…when you hear the noise of the Cundeez and Rudebeard boys, we’ll be coming down the road.
Remember the old days, remember the O’Jays… no, I’m going down the wrong cut de sac here. Remember in your youth (if you are of a certain vintage) when Scotland qualified for competitions with clockwork regularity? Only to crash out to some minnows in the group stages right enough, but qualified none the less.
Even if you weren’t a football fan, you knew we’d qualified. Who can forget being on the march wi’ Ally’s Army and Andy Cameron in 1978 when we all thought we were really going to come home from Argentina as trophy winners only for our dreams to be crushed. (Unfortunately I also can’t forget the awful I wanna be a punk rocker…)
Talking of dreams, four years after Andy and company, we all had another dream of victory. However, John Gordon Sinclair got a rude awakening by his “old lady” shouting “that’s no the ball yer kick in’ ya eejit, it’s me” before the rest of us got a rude awakening when the actual football started.
Over the years the positivity waned. Ultimately Del Amitri were already predicting results with their downbeat anthem, Don’t Come Home to Soon.
When we eventually qualified for the 2020 (now 2021) Euros through the back door, it already felt like we’d won. Then on seeing the group were up against, including a game with the Auld Enemy, it seemed to re-ignite a passion and a belief (however mis-guided that may ultimately be) in the team and the leadership of Steve Clarke. All we needed was a good song.
And just like buses, you wait years for a decent Scotland anthem, then two come along at once!
We’ll Be Coming – Rudebeard
Earlier in the year I featured the offering from the mighty Rudebeard, Scotland (or the World’s?) premier proponents of pirate ska have slowed things down a bit for their offering. Their re-working of Toepokes and Tragedies, originally recorded by Newtown Grunts as a lament to the misfortunes of the Scotland team in modern times and their constant falling at the first post or snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. This version with its genuine sentiment, ardently heartfelt lyrics, playful video and positivity fills your heart with passion and your head with hope as it reaches its heady climax. Come on Scotland!!!
We’ll Be Coming – The Cundeez
Dundee’s The Cundeez love a party. Hot on the heels of their latest (and perhaps greatest) album, Teckle and Hide (the vinyl version of which is due out later in the year on Tarbeach Records by the way, where you can also purchase the tracck) the band, who like Rudebeard can put their hand to an uplifting ska influenced tune or two, have chucked their hat (or should I say tap) in the ring for “unofficial” official Scotland anthem with Kilts On, Taps Aff. The title pretty much being business as usual for the band’s live experience, and in Kilts On, Taps Aff, a song that will be stuck in your head for the entire tournament and beyond, regardless of Scotland’s continued involvement.
If this song, like Eh’m Feelin’ Teckle before it, doesn’t re-invigorate you, making you feel like nothing can ever bring you down and that you can take on the world, or England, Croatia and the Czech Republic single handedly, then nothing will. Kilts on, taps aff… we’ll be coming down the road.
Rousing anthem…check
Bagpipes…check
Skankability…check
Crowd Noise/Cheering…check
Sing-along/chant along chorus…check
Come on Scotland!
Good luck to Scotland in June, enjoy the games in good spirits and have fun regardless of the results, and in the meantime enjoy these two absolute belters.
Result? A score draw, let’s just get them both on the same stage some time soon. Any promoters wanna take up the challenge?
Footballs coming….. aw fuck aff… Let’s get pished and have a guid time.
Rudebeard – Facebook
The Cundeez – Facebook