This could become a marquee game for a couple of veterans in the Pompey team.

Some footie pundits are saying that this is the best season old Calamity James has ever had. Plus it could be a swansong for Sol Campbell who is eyeing one last big payday with a possible move to Villareal afterwards.

Both of them will want to be noticed and as well for the team who, like Cardiff will see this as the best opportunity to win the cup, because who knows if they will get back there.

I’m hoping, as well as the Beeb I’m sure, that this will be a good old fashioned end-to-end stuff FA Cup Final.

But I also hope that after their pisspoor performance in the last couple of game of the season, somebody will give the Pompey players a shot of Expresso before they run out onto the Wembley pitch.

As for some cup final music from them, sadly no trip into the studio.

But this didn’t stop a local radio station running an online competition to find the best track to be a sort of unofficial FA Cup Final song for Pompey:

107.4 The Quay’s Rich and Hayley have the “Top Of The Pompey Pops” where you can listen to a number of tracks and click to add your comment/vote on your favourite song. There’s 8 to choose from in total, with some professional artists lined up alongside some fan produced productions.

From there I’ve chosen the most recognisable recordings that everyone would know, plus they are in my opinion the best of the bunch.

The first one I had almost forgotten about until hearing it again. It’s from the bloke who set Richard Branson off on his Virgin Records adventure… (and we’ll draw a veil over the Blue Peter/with Simon Groom thing.).

» Mike Oldfield - Portsmouth

- plus a thumping remix:

» Portsmouth (Remix)

..and the best of the lot in my opinion. Done by the late lamented great wordsmith. This track from his final album isn’t about old Hurryup.. as far as I know anyway. The song is in because it includes Wembley chant:

» Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Mash It Up Harry

Please don't go searching for that video. Just... just don't.

I’m glad to report that the F.A. Cup Final song is alive and well.

Well at least with Cardiff.

As you may have seen in the press they’ve found a semi-famous singer who decided to knock one out for them.

Snippet of an article via IcWales:

Cardiff City record FA Cup song

Apr 8 2008 By Simon Kendal-Williams, Media Wales

MOVE over Chas n Dave, Baddiel & Skinner and Englandneworder - Cardiff City are set to make an assault on the singles chart with their first-ever FA Cup record.

Broadway musical star James Fox has written and recorded the track, entitled ‘Bluebirds Flying High’, ahead of the FA Cup final against Portsmouth on May 17.

The lifelong City fan, who hails from Bargoed and is a season-ticket holder, decided to pen the song after Cardiff made it to the semi-final.

“It did cross my mind at Chasetown in the third round that we might need the traditional FA Cup song if we went all the way to Wembley,” said 32-year-old Fox, who represented the UK in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest.

“But as soon as we beat Middlesbrough in the last eight, I decided to write and record it…

» Full article

For your listening pleasure, a lower quality stream below.   No download because this is a current single still for sale.

James Fox and Cardiff FC - Bluebirds Flying High:

Links:
- James Fox MySpace page
- Buy the single

There’s also an unofficial song done by Stephen Light, an unsigned artist from Caerleon in Wales. Have a listen below and again no download because this is a current song still for sale online.

Stephen Light - The Bluebirds Stomp:

Links:
- Stephen Light MySpace page
- Buy the song

You’d think that with him being there for so long, there’s bound to a few decent songs done about him.

Well there isn’t.

There is this very weak effort done by a mentioned in a couple of other posts studio group:

» The Rainbow Choir - Ryan Giggs We Love You

But come on… is that it ?

It’s the same problem I had when I posted a tribute to Maldini, another loyal servant to his one and only club.

I did some extra searching around and on You Tube there’s obviously lots of clips done by people paying tribute.
From there I found this one which is clips of some of Giggs’ greatest goals with music by Moby.
The creator/uploader overlaid a bit of commentary on the track so I’ve named it the “Giggs Mix”

» Moby - Rise Up (Giggs Mix)

If there is any actual decent musical tributes done for Giggsy then please let me know.

Singing footballers… As we’ve seen they are everywhere. They are also watching on a television in Freetown and after viewing Sunday’s title decider inspired to write a song about the event.

Via the Beeb:

Sierra Leone ode to Man Utd win

A former Sierra Leone international footballer has composed a song to celebrate Manchester United winning the English league.

“Come join us in our dance to celebrate Manchester United’s victory,” sings Umaru Rahman, alias Gallon Pan.

The English Premier League is keenly followed in Sierra Leone, as in many countries around the world.

Pan watched Sunday’s exciting league finale in a Freetown video centre, along with hundreds of other fans.

The BBC’s Lansana Fofana in Freetown says they poured onto the streets in celebration at the final whistle, blowing whistles and honking horns.

Pan, a prolific striker for the national team, as well as lower league clubs in Germany and Sweden, says he has always been a United fan.

“I was born into it,” he told the BBC.

“Manchester are the champions,” he sings in the local Kreole language.

“Manchester United fans please do not be bothered. You are simply with the best team. We are urging fans of other clubs to come join in our celebration. Manchester United are for all football lovers.”

“Sir Alex Ferguson, you are our father and have brought us to a height we will never slip from.”

Our correspondent says fans of Chelsea, the other team vying for the title, also went to the Row Kona video centre to watch Sunday’s deciding round of matches.

» Full article

» Umaru Rahman - Manchester United Celebrate

“Inside/outside… livin’ la vida loca….”

Did they replace Chris with Ricky ? You sure ? Then what’s with the title…?

He did contribute a song to the 1998 World Cup CD, was that an influence when they were recording I wonder ?

Anyhoddles in an effort to flog their new album in the U.S.A (which is where the big revenue is obviously) the band have got into bed with Mickey Mouse.

The article that gives me a weak excuse to post some of their music comes via AP/Yahoo News:

Coldplay to help ESPN market European Championship soccer

BRISTOL, Conn. - Coldplay and ESPN are teaming up on a soccer marketing campaign.

The rock band’s music will be featured in promotions for ESPN’s coverage next month of the European Championship soccer tournament, the sports network announced Wednesday.

ESPN agreed to incorporate music from Coldplay’s new release, “Viva La Vida,” into game and studio production. The quadrennial tournament is scheduled for June 7-29 in Austria and Switzerland. The CD is due out June 12.

ESPN and ABC, both owned by The Walt Disney Co., have broadcast rights for the tournament in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America and India.

Two of the 31 matches will be televised by ABC: a quarterfinal on June 21 and the final on June 29, which will be part of a doubleheader that opens with David Beckham’s Los Angeles Galaxy at D.C. United.

Seven games will be on ESPN, 17 on ESPN2 and five on ESPN Classic. This marks the first time the entire Euros will be shown live on non-pay-per-view U.S. television.

ESPN said the idea is to demonstrate the global importance of soccer and create greater interest in the sport “even among American fans.”

“This is the first time ESPN has created a global marketing campaign with a unified strategy, message and advertising campaign,” said Seth Ader, a senior director of sports marketing for ESPN. “The campaign captures the passion for European soccer.”

» Link

Still taking baby steps, not fully into the mainstream but this is good progress for them.

I’m sure that ESPN/Disney are a bit pissed that Derek and his mates are not taking part in the tournament (a bit of a loss of revenue for them), but there’s a sizeable Latino population in North America so there will be some interest.

In the footie that is.
As for Coldplay’s music… It’s alright but … For me Violet Hill is the best out of these two:

» Coldplay - Viva La Vida

» Coldplay - Violet Hill

UPDATE:

Thanks to Immuzikation who has just sent me a mashup he’s just done.

I love mashups and this one is blinding. He describes it as: Coldplay - Viva La Vida + Weezer - The Greatest Man That Ever Lived + Cut Copy - Far Away + The Blow - Parentheses + M.I.A. - Boyz + Reading Rainbow Theme = Fish Tacos (Immuzikation ExtraTartarBlend) .

You can download Immuzikation - Fish Tacos (ImmuzikationExtraTartarBlend) via: http://download.yousendit.com/AF2257801839D69E http://download.yousendit.com/6770EEC8037BDB51