Who should the FA commission to write England's 2002 World Cup song? (or: Sport and Music)

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The first part of the question is rather self-explanatory. I hope they don't end up with another McCulloch/Spice Girls fiasco, but I'm not sure who the likely candidates are. The two best songs in my lifetime have kind of worked because they chimed with the pop times in certain ways: 'World in Motion' was a subtle summation of 1990 Aciieeed/post Berlin Wall euphoria by a band at the peak of their powers. 'Three Lions' (not that I particularly like it, mind [tho I prefer it any day to Fat Les)] was in many ways the last tired and emotional word of Britpop/Loaded culcha. Which current band could tie in with the - hem hem - zeitgeist in such a way? Coldbloodyplay? Not likely. Starsailor? Nein Danke. My choice would be the Chemical Brothers (although, listening to 'Star Guitar' this may be just my way of wishing that New Order would do it again).

Part two of my question is a little vaguer. I'm sure FIFA have lined up some horrible operatic monstrosity to be the official theme of the tournament, and I really hate this trope that's been established since 'Nessun Dorma' went pop. It's opera as pseudo-grandiosity, means to say, in Italian, "ah, what a beautiful and tragic game", and puts the "duh" into de profundis. I have a similar problem with EUFA wheeling out Zadok the bloody Priest for the Champions League. It's all too wanna-be-high-culture shlock. (Not that I am against classical music used in this way - I await the day when the Nationwide League highlights are shown to a soundtrack of 'Rites of Spring'). I have vaguely similar issues with U2 on 'The Premiership'. One of the many good things about '100 greatest sportest moments' the other week was the inventive use of music: 'Marquee Moon' (for United against Bayern?), the PSBs 'It's Alright' (4x400 metre relay?) etc. What music do you think would be an appropriate theme to the 2002 World Cup, complementing and augmenting the play?

(Sorry if this all seems a bit premature)

― Edna Welthorpe, Mrs, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Or maybe they could use Mis Teeq, and get Rio Ferdinand to demonstrate his mad garage MC skeez.

― Edna Welthorpe, Mrs, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A1!!!!!

― jel, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

can i say i will be using hte phrase put the duh in de profundis daily

― anthony, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Any band I like seems like a great idea. Basement Jaxx could really get people singing. and at the end of matches it would be like a big rave.

But what I really think they should do is just change the lyrics of Groove Armada Superstylin'. That's made to be jumped up and down to on terraces.

These are silly ideas I am coming up with, who's going to do Irelands song? Lets hope it's the Cranberries.

― Ronan, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I, Ludicrous

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

mike hanle y

― mark s, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The official pop song of the tournament was performed by Anastacia at the draw. I believe it is called Boom!

At the moment it appears the FA are courting Ant & Dec to put their PJ & Duncan togs on again for a "Let's Get Ready To Rhumble" style smash. We'll see....

― Pete, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ewwwww, Manastacia...

― suzy, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The words to "Boom!" are adapted from the Tennessee Williams-scripted Burton / Taylor film of the same name, apparently.

― Tim, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Anastacia is like the musical equivalent of Ally Mc Beal. maybe I only say that because in the summer at work all the women there loved both of them so much. but they're forever linked in my head as some kind of marketing assault on single women.

― Ronan, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

dont give shit about fotball is for poofs.

― XStatic Peace, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Merzbow

― DG, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Pinefox, silly.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oooooh! Mr Jones est sur l'euro as usual. In fact I think the PF's first Crooksy project should be a FIFA2002 concept album. Imagine!

― Edna Welthorpe, Mrs, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Is it true that the Greatest Living Englishman has been warming up for this project with an Ipswich Town song entitled "Tractor Boys"?

― David, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

1) Cornelius

2) "Big In Japan" by Guano Apes.

Failing that, any track that conveys the kind of euphoria you experience immediately after a goal - I reckon Fischerspooner's "Emerge" is really good at this.

― Trevor, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This thread's on FIRE, Clive!

Daf: very nearly - it was going to be 'Tractor Boy' singular. I can't remember the tune now.

EW: great idea re. Crooksy. But why have you forgotten to mention the ineffably *bad* thing that made it impossible to watch Greatest Sporting Moments: it was presented by Vincent Jones? This is like Great Police Moments presented by Ronald Kray.

More on your expansively interesting question later, if time allows.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think side one of the Crooksy LP should be written from the point of view of Hidetoshi Nakata and the second from the POV of Marco Gabbiadini.

― Tim, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why has nobody yet mentioned Dario G? His "Carnival" for France '98 was the highlight of the tournament for me.

― Jonnie, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Who?

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dario Gradi CAN SING????

― Edna Welthorpe, Mrs, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

That's nothing - you should hear him play Di Canio.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Joke of the day.

― Edna Welthorpe, Mrs, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Eh?

― Trevor, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's a Smiths joke, Trevor. A pun on a line from the Queen is Dead. I laughed, anyway!

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

As a member of the Bob Club,, I have to say I think Bob the Builder could do a good job. It could be called 'We're Building England's Dream, Fuck Your Nigerian Bulldozer' or something.

― Peter Miller, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Did someone say Bob the Builder?

(shit, I need to keep reminding myself I don't work for him anymore)

― Mark C, Wednesday, 23 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mark, I'm going to resign from the Bob Club in protest.

― Peter Miller, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

seven years pass...

We should get Embrace to reform:

The FA has confirmed that, for the first time since 1966, there will be no official song to mark England's World Cup campaign in South Africa.
According to an FA spokesman, the England management "want to be fully focused on the football".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8461433.stm

― James Mitchell, Friday, 15 January 2010 14:34 (sixteen years ago)

Probably the first time anyone has ever expressed a willingness on ilx for Embrace to reform, I know.

― James Mitchell, Friday, 15 January 2010 14:35 (sixteen years ago)

Crikey. I'm all for taking things seriously, but this is a bit much. Capello'll be keeping the wags out of team meetings next.

― Ismael Klata, Friday, 15 January 2010 14:37 (sixteen years ago)

The clusterfuck of inevitable cash-in unofficial songs by lame indie bands off Myspace, reformed '70s punk outfits and X-Factor also-rans will be to blame for England's second round exit.

― James Mitchell, Friday, 15 January 2010 14:40 (sixteen years ago)

Someone is bound to do a filthy mash-up of the Adam & Joe "Ball ball ball, footy footy footy" song and go at least as far as getting it a Facebook campaign to mass buy it up the iTunes charta.

― James Mitchell, Friday, 15 January 2010 14:42 (sixteen years ago)

...the true genius of that song is that people still seem to enjoy it unironically!

― Do the english boil pizza? (acoleuthic), Friday, 15 January 2010 14:49 (sixteen years ago)

Clusterfuck of inevitable cash-in unofficial songs already underway:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a196455/rik-mayall-announces-world-cup-song.html

― Joe Tackleberry (Some guy from Goole), Friday, 15 January 2010 14:52 (sixteen years ago)

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