■ “We wanted to give a little strength to all the wonderful athletes and to all the people who are living their lives to the fullest today, so we went back to our roots as a band and wrote a rock number.” (Keyu Kuwata)
It has been decided that Southern All Stars’ new song “Say Hello to Joan of Arc” will be used as the theme song for TBS Sports 2024, which will be used during TBS’s live coverage of the Paris Olympics.
Speaking of the collaboration between TBS sports broadcasts and Southern All Stars, the song “Tokyo Victory” is still fresh in our memory. It was used as the theme song for the TBS-sponsored “2014 Asian Games & World Volleyball,” and was used again four years later for the “2018 Asian Games & World Volleyball.”
In addition, as the lyrics are reminiscent of the Tokyo Olympics, a talk show of the same name, “Tokyo VICTORY,” was produced in July 2019, inviting top athletes aiming for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to the studio. The show aired until September 2021, after the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games had ended.
Through various tournaments and programs like this, “Tokyo Victory” has been a part of the TBS sports scene for a total of seven years. At the same time, as one of Southern All Stars’ signature songs of the 2010s, it has become a beloved song that has encouraged people all over Japan in many situations.
In addition, as a solo work by the band’s frontman, Kuwata Keisuke, his song “SMILE ~ Like a Hareworuru Sora ~” was chosen as a support song for a joint commercial broadcasting project during the Tokyo Olympics, which was held during the coronavirus pandemic, showing how Southern All Stars have now become an indispensable presence in sports and broadcasting.
TBS Sports Broadcast and Southern All Stars have teamed up again for this song, “Say hello to Joan of Arc.” With its hard overdriven guitar, leaping piano, and throbbing rhythm section, the Southern All Stars’ rock and roll number “Say hello to Joan of Arc” is full of the genes of the great rock hall of fame that have been passed down through the generations.
The song sings about the players’ sweat and tears, the grittiness of life and their thirst for victory, and will inspire and liberate the hearts of all who listen. This summer’s strongest rock anthem has been born.
The song will be used in various situations from July 8th. Starting with the TBS broadcast of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which begins on July 26th, the song will be combined with the images of athletes in action to create even more enthusiasm and excitement.
To mark the release of the information, “Say Hello to Joan of Arc” will be introduced on an information program broadcast on TBS on July 8th. In addition, a special movie combining this song with footage of Olympians competing was also released on the TBS Sports official YouTube channel (@TBSSPORTS6) at 4:00am on July 8th.
The video is full of energy, with music overlaying footage of athletes shedding their sweat and tears, so be sure to check it out.
■ Comment from Keisuke Kuwata (Southern All Stars)
Hello to everyone watching TBS programs!
This is Kuwata Keisuke from Southern All Stars!Thank you so much for choosing us, Southern All Stars, to sing the “TBS Sports 2024 Theme Song”!!
For Southern, this is the first time we have used “Tokyo VICTORY” at the Asian Games and World Volleyball Championships in 2014 and 2018, and we are very honored to be working together again.
We are encouraged every day not only by their success on the glamorous stage, but also by the “stories of sweat and tears” of the athletes behind the scenes!
We wanted to give a little strength to the steps taken by these incredible athletes, and to all those living their lives to the fullest today, so we went back to our roots as a band and created this rock number.
As the Paris Olympics will be held this summer, I borrowed the name of a famous heroine in French history and titled this song “Greetings to Joan of Arc.”
We sincerely hope that the goddess of victory will descend upon you all!Shekena baby! Rock and roll!
My name is Kuwata Keisuke from Southern All Stars.■Comment from Masahiro Katagiri (Producer of TBS’s “Paris Olympics”)
We are very honored and excited to be teaming up with Southern All Stars again for the Paris Olympics. Southern All Stars’ songs always touch people’s hearts. Every time we listen to them, we feel positive. Through our coverage of the Olympics, we also want to deliver “exciting moments” that will give people energy for tomorrow, and we made the offer because we wanted to combine the “exciting moments” that come from sports with the exciting songs of Southern All Stars again.
I was moved when I was waiting for the song he wrote, when I first listened to it, and even now… I am looking forward to the excitement that will come when the image of athletes competing in the Paris Olympics is combined with “Regards to Joan of Arc.”
■ “Paris Olympics” TBS live broadcast (planned)
July 27th (Sat) 17:00-21:00 23:00-26:00
Judo Women’s 48kg and Men’s 60kg Preliminaries and Finals, etc.
Friday, August 2nd, 24:40-29:00
Athletics Men’s 10,000m Final, Women’s 5,000m Preliminary, etc.
August 3 (Sat) 15:30-20:00 20:30-23:00
Badminton Women’s Singles Quarterfinals
Table Tennis Women’s Singles 3rd Place Deciding Match/Final
Sunday, August 4th, 25:20-29:00
Athletics Men’s 100m semi-finals and finals, Men’s 400m qualifying, etc.
August 5th (Mon) 25:30-29:00
Track and field: Women’s 5000m final, Men’s 3000m hurdles qualifying, etc.
Wednesday, August 7th 19:30-23:00, 24:30-26:00
Skateboarding Men’s Park Qualifiers and Finals
Saturday, August 10th 15:00-18:00
Athletics Men’s Marathon
Sunday, August 11th, 18:00-21:40
Track Cycling Women’s Omnium, Men’s Keirin Finals, etc.
*The times shown are the competition times for each event.
*Program content may change without notice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8iSp2DVAzU
Southern All Stars OFFICIAL SITE
https://southernallstars.jp
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