Pump up the volume on the unofficial song

FIFA World Cup 2014 soccer ball.

So, do you get a little funky to the Ole Ole? Or is it more about the La La La? Give me your preferred baseline.

If there is a competition more fierce than Fifa World Cup's Brazil vs Croatia opener or tomorrow morning's "Group of Death" game between Italy and England, it is the raging debate about what's pumping on the arena stereo systems alongside them.

As the most-watched sporting event in the world, Fifa World Cup is as much about the social and cultural elements as it is about the cross kicks and who gets pulled down inside the penalty box.

It is spectacle that crosses all boundaries, bringing in a global television audience which includes many who have, to quote screwball film BASEketball, "no understanding of the game itself, but are nonetheless fascinated by the flickering images and the bright pretty colours".

So understandably, much of the social media discussion has not been about soccer itself, but rather why we can't get a decent sing-along going?

The licensing rights to produce and perform Fifa 2014's official theme were keenly fought over within the music industry, given the guaranteed revenue that will be generated from a sure-fire chart-topper.

This year's rendition We Are One by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull and Bronx-born Puerto Rican singer Jennifer Lopez, with a glorified cameo from Brazilian star Claudia Leitte, left a lot to be desired.

Now, much of the slamming of this dead-eyed pop number has revolved around the lack of Brazilian musical culture, given this is "their" tournament, with Leitte only getting a verse-line in edgeways in the native Portuguese.

I for one, have little problem with that there are only so many influences which can be infused into a three-minute track that must circumnavigate the globe.

Remember the stink in 2011 when our own Kiwi rockers The Feelers covered Brit group Jesus Jones' 1990 hit Right Here, Right Now for the Rugby World Cup's advertising campaign, all because it was not "local enough" despite the fact World In Union has always been the official theme?

I've got no issue with a football song designed for worldwide consumption being prominently in English and Spanish. My problem is that it's just not any good.

Pitbull has made a good career turning clever phrases over virtually meaningless occurrences his most recent hit Timber with hot-mess singer Ke$ha was about little more than getting on to a dance floor and taking a rather large beverage with you.

And that's a song I liked, because while well-entrenched in my 30s, I still enjoy a large beverage and then heading on to a dance floor.

However, trying to turn that carefree style into the backdrop for a 84-year-old sports spectacle, which inspires nationalism to the point of wars breaking out, has created nothing but rhythmic fertiliser.

Online, there has been a massive swing in favour back to Colombian artist Shakira, whose Fifa 2010 jump-around Waka Waka received a much more positive reception, although the inherent criticism that the song did not include enough African musical elements was there as well.

Recognising this trend, while also being a fan of the sport given her Spanish beau, Gerard Pique, is one of football's leading players, Shakira modified her recently penned piece Dare to create the unofficial La La La (Brasil 2014), which is seen as the spiritual successor to Waka Waka.

And you know what? It ain't half bad. Brazilian beats and an electronica influence have seen the music video top 108 million hits on YouTube.

Of course, being unofficial means the song's video contains no actual Fifa game footage to get you pumped, although world renowned players like Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cesc Fbregas do make their own appearances.

Therefore, I recommend tracking down some pirate videos that actually steal the action sequences from We Are One and splice them into La La La that's guaranteed to get the sports and dance fan within you bopping along quite merrily.

Belo!

*'Beautiful' in Portuguese.