World Cup Finale

On a cheerier note, regarding the World Cup, I have to urge you to catch the beginning of the final match. I was lucky enough to watch a private performance in Zimbabwe of a twenty something orphan, named Taps, who will be performing at the finale. Taps was abandoned as an orphan at two days old and has overcome great obstacles to reach where he is today. He managed to get a scholarship at a music school in LA and is studying there now.

The song that Taps will be performing at the finale of the World Cup has a great story behind it as well. After several weeks in the US, Taps was feeling homesick and was bemoaning to his friend. Like a good friend, he told him that as a musician he should get it out of his system by going to write a song about it. He said fine, “I’ll go and write the best song I’ve ever written.” That is just what he did.

Whether in a private performance or with the whole world watching him, the first cord of Taps’ music hits you. You would vote for him on African Idol, or American Idol for that matter. The song, entitled Africa, is about storytelling and how Africa has had its story written by others over the centuries. Now it is time for Africans to come together and write their own story for the continent.

How Taps made it to the World Cup is also very karmic. Taps’ music was picked up by Oprah and he was flown out to Chicago to meet with Oprah’s team. She herself was in a live show, so they haven’t had the pleasure to meet yet. He is supposed to do a show with Oprah in September, so this won’t be the last you will hear of Taps. So while he is meeting with her staff, they start talking about how they really have to try and get Taps to perform Africa at the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

So the night that Taps arrives back in LA, he goes over to a get together at a friend’s house, who also happens to be a writer for Hollywood. He shares his stories about Oprah, and how the team had talked about trying to get him to perform at the World Cup. As it so happens, the Vice President of FIFA was at that party, and he was in like Flynn.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to watch Taps perform, as well as the finale. If you do get a chance to watch it, please drop me a note to let me know what you thought.

Cheers,

Miel