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June 24, 2010 3:15 PM Subscribe
What would be an awesome World Cup anthem for a toddler?
My 2-year-old loves basketball--and is concurrently wild about "Basketball," the 80s rap paean to the sport by Kurtis Blow. Now that the World Cup is on, he's taken a shine to soccer. Are there any lively, upbeat songs about soccer that I might play for him?
My 2-year-old loves basketball--and is concurrently wild about "Basketball," the 80s rap paean to the sport by Kurtis Blow. Now that the World Cup is on, he's taken a shine to soccer. Are there any lively, upbeat songs about soccer that I might play for him?
Let's Give Em Something to Talk about, by Bonnie Raitt. Heh....
OK, actually, my cousin and I just discussed what song the US should listen to before the next match against Ghana. You have to go with American bands, obviously and it is amazing how many times my brain wen to Black Sabbath and/or Led Zep.
We decided on Jimi Hendrix's version of the Star Spangled Banner for its simultaneous kick-assedness and its general "Don't Tread on Me" vibe.
Not sure if the little one would appreciate it or not. But if they do... All right.
posted by priested at 3:37 PM on June 24, 2010
OK, actually, my cousin and I just discussed what song the US should listen to before the next match against Ghana. You have to go with American bands, obviously and it is amazing how many times my brain wen to Black Sabbath and/or Led Zep.
We decided on Jimi Hendrix's version of the Star Spangled Banner for its simultaneous kick-assedness and its general "Don't Tread on Me" vibe.
Not sure if the little one would appreciate it or not. But if they do... All right.
posted by priested at 3:37 PM on June 24, 2010
Bwithh for the bwin! It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming, football's coming home!
I am not English and have never voluntarily watched soccer, but that song gets me all riled up.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:44 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
I am not English and have never voluntarily watched soccer, but that song gets me all riled up.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:44 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
I've always been partial to I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, which West Ham supporters sing at matches. Not sure it fits your criteria though, because it never actually mentions football/soccer and it's not a song aimed at a national team. (They start singing at 13 seconds in on that link).
posted by colfax at 3:53 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by colfax at 3:53 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Vindaloo! Could have been written by and for toddlers.
(Video contains large shirtless guys, but nothing more scandalous than that.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:57 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
(Video contains large shirtless guys, but nothing more scandalous than that.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:57 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA)
Song Explanation Here
posted by MechEng at 4:06 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Song Explanation Here
posted by MechEng at 4:06 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's K'naan's Wavin' Flag, which is the official something or other song this World Cup. Good song, good artist.
posted by Kattullus at 4:13 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 4:13 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not sure it fits your criteria though, because it never actually mentions football/soccer and it's not a song aimed at a national team.
Same goes for You'll Never Walk Alone, which is originally from the musical "Carousel," and is the theme for Liverpool F.C.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:15 PM on June 24, 2010
Same goes for You'll Never Walk Alone, which is originally from the musical "Carousel," and is the theme for Liverpool F.C.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:15 PM on June 24, 2010
Seconding K'naan, great song.
Shout by Dizzee Rascal and James Corden is also good.
posted by ellieBOA at 4:16 PM on June 24, 2010
Shout by Dizzee Rascal and James Corden is also good.
posted by ellieBOA at 4:16 PM on June 24, 2010
World Cup Fever by Air Miami, of course.
(The rest of that record is also super fun.)
posted by mintcake! at 4:20 PM on June 24, 2010
(The rest of that record is also super fun.)
posted by mintcake! at 4:20 PM on June 24, 2010
They'll generally have 'football' in the lyrics. (Like this one, which I think would suit a toddler.)
posted by holgate at 4:27 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by holgate at 4:27 PM on June 24, 2010
"Cup of Life" - Ricky Martin (or in Spanish if you prefer). It was the theme for the 1998 World Cup.
posted by SisterHavana at 4:30 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by SisterHavana at 4:30 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ole Ole
Super catchy and upbeat, positive message even ("win or lose we're having fun"). Does feature the line "We drink beer and wear Adidas" if you consider that offensive for reasons of either alcohol consumption of brand name pandering.
posted by 256 at 4:56 PM on June 24, 2010
Super catchy and upbeat, positive message even ("win or lose we're having fun"). Does feature the line "We drink beer and wear Adidas" if you consider that offensive for reasons of either alcohol consumption of brand name pandering.
posted by 256 at 4:56 PM on June 24, 2010
Love's got the world in motionposted by tellumo at 5:00 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
And I know what we can do
Love's got the world in motion
And I can't believe it's true
I bet he'd like "Cup of Life/Copa de la Vida" by Ricky Martin
posted by radioamy at 5:08 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by radioamy at 5:08 PM on June 24, 2010
There are 50 tracks on the jukebox at Football and Music. Your kid may respond to the breakneck speed beat of Football crazy.
posted by unliteral at 5:21 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by unliteral at 5:21 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Data Point: my three-year-old loves Waka Waka (the Shakira version). My six-year-old brought it home from a lesson about the Cup at his bilingual school and it stuck.
posted by iscatter at 5:49 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by iscatter at 5:49 PM on June 24, 2010
Give Him a Ball and a Yard of Grass - Sultans of Ping FC
The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme - Colourbox
utterly inappropriate but my favorite football song -
Sharp as a Needle - Barmy Army
posted by Fiery Jack at 6:41 PM on June 24, 2010
The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme - Colourbox
utterly inappropriate but my favorite football song -
Sharp as a Needle - Barmy Army
posted by Fiery Jack at 6:41 PM on June 24, 2010
Well, there's The Sporting Life by the Decemberists, but it's probably not quite right.
posted by sad_otter at 7:12 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by sad_otter at 7:12 PM on June 24, 2010
While certainly not about soccer, I've always associated Zombie Nation by Kernkraft 400 with soccer.
Upbeat? check.
Anthemic? check.
Stadium Chant Related? check.
Barring that, just buy you toddler a vuvuzela and call it a day.
posted by clearly at 10:26 PM on June 24, 2010
Upbeat? check.
Anthemic? check.
Stadium Chant Related? check.
Barring that, just buy you toddler a vuvuzela and call it a day.
posted by clearly at 10:26 PM on June 24, 2010
Footy
Maybe the wrong country, but changing the lyrics wouldn't be that hard.
posted by Some1 at 10:46 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Maybe the wrong country, but changing the lyrics wouldn't be that hard.
posted by Some1 at 10:46 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
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(To the tune of "God Save the Queen")
Lord, grant that Altidore,
Donovan, Bradley or
Dempsey may score.
Lead us out from Group C,
Deliver victory,
So that the world may see,
USA is king!
posted by chrisamiller at 3:24 PM on June 24, 2010