oceania song oceania song recorded singer sixth studio album written produced additional writing production song written singer specially summer olympics opening ceremony request oceania released promotional single song written ocean point view singer believes life emerged details human evolution whilst accompanied choir oceania generally received music critics believed best track thought best choice promotional release accompanying music video song directed features mother oceania whilst jewel dark depths colourful sunset floral creatures remix song featuring additional lyrics vocals point view continents featured single piano version appeared dvd single assisted creation song premiered performance summer olympics ceremony later included setlist 47th grammy awards nominated category cover versions oceania times sampled background composition commissioned song specially summer olympics opening ceremony singer revealed committee asked kind ivory world type song smashing tunes according thought maybe angle tried write olympic lyric sports ended laughing called poet previously collaborated songs fourth studio album said need suitably epic olympics poet took short course greek mythology oceania song recorded said song incredibly honoured asked write song sing olympics song written point view ocean surrounds land watches humans millions years evolution sees borders different races religion core games interview british radio station explained recording process saying work oceania kept delayed wanted especially olympics day mixing thought needed like greek mythology called english choir record sounds singer arrangement piano computer impossible piano play got sing called recommended new bright hope hip hop scene went record day asked techno beat recalling work song day mixing commented fun end good work gun head sit long ideas adrenaline good thing song written ocean point view detailing human evolution according paste magazine calls listeners attention mother oceania singer believes life emerged whilst sings left wet embrace ashore song anchors punctuated bubbling synth propelled rolling according reviewer line song sweat sweat little land according singer new_york magazine considered lyrics frank oceania features london choir entertainment_weekly writer commented computer enhanced choir suggests cosmic pleased sea proud creatures spit land million years nearest come having gospel tune remixes remix version oceania featuring additional lyrics vocals american singer recorded explained set perform fashion rocks concert london previous year dressing rooms right album canadian singer gave copy album started talking eventually hung exchanged numbers later contacted work agreed recorded vocals new_york_city wrote words song point view continents originally intended commercially released remix leaked played bbc_radio_1 included single according guardian brilliant distinct voices handling verse layers vocals form rhythm track comes restrained allowing song stopping song dramatic final coda piano version appeared dvd single assisted creation interview stated asked play piano oceania sent music complicated layered piece classical music played spent days vision lounge physically possible session ran quickly experimented different ways space progression chords runs piece suggested big blocks ending tried like decided stick album vocal concept use choral voices minute version oceania track worked critical reception oceania received generally positive reviews music critics mtv_news called song songs like synchronized vocal sweeps suggest aquatic 1950s sort way entertainment_weekly labeled track beautiful song reporter writing new_yorker stated oceania confirmed status ultimate musical cosmopolitan acquainted prefix magazine called track best song album whilst complimenting chorus recalls migration birds time drifting beauty power crashing rising mix near leads sexy coda according positive review electronic flourish organic vocal focus summons kind choral language song finds london choir reacting sounds like thrilling slow motion circus act oceania vocal according bbc_music guardian writer said singer sings song choral explodes like fireworks allmusic noted song lead single alien quality stranger considering nearly source material human odd keyboard thought oceania hardly obvious choice promotional single release despite bizarre soprano lines chord progression outlined chorus vocal samples time magazine provided mixed review song stating best olympic theme song olympics performance sang pearl girl think hear world collectively song nominated 47th grammy awards lost sunrise music video accompanying music video oceania directed premiered august official site according gave team initial sketch track january whilst phone conversations singer images date progress work oceania initial animations took weeks couple days preparing shoot iceland days shots like song music video depicted mother oceania video opens surface body water appearing yellowish bright camera darker deeper waters appears dark background singing covered sparkling second verse begins images sea representing continents children thrown hands verse swim away mother carried currents time song bridge section new sea flowers brilliant colors emerge background contrast muted darker colors previous scenes fifth verse continues camera lighter surface seen beginning video sorts marine life swimming surface shortly sixth verse begins shown deep dark water seconds later lighter surface water shown begins sing sweat somewhat rapid images light surface shown second followed singing deep water scenes alternate stops singing coda vocal repetition time visual stops surface scene deep water comes fore slowing end video stands live performances summer olympics opening ceremony premiered song wore large dress performance oceania eventually occupy entire stadium showed map world sign union additionally wore bluish purple eye shadow dark hair tiny twists framed face immediately performance olympics opening ceremony song downloaded times itunes store today commented dress reminiscent infamous swan dress wore according time weren fireworks end song legitimately unsure people audience pitchfork surprised committee choice bringing perform ceremony stated physically ideal chose decidedly uncomfortable woman aesthetic grounds argue choice continue wonder significance oceania performed samples covers song sampled track spend night featuring revenue night shift album singer covered oceania middle eastern theme london olympic games singer covered song oceania covers appear albums murphy law track listing promo oceania oceania remix featuring credits personnel credits adapted liner notes performer songwriter programmer songwriter producer programmer london choir performer piano beats vocal samples programmer mixing
Oceania (song)