Rikas Unveils New Single “Jude Bellingham”: A Story of European Football and Childhood Dreams
May 3, 2024 BY Emma Orland
Rikas has released their latest single “Jude Bellingham“. “Jude Bellingham” is a musical homage to European football culture and the dreams of youth. With a melancholic melody and lyrics imbued with nostalgia and optimism, the single invites listeners to delve into memories of times past, when football was carefree and full of passion.
“It’s a pretty European song,” laughs Sam. “We felt really inspired by these 2005 indie songs, like Peter, Bjorn & John. We wanted to make a song with that kind of energy.” He continues: “It’s a reference to our childhood. Because football is such a big thing in Europe. That’s how kids grow up… It’s a reference to the golden age of football, when everything was cool and people like David Beckham were becoming superstars. Nowadays, football isn’t the same as it used to be. Everything is dictated by money, but Jude Bellingham is kind of the opposite. He stands for really cool things.”
Furthermore, the band adds that “Jude Bellingham” is about childhood dreams and playfulness. “Jude Bellingham reflects on losing connection to football and also on the joy, hope, and excitement this sport still inspires across generations worldwide. Particularly, the youth look up to their role models, who have a significant influence on how the game is perceived. As children, we grew up watching our heroes, trying to mimic their moves, and sharing the dream of achieving success like them. Jude Bellingham is a young talent with an entire career ahead of him. A career that could be written in a storybook or in a child’s dream. Experts predict that he will be one of the few superstars of his generation. Will he live up to these predictions and expectations?”
“Jude Bellingham” is a poignant song that captures not only the passion for football but also a nostalgia for times gone by. Rikas manages to bridge the energy of football with the melancholy of everyday life, creating a song that both provokes thought and invites sing-along.
More about Rikas
Effortlessly, Rikas turn an evening without a plan, a movie without a plot, into something unforgettable. Ferdinand plays drums, Sam is on bass, Chris plays guitar, Sascha plays guitar and keyboards. Each of them has their unique superpower, but none stands alone in the spotlight. They create their songs together. Everyone sings, preferably with anthemic backing vocals. Starting from their hometown Stuttgart, they have already earned themselves a steadily growing fanbase throughout Europe. Singles like “Overthinking” or “I Always Think Of You (When I Listen To This Song)” gathered millions of streams. Rikas became a live phenomenon in Germany, and word of mouth carried them across borders.
With over 300 performances, including festivals like Fusion Festival or MS Dockville in Hamburg, and supporting artists like Milky Chance, Alt J, or Alice Phoebe Lou across Europe, they quickly gained a reputation. After releasing their debut album “Showtime” at the end of 2019 and a postponed tour, Rikas found themselves in a creative block. With their single “Overthinking” in late 2020 and the following EP “Short Stories,” they overcame this phase. They traveled to Amsterdam, collaborated with Benny Sings on new music for the “Goodbye Sunshine EP,” later produced in LA with Jonathan Rado (Whitney, Father John Misty, Weyes Blood).
