Released to celebrate the Spurs’ 1987 FA Cup Final appearance, “Hot Shot Tottenham” is one of the best football songs of the 80s. In 1982, the Madrid-born singer was chosen to sing host Spain’s official song – the rousing “Mundial.” In all, Domingo has performed at four World Cup opening ceremonies, most famously in 1990, when, along with Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, The Three Tenors sang “Nessun Dorma.” Chas & Dave: Hot Shot Tottenham (1987) Opera legend Plácido Domingo, who was a talented goalkeeper in his youth, declared himself “an expert in football, this great sport, in my own amateur way,” and said he had attended more than 10 World Cup Finals tournaments.

And at the same time, I thought it would be nice to have a winning song that’s meant for everybody.” Plácido Domingo: Mundial (1982) I wanted to write something that everyone could sing along to, like a football chant. I wanted a participation song, something the fans could latch on to. “I was thinking about football when I wrote it. “‘We Are the Champions’ is the most egotistical and arrogant song I’ve ever written,” Mercury is quoted as saying in the book Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words. Although songwriter Freddie Mercury was more into table tennis than soccer, he admitted that he was targeting football fans when he wrote his hit. This anthemic hit was even chosen as the official theme song for the 1994 World Cup in America. “We Are the Champions,” a Queen song that first appeared on the band’s 1977 album News of the World, has become a staple song for football fans around the world. Inexplicably, that song has never been covered by a major pop star. Incidentally, the B-side to “Back Home” was a love song called “Cinnamon Stick,” about a girl “with a twinkle in her eye” eating a cinnamon stick at a café. It spent 46 weeks in the charts and even reached No.1 for three weeks, knocking Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” off the top of the table. The rousing “Back Home,” sung by Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, and the rest of the England squad, was a catchy triumph that still holds its own among the best football songs. They may not have been chosen for their patriotic upbringing, but both had earned songwriting trophies with hits such as “Puppet On A String” and “Congratulations” before they wrote “Back Home.” His vocals were set against a brass background orchestrated by Tony Hatch.Ĭlick to load video England World Cup Squad: Back Home (1970)Įngland’s World Cup song for 1970 was written by a Scotsman (Bill Martin) and an Irishman (Phil Coulter). Donegan, whose hit record “Rock Island Line” had made him star in the 50s, sang Syd Green’s lyrics (“Wherever he goes, he’ll be all the rage/’Cause Willie’s the new sensation of the age”), honoring the friendly big cat. The mascot was a cartoon lion created by Reg Hoye, who had illustrated some of Enid Blyton’s children’s books.

His song was about the groundbreaking merchandising mascot, Willie. His background in football was limited to having once trained with Peterborough United, but he was seen as a popular singer with wide appeal across Britain. The King Of Skiffle, Glasgow-born Lonnie Donegan, was a curious choice to sing England’s first World Cup anthem. The song, composed by the American duo Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and later recorded by Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, became an absolute staple for UK fans to chant during FA Cup matches, with supporters changing the iconic lyrics “Que sera, sera/whatever will be, will be/the future’s not ours to see” to “Que sera, sera/whatever will be, will be/we’re going to Wemb-er-ley.” Lonnie Donegan: World Cup Willie (1966) When Doris Day had a hit with “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” in 1956, after she stole the show performing it in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much, the actress had no idea that she was about to set in motion one of the most popular football terrace chants of all time. Doris Day: Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (1956) This guide to the best football songs does just that. Is Unstoppable On New Single ‘Beep’įootball records tend to be ephemeral and usually associated with a particular event, such as the FA Cup Final or the World Cup. Karol G Wins Big At The ‘Billboard’ Latin Awards.Shawn Mendes Unveils ‘Lyle, Lyle Crocodile’ Song ‘Heartbeat’.

The mighty vikings with the beatles