BTS’ Jungkook unveils new song Dreamers at Qatar World Cup
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BTS' Jungkook is the first South Korean singer to release a World Cup song.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL – The 2022 Qatar World Cup kicked off on Sunday
He is the first South Korean singer to release a World Cup song, which he performed with Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi during the opening ceremony at Al-Bayt Stadium.
The seven-act ceremony lasted about 30 minutes, paying tribute to the 32 participating nations, previous World Cup hosts and volunteers.
Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman and Qatari social media star Ghanim Al-Muftah started the ball rolling with their appearances.
A team of dancers performed the traditional Ardah (sword dance), followed by a parade of the 32 national football teams displaying their flags and mascots.
Appearing below the Qatar World Cup’s mascot La’eeb was Jungkook, dressed in black from head to toe. The 25-year-old singer jumped around the stage with dozens of dancers, singing Dreamers. Fahad, 41, joined midway through the performance.
Dreamers is produced by Grammy-winning Moroccan producer RedOne and the lyrics celebrate “those who boldly follow their goals and dare to dream”, according to Fifa (Federation Internationale de Football Association).
Dreamers was officially released a few hours before the ceremony, and it conquered the iTunes Top Song chart in 100 countries in 12 hours.
BTS’ Jungkook (right) and Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi performing Dreamers during the Fifa World Cup 2022 opening ceremony on Nov 20.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
In the United States, the song reached No. 1 in just over two hours – the fastest time for a World Cup song.
Dreamers is the second official song Jungkook has put out independently of his group.
In June, the BTS member featured in American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth’s song Left And Right and became the longest-charting K-pop solo artiste on Billboard’s Hot 100 main singles chart, following Gangnam Style (2012) singer Psy.
Jungkook also met the South Korean national team in Qatar as a show of support.
South Korea’s first match will be against Uruguay on Thursday, followed by Ghana on Monday and Portugal on Dec 2. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
