The Boys From Brazil

Cesar Mariano: Futebol De Bar
Jorge Ben: Ponta Da Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma)

From: Brazil - Musica De Futebol [Mr Bongo, 2006]

So you may have heard that there's a little footy tournament starting today......

To say I'm hyped about this would be a serious understatement. Yes I know England won't win and yes I know that even the glamour of the World Cup won't make a match like South Korea vs Togo anymore exhilarating but still I can't help myself and am determined to watch as much as possible.

Because of this commitment to football and drinking my posts may be even more sporadic and infrequent than normal over the coming weeks, at least until England get knocked out anyway. If they're doing well expect lots of summer fried funk, if it all goes wrong expect Esther Phillips.

However, to kick things off I've trawled and trawled for some decent soccer related songs and come up with almost nada apart from the Brazilian gems that I give you today. Yes I know posting Brazilian music at the start of the World Cup is more than a little cliched but it's the best I can do under the circumstances unless you fancy hearing Waddle and Hoddle's Diamond Lights again. For those not in the know, don't Google it, treasure your innocence.

Cesar Mariano's Futebol De Bar is a lovely slice of rolling Brazilian goodness. Using nothing more than a piano and percussion the song conjures up that stadium feeling of anticipation and action with it's rumbling drums and is also a great dancefloor number at the same time.

I've been meaning to do a proper post on Jorge Ben for a long time now but until I finally pull my finger out this will have to do. Ponta Da Lanca Africano (Umbabarauma), originally from his Africa Brasil album, is a lovely slice of dirty tinged funk with that summertime vibe in very full effect and quite possibly the greatest football related song ever.

Both are available on the linked album which, while there's nothing outstandingly rare, is a nice little themed compilation and worth checking out.

Now, let the insanity begin...........