The World Cup is under way and along with an associated plethora of new football songs (and an army of vuvuzelas). Matt Allen surveyed a scragtag squad of historical contenders and picked a starting 11 in this month's Q Magazine (Q288) - 10 of the best and 1 own goal... we've reconstructed that list here with the addition of some of our own thoughts. Tell us which of this starting team you like or loathe in the comments, and of course any glaring omissions.
Since this combines the clearly non-subjective nor inflammatory topics of music and football we're surely not expecting too much, though as the saying might go - One person's observation of an "incisive through ball" is probably still Alan Hansen's "atrocious defending"... or something along those lines.
Kick off!
1. World in Motion - England New Order (1990)
Italia '90 Official England squad endorsed single combines New Order, Paul Gascoigne and a John Barnes rap, a recipe for success? Judge for yourself... here's a youthful appearance of them on Top of the Pops live from their training base in Sardinia.
2. All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit - Half Man, Half Biscuit (1986)
A cult b-side hit for the Birkenhead four-piece with a line in good song titles. Some subbuteo fan went as far as to manufacture unofficial replicas of the referenced team kit.
3. Three English Football Grounds - I, Ludicrous (1987)
Jangly guitars + drum machine + lyrics involving reviews fo 3 football stadia = John Peel fave.
NB:
We haven't been able to find a version of this online, if you've seen it somewhere please let us know in the comments and we'll add it.
4. Kicker Conspiracy - The Fall (1983)
Referencing George Best in this track, Mark E. Smith vents his spleen at FA bigwigs.
5. Belfast Boy - Don Fardon (1970)
George Best reference no. 2, a tribute to the late football great and legendary party animal, re-mixed and released on his passing in 2006.
6. Three Lions - Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds (1996)
The official England Euro '96 anthem courtesy of comedians Frank Skinner, David Baddiel and Lightning Seed Ian Broudie. An instant terrace chant it also vied with Spice Girls Wannabe as one of the big radio songs of the summer.
7. Give Him A Ball (and a yard grass) - Sultans Of Ping FC (1993)
Following in the wake of their success of Where's Ma Jumper? Irish indie outfit construct an ode to Nottingham Forrest striker Nigel Clough from phrases proffered by his eminently quotable and forthright father, legendary manager Brian Clough.
8. Football Fugue - Pete Townshend (1987)
The Who guitarist gets experimental on 1987 album Another Scoop with this ode to the sound of a packed stadium.
9. Goal Goal Goal - James (1994)
All set to be the official song for the 1994 USA Word Cup trip, if Graeme "Do I not like orange" Taylor's England squad had qualified that is, oops!
10. Munich Air Disaster 1958 - Morrissey (2004)
Mozza pays tribute to The Busby Babes, Manchester United's team of greats that was decimated following this tragic plane crash, about as touching as football songs get.
Early bath
Shown the red card... Anfield Rap - Liverpool FC (1988)
Nothing about this one seems to get better with time, least of all the video. However forwarned is forearmed - rumours persist that John Barnes may be reprising his rap career...
"They think it's all over"
Not quite, tell us your favourite and any we've missed in the comments below...
3:18 PM | 20/06/2010
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Another Fall contender is Sparta FC No 3. And if you're including Subbuteo, the doyen of table football referenced songs has to be The Undertones' My Perfect Cousin. As a Hull City fan I must mention the wonderful The Tigers are Back, by Amber & Black (which included Henry Priestman of Yachts etc fame) and the acerbic Leeds United by Luke Haines. But the greatest has to be Wunderbar ((Concerto in Koch Minor) by Sparks, a tribute to the German football commentator Gunther Koch, which in an alternate universe would have themed the last World Cup.
Posted by Andy Mills at 7:23 PM | 02/06/2010 | Report Abuse
Some good ones in there, but missing the best: Strachan by The Hitchers, played, along with nineteen others, in my June World Cup special on Dandelion Radio. Also essential: The Ballad of Phil Jevons by Pete Green, And Smith Must Score by Attila the Stockbroker and Kasey Kellar by Barcelona.
Posted by Mark Whitby at 7:03 PM | 27/06/2010 | Report Abuse
Some good ones in there, but missing the best: Strachan by The Hitchers, played, along with nineteen others, in my June World Cup special on Dandelion Radio. Also essential: The Ballad of Phil Jevons by Pete Green, And Smith Must Score by Attila the Stockbroker and Kasey Kellar by Barcelona.
Posted by Mark Whitby at 7:03 PM | 27/06/2010 | Report Abuse
Fernando put his transfer in its true its true
To pave the way for him to be a BLUE a BLUE
We bought the lad from dirty scouse
Their football team is micky mouse
Fernando Torres CHELSEA's number 9
na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na
FERNANDO TORRES CHELSEA's number 9
Posted by Joe at 1:38 PM | 05/02/2011 | Report Abuse
Nice to see HMHB made it onto there. One of the most underated bands of all time
And there huge Tranmere Fans, not that that would make me bias or anything...
Posted by Curt McArdle at 9:22 AM | 25/03/2011 | Report Abuse
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