Last week, Perth Glory CEO Peter Filopoulos jumped on social media and asked fans to suggest a tune for the team to walk out to on home match days.
Many suggestions were forthcoming, including from football hipsters who were quick on the draw to plump for Perth indie pop zeitgeist darlings Tame Impala.
I spent a few seconds pondering this pop cultural sporting conundrum and then the opening riff to Jimi Hendrix’s stratocasterspheric, fuzztastic Purple Haze went off in my brain. The matter was settled and I fired off my tip-top tip to Peter in Perth.
This got me thinking. I just solved Perth’s walk out song dilemma, and with the start of the A-League season imminent, I have decided to spread the Lady Marmalade and sort out every other club as well.
Here goes.
Adelaide United – ‘Pissant’ by Smashing Pumpkins
This one didn’t require too much thinking. Great little song with the Pumpkins at their punkiest.
Come on honey
Let’s go for a ride
Down where the crickets learn and sing and play
Brisbane Roar – ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ by The Tokens
It’s going to be a long, trying season for Roar fans. Good luck and stay sane.
In the jungle, the Indonesian jungle
The Bakries sleeps tonight
Central Coast Mariners – ‘Rydeen’ by Yellow Magic Orchestra
Compared to the Reds and the Roar, the Mariners presented a far more difficult proposition. I opted to stick to a Yellow theme to narrow the field, but even that proved to throw up all sorts of choices. I said a big, fat no to Coldplay’s Yellow, I had to reluctantly decommission The Beatles and their wonderful Yellow Submarine and came oh so close to saying Oh Yeah to everybody’s favourite Swiss electro act, Yello.
In the end I opted for the awe inspiring ‘Rydeen’ by legendary Japanese electro funksters Yellow Magic Orchestra. The Mariners won’t be stopped if they get into synch like Ryuichi Sakamoto and his mates.
Melbourne City – ‘Rock The Casbah’ by The Clash
Melbourne Heart/City fans are a patient lot. Will the team with the help of the sheikh and his petro-dollars finally rock the A-League?
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin’ to the top
The sheik he drove his Cadillac
He went a’ cruisin’ down the ville
Melbourne Victory – ‘We Are The Champions’ by Queen
Melbourne Victory and their fans singlehandedly saved club football in Australia. Don’t believe me? Just ask them. Only appropriate then that Victory walk out to this old doozy, normally reserved for the last day of the season, all season long.
Newcastle Jets – ‘Here Come the Warm Jets’ by Brian Eno
It’s a new era for Novocastrians. The post-boganaire Jets need a cool sound to redefine themselves. Which means no Silverchair and definitely no Screaming Jets. Why go local when you can go to Brian Eno-land and play this slice of majestic post-rock which was crafted during the goopy prog rock era before post-rock even existed. Genius.
Sonic inspiration also comes with a super clip courtesy of YouTube. Play it on the big screen.
Perth Glory – ‘Purple Haze’ by Jimi Hendrix
Purple Haze all in my brain,
lately things don’t seem the same,
actin’ funny but I don’t know why
‘scuse me while I kiss the sky.
Sydney FC – ‘Blue Monday’ by New Order
One of my big pop/football culture regrets is how Sydney FC didn’t walk out to Domenico Modugno’s Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare) during Alessandro Del Piero’s two years in the Emerald City. The post-Del Piero comedown reminds me a bit of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. Gone is the marquee, the man that made the mainstream take notice. The team in the last year has regenerated and come back in a different guise to try and crack the indifferent Sydney football market again.
Wellington Phoenix – ‘I Love My Leather Jacket’ by The Chills
It can get awfully cold and windy watching the Phoenix at The Cake Tin. So here’s Dunedin’s finest with not only a heavenly pop hit (they also had a song by that name), but also some sound Wellington football fashion advice.
Only to be taken off in the 80th minute when the Nix are leading.
Western Sydney Wanderers – ‘I Fought the Law’ by The Clash
Approved by the NSW Police.
Breakin’ rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
