1970 - BACK HOMESo this sets the tone for the football song genre throughout the 1970's. The squad deliver the song in a straightforward fashion, singing gruffly and without significant inflection to the end. See also Chelsea FC's entire album, Blue Is The Colour, which, if I remember correctly included classics such as Give Me Back My Soccer Boots and a cover of Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. The run up to every FA Cup final in the period had us all in breathless anticipation of each of the finalists turning up on Top Of The Pops with their song. All the essential elements are in the World Cup song, a bit of crowd noise in the background and some handclapping. No whistling though. The team's performance also set the tone for the future. Massive expectation followed by crashing and burning at the hands of the Germans. The tune was resurrected for Baddiel and Skinner's Fantasy Football League theme tune. More about them later. One question, was this the origin of the rhythmic air horn 'ba-ba-bababa-ba-ba-baba-ba-ba'. I suspect not but who knows? England failed to qualify for the next 2 World Cups so we had to turn to Scotland for our international football thrills. Better Together indeed.
1978 - ALLY'S TARTAN ARMY: Andy CameronLet's skip over 1974. There was nothing significant about Scotland's song. 1978 saw them carrying the hopes of the nation (not as bad as 1994 when we had to settle for cheering on Ireland), so we all ripped open a tin of Tennents or McEwan's (well not me, I was only 10. I did have a full Scotland kit though, red socks and all, bought in Swindon Town legend Don Rogers' sports shop, see photo below with my brother in a Chelsea top that I doubt he'd admit to today). Scotland were under the impression that they were genuinely a team of worldbeaters, but were soon disabused of the notion by Peru and Iran. The mathematical possibility of them progressing rested on beating previous finalists Holland by 2 or 3 goals (can't remember the exact details now). For a second Archie Gemmill's balletic goal had us thinking miracles could happen but then reality bit. The song contains some lyrical gems "He's oor Muhammed Ali, he's Alastair McLeod" and "England couldnae dae it, they didnae qualify". Drugs scandals and an early return ensued, ensuring that no team made such extravagant claims in the future.
1982 - THIS TIME WE'LL GET IT RIGHT.
They didn't. It starts like a Lindisfarne track, so much so I wouldn't be surprised if they really were involved. There are kazoos featured partway through. Can't help hoping that Glenn Hoddle et al actually played them. This is the one that starts "We're on our way, we are Ron's 22. Hear the roar of the red white and blue" and "it makes you wonder, it makes you proud, to play for England, and hear the crowd". England did OK in the tournament, won all their group matches and were unbeaten throughout. Due to the weird structure of the competition (a second round group stage, like a proto-Champions League) went out pretty much on a technicality. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland were in the tournament too. NI's song was, I think, called 'Yer Man' ("When yer man gets the ball, Northern Ireland has it all; Oh we're off to Spain, never mind the rain" you get the picture). And Scotland's was......
1982 - WE HAVE A DREAM
Not sure if this was 'official' but I remember it mainly for B.A.Robertson being involved. I had completely forgotten that the title artist is John Gordon Sinclair of Gregory's Girl fame. His contribution is to talk in a whispering voice about his dream of playing for Scotland in the world cup. There's lots of pish about Scotland being awarded a penalty and our hero being asked to take it (in the World Cup final one assumes). The Top Of The Pops clip that I revisited it with on You Tube features many long forgotten members of the Scottish light entertainment mafia. Needless to say, Scotland did not progress beyond the group stages.
1986 - WE'VE GOT THE WHOLE WORLD AT OUR FEETRemember this one? No me neither. 'There's not a single team that we can't beat' they sing. Turns out there was, Portugal, Morocco and Argentina to name but 3. The tournament was in Mexico and so the song nods to this by including some mariachi band flourishes. The middle eight includes a bit of whistling. Huzzah! It sounds a lot like the theme tune to BBC kids program stalwart 'We Are The Champions' ('Away you go!' shouts Ron Pickering, and they all jump in the pool) and finished with a Dad's Army type ending so that you expect it to continue with snare drums and air raid sirens. England followed the usual pattern of underachievement against second rate opposition until Lineker found his touch against Poland in the 'Group of Sleep'. They eventually went out against Argentina and the 'Hand of God' goal. Maradona's other goal is often cited as one of the greatest of all time, but it may not have been if at least one of the 5 England defenders he waltzed past had thought to put in a tackle.
1990 - WORLD IN MOTIONGame changer. And not necessarily for only good reasons as it brought the likes of professional bad boy Keith Allen into the fold. I've never been much of a fan of New Order either. Miserable Mancs. Starts with the Wolstenholme '66 commentary. We all know how it goes, including John Barnes' rap, already established as the UK's leading hip-hop artist after 'Anfield Rap'. This changed the character of England songs to a much more laddish, fan-centred approach. As for the tournament, The usual England slow start. Player-power apparently led to a change in the system that the team were playing and Bobby Robson benefited by becoming the most well-respected England manager since Ramsey. It's easy to forget that the press were after his blood following a couple of lacklustre opening performances. Eventually the negotiated their way, via Belgium and Cameroon, to the semi-final and a penalty shoot-out against the Germans - yadda, yadda, yadda you know the rest. When I've seen it back since, it's amazing how close England came to securing the victory within normal play, hitting posts, crossbars and Gascoigne missing a goal by the length of a stud. Scotland were there too. Given their marching orders by the likes of Costa Rica. No idea about their song and not interested in finding out.
Moving on.......
1996 - THREE LIONSOK. Not really a World Cup song, but European Championships, however this is the one song that really caught on on the terraces. I don't even need to listen to it again to know what to write about it. Baddiel and Skinner caught the genuine England fan experience by confronting the team's inability to see a tournament through to victory. They also employed snatches of commentary a la 'World In Motion'. The singing was flat but Ian Brodie of the Lightning Seeds ensured that there was a good catchy chant to save the day. This was probably the best England tournament experience I've ever experienced, helped by being on the spot in London at the time. Loyalties were split for me when Gary McAllister missed that penalty and Gazza ran up the other end of the field and scored his 'Dentist Chair' goal. There was the demolition of the Netherlands (almost letting Scotland through via the catflap) and Stuart Pearce confronting his Italia '90 demons in the shoot-out against Spain. It all came down to a hot night in London, just like Turin 6 years previously, except wearing awful grey shirts. Same result too. I saw it upstairs in the Princess Louise in Holborn. I know that was then, but it could be again.
Baddiel and Skinner re-released '3 Lions' with new lyrics "We Still Believe..." and reflecting on the almost glorious summer of '96, but it just wasn't the same. Official song was called '(How Does It Feel To Be) On Top Of The World' by a collective called England United. At the same time a motley collection of personalities including Keith Allen, Paul Kaye and Damien Hirst came up with this slightly xenophobic and very laddish song under the name of Fat Les. The video took the p. out of the Verve. It certainly captured the essence of the England fan at play. On the pitch, England progressed to the quarter finals when they were done for by Argentina (England's nemesis - New World division) following Owen's wonder goal and Beckham's sending off. Remember Sol Campbell's disallowed goal too?
2002 - WE'RE ON THE BALLIt was inevitable that Anthony and Deccany would get in on the act eventually. The cheeky geordie chappies' effort is bland, repetitive and dull - insert your own joke here. As for the team's World Cup campaign - the usual. This was the age of Sven. Argentina were beaten in the group stages via a Beckham penalty, healing 4 years of hurt since the debacle in France, but Brazil and Ronaldinho caught David Seaman off his line and, once again, it was all over in the quarter finals.
2006 WORLD AT YOUR FEETAnother attempt by the FA to be 'credible' by engaging an indie(ish) band - Embrace - to do the song. It's forgettable. The chorus isn't so bad but it's hardly even a match for 'This Time We'll Get It Right'. I find the summer of 2006 more memorable for the emergence of Lily 'daughter of Keith' Allen and 'Smile'. I have other reasons for remembering this World Cup too as my Dad died in the middle of it, just before England got knocked out by Portugal and the cheating Christiano Ronaldo in the QFs again. I could have really done with a good World Cup run that year.
2010 - SHOUT
James Corden and Dizzee Rascal did a decent job with bringing the official song up to date with their version of Tears For Fears 'Shout'. It's rowdy, Dizzee is believable (and *gasp* black!) and Corden looks like a typical England fan. Even the 'Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' doesn't seem too provocative. As for the team's performance, it showed us where the Premier League has taken us, a bunch of couldn't-care-less prima donnas who moaned when they were booed for being just not good enough. The lowest point in my England World Cup experiences.
2014 - GREATEST DAYAnd so we come to the present. The excuses have already been made, we stand no chance in the heat of the jungle. The single sees Garys Barlow and Lineker leading the way through Take That's 'Greatest Day'. It features a galaxy of footy and showbiz stars. Lineker simply cannot sing, he's even flatter than Baddiel. Thank God they roped in Mel C, who gives it some welly. Hurst, Hoddle and Owen contribute. Commentary snippets are of, course de riguer. Come On England!
New Addition! Check out this halfway decent effort.
0 Yorumlar