Entertainment
Anderson .Paak Talks Collaborating With Stefani & Tedder On Olympic Song
PARIS (AP) — When Anderson .Paak was tapped to record an Olympic-themed song, the Grammy winner couldn’t wait to record the track until he bumped into an unexpected obstacle: The often free-flowing artist needed to work inside a strict framework.
Paak embraced the method as a possibility to flex his latest creative muscle, which helped him on the upbeat, joyful “Hello World” with Gwen Stefani and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder.
“We hope we can bring a little bit of that spirit of celebration to the world that will stay with them,” Paak said Thursday before performing “Hello World” for the primary time at a Paris restaurant. He then played records under his other stage name, DJ Pee .Wee, for just a little over an hour.
Tedder wrote and produced “Hello World,” which is supported by the International Olympic Committee and Coca-Cola. The trick was to juggle the demands of each side for the correct message that “inspires athletes and fans” before releasing it to the masses.
“Ryan already had a really good structure and foundation of where the song would sit,” said Paak, an eight-time Grammy winner. In 2022, he and Bruno Mars, performing as Silk Sonic, won Grammys in all 4 major categories, including song and record of the 12 months for “Leave the Door Open.”
Paak has collaborated with top musicians including Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg and J. Col.
“Sometimes when I go into the studio, I just go freeform or whatever comes out,” he said. “It had certain parameters. But I think sometimes it can be a really fun exercise for artists.”
Paak said the song is suitable for people from all walks of life. It might be streamed on all major music platforms.
“I thought it would be cool to play something that didn’t have any swear words in it that my mom would like,” he said. “Grandmas and little kids can do it. I thought the groove was great. It was something that already had a strong hook. … We just wanted to make something that people could sing in big arenas.”
Other Olympic songs and anthems have been created through the years, including Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time” in 1988, Celine Dion’s “The Power of the Dream” in 1996, Björk’s “Oceania” in 2004 and Katy Perry’s “Rise” in 2016.
The IOC hopes that “Hello World” also can unite people. The song is meant to encourage greatness amongst athletes and fans in a worldwide celebration of those Olympic Games in Paris and future ones, including the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“Our collaboration on this song is another example of how we seize opportunities to jointly develop authentic and exciting initiatives that create value,” said Anne-Sophie Voumard, Director of Television and Marketing Services on the IOC.
Paak believes the song can function a motivational soundtrack, with lyrics that help lift people’s spirits during difficult times.
“When I wake up, my mood changes. When I hear the right song, my mood lifts,” he said. “I hope that through this song, these athletes… it’s kind of an anthem and mood music for them.”