It occurred to me following on from this blogs recent interview with
Sid Lowe and subsequent coverage on the Guardians Football Weekly
podcast, that we all do it...
When asked to recall our first ever record, we lightly bend the
truth, lie blatantly or suddenly develop a bout of selective amnesia about the
first record we ever bought.
I´m the first to admit it, I´ve done it too....on countless
occasions, especially in my teens and early twenties when keeping
face and having music cred was ever so important.
Over time I´ve grown up to the fact, that I need to be forthright admit the fact that the first ever record I ever
bought (in Woolworths, Strabane, Co.Tyrone should you ask)
with my hard earned pocket money was, Boney Ms, "Ma Baker".
I admit there are plenty of candidates for worse 1st records depending on the decade but what makes
the error of my ways so galling was the choice for my 2nd single
purchase which was far more credible, and even to this day great
sounding "Something Better Change" by The Stranglers.
However in my case its that first record not the second that makes its mark on
our musical DNA and has to stand the test of time and becomes every
bit as important in our cultural evolution as, say our first love,
first kiss .....
One final thought bringing the concept up to modern day. Sadly the concept of 1st record ever bough nowadays has become a
little redundant (we can discuss the merits and shortfalls of the
digital impact on music another day) , how will the late teens of
the future try and asses each others musical tastes and "cool"
factor in 10 years.... "what's the first track
you ever streamed on spotify?" .... itjust doesn't have the same
impact.
All together now "Ma Ma Ma Ma Baker, she taught her four
sons........Ma Ma Ma Ma Baker" ......
Sid Lowe is probably best known as The Guardian´s expert on all
things "Spanish Football". He is also a regular commentator on
their award winning Football Weekly podcast.
As well as his weekly Guardian column, Sid writes for Four Four
Two, World Soccer & Sports Illustrated.
Madrid-based since the turn of the century, Lowe has become the
No. 1 authoritative British journalist for all things happening
on and off the field in La Liga.
In recent times he has featured as co-commentator on national
Spanish TV networks, Marca TV & La Sexta and co-hosts a
video podcast "Los Corresponsales / Foreign Desk" with fellow
journalists Martin Ainstein & Filippo Ricci which can be
downloaded from the I-Tunes store.
We all know that the average footballer has, lets say a
"dubious" taste in music, but what about the football writer.
We caught up with Sid earlier on in the week to find out.
What was the first record (single or album) bought by the young
Sid Lowe and the motivation behind it.
I think it
was Pass the Dutchie by Musical Youth. Well, that was the
reason I bought the album which I think was called Youth of
Today.
But, sadly, the answer might actually be Rat Rapping by
Roland Rat.
The first record I had, I think, was the single Hit Me With
Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, which a
friend of the family gave me... Brilliant.
Later on, in so much as I was really into music (I wasn't
compared to my brother for example), I listened to Led Zepp
and had a lot of their albums. Some Pink Floyd too.
Over the past years Pep Guardiola has used the likes of "Viva la
Vida" (Coldplay) and "Human" (The Killers) to motivate the Barça
team prior to each home match, if you were a primera liga
manager what song would you use as a pre-match motivational tool
in the dressing room?
God Knows ...
Most footballers like shite music (although, let's be honest,
it's always subjective).
There was a comment from Xabi Alonso on Twitter recently going
on about how 2012 had ushered in change - no more Flamenco
"shit" (blame Ramos) on the team bus.
And, well, I hardly need to mention the words "Phil",
"Collins" and "Gerrard" do I?
I suppose you could go for the stereotypical stuff like Eye of
the Tiger.
It probably has to be something lively that gets you wound up,
moving, excitable.
Just about anything from Celtas Cortos (Rock Band from Valladolid)
perhaps. Saw them in a pub in Madrid once; great fun.
What's the latest album you´ve "procured" (bought, downloaded
etc).
I tend to throw loads of stuff in an
Amazon order once every six months or so - books and cd`s etc.
Probably Johnny Cash, maybe Nick Cave, and just for the lyrics
I recently bought a Hefner album.
Yes, someone had alerted me to their Thatcher song. Some
Springsteen probably in there too.
In the UK its commonplace for the home team to run out to a
piece of music .... Newcastle Utd. run out to "Theme from Local
Hero", Cambridge Utd. run out to Fatboy Slims "Right Here Right
Now", being a Real Oviedo fan (currently in 2ªB division), what
inspirational music would you chose for them to adopt as they
run out at the Carlos Tartiere.
Melendi (Famous Spanish musician from the city) has done an anthem for Oviedo about returning to the
top, so that could work. The actual hymn gets sung too (as
many Spanish ones do), although it's a bit rubbish.
Maybe Glory Days by Springsteen - we keep talking about them
but sadly they are days gone by now. Or some Asturian bagpipes
music, maybe??
Some football related questions -
Given that the 1st and 2nd places are foregone conclusions in
the Spanish Primera Division, who do you see securing 3rd and
4th place this season.
Valencia and .... erm, I´m not ruling
out Atletico Madrid. Maybe Athletic Bilbao.
In recent times the battle to avoid the drop from 1a has been
more exciting than the title race, who do you see occupying the
bottom 3 positions this season.
Zaragoza (and they might be proper screwed
as well, sadly). Granada and perhaps Racing Santander.
Finally .... 80´s indie band Half Man Half Biscuit immortalised
Czech side Dukla Prague with their track "All I Want for
Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit", without the assistance of
Google or Wikipedia, a guess as to what colour the Dukla Prague
away kit is ?
