World Cup of Music July 6

Semi-Finals

P/Review of Matches July 3/6/7; So it does look like a Holland Germany final after all; now there is a local derby to savour. Next Sunday I suggest you get over to Holland, wear some Oranje, neck down some Oranjeboom and hope the third-time lucky rule kicks in for the Soldiers of Orange. Given how unpredictable this World Cup has been however it might be won by street-fighter Suarez in the Final slipping it passed Casillas, who is due a monumental mistake with someone sharper that Roque Santa Cruz following up. Villa already deserves a winner’s medal as he is carrying European Champions Spain. Paraguay were immense until Nelson Valdez went off , suggesting that a great counter-attacking side can defeat Spain. Sadly Ghana, like Paraguay, missed a penalty that would have put them through; penalty heart-ache ruled Accra. Despite tipping them as dark horses I just can’t see Uruguay beating Holland but, whilst Germany are stronger, Spain are capable of unlocking any defence when Iniesta puts Villa through. So todays Theme Tune is some joyous Ghanaian Hiplife to thank them for their great performances. Trosky Blackman (featuring Osofo Mafia) with their Italianate BlackStar Football Anthem;  

World Cup of Music July 3rd

Quarter Finals

Preview of Matches July 3rd; Well as predicted Uruguay won on penalties but Brasil threw away a winning position against a relentless Holland. Will this lead to a repeat of  the 1974 Final between Holland and Germany? I thought the final would be between Brasil & Argentina so I will stay with Argentina, which might mean that we get a repeat of the 1978 Final between Holland and Argentina if Argentina win in normal time; Germany could nick it on penalties. So the predictions that Latin America might rule the world might prove a little premature. Paraguay and Spain doesnt seem too hard to predict, but I think Spain need to get ahead early and not let Paraguay either shut them down or start to believe they can nick it; Spain to win in normal time else Paraguay on penalties. Musically we’ve just lost two wonderful musical nations in Brasil and Ghana, and today I much prefer the music from Argentina and Spain, which doesn’t bode well. So with Brasil going out to a high Sneijder cross todays Theme Tune is by CSS, from Sao Paulo, and Listen to Death from Above;  

World Cup of Music July 1

Best Music Videos by Quarter-Final Nations

I have long enjoyed Latin music, having managed a Venezualan salsa band Spiteri, because of its percussion, so the gentle, and intense rhythms of Brasilian music have always worked for me. And I also enjoyed the nuevo tango of Argentina ever since I first heard Gotan Project’s Tripitico (video) on the Robert Elms show on Radio London (thanks Robert). So having read a year ago that Carlos Gaudel, the Frank Sinatra of Tango, was really from Uruguay and, in Alex Bellos marvellous Futebol, on Brasilian football as a way of life, that the beautiful yellow, green and blue kit of Brasil was designed by a Uruguayan, I have learnt to expect surprises from Uruguay. So my major discovery on World Cup of Music has been Hugo Fattoruso and the Afro-Uruguayan rhythms of candombe that underpin tango.

Uruguay; The Uruguayan capital of Montevideo is known as “la Capital Mundial del Candombe” and like Olodum in Salvador Brasil, Candombe underpins various local cultural activities, as this video suggests. There is also an interview with Hugo Fattoruso in the text below. A longer Candombe video is here but this is the video of Lonjas de Cuareim;

World Cup of Music June 30

Best World Cup of Music Videos (Losing Teams)

Review of Matches June 29th; The refereeing continues to be of the highest order, particularly at ignoring the pathetic histrionics of many players, only Capdevilla of Spain, twice, getting away with it. Nonetheless Spain deserved to win once Portugal’s Queiroz made a fatal substitution. Whilst Spain’s Cruyff-inspired patience is admirable they will go out to a mistake by Casillas for whom, like Shilton and Seaman, this is one tournament too far. Paraguayans, with consummate arrogance, rolled penalties past Japan as if born to penalty shoot-outs. Japan didnt spark off like before and, despite having the Jabulani ball early, missed a penalty. So let’s hear it all around the world for the best of Theme Tune so far. It must be the joyful dancing in the streets of Congotronics with Konono Number 1, Fula Fula;  

World Cup of Music June 29

Second Round Knockout Matches

Review of Matches June 28; Chile came, pressed, created and thrilled, but were second best to both Spain and Braassiill! Great football from Brasil in all departments extended their ten-year undefeated run against el Loco’s Chile and Brasil look strong enough to meet Argentina in the final. The refereeing, as throughout this World Cup, with the exception of one or two decisions and a couple of yellow cardistas, was excellent. Holland however, like Germany, look good enough to spoil the Latin party and, like Brasil, had too much movement and creativity about them for a tough Slovakian side.  With two more teams going home Vusi Mahlasela says “Sing Sing Africa” for Chile and Slovakia live in When You Come Back ;

World Cup of Music June 26

Second Round Matches June 26

Review of Matches, June 25; So the titanic clash was rubbish, as both Portugal and Brasil had qualified. Ivory Coast came alive, or North Korea rolled over, but far too late. Brasil now have to face the fast-paced pressing Chile who looked exciting until their goalkeeper rushed out and gave the ball to the subdued Villa; who then scored a fabulous Waddlesque goal and put Spain safely through. Switzerland could have benefitted but their ugly goal policy didnt work against the excellent Honduras. Switzerland’s role seems to have been to wake up Spain whose only problem is Torres lack of fitness. We now have the worst overall performance by the big, rich and greedy European teams since, well probably since the Latin Americans first held a World Cup in Montevideo in 1930. Sepp Blatter now looks like a visionary compared to the likes of Domenech and Lippi. I’ve been wondering what my eleven best players so far might be and today Barnsley-born (hi Dad!) ex-Ireland manager Mick McCarthy picks his. Reads like the eleven players he could afford to sign for his Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose most famous fan is Robert Plant. His Strange Sensations want to Shine the fame All Around;

World Cup of Music June 25

Final Games; Groups G & H

Review of Matches June 24; And the shocks just keep on coming! Perhaps not? Italy had been dire but we expected their football smarts to see them through as they did in 2006. Despite Italy scoring 2 late goals once Pirlo came on Lippi got his desserts and Slovakia played as though they were the 1976 European Champions, Czechoslovakia. The dangerous Paraguay went through after their expected bore draw. In Group E Japan went epic as expected and scored two wonderful free kicks with Honda outstanding. Holland move smoothly through the gears and look good for the semis at the moment, as do Japan. Abavuki are a Cape Town musical collective and just released a terrific album called Africa Got Soul.  With South Africa out we will have to keep their music going. I prefer Shame, Shame, Shame, but for all the babies left at home by the footballers this is Papa Was Rolling Stone;

World Cup of Music June 21

Second Group Games 2010

Review of matches June 20; No surprises as the Southern hemisphere continues to dominate. The attacking Paraguay showing why they beat both Argentina and Brasil in qualifying as they outclassed Slovakia, Brasil sucked up the supposed threat of Cote d’Ivoire as Sven continues to show that he can’t motivate in the second half  and, oh yeah New Zealand got their best ever result in International Football winning 1-1 over a classically dirty Lippi Italy; still without Pirlo. Foux de Fa Fa indeed! New Zealand is on its back as I write (it’s the time difference) and France, as predicted here, is on its way back (it’s the coach difference). So after some glorious football, amazing upsets, strange karma and brilliant goals, like Elano’s, let’s have some joyful West African dance music as todays Theme Tune. Mory Kante, from Guinea and Ye Ke Ye Ke