From 30 August 2021
Sport
Any song about any sport, sung by an artist, sportsman, team, choir, etc. Event opening songs (like the Olympics), Hakas, or about running, swimming, fishing, cycling, and many more. Sport in the name of the artist is excluded. Thanks to Paul for the theme choice!
Errol
Human Nature – Runaround Sue
Running is one of the earliest forms of sport and happened for thousands of years while fleeing from dangerous animals, dangerous enemies, dangerous rulers, dangerous Vikings, dangerous volcanoes, dangerous lions in the amphitheatre, and so forth. Only much later would the ancient Greeks put some rules to it like ‘run in a straight line’, ‘run only up to that white stone’. And award a prize to the one who got there first.
Not all who run, however, run to be fastest. Some run for the sheer enjoyment of it. And that’s the story of our runner tonight.
Lynda
Shakira – Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Song)
This song was released on 7 May 2010 as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in SA. The lyrics encourage one to aim for their goals like a soldier on a battlefield. Performed by Shakira (who I know you guys loved) and our own Freshlyground💃🏻
Geraldine
London 2012 Coldplay Ft Rihanna Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony
One of the highlights of my life. While in London in 2012 during a business trip I was invited to attend the Paralympics Games on the Saturday. Bernadette, my daughter was spending the weekend with me in London. What an amazing day for us. The stadium, the organisation, the logistics and most of all the athletes were just unbelievable. Events that were wow experiences for me – the swimmers, the blade runners and the blind runners with their guides.
Enjoy Coldplay and Rihanna at the 2012 Paralympics Games closing event (watch the drummers).
Deborah
Kaity Dunstan – Brand New Key
Kaity Dunstan wrote her first song when she was 11 and began performing with her sister in local bars and pubs a couple of years later. She was 16 when she appeared in The Voice Australia singing “Brand New Key”.
Kaity is better known today by her stage name Cloves.
Arno
Gladiator Theme • Now We Are Free • Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard
Gladiators have no words, so as admin I just added a few (WG)
Esther
Shirley Bassey – World In Union w/ Black Mountain Male Chorus (1999 Recording)
Shirley Bassey is one of my utmost favourite singers. Hope you enjoy.
Sue
Ed Sheeran – Perfect
Dance is classified as a Sport so, in the face of possible criticism, I have chosen to push the envelope a bit. Ice skating is a Winter Olympic Sport. In Ed Sheeran’s song “Perfect” he mentions ” dancing” in the dark.
Enjoy this beautifully romantic pairs Skate Dancing visual to his song. Perfect for a Sunday evening.
https://www.facebook.com/100000419785300/posts/4578808038809810/?sfnsn=scwspmo
Chrisna
Queen Bicycle Race (Official Music Video 1978)
Freddie Mercury wrote this in France after watching the Tour de France bicycle race ride by his hotel. The band were recording Jazz in the French countryside.
Wherever Queen played, bicycle shops sold out of bells bought by fans who brought them to the show to ring them during this song.
Queen staged a bicycle race around Wimbledon stadium in England to promote the single. Sixty-five professional models were hired to race nude, with special effects hiding the nudity in the original video; a photo from the race was used on the cover of the single and images from the race were used for the video.
Queen rented 65 bicycles for the race. In a possibly apocryphal but often-repeated story, when the rental company found out what they were used for, they refused to take the bikes back unless the band paid for new seats.
Richard
Bob Dylan Hurricane
Bob Dylan is no stranger to protest songs. This one released in 1976 is about Rubin Hurricane Carter, convicted for murder in 1966 while rated no 5 in the world and a contender for the middleweight title. The song is passionate and brilliantly crafted. Carters conviction was overturned in 1988. In 1995 he was awarded an honorary title belt
Wilfred
Cee Lo Green – Kung Fu Fighting
Martial Arts, now there is a sport that is solidly based on the human body, mind and soul.
In my research on martial arts I got so caught up in the philosophy surrounding it. I almost feel compelled to keep looking into it. Intriguing stuff for sure.
The song I chose is based on these philosophies.
It talks of the sport, the mindset and even mentions some prominent names in the game. (At least the original version does)
Also, as a side note, the track was recorded as a B track for another song and took only 10 minutes to get down. It was never supposed to do anything other than fill the 7 single. Turned out to be a chart-topper in many countries, including South Africa.
This is cover done by Cee Lo Green. The original belongs to Carl Douglas.
Zosia
Peter Mitchell – Toks n Tjops Flower of Scotland
The best parts of world rugby are the anthems. The flower of Scotland will keep you singing for a while. Enjoy this version
Karen
HEY BOKKE! Leon Schuster
Liezel
Die Springbokke van 1995
World Cup Rugby 1995 in South Africa, was an unbelievably special time for me. Not only was our country going through an unbelievable time of change and transition (in the right way, I felt) but I got to enjoy my favourite sport to watch with the nations coming here. My Dad was fortunate to go see both the opening and closing matches. I remember watching the South Africans beat the Frenchies’ asses and had the best time facing my French Expatriate bosses on the Monday, head held high, despite their grumpiness (actually it was even sweeter because of it). I remember my dad calling me from the stadium after we won… unable to even speak, just bawling with joy. I remember dancing in the streets with our flags with our neighbours of all colours, drinking “springbokkies” and ultimately just loving the joy of that time. Leon Schuster’s songs and Shosholoza were songs that were on repeat on my mind in my idle moments and I even drove around with the South African flags on my side mirrors 😊
Another very special moment is when my dear friend told me about a funny moment in their Afrikaans “happy clappy” church, during this period. The singing had stopped and the preacher was getting his notes ready and walking up to the podium, when my friend’s 2,5 year old son decided that he hadn’t quite finished singing praise songs and started singing “uit volle bors” … ‘Hier kom die Bokke, hier kom die Bokke … lalalalalala’…. Out of the mouth of babes.
So enjoy this little journey down memory lane with me … similar in nature to Karen’s song yesterday, but I just couldn’t not share this after how much this time meant to me personally.
Paul
Mr. Bean Live Performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Most will know I like the emotionally charged stuff. But because it’s Sunday, my choice will rather be a bonus after Sarah has played hers.
As for Sunday. In the early 1900’s a runner was put in a precarious position when his race at the Olympics was meant to be run on a Sunday. He refused as Sundays are holy days. But it doesn’t mean I can’t play a tune on a Sunday.
This movie was part of our English syllabus in grade …… (can’t remember which grade), and have loved it ever since. Enjoy!!
This was at the London Olympics 2012.
Sarah
Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’ (Escape Tour 1981: Live In Houston)
From politicians to Tony Soprano, this is a go-to inspirational song for many occasions. Written in the late 1970s after future Journey member Jonathan Cain’s dog was hit by a car and the struggling musician called home to his dad for encouragement, it holds a special place in the hearts of ice hockey team, Detroit Red Wings fans because of the reference to the city boy from fictional “South Detroit.” It has been played before, during and after games for decades. The song has become a rallying cry during the coronavirus crisis, which has hit Detroiters hard. “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” is being played in the hallways of Henry Ford Hospital for patients battling the virus, bolstering the spirits of the sick and their caregivers. — Mark Bradley
Bonus tracks from Paul
I’m a huge fan of sport, and underdogs and respect for a fellow player is something that gets me. Here are my bonus songs. They are both Haka’s.
The first one is a school where one of the teachers passed. The respect they paid him was just WOW.
And the second clip is from Jonah Lomu’s funeral.
I forgot the tissues so my shirt can in handy ….