Saturday, July 12, 2014

"World Cup Willy 1966" and "Loch Lomond" Memories Part Five


              Lonnie Donegan - World Cup Willy - ARFURSEK GEETEE 

            A football memory trail inspired by World Cup Brasil 2014
          
This posting under 'Soccer Songs' is the last in a series of four articles written to coincide with World Cup 2014.
             
Dear Andy,


I've just remembered two more songs relating to football.  The first is a Scottish song called Football Crazy (sometimes called Fitba' Crazy in the vernacular) which was recorded by the Joe Gordon Folk Four in 1960 and covered by several other artists, including Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor.

The second is the truly dreadful World Cup Willie (*World Cup 1966) recorded by Lonnie Donegan in 1966 which, thankfully, sank without trace until it appeared on retrospective CD sets in recent years.

Another piece of football trivia is the fact that my maternal grandfather, Thomas Currie, played football for Kilmarnock and Blaydon Wednesday around the late 1890s/early 1900s, according to family legend.
Thomas Currie

I have tried to find confirmation of this online, without success, and any relatives who might have known for sure are now, alas, dead.

Best wishes, 
Allan.

England, UK
June, 2014.

***************

Dear Allan,

Yes World Cup Willy is familiar and so are some of the images by Arfursek GeeTee on You Tube (above), having been in London many times and seeing some of the football memorabilia in sports shops in the city.

I have never heard of Football Crazy, the Scottish football song you mentioned but know Loch Lomond (who hasn't), learning it as a teen at St. Andrew's.  We've been so colonized that Scottish influence was strong. We even had a Singapore Girl Pipers band? 

A hill climb in Aberdeen with uni-mates 1982.
I was trying to impress a university welcome group in 1982 at the U of Aberdeen by singing Loch Lomond when they  had asked about my stay in their city. It was only later that I learned the tune had been adapted to become one of Scotland's football songs.

Sincerely,
Andy.

Anyone remember the above song or World Cup 1966?  If you were in the above uni-group at Aberdeen write in too huh?

Images: Allan Thompson, Andy Lim and Google.

Image (right) from: www.mrcostumes.com

You Tube Video: ARFURSEK GEETEE  

18 comments:

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Your mail makes me remember my own visit to the UK when I had to exchange S$8 for every British or Scottish Pound. The best joke was after my Aberdeen trip where I tried to change my Scottish ones in London. The guy looked at me grimly and said, "Naw, we can't use that in Looondoon." When he saw my face drop he guffawed but gave me the British ones in exchange. It's still happening today right?

Don't know much about football actually but love the song connection.

Keep in touch.

My best to you. And many, many thanks.

Allan Thompson UK said...

Sometimes English shops can be a little 'sniffy' about accepting Scottish notes. I usually inform them that the Bank of England was founded by William Paterson who was a Scot. Needless to say, they usually don't believe me, and think I'm pulling their leg.

Best wishes..

Belinda Poh (FaceBook) said...

Can't help to like this pic cos I am too impress with our young Mr.Lim handsome look too😊 I can feel the fond memories inside this color picture.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Belinda for the compliment. Youth is always good looking even for an ugly one like me. :-)

Andy Young (FaceBook) said...

Thanks to Jocelyn Leong, Dick Yip, Tan Teng Teng Larry IMF and Belinda Poh for appreciating the photo.

Talk Talk Only said...

One of Goh Keng Swee's lesser known contributions to the cultural scene was the formation of the Singapore Girl Pipers. This group was formed with the Dagenham Girl Pipers from the UK as the model. The Pipers made their debut at the 2nd National Day Parade in 1967 and became an instant hit. Every member was supplied with a pair of contact lenses as GKS was surprised at the number of the girls wearing glasses.

(From: Goh Keng Swee: A Legacy of Public Service. Edited by Emrys Chew, Chong Guan Kwa).

John Tannahill said...

World Cup Willy was the official England World Cup anthem in 1966 - the year England actually won it. I am just about old enough to remember the song but I hadn't heard it for decades. What I didn't remember was that it was sung by Lonnie Donegan. Who? I went to an Irish music festival in London about 15 tears ago, Van Morrison and Elvis Costello were on stage and Lonnie Donegan was their special guest! Lonnie Donegan is a legend. (You Tube).

crazyrabbit84 said...

How did you manage to get this song? Lonnie Donegan singing to Willie the Lion, the image of the 1966 World Cup is such a rarity. I love Lonnie Donegan and I was very pleased to find so much of his stuff. Remember Donegan´s skiffle craze drove John Lennon to form The Quarrymen. (You Tube).

AllanThompson UK said...

Dear Andy,

I am attaching a photo of my Grandfather, Tom Currie, taken when he was a young man in the early 20th century. He is wearing his football medals on his watch-chain.

Best wishes.

John Wallis, Australia said...

I remember the day England won the world cup very well, as it was my 15th birthday and I was on holiday on the Isle of Sheppy.

I and a friend tried to get into a pub to watch the match in the children's TV room, but we were thrown out.

So we had to listen to it on the radio. What suspense! When Germany equalized I thought it was all over, but you should never underestimate England. What heroes. They should have all been knighted!

Jeffrey Nathan, Thailand said...

I remember going out at half time for an errand and the streets were eerily quiet.

I lived in London E4 and watched the game on TV. Also being a lifelong West Ham United fan I was delighted about contributions of Moore, Hurst and Peters.

(Both comments from "BBC Home: On This Day 1950-2005").

eric bullock said...

i like classic vinyl i don't even dare to listen to modern music like these rappers lil wayne rick ross I'm 18 years old and I've been listening to bobby womack lenny williams blue notes delegation o'jays al green switch isley brothers bill withers and a little bit of johnny cash since i was was a baby i wish music was still like this.

(From You Tube)

Andy Young (FaceBook) said...

Thanks to Priscilla George, Aaron Choo, Doris Lim, Herry Yusuf for loving the photo journey back in time. Ha, ha. :-)

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Cindy could I put your photo on my blog and connect the song to it on a posting. Would really be nice. Thanks.

CINDY PAU (FaceBook) said...

yes you may Sir! (:

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Dear LKM,
Thank you for sharing my blog with your FB group.

LIM KUAN MIN said...

That's becos your blog is special, my friend.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

APOLOGIES TO ALL CONCERNED. THIS POSTING WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BEFORE PART 4. COMMENTS TOO HAD TO BE MANUALLY TRANSFERRED.

ALL IS WELL.