New Katy Perry song ‘Rise’ to be NBC Olympic anthem

Late Thursday night, Katy Perry tweeted a link to a new song called “Rise,” and minutes later, NBC announced that the single would serve as its anthem for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

TOGETHER WE #RISE https://t.co/wP3dnMEdAx

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 15, 2016

The song will be featured throughout NBC broadcasts — on TV, online and on the radio — during next month’s Games.

And of course “Rise” comes with an inspirational montage of Olympic highlights and lowlights:

On the surface, “Rise” sounds kind of like every other blandly enjoyable Katy Perry song, but Perry says the song has some special meaning:

“This is a song that’s been brewing inside me for years, that has finally come to the surface. I was inspired to finish it now, rather than save it for my next album, because now more than ever, there is a need for our world to unite,” said Katy Perry. “I know that together we can rise above the fear – in our country, and around the world. I can’t think of a better example than the Olympic athletes, as they gather together in Rio with their strength and fearlessness, to remind us how we ALL can come together, with the resolve to be the best we can be. I hope this song can inspire us to heal, unite, and rise together.”