The Pop World Cup: Group H
Mar. 9th, 2006 12:03 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
freakytigger.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
poptimistsAfter eight weeks of thrilling competition the group stages reach their conclusion, as we decide who the final two qualifiers for the knockout stages will be. Gypsy punk, Iberian electropop, North African hip-hop and Saudi subtlety vie for your attention and votes. After some poor attendances at the previous matches we're looking for big crowds here!
You can find all PWC entries here. If you can't download or are having trouble let me know either in the comments box or at freakytrigger@gmail.com.
So here are the four Group H contenders, with exclusive team talks from their managers.
Saudi Arabia
Assel Abu Bakr - "Aseebak": Experienced gaffer![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
martinskidmore makes his return to the Pop World Cup under controversial circumstances and tells us "Since my predecessor's free jazz training sessions consisted entirely of berating any players who gave the slightest indication of acting as if they might be on the same team, or on a bad day even playing the same sport, as any other player, it was only a matter of time before he was ousted. His argument that if Ornette could have two basses in a quartet, a football team could play with eight left wingers and three goalkeepers, was the last straw, and I was drafted in, thanks to my shock unemployment after the sinister sabotage tactics of the magalomaniacal lunatic in charge of our respected friends and neighbours Iran left me unable to communicate with my team. If it happens again, please arrest all of the other group managers. My brief is 'back to basics - bang it to the big lad up front'. Since the squad my absurd predecessor picked has no one over 4'8 in it, I am afraid this may not be a flawless approach, so I have gone for a team that strokes it around in the midfield rather beautifully, and goes for insinuating rather than pounding the ball into the net."
Spain
DX7 - "El Plan Semanal": Confident managerkatstevens said "Hola amigos! From the Pyrennean mountains of Pamplona right down to the tip of Gibraltar, I have honed the Spanish squad into perfect formation and they are now raring to run rings round the opposition. With lightning fast reflexes and devastatingly deceptive tackling, DX7 are our brightest new talent, discovered right at the sombreros-for-goalposts stage of this competition and fending off more established players to make the Group Stage teamsheet. DX7 consist of Ines on vocal attack, and Juan on Korg Triton defence ('it helps improve the sound of the songs!'). Together from their base in 'a virtual study filled with virtual sintetizadores' they create pure pop magic on the playing field."
Tunisia
Light Beat - "Nhary Leil": Well-respected bossdorsalstop told us "When Tunisia won the African Cup in 2004, their performance was considered solid, rather than exciting. In the Pop World Cup, we hope to turn things around. After careful consideration, the manager has decided to rest our one and only superstar. The experienced and trustworthy defender who has meant so much for Tunisian pop these last 15 years may yet figure in the next round, but for now, preference has been given to a younger and more attacking side. Hailing from the harbour town of Sfax, the Light Beat crew of singers, rappers and producers hope to dazzle you (and their opponents) with their tri-lingual skills."
Ukraine
Gogol Bordello - "Dogs Were Barking": Outspoken supremojuror8 said "Schweinsteiger. Adu. Rooney. Cassano. One rule of international football: you have to get that young up-and-comer everyone's talking about on the pitch, no matter how ugly he is. And by that extension of logic, we present Ukraine's hottest act (they were reviewed in Word magazine and everything!) Gogol Bordello.
Although currently plying their trade in the US leagues, the GBs, as they're no doubt known to their fans, rep the former Soviet Bloc to the fullest, even getting bears to dance on their song. The overall effect is of The Pogues, Bad Religion, and that guy who used to do the ragga toasting on those songs by either The Farm or the Inspiral Carpets (I forget) deciding that the time has come to take tango lessons together. It also contains lyrical references to drinking urine."
So how will matches be decided? HERE'S HOW.
You have 20 points to divide between the four teams, based on how much you enjoyed their tracks and on any other criteria you like.
No team can be given less than 1 point, no team can be given more than 10. If you fail to mark a team they will automatically get 5 points.
If that leaves a points total other than 20, or if you simply can't add up to 20, then the FIPA authorities will add or deduct points according to a highly complex system which can be explained in the pub by request.
Your votes should be in the following format:
"Saudi Arabia - 5. Spain - 5. Tunisia - 5. Ukraine - 5."
With the "5"s replaced by the points you allot to each team.
You can submit votes in one of two ways. In the poll below, or by email to freakytrigger@gmail.com if you can't vote in LJ polls. Any votes in the comments box will be disqualified. Voting closes at midnight GMT on Monday.
The top two tracks, decided on total points, will go through to the next round. In the event of a tie the votes from the first 10 ballots received will be used to determine positions.
[Poll #687633]
Initial results up tomorrow. Next week there will be a special poll designed to find the player of the tournament so far, and then the first of the round of 16 clashes....Germany v England (sbp and zenith be warned!)
You can find all PWC entries here. If you can't download or are having trouble let me know either in the comments box or at freakytrigger@gmail.com.
So here are the four Group H contenders, with exclusive team talks from their managers.
Saudi Arabia
Assel Abu Bakr - "Aseebak": Experienced gaffer
martinskidmore makes his return to the Pop World Cup under controversial circumstances and tells us "Since my predecessor's free jazz training sessions consisted entirely of berating any players who gave the slightest indication of acting as if they might be on the same team, or on a bad day even playing the same sport, as any other player, it was only a matter of time before he was ousted. His argument that if Ornette could have two basses in a quartet, a football team could play with eight left wingers and three goalkeepers, was the last straw, and I was drafted in, thanks to my shock unemployment after the sinister sabotage tactics of the magalomaniacal lunatic in charge of our respected friends and neighbours Iran left me unable to communicate with my team. If it happens again, please arrest all of the other group managers. My brief is 'back to basics - bang it to the big lad up front'. Since the squad my absurd predecessor picked has no one over 4'8 in it, I am afraid this may not be a flawless approach, so I have gone for a team that strokes it around in the midfield rather beautifully, and goes for insinuating rather than pounding the ball into the net."Spain
DX7 - "El Plan Semanal": Confident manager
katstevens said "Hola amigos! From the Pyrennean mountains of Pamplona right down to the tip of Gibraltar, I have honed the Spanish squad into perfect formation and they are now raring to run rings round the opposition. With lightning fast reflexes and devastatingly deceptive tackling, DX7 are our brightest new talent, discovered right at the sombreros-for-goalposts stage of this competition and fending off more established players to make the Group Stage teamsheet. DX7 consist of Ines on vocal attack, and Juan on Korg Triton defence ('it helps improve the sound of the songs!'). Together from their base in 'a virtual study filled with virtual sintetizadores' they create pure pop magic on the playing field."Tunisia
Light Beat - "Nhary Leil": Well-respected boss
dorsalstop told us "When Tunisia won the African Cup in 2004, their performance was considered solid, rather than exciting. In the Pop World Cup, we hope to turn things around. After careful consideration, the manager has decided to rest our one and only superstar. The experienced and trustworthy defender who has meant so much for Tunisian pop these last 15 years may yet figure in the next round, but for now, preference has been given to a younger and more attacking side. Hailing from the harbour town of Sfax, the Light Beat crew of singers, rappers and producers hope to dazzle you (and their opponents) with their tri-lingual skills."Ukraine
Gogol Bordello - "Dogs Were Barking": Outspoken supremo
juror8 said "Schweinsteiger. Adu. Rooney. Cassano. One rule of international football: you have to get that young up-and-comer everyone's talking about on the pitch, no matter how ugly he is. And by that extension of logic, we present Ukraine's hottest act (they were reviewed in Word magazine and everything!) Gogol Bordello.Although currently plying their trade in the US leagues, the GBs, as they're no doubt known to their fans, rep the former Soviet Bloc to the fullest, even getting bears to dance on their song. The overall effect is of The Pogues, Bad Religion, and that guy who used to do the ragga toasting on those songs by either The Farm or the Inspiral Carpets (I forget) deciding that the time has come to take tango lessons together. It also contains lyrical references to drinking urine."
So how will matches be decided? HERE'S HOW.
You have 20 points to divide between the four teams, based on how much you enjoyed their tracks and on any other criteria you like.
No team can be given less than 1 point, no team can be given more than 10. If you fail to mark a team they will automatically get 5 points.
If that leaves a points total other than 20, or if you simply can't add up to 20, then the FIPA authorities will add or deduct points according to a highly complex system which can be explained in the pub by request.
Your votes should be in the following format:
"Saudi Arabia - 5. Spain - 5. Tunisia - 5. Ukraine - 5."
With the "5"s replaced by the points you allot to each team.
You can submit votes in one of two ways. In the poll below, or by email to freakytrigger@gmail.com if you can't vote in LJ polls. Any votes in the comments box will be disqualified. Voting closes at midnight GMT on Monday.
The top two tracks, decided on total points, will go through to the next round. In the event of a tie the votes from the first 10 ballots received will be used to determine positions.
[Poll #687633]
Initial results up tomorrow. Next week there will be a special poll designed to find the player of the tournament so far, and then the first of the round of 16 clashes....Germany v England (
sbp and zenith be warned!)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 12:45 pm (UTC)I am having problems playing Tunisia, though. It appears to my computer to be one second long and silent.
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Date: 2006-03-09 12:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 12:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 12:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 04:40 pm (UTC)I could Gmail you the original, see what happens?
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Date: 2006-03-09 04:50 pm (UTC)marna@marna.org, please!
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Date: 2006-03-09 02:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 01:00 pm (UTC)MY PLAN REVEALED:
Date: 2006-03-09 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 01:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 01:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 01:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 01:56 pm (UTC)you know as well as everyone else that it was the soup dragons who attempted this trick in the italia 90 pop world cup and they were immediately thrown from international competition, never to be seen again...
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Date: 2006-03-09 02:26 pm (UTC)i didn't expect Tunisian pop to sound quite like this.
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Date: 2006-03-09 08:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 08:57 pm (UTC)Spain's approach to the game is a surprisingly nindie one given their manager's reputation as Ms BOSH. Also were the team kicking the ball about at 45rpm instead of 33? ;-)
Both the arab nations did themselves proud in this competitive group. Shrewd team selection from
Ukraine? Well you've got to hand it to 'em. They are true to their 'maverick' boss's style and their shock tactics could well translate into goals.
I fear I'll probably end up giving this lot 5 points apiece.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-10 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 09:59 pm (UTC)Ruslana congratulates the people of the Ukraine on fielding a team that is BONKERS TO THE POWER OF ELEVEN!
Salty lard is on me!
no subject
Date: 2006-03-10 11:07 am (UTC)