What’s the connection between a football tournament in two landlocked Alpine nations and a Jamaican reggae star named after a character in Scooby Doo? Who knows, but whenever you see the twin Euro 2008 mascots Trix and Flix gambolling around and generally annoying people it will be to the sound of “Like a Superstar” by Shaggy.
That won’t be the only musical delight at Euro 2008, however. Far from it.
At a news conference last week, organisers also announced there would be an official Swiss Euro 2008 song by Baschi (nope, neither have I), and some time between now and June we’re being promised an official tournament melody — by someone from Faithless and an “international Euro 2008 song”, by artist or artists unknown.
Now, the last song for a European Championship, Forca by Nelly Furtado, was certainly a grower, but I think it’s a shame tournament organisers always ignore the two undisputed masters of the football song — Jorge Ben Jor and Half Man Half Biscuit.
Ben Jor is the Brazilian who wrote, among other football classics, ”Mas Que Nada”, the unofficial Brazilian anthem,”Camisa 10 de Gavea”, his homage to Zico, and “Ponta de Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma)”, an insanely catchy song about watching an African centre forward.
English band Half Man Half Biscuit write more about the bleak despair of watching another terrible performance from your team or the general absurdity of commentator-speak but songs like “Friday Night and the Gates Are Low“ are nothing if not authentic (just ask any Tranmere Rovers fan).
So there are a few of my favourite football songs, but what about yours? Do you still find yourself shouting “Forca!” at the top of your voice when you think of Euro 2004? Or do you agree that “Bob Wilson - Anchorman” is about as good as it gets? Let us know in the comments.
FILE PHOTO: Jorge Ben Jor performs on stage during a “Havana in Vienna” night at the Vienna Jazz Festival, July 3, 1998. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
(Kevin Fylan has waited years for an excuse to write about Half Man Half Biscuit)
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9 comments so far
England’s musicians are secretly glad they didnt qualify for Euro 2008 as it is a poisoned chalice to write the theme song. How will any one ever beat Three Lions?
- Posted by Mark MeadowsHere in Italy the main teams have official songs. Milan’s, a bit like their performance the other night, is terrible and just goes ‘Milan, Milan, Milan, Milan’.Inter’s is not much better but Juve’s is a great tune.
Ultimately though, the Liverpool Kop singing ‘Youll never walk alone’ gets the hairs up on the neck of every football fan, even Everton and Man Utd supporters.
‘Diamond Lights’ maybe, by Hoddle and Waddle. The mullets and rolled-up jacket sleeves. Best ones come from the terraces though and you can’t beat the Tartan Army serenading Norway’s fans with the legend: ‘You only sing when you’re whaling!’ See what they did there?
- Posted by Alastair HimmerAh, Hoddle and Waddle. I suppose I should also have mentioned “Head Over Heels in Love” by Kevin Keegan: http://www.discogs.com/release/468791
- Posted by Kevin FylanThat’s also a mighty haircut…
The Anfield Rap. Everyone blinged up like Mr T and John Barnes screaming at the camera: ‘Watch my lips, and I will spell, they don’t just play ‘cos they can rap as well!” And it rhymes Barnes with bananas in a not-so-sly dig at Everton fans.
You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcy3gwwxa t4
I’m crusty la!
- Posted by BethSomeone just sent me this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXPzJCVIQ xI
- Posted by Kevin FylanWarning: it’s not for the faint hearted.
Three Lions and Vindaloo stand out for me. But nothing can beat the topical song of the day sung at a match that gets even the opposition fans laughing and usually applauding……humour at its best, especially if not politically correct. The latest I heard was sung to the tune of “Vierra oh oh” and went along the lines “Eduardo, oh oh, Eduardo oh oh. He’s got such silky skills. He walks like Heather Mills.” Like I said, not PC. But that only serves to make it funnier….allegedly!
- Posted by Steve LuckNot my favourite football song but maybe the finest reference is from another HMHB song called Uffington Wassail which challenges the Sealed Knott society to reenact Luton Town - Millwall, nineteen eighty-five.
- Posted by JimNothing beats You’ll Never Walk Alone. I particularly like the fact that it has nothing to do with football in the lyrics. All the best football songs are like that.
- Posted by LondonFriday afternoon question: What’s your favourite football song?
What’s the connection between a football tournament in two landlocked Alpine nations and a Jamaican reggae star named after a character in Scooby Doo? Read this nice article from Reuters.
- Posted by Blogsvine