkyu Ishino remix radio edit and full version.

 

Recording studio

The different versions of ‘Anthem’ were recorded in different studios:

  • The orchestral version was recorded in Barbican Hall in London on the 17th of November 2001, Nanjang Studio in Seoul on the 23rd of November 2001 and Sony Music Studios in London on the 7th of December 2001.
    Recorded and mixed by Philippe Colonna and Frederick Rousseau.
  • The synthesizer version was recorded somewhere in Athens, Greece. Recorded and mixed by Philippe Colonna and Frederick Rousseau.
  • The JS 16 remix was mixed by Jaakko Salovaara and Edgar Tompson at 16 Inch Studios.
  • The Takkyu Ishino remix was engineered by Takkyu Ishino and Takashi Watanabe at Action Studio and Montag Studio in Tokyo, Japan.

 

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