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World Cup opening ceremony: Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudie Leitte fans complain about sound quality

Angry fans quickly took to Twitter to complain about the sound levels

Kashmira Gander
Friday 13 June 2014 16:32 BST
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(L-R) Singers Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull perform during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil prior to the Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
(L-R) Singers Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull perform during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil prior to the Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull fans tuning in to the Fifa 2014 World Cup Opening Ceremony to see them perform with Cláudia Leitte were left disappointed by the lacklustre sound at the event.

The show staged at the Corinthians Arena, Sao Paulo, kicked off with a giant LED ball centrepiece flashing welcome messages in the languages of the 32 qualifying countries.

Performers from dance schools and academies in the city then flooded into the stadium dressed as symbols of Brazil’s stunning natural landscape: raindrops, men towering on stilts dressed as rainforest trees, and colourful flowers.

To close the ‘diversity’-themed second half of the ceremony, US stars Pitbull and Lopez were joined by Brazilian pop star Cláudia Leitte for their performance of the official Fifa World Cup song "We Are One (Ole Ola)".

But angry fans quickly took to Twitter to complain about the sound levels, despite the performers' clear enthusiasm as they clapped and danced around the stage that appeared from inside the LED centrepiece.

Viewers also complained at what they saw as a lack of vibrancy at the event that they had expected from the country famed for its exuberant carnivals, including former British Children's Laureate and poet Michael Rosen.

Prior to the performance, Grammy-winner Lopez had sparked fears that she would not appear at the show due to unspecified “production issues”. But on Wednesday the singer's management confirmed she would perform.

“She will be there. Jennifer has always wanted to participate in the World Cup opening ceremonies,” the spokesperson said.

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