Paul DeRosa goes for the gold with his Canadian Paralympic themes Champion and Toucher Les Étoiles — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Both theme songs were played extensively during the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games, climaxing a two-year creative journey for the lifelong Toronto musician. “I was fortunate to meet with several of Canada’s top paralympians and these engagements had a profound positive impact on me,” says DeRosa. “It gave me the strength and courage to move forward despite having our world turned upside down due to the pandemic.”
Watching the athletes compete and strive for their personal bests was a great inspiration for DeRosa. “Witnessing their resilience and determination while they competed at the Tokyo Games last summer reignited my passion for writing music,” notes DeRosa. “I realized that being a champion is far greater than winning a medal. It’s about our inner strength, and the ability to push harder when barriers appear. It is the essence of the paralympic spirit.”
This new theme songs marked the second time DeRosa’s music has been used for the Paralympics — and the second time he has collaborated with Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila. In 2019, Avila sang lead on both the English and French versions of DeRosa’s song Shine, which was used for the Tokyo games. For Beijing 2022, she co-wrote Toucher Les Étoiles with DeRosa and Alexandre Désilets. She takes the lead on that version of this year’s theme, while DeRosa sings lead on Champion.
“Collaborating with the talented Eva Avila, musicians and technicians, and the Canadian Paralympic Team to compose and perform Champion has been a remarkable experience I will always be grateful for,” De Rosa said.
Watch the video for Champion above, check out the track below, and keep up with Paul DeRosa at his website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
