Tied into The Manics quite good official Welsh Euro anthem, Nicky Wire was interviewed by Nick Robinson on Radio 4. He reminded Robinson that the Echo and the Bunnyman had recorded a song for the 1998 football World Cup with the Spice Girls. Until Wire reminded me, this song had been expunged from my head space. What was everyone involved thinking about?
Any more unlikely, unusual, or just plain crap sporting tribute songs you want to share?
Here’s quite a good one from Neil Finn written for the Rugby World Cup in 2007, which took place in France, and from which the All Blacks were ignominiously knocked out by France in the quarter-finals. ( If you ever happen to be speaking to a New Zealander about rugby, this is definitely a Don’t-Mention-The-War moment).
It’s a great video, directed by a friend of mine, which depicts the great NZ tradition of getting the whole family up in the middle of the night to watch test matches on the other side of the world.
A stirring song, and a great video – thanks @mousey
Yeah thanks @nigelthebald – unfortunately despite having NZ’s greatest pop star writing a potential anthem the All Bkacks failed to deliver – one wonders if the song would be better remembered if they’d won!
On the other hand @mousey bloody Three Lions is still tunelessly bellowed at internationals here when England are playing football.
There’s no justice.
NB Forgive my ignorance, but are they All Black players turning up tom watch the game?
Yep, the only one I recognise is Sean Fitzpatrick the captain at the time but there were others. I can find out from my director friend if you like…
Thank you. I was just wondering whether my video subtext reading skills were up to scratch.
More so than my typing skills, it seems 🙁
I think this was for the 2010 World Cup. I loved Rik Mayall but couldn’t quite get what was going on here. I don’t think any crowds sing the song.
I’ve always liked this Rod Stewart single Ole Ola recorded for the 1978 Scottish World Cup effort. I think Rod is a bit embarrassed about it now though, because it appears on none of his albums, not even the box set.
It’s worth it just for the legendary Archie McPherson’s commentary at 2:32.
“Willie Johnston. In it goes to Dalglish, Lou Macari supporting. There’s an overlap. Good running by Buchan. There’s Kenny Dalglish in there. OH, WHAT A GOAL! OH YES! THAT DOES IT!”
I know ! Who’d a thunk it ? Me – on a football thread !
Rick did a whole album…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJFeBm3GwjY
… well, ‘sports’ thread. Same thing.
Gor blimey apart from Sir Rod I didn;t know any of these..
( psst ! I don’ actually own/have Rick’s Steroidtastic prog masterpiece, and I haven’t played/heard it either. I just know someone with unfeasibly large bits….)
Here you go. More Rick !
Two hot chicks want the same hot chess hunk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hqnfbkxLlo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmnKGqeDyME
Rob C is a secret sports fan – who’d have thunk it.
Naked Twister ? Hunt The Pakora ? Gnome Bobbing ? I’m in !
Astral Body Marathons? The 10 Sephirot High Jump? I got as high a Binah you know?
I only managed Tipareth on the Hermetic Long Jump. It’s the sciatica. Honest.
yeah but I bet you floated there.
I yogicaly flew on me steroid pumped sacral bum chakra, dude.
Ooh get you ! (Jammy Bastard!) X
@rob-c has many secrets, not least of which is that “he” is in fact an elderly spinster living in downtown Droitwich.
The Flying Robina – for it is she – was a circus trapeze artist, who travelled the world, enthralling audiences as much with her flights of fancy as with her daring exploits high above the ring. She retired from the big top when her grip on the bar began to resemble her grip on reality in its tenuous nature, leading to several nasty falls.
Robina’s reverence for Ganesh is inspired by fond memories of the circus elephants, while her enthusiasm for the music of the Incredible String Band stems from wistful thoughts of how different life might had been had her act featured a safety net.
Bang to rights.
Give us a kiss ! x
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag126/astralcat379/Robina%202_zpsupqcbtl4.jpg
Mmmmwah!
Get yer kit off, sonny.
Wasn’t wearing any.
Am now 🙂
Get ’em off and old lady happy ! XXX
*lips smacking and gurgling nosises*
‘make’ XXX
World Cup 2002, and the there was just a whiff of BNP / UKIP about this re-lyriced Sham 69 anthem.
(all thats missing was Nick Griffin and Nigel Farage in the accompanying video)
Sham 69 & The Special Assembly – Hurry Up England
On the plus side, it was better than the official anthem from Embrace.
So memorable, I’ve just listened to it again and still have no recollection of it
Anyone?
2006
And from the same year, flogging a dead horse…
Sorry for replying to myself but jeez, I’ve just read the lyrics on the front page of that. Not exactly Hal David is it? “Get all vocal” – is that a saying, or just made up for the song?
who is responsible for them? Tony himself? Or was this – God forbid – a Jarvis Cocker job? Somehow I doubt it.
I’ve always rather liked this (Adam & Joe – Footy Footy Footy)
Did it occur to anyone else that Ian McCullough looks remarkably like a nascent Noel Gallagher in that video?
The thought that occurred to me was why I had never heard of, or seen, that song before. Presumably by dint of 1998 Spice Girls momentum it would have charted highly?
My second thought was around the ever-youthful Ian McCulloch. In 1998, the kids wouldn’t have had much of a clue who he was, would they?