(no subject)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The Pop World Cup this week brings us a much-anticipated clash between Serbia and Iran, both minnows in the pop world but both managing to negotiate tricky groups and aiming here for a place in the quarter-finals against Trinidad. Serbia helped see off Holland and Argentina with the help of a shouty man, and Iran topped its group thanks to techno-diva DJ Maryam. This game sees both teams switch tactics for what promises to be a closely-fought match.

The tracks are currently available by right-clicking the links under the cut and saving the MP3s - if you click the links directly they won't work, sorry. They will be up on http://www.freakytrigger.co.uk/popworldcup/ tonight though. Check the end of the post for the new voting deadline details!


Iran

BENYAMIN - "Mesl-e To": Gaffer dubdobdee had this to say: ""Hurlyburly hue&cry through the backstreets, basements and vastly overlooked underground of Teen Tehran, while the grown-ups sullenly dream of the better days they can't believe they'll see: here the latchkey kid-clouds gather in selfhelp gangs to nod home the future today, teamwise gaming the onrush of invisible cultural secession -- 33 million minds under 25 -- and welcome on flashfoot forward, all glide and soft urgent delicacy, another youthful mister mystery, benyamin of NO SECOND NAME and nothing said of him that's not in Farsi. WALLJUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS, MARVELLOUS"

Serbia And Montenegro

ZELJKO JOKSIMOVIC - "Zovi Me": Boss umlauts told us "The mixed crowds at the Pop World Cup will all find something to enjoy from Zeljko. The pub quiz champion will recognise Zeljko and his shaved chest hair from Eurovision 2004, when he nearly upset Ukraine in the finals after beating them in the semis. The Clayton's Fan who only comes in for the big events will love the comedy ethnics of the whole thing, but the traditionalists will love its slight dance pop cum ballad cum something else. A broad base, and quite a lovely song, to boot, and those watching will appreciate the varied skills of this star striker."

Right click to dl Iran: http://www.freakytrigger.co.uk/popworldcup/IranR16.mp3

Right click to dl Serbia and Montenegro: http://www.freakytrigger.co.uk/popworldcup/SerbiaR16.mp3


So how will the match be decided?


The knockout rounds work very much like the group stages, except now you get TEN points to divide between the two teams, and you don't have to give a team a point if you don't want to.

(PLEASE vote according to the relative strengths of the entries, though, not just pick the one you want to win and give it 10 automatically!)

The voting will be done by text poll - this is to keep the results secret. Please enter your scores as follows

"Iran - 5. Serbia - 5"

Except with the "5"s replaced by your scores. If you want to vote but can't use the LJ poll, please email your scores to freakytrigger@gmail.com.

[Poll #712214]


We're working to a new schedule this week - matches up on Monday (or Tuesday if it's a bank holiday), and results out on Friday - which means you have until NOON on FRIDAY to vote. There will be daily updates as to the score, tacked onto the end of other Poptimists posts most likely.

I need the tracks and talks for Ghana and Brazil by the end of this week, too.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Big thanks to PatoghMusic.com, heh.

Very similar tactics - pop idol loverman style - an interesting look at how different cultures approach this, even if I'm not sure either is my particular cup of mead.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Neither link seems to be working.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Did you click direct or right-click to save - the latter works for me, the former doesn't.

They'll be up this evening on the index page anyway, though.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Right click gave me what looked like the correct file, but it downloaded very quickly and then wouldn't play.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'm getting both. Anyway I'll check the encoding tonight when I update the index too.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Copying and pasting the link into a new window seems to work fine even on my ridiculously firewalled werk computer.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

yeah, sorry FT site has linking from other sites disallowed. There are some exceptions, and i could write in a PWC exception if wanted

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Nah don't bother, it was just this week that I forgot to do the index and I'll sort that out when I get home.

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Blimey the more I listen to the Serbia track, the less I like it. I better vote soon before their score drops off the scale!

[(Anonymous)]

I think the Serbians are playing well in the International Romantic Style that appears more in Spain and Italy and Mexico and Colombia and Ryan Cabrera than it does in the Balkans. Good strong play, state of the sport you might say, but will have trouble fending off the shiny twirling-ball brilliance of the Iranians. In fact, I predict something of a massacre here, as the sleek gorgeous Iranian team glides across around and through, appealing not only to those who like the Mid-Eastern style, but to those whose fundamental desire in life is to place high in Sweden. (In fact - followers of the Swedish league - I rank these Iranians higher than the recent efforts of Da Buzz, Marie Serneholt, Velvet, and Madonna.)

Of course, I'll feel a bit sorry for whoever wins this match, seeing as how the refs totally ROBBED Tunisia and in the quarters will hamper the Iranian or Serbo-Montenegrin team with bogus penalties and unnecessary whistles, ensuring its defeat no matter how moribund the Trinidado-Tobagons are.

Spinning Ball Spice

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

"Benyamin"? That doesn't sound like it fits in with the post-Israeli new world order that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants to create with his small but growing pile of enriched uranium. The song sounds not unlike some of the Israeli pop I've heard for that matter. Perhaps that's the point behind mr dubdobdee's team selection and enigmatic teamtalk. A pity the song is a bit toothless then, ploughing a well-worn, dare I say it europop furrough. There is one gorgeous moment at 2'04" but sadly it lasts a mere 12 seconds before reverting to europlod - if only this could have been the core of the song instead of its throwaway middle 8.

I enjoyed the Serbian effort rather more on first play but, for all of Herr Umlauts' suggestions of "varied skills", his singer did sound remarkably similar to the Iranian guy! Not much variety there methinks.

The second half of this game could prove to be rather grim. Please someone score early: extra time in this tussle would be torture.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think the Serbian one is much more 'trad' Europop - there's lots more going on rhythmically under the Iranian entry, though Serbia have marginally the hookier tune.

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

This is what you get for not assigning me Croatia, Tom.

[(Anonymous)]

This is what you get for not picking Lepa Brena, Edward! ;)

(hi there from Mind Taker)

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I was _going_ to, but LB was on my inoperable home computer, and all I had was the meagre stuff on my desktop. I didn't want to admit I was sending a second-string team :(