If there was a podium for hit songs at the Olympic games, Pabllo Vittar’s “São Amores” would surely be a strong contestant! The single from Vittar’s Batidão Tropical Vol. 2 was already making waves in Brazil, but it went viral after Lis Padilla, a social media creator from Peru, made a choreography for it and posted a dance tutorial on TikTok. It quickly became a trend on the social platform. And now, it’s also a hit among athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“São Amores” is a cover of the Brazilian duo Simone & Simaria (2007), which in turn is a version of the Spanish duo Andy & Lucas “Son de amores” (2001). All these versions were successful in their own times, but the timing of Vittar’s release was just perfect for it to captivate bigger audiences across Latin America first and then the world.
Even before the Olympic games started, Spanish gymnasts Rayderley Zapata, Nicolau Mir, and Joel Plata Rodríguez were warming up to “São Amores” in the Olympic Village.
Other athletes followed: Sofia Reinoso from the Mexican Kayak Olympic team posted a video on TikTok dancing to the song, and Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso also danced to it when celebrating a goal during a training session.
Even more iconic was this celebration: after a win against U.S. boxer Jajaira Gonzalez, Bia Ferreira from Brazil celebrated by dancing to “São Amores” while she was still in the ring.
This is not the first time a song by Vittar accidentally becomes an Olympic hit. In Tokyo 2021, “Zap Zum” was an unofficial anthem for Brazilian athletes thanks to volleyball player Douglas Souza showing love for the song on social media. Even Brazilian TV stations played “Zap Zum” every time Souza scored a point. But this time, it’s not just the Brazilian team enjoying Vittar’s music.
Who knows? Maybe one day the drag queen might become an Olympic Games muse just like Shakira is a World Cup muse for Latin America.