Thread: R. Kelly Set to Perform 'Sign Of A Victory' at FIFA World Cup

Apparantly those other U.S. artists (John Legend, Alicia Keys etc.) will perform on June 10, at the opening concert. And Kells probably will perform at the opening ceremony, on June 11, a couple of hours before the 1st game..

R.Kelly looks happy

Thanks for the updates. Looking forward to his performance.

R Kelly flying high ahead of Opening Ceremony

(FIFA.com) Wednesday 9 June 2010

Just days away from the biggest gig of his career, opening the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, international R&B star R Kelly joked that he was so delighted to have his song chosen as the tournament's official anthem he would have been happy to walk to Johannesburg, let alone fly.
The American producer has won multiple awards during a glittering music career, including three Grammys, but this, the 31-year-old says, stands alone as the highlight.
"This is my World Cup, musically, and I'm very honoured to be a part of it," revealed the American, whose trademark song 'I Believe I Can Fly' is clearly the mantra by which he lives his life. "Any time you are involved in something this big and this historical, it automatically lets you know that you can fly too, in your own life. I believe I can fly. But I couldn't believe that this particular song was chosen, although I felt it was custom-made for this event."
'Sign of a Victory' is an inspirational collaboration with the Soweto Spiritual Choir, a group Kelly linked up with following some in-depth research by one of his consultants, prompted by the singer-songwriter's desire to work with "a beautiful choir". The finished article is widely thought to be one of the finest tracks the R&B star has penned, and is the product of considerable research on Kelly's part, with the American admitting that his football knowledge has only recently been acquired.

This is my World Cup, musically, and I'm very honoured to be a part of it. R Kelly, international R&B star

"I believe in doing my research for something this big, so I went and got some books and watched soccer, and I really started getting into it," he said. “And two days later the song just started coming to me. I have a much better respect for soccer right now because of this whole World Cup.
"I grew up on the south side of Chicago, in 'the 'hood'," he added. "We had nothing and we used to kick whatever we could find around in the street – cans, bottles ... each other if we got mad enough! Basketball was pretty much the thing then, but on TV, every now and then, you could flick to a channel and see soccer. The only problem is that I didn't know the rules, I didn't know the game. It looked interesting, though, very interesting. But at that age, 12 or 13, you are just waiting for that ball to go in the back of the net – and I've been waiting on that ever since!"
Despite their traditional thirst for more visible results when it comes to sport, Americans, says Kelly, are currently in the grip of FIFA World Cup™ fever. And he includes himself in that. "Everywhere I go people are talking to me about it. They say, 'I hear you're doing the World Cup'. And I've been bragging,'You know I'm going to be opening up the World Cup!'. I'm telling everybody about it, but everybody already seems to know. It's the biggest thing I've ever been involved with, it really is."
The fact the tournament is being held in Africa for the first time too, is not lost on the international star, who has long harboured a desire to visit the continent. "It's extra special doing it here in South Africa, more special than anywhere else," he said, “because I believe that humanity, the spirit of people and DNA all started right here, in Africa."
R Kelly will be one of 1,581 performers at the Opening Ceremony at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Friday, alongside a host of big names from around the world, including TKZee, Shakira, Alicia Keys and the Black Eyed Peas, as well as Algeria's Khaled, Ghana's Osibisa and Hip Hop Pantsula. It will be watched by hundreds of millions of people in more than 215 countries and is likely to be the biggest pop extravaganza in the continent's history.
Kelly hopes the occasion, and his song will leave a lasting legacy in Africa and beyond. "I want my song to go beyond what I wrote it for and, perhaps, touch people all around the world and inspire them," he said. "I'm really hoping that with this song we can promote world peace first, and help with global-warming, and humanity around the world. This is my hope. I believe that music can guide us and lead us into a world of peace."
For the next few weeks, however, football is the name of the game. So, who does the R&B star believe will leave the Rainbow Nation as world champions this summer? "As far as that is concerned I have no idea," he laughed. "So, I'm going for South Africa!"
* Gates to Soccer City open at 10am (local time) on 11 June, with the Opening Ceremony starting at 2pm. Fans are urged to be seated by 1pm.

I checked the World Cup site in college earlier and saw that.. main news article on the opening page.

He seems so happy to be apart of this, I can't wait for the performance.

Cape gets ready for a great kick-off

It's A race against the clock for organisers of Cape Town's Fifa Fan Fest as they prepare the stage for some of the world's top artists, including award-winning R&B superstar R Kelly.

Tomorrow night's Cape Town Welcomes the World bash on the Grand Parade will kick-start 32 days of partying and soccer madness in the city.

Capetonians will be the first to see R Kelly on stage since his arrival in the country on Sunday. He is set to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony on Friday before the opening match between Bafana Bafana and Mexico at Joburg's Soccer City.

Yesterday Fan Fest organisers were still hard at work trying to get the stage ready for tomorrow night's grand performance in Cape Town.

A massive red and white dome has been built on the Grand Parade, where refreshments and branded products will be sold.

The entire parade precinct has been revamped with large screens, bars, chill-out zones and food and beverage stalls.

More than 100 artists, including emerging talent, are scheduled to perform between matches.

"From Thursday night, we will surprise the world," said mayor Dan Plato.

"We will do it better than all the other countries that have ever hosted the Fifa World Cup."

Plato said the World Cup gees was not flags flying on poles, but a feeling in the hearts of all Capetonians.

"The vibe is here and it's been here for the past few months," he said.

"We are ready. Our line-up is spectacular. The real McCoy has arrived."

About 200 caterers will work tirelessly behind the scenes to feed the thousands of football fans who are expected to arrive at the Fan Fest every day during the tournament.

They range from butchers to bakers and chefs and kitchen and serving staff.

On the menu will be traditional Cape dishes of Malay chicken curry, lamb neck potjiekos, boerewors rolls and biltong.

Burgers, hot dogs, chicken prego rolls, fried fish strips, calamari, lasagna, vegetable soup, vegetarian pizza and French fries will also be served, and all dishes will be halaal.

The ovens will be fired up from 2am every morning to bake an estimated 150 000 bread rolls and buns

Chefs on site will prepare Vienna sausages, hamburger patties, chicken and an anticipated 7km of boerewors to fill the freshly baked rolls.

Curries, potjiekos and soup will be freshly prepared in 30-litre pots on site.

All 64 World Cup games will be screened live at the fan park, which will be open from 11am until 11pm on match days.

Four other public viewing areas, in Athlone, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Bellville, will also be open for Bafana matches, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.

The Fan Fest will be able to accommodate an estimated 25 000 people, with an overflow along Darling Street, which will take 15 000 people.

Locals will be notified via radio news broadcasts and the city's "digital variable information" boards, on the N1 and N2 highways, when the Fan Park and Fan jols are full.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click...512777&set_id=

Video of an interview:

YouTube - Lusanda chats to R Kelly

great interview by our man i`m really happy this is a big thing for him

Awesome interview, and awesome find !!!!!!

great find guys,,,thanx for the updates..he really is over excited and he will do a great performance...spice it up a bit...