Something amazing has happened. Three days ago, Ronaldinho made his singing debut alongside rapper/singer Edcity. “Vai na fe”, below, features Ronaldinho in a glittering dreadlock beret and sunglasses inside the studio (in Brazil it’s sunny everywhere, even indoors…#factsonly).
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The song sounds like one would expect a musical production with a world-class football player as a back up vocalist to sound. Let’s leave it at that. However, all musical criticisms set aside, this piece of news calls to mind another variation of musical- football combinations: the tournament song. Here are three exemplary productions.
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First up, England. They have perfected the Tournament Song. For Mexico’s 1970 World Cup, the whole squad –a side that included Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore– packed themselves into a recording studio to blast a happy marching song called: “Back Home”.
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For the 1986 World Cup, Germany (who would turn out to lose the final to Argentina) thought it best to record a song praising the host country. They sought help from Austrian artist Peter Alexander, who, backed by the entire national team, managed to deliver a hit single: “Mexico mi amor”. In the video, one is treated to a faux town square setting, and two particularly unimpressed Germans in sarapes and sombreros.
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The host team did not waste time recording its own song. The whole Mexican team praised their “heart” and their in “joy at being hosts” in the upbeat: “El equipo tricolor”. Germany, of “Mexico, mi amor” fame, chased them from the tournament in the quarterfinals.
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We have a feeling we’re only scratching the surface here. Please, help us unearth football’s hidden treasures of choral talent – leave us tips in the comments below.