Behind the Music: Champions League Anthem Remix with Hans Zimmer

Experience the UEFA Champions League in FIFA 19 like you've never seen—or heard—before.

EA SPORTS brought in Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer (in collaboration with rapper Vince Staples) to create a special remix of the tournament's famous anthem that reflects the grandeur of the Champions League and everything it brings to FIFA 19. The track, officially titled “Champions League,” was itself a “remix” of sorts: English composer Tony Britten adapted it from George Frederick Handel's “Zadok the Priest” when the European Cup was re-branded as the Champions League in 1992.

Check out this exclusive behind-the-scenes video as Zimmer brings in top musicians from around the world to create the track specifically for FIFA 19.

Thanks to a decades-long career that is still going strong, Zimmer is one of the most well-known and well-regarded composers in the world. After beginning his career in the music industry, Zimmer moved on to film and television scoring in the 1980s. Zimmer became a household name after his work in the 1988 film Rain Man earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Since then, Zimmer has worked on over 100 soundtracks for television, movies, and more, many of which have been nominated for and received awards at the highest level. He won his first and only Academy Award for the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King, as well as two Golden Globe awards, four Grammy awards, and many more. 

Everything about the addition of the UEFA Champions League to FIFA 19 celebrates world-class talent, so when it came time to find someone to adapt the famous anthem for the game, Zimmer was at the top of the list. “This is an anthem that's known by fans across the world, it's the iconic nature of it,” Zimmer said. “When the Champions League games are on, suddenly the world stops. Everything else falls by the wayside, because everybody is into the game. It doesn't matter which team you support, there is something that connects everybody in this theme.” 

Zimmer pulled together “68 of the most amazing musicians that you can ever get” at AIR Studios in London to create this dynamic track, approaching the project with “a little bit of respect,” while also infusing “a bit of recklessness” into the process. He even jokingly called the technique of building this track “Zimmer-izing,” because his distinctive influence can be heard throughout the song. “Working with EA SPORTS is really working with people who understand the responsibility that comes with a project like this,” said Zimmer. “You hope that you're going to go and thrill the fans and give them a new experience.” With something this big, Zimmer said, you have to “be bold, be brave. Go big or, truly, stay home.”

FIFA 19 releases worldwide on September 28, 2018 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Pre-order now to get incredible offers, including three days early access with the Ultimate and Champions Editions.

-Spenser Davis

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