Music And Footy: A Perfect Match?

Yesterday we heard that West Australian psych masters Pond had re-recorded the often maligned Fremantle Dockers club song in their own inimitable style, another argument for the fact that the worlds of sport and music don't need to be as separate as many believe.

While the topic of football is one that's polarising in the music industry, a few of us at theMusic.com.au actually like it, so we thought we'd bring you a few football songs that don't get the attention they deserve.

Hoodoo Gurus – That's My Team

While it left something of a sour taste in our mouth to hear that the Hoodoo Gurus changed the lyrics to their classic 1987 single What's My Scene for the NRL, it did give the code the best theme song it'd had in quite some time. So if it benefits both rugby league and the band, it can't be a bad thing, right?

Okay, we're not completely convinced either.

Hunters & Collectors – Holy Grail

The winner of the AFL Grand Final picks up what is arguably the most prestigious silverware in Australia sport, so it's fitting that Holy Grail has been co-opted by the code as something of an unofficial anthem. We're pretty sure Mark Seymour wasn't talking about AFL when he wrote the song for his Hunters & Collectors in 1992, but it's a nice fit.

Black Grape – England's Irie (feat. Joe Strummer & Keith Allen)

This track from the Happy Mondays offshoot Black Grape hit the sixth position in the UK charts upon its release in 1996, the best charting single they achieved in their short, five year career. Football Fever over the UEFA Euro 1996 was no doubt to thank, the star power of Joe Strummer probably not hurting either.

Tina Turner – What You Get Is What You See

Tina Turner dominated rugby league in the early 1990s and this is just the first part of her brilliant involvement.

Tina Turner & Jimmy Barnes – Simply The Best

This song became synonymous with a mighty rugby league victory for years thanks to this highly successful campaign; a campaign that was topped off by having a saxophone player wearing a sleeveless leather vest at the 1994 Grand Final.

Paul Kelly – Leaps & Bounds

You might think we're drawing something of a long bow here, but when you hear that opening guitar, bassline and Kelly's lyrics:

“I'm high on the hill
Lookin' over the bridge
To the M-C-G
And way up on high
The clock on the silo
Says eleven degrees”

All we can think about is a Saturday afternoon during a Melbourne winter, screamers being taken left, right and centre at the iconic ground he namechecks. Plus he sung it at the grand Final last year so that's gotta count for something.

Primal Scream, Irvine Welsh & On-U-Sound – Full Strength Fortified Dub

Probably not the most anthemic bunch of sporting tunes you'll ever hear, the match up of Scotish alt-rockers Primal Scream, author Irvine Welsh and producer On-U-Sound, was put together for the UEFA Euro 1996 tournament and their three track single was available for one week only.

“The mystery of Scottish sport
Is why we hate the English so.
I love the English very much
As long as they don't fuckin beat us
in the European nations cup
"You ain't gonna win no more”

Custard – I Like Football

In Australia at around the same time, Brisbane indie masters Custard were penned an ode to the kind of football that dominated their state with I Like Football.

“I like football, he likes football, she likes football
We all love Rugby League”

The Cattledogs – Harden Up (feat. Tommy Raudonikis)

WARNING: Clip contains incredibly bad acting.

Tommy Raudonikis is a true legend of Rugby League. He played over 240 senior games, nine years of representative footy, a stint of coaching and is a real colourful character of the game. One thing that many don't know about Tom Terrific is that he also sung a particular terrible song with a band called The Cattledogs.

“I'm from the Western Suburbs, I'm pure working class
So you can shove your cappuccino, right up your fuckin' arse”

A brilliant advertisement for the game. But not quite as good as this:

“I love the footy like a fat kid loves cake
I don't want fuckin' sushi, get that shit off me plate!”

Genius.

Check out our 2012 Finals Playlists here.

What songs do you associate with footy. How good is footy?