Music Blog 7/3/2010

We’ve Got the Whole World at Our Feet (England 1986 World Cup Theme)

Naturally, all the titles of England’s various World Cup themes have optimistic titles (for more on this, see the BBC's history of official England World Cup Songs here), of which this is obviously one. The last time that strategy worked was in 1966, when the song Back Home topped the charts and propelled the host nation to victory. But since then, the songs This Time, We’ve Got the Whole World at Our Feet, World in Motion, (How Does It Feel to Be) On Top of the World, We’re On the Ball and World at Your Feet have failed to produce winners. Why not try the opposite approach in 2014? I suggest the following:

We Have No Chance (Who’s Fooling Who?)

Roller Coaster by Henri Rene and His Orchestra (from Space Age Pop: Vol. 1, RCA, 1995)

Music to rummage attics by.

Do It Any Way You Wanna by People’s Choice (from Didn’t It Blow Your Mind!: Soul Hits of the ‘70’s, Rhino, 1995)

Dumb fashions and hairstyles, sure, but who’s advocating fun these days? No one.

The Way You Look Tonight by Tony Bennett (from My Best Friend’s Wedding Soundtrack, Sony, 1997)

I’m not a hunter, but I’m from a hunting family. We know that beauty is in the spotting scope of the beholder.

The Man With the Black Moustache by Monochrome Set (from Tomorrow Will Be Too Long: The Best of the Monochrome Set, Caroline Blue Plate, 1995)

Another twisted pop band that never got its due. I saw them play to ten people (including myself) at a large dance club in Boston in 1982. They sounded terrific, but looked like they wanted to be anywhere but…