Steve Vai (and a bunch of other not-Steve–Vai people) has teamed up with Coca-Cola to deliver a new take on the Van Halen classic Jump, reimagined as an official anthem for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The revamped track arrives ahead of this summer’s massive 48-team tournament, which will be hosted across United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the project, Vai joins an eclectic lineup including J Balvin, Amber Mark, and Travis Barker of Blink-182.
Vai’s signature guitar work takes center stage throughout the track, adding bursts of whammy bar screams, melodic harmonies, and a flash of two-handed tapping that nods directly to the song’s co-writer and original guitarist, Eddie Van Halen.
“I never know what might come across my desk as an inquiry, but this was a taker,” Vai said of the unexpected collaboration. And it’s… very modern in its generally lo-fi and half-speed-ness? I mean, it’s not my thing, but I’m also not gonna turn down a Steve Vai solo.
Originally released in December 1983, “Jump” became Van Halen‘s first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing its place as one of the most recognizable rock songs ever recorded. The track also earned a nomination at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards, ultimately losing the Best Rock Performance category to Prince for the iconic song Purple Rain.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source metalinjection.net ’
