Anywhere In The World

Album: Single Release Only (2012)
Charted: 55
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Music producer and guitarist Mark Ronson, who's worked with Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, collaborated with London dance singer-songwriter Katy B for this song. It was recorded for use as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

    Ronson explained to The Independent why he chose the Peckham-born singer to record the vocals on this track. He explained: "I think Katy B encapsulates young London in a way I never could. She reps London harder than anyone song-wise since Lily Allen."
  • Coca Cola originally approached Ronson to create a song on which the sounds of athletes in training can be heard for their Olympic-based advertising campaign. The producer spent time with some of the athletes, recording sound clips of them in training. The song's rhythm incorporates the heartbeat of an Olympian runner and the noise of table tennis player Darius Knight hitting a ball, accompanied by other panting, grunting and thudding sounds.

    The 120 beats-per-minute tempo is paced by the heartbeat of the Russian runner Kseniya Vdovina, who was recorded on a treadmill using a microphone attached to a stethoscope.
  • Katy B penned the lyrics in the studio to Ronson's accompaniment on the piano. "We wanted to capture something uplifting and celebratory," she told The Independent. "For me, growing up in London, my inspiration was how I love it when there's an event in London that brings people together; how I feel when I go to Notting Hill Carnival or Hyde Park. Just celebrating London, really."
  • Ronson has little sporting pedigree himself. When he was nine years old, young Mark took part in a relay race at his school sports day and ran the wrong way round. The coach subsequently christened him "Wrong Way Ronson," a nickname that he remained stuck with for several years.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?