footballsongs

Euro 2012 Irish Football Songs: The Definitive Collection

To get you (and try to get myself) into the mood for all the football happening over the next couple of weeks, I decided to have a look at the Irish songs knocking around for Euro 2012. To be fair, there’s good, bad and downright ugly in this lot but hey this is a ‘Definitive Collection’ so it’s not my fault. So sit down for a few minutes, get your scarf, flag and vuvuzela and let rip.

The Rocky Road To Poland – Damian Dempsey, Bressie, Danny Corana, and friends. Official Republic Of Ireland Song for Euro 2012

First up, might as well go with the Official one, this has been knocking around your favourite National Commerical Radio station for a bit now, it’s been number one, lyrics written by the Ray D’arcy Listeners plus it actually features the Republic of Ireland football team in the video! Score!

Come on Ireland: Buachaill Boys

It had to happen, someone uses Dexys Midnight Runners’ Come On Eileen. They get the names of the squad in and they make eejits of themselves dancing on an empty street, (would have been more impressed if there were auld ones standing in the doorways) and they recreate Ray Houghton’s 1988 goal versus England. Not then worst in the bunch. Passable.

Jedward: Put Your Green Cape On

Downer, it’s a rehash of the classic Jedward hit ‘Lipstick’, upside all the monies go to the ISPCC. I suppose the Jedwards were too busy going to Azerbaijan and carrying Olympics torches to do an original.. sad, ruined Lipstick. Kids love it.

Rory and The Island: Boys in Green

Have to be honest, had Rory on my radio show, chatting about this. It all happened by accident, he made up some words and played the song with Sharon Shannon in Lanzarote, where he’s based and some geezer filmed it on his phone so what they thought would be a once off turned into the track you see before you. Nice video, shot in Lanzarote, where all the houses are only allowed to be either green or white, by law.

The Subztitutes: Bring It On

Oops, was forgetting this one, how could I? Mickey Harte teams up with Paul Brady and they play Pied Piper of Grafton St. Decent chorus, Irish enough, easy to remember.

Rockier Road to Poland: Shane McGowan, The Aftermath, Joe Rooney and friends

In some cruel twist of fate, the Cronin brothers decided to get working on this last November only to have the Today FM version come along, ah well, this version features Shane McGowan and a plethora of people I actually know in real life. Yes, the place away from the computer. I love Brian Murphy’s guitar on this. Still a winner!

Andy Bennett: Ireland All The Way

It’s great to see how many charidees are benefiting from all these. This one’s for Temple Street. You might remember Andy Bennett from You’re a Star in 2007, he was a finalist. This track is a more upbeat kind of thing and sing a long able lyrics, not sure it they would make it to the terraces though, sorry seats, seats, you have to sit.

Sean Kelly: The Celtic Roar

Oh Gawd, this reminds me of a particular pirate radio station that broadcast ‘all over the midlands’ in the eighties, Country n Irish to the core… Diddley dee eye dye.. Celtic Bore. Sorry.

The Postronics: Ambitious Minds

First, were excited about Euro 2012, please show this in your music. Suspicious Minds to Ambitious Minds, we’ll let you away with that but could you please sound like you’re actually looking forward to it. Disinterested.. doesn’t make me want to listen. NEXT!

Johnny B & The Boogie Men: Green Army

Thank You! This sounds like a cross between Republic of Loose and Rubberbandits, it’s awesome! Love it. Easy the best of the bunch.. awesome camper van!

Mahoney: We’re On Our Way

I’ve played Mahoney’s music on the radio before and I actually quite like this. It’s well recorded and produced but I think to catch on a football song has to have words you can sing at a game… Apart from a variation on the Olé Olé chorus, there’s not a lot you’d sing at a game. Good song though!

Ill Thraps: We All Get Nil Together

Terrible recording, lads what were you at? Because the song is actually quite funny and has an Irishness you’d find in The Saw Doctors but the recording is so bad, I can’t listen. Sorry.

Traps Green Army: All is Possible (Just Can’t Get Enough)

This was one of the first songs to emerge this year and is extremely clever, has the Irishness, has the Trap bit like ‘Put Em Under Pressure’ had the Jack Charlton bit. Winner! Download the track for free here

The Proud: Emerald Army (Party)

OOh a little bit dancey this one and they got a pub full of Irish jerseys. Probably a little bit too clever for the terraces but this is a definite party tune.. should be heard at every barbeque and discotheque over the next few weeks… would love to hear a full on dance remix!

Brendan and The Blacksticks: Trapp and The Lads

This isn’t actually half bad shows sometimes you shouldn’t judge the song by its video. Will definitely raise the patriotic vibes.. good job.

Giovanni Trappatoni: Be the 12th Player (DJhUactharain)

If Barack O’Bama can do Call Me Baby, Gio Tappatoni can do one better. Fantastic amount of cleverness by DJhUactharain.

The Sneaky Ones: It’s Our Time

This seems a little bit more serious at first, then you see yer man in the camper van is giving it loads. Decent effort.

Owen Branagan: We’re On Our Way

This song is different to all the rest so far, just Owen, his guitar and a chorus of voices. Just misses that extra punch.

Dropkick Murphys and Peakfiddler: We’re Shipping Out (Clap For Trap)

Ah lads, this is the downright ugly. Pure laziness, you could’ve easily recorded this but no.. This has 322533 views on YouTube, would yiz not look at some videos of cats instead no? I love Shipping up to Boston but c’mon – pure shite.

Breen White & Gold: Boys in Green 2-0-1-2

This is a bit better, little bit dancier, and lyrics that are handy enough to remember. If this song was a match result it would be a 1-1.

Jasper Kearns: Song for all Seasons

Finally, we all know the recipe for a successful football song, clever singalong able lyrics, a pub and a bunch of friends having a laugh. Jasper Kearns, you’ve nailed it!

There ye go! That’s all the Irish Football Songs for Euro 2012, there were one or two that wouldn’t let me embed the video, tough, you didn’t make it. After listening to all of these over the past few days, it doesn’t matter how good, bad or downright shite some songs are, we’re all looking forward to hopefully a fantastic couple of weeks. C’mon Ireland!

Edit: I’m finding more every day!

Funzo – The Boys in Green Have Done it Once Again

OK, here’s Funzo’s contribution to the list and fair play, it’s not bad. Word of warning, lads don’t get stuck in the novelty genre. They’ve already had a very Christmas song