Anita Ward, a renowned artist, teased her potential role in the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. This tease ignited speculation among fans that one of her iconic songs, previously featured in GTA: San Andreas albeit by a different artist, might also find its way into GTA 6.
The initial Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, released in December, synced with the rhythm of Love Is a Long Road. This 1989 track is a standout piece in Tom Petty's repertoire. While Anita Ward boasts a collection of hits, none quite match the disco sensation of her rendition of Ring My Bell by Frederick Knight, a chart-topper on both sides of the Atlantic upon its 1979 debut.
Anita Ward's Spotify Update Sparks GTA 6 Speculation
Speculation is rife among fans that Grand Theft Auto 6 may feature the aforementioned song, fueled by Anita Ward's verified Spotify page update displaying the game's logo. This alteration was noted in late February by Reddit user AlilBitTall. Although the GTA 6 logo appeared solely on Ward's channel without being linked to any specific track, the association of Ring My Bell with Anita Ward and its strong '80s Miami essence led many to believe this song could be the chosen one for the game.
Ring My Bell was previously part of GTA: San Andreas, playing on the K-JAH West radio station. However, the version featured was not Ward's popular disco hit but a lesser-known reggae cover by Blood Sisters. Both were released in 1979, yet only Ward's rendition achieved global success. Rockstar opted not to include the alternate version in the 2021 reissue of the game, excluding Blood Sisters' Ring My Bell from the GTA: San Andreas - Definitive Edition soundtrack.
Whether GTA 6 will showcase the famous iteration of the song or another of Ward's creations is uncertain. The recent Spotify cover update hints at the singer's involvement in the game to some extent since it's improbable that her label would use Rockstar's logo without permission, risking legal repercussions.
Some enthusiasts even speculate that Ward's Ring My Bell might feature in the second GTA 6 trailer, deeming it a fitting choice. However, Rockstar's historical pattern suggests a longer wait for subsequent trailers, with releases typically spaced around a year apart. Meanwhile, Ward's Spotify channel appears to be experiencing a surge in popularity linked to GTA 6, with monthly listeners surpassing 745,000 by February 24 from 615,000 in late January.