When going through my CD collection here (with a view to writing down to see what I have here and to maybe selling them to a second hand record shop) I rediscovered some half forgotten gems in the form of my Pop Will Eat Itself collection. It must have been about 10 years since I played any of the CD’s – plus vinyl – half of them I bought on plastic before that compact disc revolution took over.

I’ve dismissed music in the ’90s as a sh’t pointless decade, but there were some exceptions. Radiohead and Nirvana excepted, but Pop Will Eat Itself too.

I know that I’ve rasied some eyebrows with mentioning PWEI in the same breath as those two, but if you have any of their albums in your collection go back and have a listen to them. They have a place in musical history. All these mashups that you hear now – they were doing it years and years before.

But I digest.   The reason for this (unplanned until yesterday) reappearance of the Hungarian-born/Italian prOn star-cum-politician *ahem* is because of PWEI’s “tribute” to her.

Cicciolina’s…don’t google her unless your safe search is on… it’s difficult to find a picture of her with her clothes on… real name is Ilona Staller…Did you also know that her stage name of La Cicciolina means “the cuddly one” in Italian and when political speeches, in fact at any given moment she liked to pop a tit out – as I mentioned when I first posted about her.

As I was listening to the Poppies this track played and I decided at that moment to gather together all the various versions of the song. After a quick bit of research… to find more info about the tune you mucky minded people… I fortuitously stumbled across this great review/comment on Discogs.com »

:Pop Will Eat Itself always maintained their punk attitude, even when producing acid house/new beat-influenced dub tunes like Touched By The Hand Of Cicciolina. Released as ‘The Unofficial World Cup Theme’ in Spring 1990, the tune samples football fan chants, tv speakers, a female opera singer, and features trumpet, piano, a mighty bassline, and a breakbeat at 112bpm. Only occasionally, Clint and Graham of the Poppies chant their slogan of ‘Cicciolina for Italia 1990′, but the tune is rather to be called an instrumental. It has stood the test of time remarkably well, and from today’s perspective it can be said that Pop Will Eat Itself were on one level with acid dub pioneers Renegade Soundwave and Meat Beat Manifesto in 1990. “

- Take a moment to read the whole thing. It gives an excellent background all about this single.

[See post to listen to audio] » Touched By The Hand Of Cicciolina (1st Half) [See post to listen to audio] » Touched… (Edited Highlights) * [See post to listen to audio] » Touched… (7 inch version) * [See post to listen to audio] » Touched… (Extra Time Mix [See post to listen to audio] » Incredi-Bull Mix (2nd Half) [See post to listen to audio] » Diva Futura Mix [See post to listen to audio] » Renegade Soundwave Mix - Video - PWEI on ToTP

I think that Edited Highlights and 7 inch version are one in the same, but I’ve added them because I’m a completist.

It is with grateful thanks to The Vinyl Villain and Madchester Rave On for originally posting & letting me borrow a tune (or two) to complete the above. Both are exceptional places to visit.

Additional:
I asked JC of The Vinyl Villain (the supplier of the 12″ version) which other PWEI track I should throw in and he suggested Wise Up! Sucker and it to be dedicated to Garry Cook, the Manchester City Chief Exec who in his words: “….is doing his single-handed best to turn Man City into the most hated team in Englishire.” He also used the word loathsome in his description, which as a long suffering Citeh supporter myself I’m inclined to agree with. His remarks also gave me an idea for another F&M post, but that’s for another day.

But it doesn’t end there:
As well as Cicciolina’s political oration and video fellatio, she tried another line of work in the guise as a pop star. A few samples of her output, in English and in Italian below:

[See post to listen to audio] » Cicciolina & Franco Franchi – Cappuccetto Rosso - Video [See post to listen to audio] » Cicciolina – Muscolo Rosso   [see note] [See post to listen to audio] » Ilona Stalla (Cicciolina) – It’s All Up To You [See post to listen to audio] » Cicciolina – Satisfaction (Rolling Stones cover)

» If you like that sort of thing then you can find more of this sort of thing here. Safe(ish) for work.

This is a postscript to the one from the other day that looked at some well known names who were compelled to sing for England.

The ones I selected were the “best” in the bunch of tunes which were either designed to earn a bit of coin for themselves or to raise money for others.

There were a couple of other songs done in which groups of “celebrities” were gathered together in the name of charidee (mate) – and yes it was for a good cause, but they really should have just emptied their own wallets and not tried to sing.

Sadly for you I’m going to remind everybody again of what those songs were.

Both acts must have confused the general public slightly because of their names. Both of them were known as something something Allstars.

- The first one takes the route that every bugger else took when they banged out a re-worded cover version of a familiar tune. A song that is closely associated with (I’ve still got to get that posted and tell their footie and music story) Brighton & Hove Albion.

Who’s fault ?   The culprits in this instance were Talksport Radio.

What song ?   A version of The Piranhas hit (from 1980, that got to number 6) ‘Tom Hark’ – which in itself was a reworked version of a much older tune, but more about that another time.

Who was on this one ?   Some of the Talksport presenters (at the time) including Rodney Marsh, Micky Quinn and that twAt James Whale.

Was it for charidee ?   Unknown, looks like it wasn’t.

[See post to listen to audio] » Talksport Allstars – We’re England (Tom Hark) -Video

Extra Time -

That is halfway decent compared with…

Who’s fault ?   The scummy Sun “newspaper” with some of their usual zenophobia.

What song ?   A re-worded version of the Dads Army Theme.

Who was on this one ?   They got I think one of the maybe two or three original Dads Army actors still alive, but they didn’t get a decent one. It was that Warden bloke. Plus they had Frank Bruno (don’t know how he fits in to all this but he’s on his uppers and needed the work) and they got the two England scorers from the 1966 World Cup Final. Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters hang your heads in shame. I know it was for charity but getting in bed with that low/no class tabloid with this pathetic tune…

Was it for charidee ?   Yes.

[See post to listen to audio] Stream only. The less people that have this the better. - Video

I’ve left this one on a sour note. I usually have something else to balance it out, not this time though.
It is better that we get this one out of the way and forgotten.

- There are still a couple more Engl/WC2006 tunes worth a mention, but as I said lets leave it for now.

In my posts I went with bands that share the same name as a football team... I told you it was thin… and Eric found artists who slip football references into their songs.

Oh and the “e-rawk” name ? He tells me that it came from a fleeting nickname he had whilst fronting a Scorpions cover band. The band lasted for a year… 5 years ago.
You shouldn’t have told me that Eric.

On with the music:

The Decemberists

“I fell on the playing field
The work of an errant heel
The din of the crowd and the loud commotion
Went deafening silence and stopped emotion
The season was almost done
We managed it 12 to 1…”

I'm not the only one who thinks the intro/drums sounds like Lust For Life am I ?
Thought not.

The Lucksmiths

…were an Australian band who sadly broke up just last year.

“And on your left
Is all that’s left of the bowling green
A town without a football team”

The opening line: “What a beautiful day for a crushing defeat” and then:

“Don’t be hopeful on my behalf
I’d like to offer my resignation
And strangle myself with a football scarf
Or act in self-defenestration..”

Bell and Sebastian

“Another day in June, we’ll pick eleven for football
We’re playing for our lives the referee gives us fck all
I saw you in the corner of my eye on the sidelines…”

and of course…

“I don’t want to play football
I don’t understand the thrill of the game
I don’t want to play football
I don’t understand the thrill of the running, catching, throwing
Taking orders from a moron…”

Some good selections there E-Rawk, I now bestow the title of Chief (football&music) Scout upon you.

If you’d like to become a F&M scout then email us here with any music/footie songs you’ve spotted.

» [Link] The Mighty Boosh – Electro

Handball ? Probably.
But come on… the other lot had nine – including an o.g from Kirkland, so cut him some slack.

This is not the first time. He’s got previous.

Natty taste with spectacles too.

[In case you don't know what I'm talking about:

Lots of interest in the Jorge Ben collection, so here is some extra material from various artists who have covered the man himself.

First up is the one you know from that Nike advert – which is a cover by Tamba Trio:

[See post to listen to audio] » Tamba Trio – Mas Que Nada

- Tamba Trio on MySpace

Next one is Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66:

[See post to listen to audio]» Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 – Mais Que Nada

…plus the 2006 re-recording with the Black Eyed Peas:

[See post to listen to audio]» Sergio Mendes/Black Eyed Peas – Mas Que Nada

- Wikipedia entry

There are lots of other cover versions but these are enough, let’s not talk about the rest.

I haven’t posted the Jorge Ben original, but here is a cover version which made it onto the France ‘98 soundtrack CD:

[See post to listen to audio]» Daniela Mercury – Pais Tropical

Finally for now here are two examples…

…on how to take a great song and completely ruin it:

[See post to listen to audio] » Soulfly – Umbabaruma

…and how to pay a huge compliment to the original:

[See post to listen to audio] » Marijohn & The Jacks – Fio Maravilha

» The noted and much respected journalist Hugh McIlvanney recalls Mexico ‘70 with fond memories:

[See post to listen to audio] » Brazil 1970 and Pele remembered with affection by Hugh McIlvanney

Tenuously related…

There were two bands out in the 90’s who were influenced by the above World Cup because of what they called themselves – which if the world wide web was around at the time probably wouldn’t have because both are impossible to search for.

The first one were named: Mexico 70.

Via Cherry Red: “Songwriter and lead vocalist Mick Bund gained valuable experience with Felt and working on Boy’s Own Records projects Airstream and the Bocca Juniors, but he gives full rein to his talents through Mexico 70.”

- This track comes from their 1996 release Imperial Comet Hour and chosen for the obvious reasons:

[See post to listen to audio] » Mexico 70 – Best and Hurst

They are still going…well the lead singer is still going under the Mexico 70 moniker and can be found here and also at MySpace.

This next lot from Liverpool named themselves after Edison Arantes do Nascimento:

From their website: “Pele were formed on Merseyside in 1990 by guitarist and frontman Ian Prowse and keyboard player Andrew Roberts. They were joined by Dally on drums, James McCallister on bass guitar and finally Nico on violin. After gigging around Liverpool and Chester the band were signed to brand new label M&G Records after the head of A&R heard a rough demo of Megalomania. Within weeks the band set about recording their debut LP, Fireworks, at Metropolis studios in London with producer Gary Langan.”

- This track comes from the above Fireworks album, which was released as a single.

[See post to listen to audio] » Pele – Raid The Palace

After the band split up the lead singer Ian Prowse went on to form (another impossible one to google) Amsterdam. I’ve previously featured them here on F&M when Ian go on the John Peel train.

It’s an actual (but unwritten) Premier League rule. Honest.

There’s one player in every team which when they play your hands automatically go to your face and you watch through your fingers. Every club has one.

For example: Spurs have Gomes, Man City have Bridge and West Ham have Upson.
Liverpool have Glen Johnson and Pompey (obviously) have Calamity James.

So who is the joker in your pack ?
Leave your nominations in the comments.

[See post to listen to audio] » Showbiz Soccer Team – Showbiz Soccer

[See post to listen to audio] » Brown Sauce – I Wanna Be A Winner » Video

A new (offsite) series:

Football and Music: Song Of The Day on Twitter

As the title says these songs will only be posted (and be available to download) via the F&M Twitter*
  http://www.twitter.com/football_music

*This first one today will be also posted here, but as mentioned all future songs can only be found via our Twitter feed. Keep a look out for [F&M SoTD].

[See post to listen to audio] » Slade – Give Us A Goal

As promised some related Englandneworder/Worldinmotion tunes…

Embrace me

The official English entry for the 2006 contest cover their 1990 counterparts:

[See post to listen to audio]
» Embrace – World In Motion (Live on the Chris Moyles Show

For Every Coke…

There were many (many, many, MANY ! many) CD compilations released to cash in on WC’06 and this track was buried… sadly for you, until now… in one of them:

[See post to listen to audio]
» Offside – World In Motion
Remember those Top Of The Pops albums released in the ’70’s, when they got session musicians to record [dodgy] cover versions of the chart hits of the day ? This is a hark back to that.

Lounge Lizard

Get yer maracas out…

[See post to listen to audio]
» Hector Cortez and his Formation – World In Motion
Yes even the Barnsey rap is in there too

Flogging A Dead…

In 2002 there was a reissue which was an attempt by the record company to get their own cash in, plus to promote yetanotherNewOrdercompilation. Five Live jumped on this bandwagon with:
'Features the new track: "such a good thing" - BBC Radio Five Live World Cup Theme' [More info]
Since when did FiveLive start playing music again ?

[See post to listen to audio]
» New Order – Such A Good Thing

Route (19)66

Saving the best to last. This is a radical reworking/flashbacking project by Hull based DJ and mixer epicentre. More about – and from him another time.

[See post to listen to audio]
» World in Motion (Epicentre’s Route 66 Remix)

Coming soon: Some related video.

…and now I have a (very poor) one with this post over on BoingBoing:

Spinal Tap finally record “Saucy Jack”

Brendan sez, “I saw the ‘Unwigged and Unplugged’ show starring Spinal Tap members Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Christopher Guest on Saturday in Chicago…

… they also sang ‘Saucy Jack,’ which you will remember David and Derek discuss at the end of the film _This is Spinal Tap_ [ed: It's the title track from their unproduced rock-opera about Jack the Ripper]. They announced that you could download the (free) track from the Spinal Tap website.

… or below:

[See post to listen to audio]
» Spinal Tap – Saucy Jack

On his Wikipedia entry it says that Smalls is a Hammers as well as a Shrewsbury fan. I haven’t seen any evidence of the West Ham one, but of the Town one – as seen above – spotted some recent talk about that on WSC and their Weekly Howl :

“…This shirt, or one of similar design from the next two seasons, is the one worn by bassist Derek Smalls in the scene in Spinal Tap when he is stopped at airport customs while wearing a foil-wrapped cucumber as a codpiece. Derek’s connection to Shrewsbury has never been explained but another 1970s musician, Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople, describes in his memoir Diary of A Rockstar how he often tried in vain to find out Shrewsbury’s scores while on tour in the US….”

- And there’s a follow-up:

from Jon Matthias
“About Derek Smalls wearing Shrewsbury Town colours in last week’s Howl – apparently the actor who plays Derek was in a sporting goods store in London looking for a costume and spotted the Town shirt. He liked it because of the stripes and because they were an obscure club, which kind of fitted into his character. This has been covered a few times in Shrewsbury fanzines, although no one has been able to pinpoint which store it was or why the hell they had a Town shirt in there…”

Soccer Scene maybe…? or probably Lillywhites ? Ah nevermind…

one more:

[See post to listen to audio]
» Spinal Tap – Big Bottom