Rio 2016 launches official song of Olympic Torch Relay
Artists mix six Brazilian musical genres to recreate a classic hit from the 1950s
The Torch Relay will visit more than 300 Brazilian towns and cities (Rio 2016/Marcos de Paula)
“My life is walking across this country, to see if one day I can rest happy.” The words of Luiz Gonzaga (1912-1989) eternalised in the song Life of a Traveller, today dictates the rhythm of the 12,000 people who are carrying the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch more than 20,000km across the five regions of Brazil.
Officially launched on Friday (20 May) by the Rio 2016 organising committee, the song, which has been played since the torch relay began on 3 May, updates the original 1953 hit by mixing in six musical genres typical of Brazil.
The new version was created by Marcelo Jeneci, Luan do Forró Estilizado, Cesar Menotti and Fabiano, Sorriso Maroto, Roberta Sá, and MC Koringa and Malta in the styles of Brazilian pop, forró, sertanejo, samba, funk and rock, respectively.
Listen to the song
“It was a challenge to get all these styles into one song, but in the end it all flowed naturally and we were really happy with the result,” said Marcelo Frauches, director of Projetos Artísticos da Som Livre.
Bruno Cardoso, singer with Sorriso Maroto, said: “For us musicians to interpret a song by Luiz Gonzaga was a privilege. It was really cool.”
The song will be available to download and stream from the start of next week.
