Football and Music

This is part 2 of a World Cup theme post. Part 1 is here.

Some more World Cup Qualifiers coming up. Time to roll out some more WC feem toons.

Now with the previous World Cups…from ‘86 to ‘94 at least… the host country got someone who was from there to sing it for them, but this changed when it came to France ‘98.

Rather than get the excellent Les Négresses Vertes or Daft Punk or Air, the French Footie Association went with the [retracted] icon…

» Ricky Martin - The Cup Of Life

- Previous France ‘98 coverage here.

Four years later and for the first time in it’s history the tournament is held in Asia.

This time FIFA and the authorities get a bit posh and got Vangelis to do an official anthem AND… an official theme song by Anastacia too:

» Vangelis - 2002 FIFA WC Official Anthem

» Anastacia - Boom (Album Version)

I’m not done with this yet though…

There was a tie in to the tournament with an effort to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. The project was called “Love United” and they roped in some world famous footie players to help them publicise the issue.

Roped them in with a song and yes once again we have singing footballers - captured on video too:

Representing England and trying to look hard singing a love-type ballad is one Sol Campbell.

» Love United - Live For Love United

Also appearing on the vid (in case you didn’t catch them all) are:
Fabien Barthez (Fra), Selim Benachour (Tun), Laurent Blanc (Fra), Alain Boghossian (Fra), Sol Campbell (Eng), Vincent Candela (Fra), Fabio Cannavaro (Ita), Roberto Carlos (Bra), Marcel Desailly (Fra), Didier Deschamps (Fra), El Hadji Diouf (Sen), Youri Djorkaeff (Fra), Christophe Dugarry (Fra), Luis Figo (Por), Ivan Helguera (Spa), Thierry Henry (Fra), Franck Leboeuf (Fra), Frederik Liundberd (Sve), Bixente Lizarazu (Fra), Patrick M’Boma (Cam), Claude Makélélé (Fra), Rafael Marquez (Mex), Johan Micoud (Fra), Salomon Olembé (Cam), Emmanuel Petit (Fra), Robert Pires (Fra), Ulrich Ramé (Fra), Ronaldinho (Bra), Willy Sagnol (Fra), Roque Santa Cruz (Par), Mehmet Scholl (Ger), Michael Silvestre (Fra), Jacques Songo’o (Cam), Hakan Sukur (Tur), Piotr Swierczewski (Pol), Lilian Thuram (Fra), Francesco Totti (Ita), Daniel Van Buyten (Bel), Gregory Vanney (Usa), Juan S. Veron (Arg), Patrick Vieira (Fra), Paulo Wanchope (Cos), Sylvain Wiltord (Fra), Young-Pyo Lee (Cor), Zinedine Zidane (Fra).

I’m still not finished …

*BONUS* -> I’ve collected together (some) of the song from the official soundtrack. I ordered a copy of the CD but the seller didn’t send it. Got me money refunded though.

Click here to get it.

Alright done with that. Now onto Germany for the 2006 finals.

Yet again the local talent was ignored and for this one FIFA whispered sweet nothings into Simon Collwell’s ear and he gave them his musical progeny, along with Toni Braxton:

» Il Divo - The Time Of Our Lives

- I’ve still got more WC 2006 related material I want to share, but this will do for now.

Related Posts

• My Two Left Feet
• Big Trip To Where Now…?
• How Does It Feel…?
• Variations On A Theme
• Nevermind The Lyrics