SAUDI ARABIA

Qiddiya releases Dakar anthem to mark world’s toughest endurance race

January 02, 2020



RIYADH — Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) announced Thursday the release of an energetic and aspirational pop anthem to celebrate the first ever Saudi Dakar Rally and to help engage with the youth of the world through the global medium of music.

The song, aptly named “Million Miles”, performed by X Factor Middle East winner Hamza Hawsawi, is all about drive and determination, and aims to inspire people to take initiative, reach for the stars and achieve their dreams, like the drivers participating in Dakar 2020. The lyrics are about creating a legacy and having a story to tell years from now.

The creators; Saudi singer, Hamza, producer Mohammed (Rayan) Bailouni and executive producer Saif Saud Salem, were determined to take on Qiddiya’s challenge of creating the anthem in record time for the legendary rally, which is being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time ever.

As they crafted the words and music, the team were inspired by the journey the racers take and how this journey shares a lot of parallels and synergies with the journey the Kingdom is taking to achieve the goals that Saudi Arabia has set out in its own Vision 2030.

Qiddiya’s CEO, Mike Reininger commented, “This is a catchy tune that we hope will not only inspire audiences to get behind the Saudi Dakar Rally and support the local teams, but that also has a legacy of being a song that is about focus, determination, imagination and courage — and how all of those things in a person, in a country and in an event, will mean that we are sure to have stories to tell future generations. The launch of Saudi Dakar Rally 2020 is certainly something to be proud of and to be part of it is something many people will tell their kids and grandkids about.”

The song and video clip are being supported by a global distribution campaign in partnership with Rotana Audio Visual LLC. Hawsawi has also been confirmed to headline the closing ceremony for the Saudi Dakar Rally on the Qiddiya site on the 17th January, singing the debut single “Million Miles” live to an audience of over 60,000 fans.

Commenting on the song ahead of his live performance at Saudi Dakar, Hawsawi said, “This race is the perfect metaphor to the journey an artist like myself would take and endure to reach their goals. ‘Million Miles’ is a personal anthem to me, and I hope it echoes throughout the whole world.”

“We hope that the song ‘Million Miles’ instills a sense of national pride within Saudis whilst also exciting a global audience watching the rally or listening to the feel-good anthem,” said Saudi born Executive Producer Saif Saud Salem. “The country’s belief in achieving Vision 2030 mirrors that of a driver’s determination and perseverance to win the toughest race on Earth,” he added.

The full video of “Million Miles” will be released on Jan. 4, 2020. — SG


January 02, 2020
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