After releasing official meet song in July with Swiss pop band Baba Shrimps, American track and field stars will showcase musical talents during special post-meet concert

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Noah Lyles is the most dynamic personality in track and field today.

Sandi Morris once led the entire UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit in the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Now, their talents and performance energies will be highlighted in a special showcase Thursday at Weltklasse Zurich in Switzerland, the first of two days of the Diamond League finals.

ENTRIES | SONG VIDEO

In addition to both athletes competing – Lyles in the 100-meter dash and Morris in the pole vault Wednesday at the main railway station in Zurich – they will also be joining Swiss pop band Baba Shrimps on stage Thursday following the event for a live performance of the meet’s official song “Souvenir” that was released in early July.

“I am generally happy and excited,” Lyles said. “I’ve been waiting a while for this day since it was agreed upon to make this song.”

Lyles and Morris joined the band Monday for a studio session and participated in another rehearsal Tuesday at Letzigrund Stadium.

“The studio prep went great. I feel like Baba Shrimps, myself and Noah are all clicking really well,” Morris said. “It’s funny, I didn’t know Noah very well before this project and I’ve discovered how big of a goofball he is and we click well on that level. In the studio with Baba Shrimps has been so fun because we keep the energy silly and just have a good time with it, and the band is super fun, too. I think all around, we have all had a great time and produced a stellar song on top of that.”

The song lyrics were written by Baba Shrimps and Lyles. The video showcases highlights of Morris and Lyles, along with several memorable moments in the prestigious history of the annual Zurich Diamond League Meeting.

“I am planning to attack this how I would attack a track meet,” Lyles said. “I will focus on myself and practice the words and hope that it comes out well.”

In addition to her victory at the 2018 Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., Morris also opened the competition by singing the national anthem. But nothing will compare to performing in front of a crowd like the one that is anticipated Thursday in Zurich.

“I’m definitely nervous. Throughout my life, I have sung in front of very small crowds and done two open mic nights singing and playing guitar, but that’s about it, honestly,” Morris said. “The only time I sang in front of many people was at the Pole Vault Summit, and I wanted the crowd to sing with me, and they obliged. It was actually quite a magical moment, all of the voices singing the national anthem calmly and slowly together. I’ll never forget it. But this time, nobody can sing my parts with me. It’s all on me.”

The majority of “Souvenir” is a melodic duet with Morris and Baba Shrimps lead singer Adrian Kubler, with Lyles providing an inspirational rap verse to highlight the second half of the song.

The organizers of Weltklasse Zurich reached out to Baba Shrimps, along with Morris and Lyles, to produce an anthem for the event that deals with the themes of cherishing significant memories and positive experiences, ideals the meet has promoted since its first edition in 1928.

Now, everyone involved with the meet, as well as the popular Swiss musicians and two of the world’s most accomplished athletes will have an opportunity to share another memorable experience Thursday after the first 16 Diamond League champions are crowned at Letzigrund Stadium.

“I do love the fact that I’m doing a duet with Adrian, with Baba Shrimps. His part helps to guide me a lot, and during our practices we had fun moments where we would make eye contact before switching to the other person’s part of the verse, and it was a way for us to help each other out with the flow of the words,” Morris said. “I know his eyes mean, ‘You’re almost up.’ So I’m very grateful I have his guidance, because it’s definitely outside of my usual comfort zone to do something like this. But I’m never one to back down from a challenge.”