With FIFA releasing their official World Cup song today, we here at Balls thought we'd take a look at all of the World Cup songs released down the years and pick which one's are the best and the worst. Though the majority of efforts aren't great most do have a insidious, corporate charm that you can't help from worming their way into your ear.
Now before you caps lock me to death, I am using the official song of each tournament only so the likes of K'naan's Waving Flag is not eligible for this list.
14. Il Divo - The Times Of Our Lives - Germany '06
Much too reminiscent of Father Dick Byrne's entry into the Eurovision.
13. Anastacia - Boom - South Korea '02
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFZJR8GvTrU
Usually I would stick up for Anastacia, but this song is a bit of a turd.
12. Maryla Rodowicz - Futbol - West Germany '74
Futbol! Futbol! Futbol! Maryla's effort is mad, German and would have made a decent Eurovision entry. It doens't linger in the mind after listening though, so it loses points.
11. Giorgio Moroder - To Be Number One - Italia '90
Before he was linking up with Daft Punk to produce the sound of the summer, Giorgio penned a World Cup song that was straight from the hair metal era that had just preceded it.
10. Ennio Morricone - El Mundial - Argentina '78
Oscar winning composer Ennio Morricone is in at x with a pleasant instrumental piece for Argentina '78.
9. Will Smith, Nicky Jam & Era Istrefi - Live It Up - Russia '18
The epitome of vanilla.
8. Placido Domingo - El Mundial - Spain '82
Up so high for the intro alone, the rest is fairly standard from Senor Domingo.
7. Pitbull - We Are One (Ole Ola) - Brazil '14
Now I'm no Pitbull apologist or anything, but Mr. Worldwide's effort is not wholly reprehensible.
6. Shakira - Waka Waka - South Africa '10
At the start of the day I hated Waka Waka, but after listening to all of the other World Cup songs, Mrs. Pique's nonsensical little ditty has crept up the list.
6. Stephanie Lawrence - A Special Kind Of Her0 - Mexico '86
With definite ABBA influences Stephanie Lawrence's 'A Special Kind Of Hero' walks the tightrope between sappiness and sentimentality, and manages to find the right balance.
5. Los Hermanos Zavala - Futbol - Mexico '70
Los Hermanos Zavala are up to 5 with this exotic number for Mexico '70
4. Lonnie Donegan - World Cup Willie - England '66
Lonnie Donegan cooked up this little gem for England's only triumph on the world stage.
3. Daryl Hall - Gloryland - USA '94
The USA managed to wrangle pop royalty for their 1994 tournament with a black gospel choir marrying well with Daryl Hall's vocals in the hilariously named 'Gloryland'.
2. The Ramblers - El Rock Del Mundial - Chile '62
This bit of surf rock is so cool it would fit well in a Quentin Tarantino film. Two thumbs up.
1. Ricky Martin - The Cup Of Life - France '98
Overblown, bombastic, inane but also exciting, anthemic and great craic altogether, Ricky Martin's the cup of life is a perfect emblem of the silliness of these types of songs, and that should be celebrated.
