Anderson .Paak flexes new musical muscles in Olympic-themed song with Gwen Stefani and Ryan Tedder

PARIS– When Anderson.Paak was chosen for an Olympic-themed song, the Grammy winner was eager to record the track until he ran into an unexpected obstacle: the normally fluid artist had to work within a rigid framework.

Paak embraced the process, seeing it as an opportunity to exercise new creative strength. This helped him during the recording of the upbeat track “Hello World” with Gwen Stefani and OneRepublic Ryan Tedder.

“We hope to bring the world a taste of that celebratory spirit that can stay with them,” Paak said Thursday before performing “Hello World” for the first time at a Parisian restaurant. He later recorded records under his other stage name, DJ Pee .Wee, for just over an hour.

Tedder wrote and produced “Hello World,” which is being supported by the International Olympic Committee and Coca-Cola. The trick was to reconcile both parties’ demands for the right message to “inspire athletes and fans” before revealing it to the masses.

“Ryan already had a really good framework and foundation for where music was headed,” said Paak, an eight-time Grammy winner. In 2022 he and Bruno Mars acting as Silk Sonic won Grammys in all four major categoriesincluding song and record of the year for “Leave the Door Open.”

Paak has collaborated with some of music’s best, including Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg and J. Cole.

“Sometimes when I go into the studio, I just use free form or whatever comes my way,” he said. “This had some parameters. But I think sometimes it can be a really cool exercise for artists.”

Paak said the song is suitable for people from all walks of life. It can be streamed on all major music platforms.

“I thought it would be fun to play something that doesn’t have any swear words and that my mom can enjoy,” he said. “People’s grandmothers and children can use it. I thought the groove was great. It was something that already had a strong hook. … We just wanted to build something that people could sing along to in big arenas.”

Over the years, other Olympic songs and anthems have emerged, including Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time” in 1988; “The Power of the Dream” by Celine Dion in 1996; “Oceania” by Bjork in 2004 and “Rise” by Katy Perry in 2016.

The IOC hopes that “Hello World” can also bring people together. The song is intended to inspire greatness among athletes and fans in a global celebration of these Paris Olympics and future ones, including the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“Our collaboration on this song is yet another example of how we are embracing opportunities together to develop authentic and exciting initiatives that create value,” said Anne-Sophie Voumard, IOC director of television and marketing services.

Paak believes music can serve as a motivational soundtrack with words that help uplift those in difficult times.

“When I wake up, my mood changes. When I hear the right music, I’m in a better mood,” he said. “I hope that with this music, these athletes… will be kind of an anthem and mood music for them.”

___

AP Summer Olympics: