Jul 18: 1990

1990 saw the release of Gabriel Yacoub's 'Bel'. 

It's a wonderful album.

I have another few posts about Gabriel, who sadly passed away last year, elsewhere on the blog.

Here he is performing a rather fine song....

One of my favourite tracks from this year was a single from the Propaganda album '1234'.

It's a track called 'Heaven give me Words' and was remixed by William Orbit. The album was not as good as 'A Secret Wish' (it would have been hard to be better).

What other memories do you have of music from 1990?

Jul 14: Bastille Day

Jul 12: World Cup playlists #6: Country Choices E - G

The New York Times released a list of the country choices of music from the World Cup.

Here are a few samples:

Ecuador

Signature song: Quiero Amanecer Sonando (Papa Chango); Yo Naci Aqui (Juan Fernando Velasco)

Warm-up: Vamos Ecuador Siempre Contigo (Jose Victoria); La Tri (Jombriel, Javier Neira & Jotta)

Goal music: Si Se Puede (Damiano); Quiero Amanecer Sonando (Papa Chango)

Post-match: Vuelvo a Nacer en Ecuador (Javier Neira); Nuestro Juramento (Julio Jaramillo)

Egypt

Signature song: Ya Habibty Ya Masr (Shadya)

Warm-up: Ana Ebn Masr (Mahmoud El Esseily, Moustafa Hagag & Medhat Saleh); Shagaa Mn Albak; Ya Habebty Ya Masr (Shadya)

Goal music: Ya Masr Btemlyha Ezay (Bahaa Sultan); Wala W Amalouha El Regala (Hamada Helal)

Post-match: Matkhafoosh Ala Masr (Hussain Al Jassmi); Boshret Kheir (Hussain Al Jassmi)

England

Signature song: Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)

Warm-up: Vindaloo (Fat Les); Angels (Robbie Williams); With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles)

Goal music: Chase the Sun (Planet Funk)

Post-match: Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond); Three Lions (Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds)

France

Signature song: Emmenez-moi (Charles Aznavour); Le Chasseur (Michel Delpech)

Warm-up: Pile (Gospel Version) (Mauvais Djo); Melodrama (Jordan Patrol); D.A.N.C.E. (Justice)

Goal music: One More Time (Daft Punk)

Post-match: Freed From Desire (Gala); Magic in the Air (Magic System)

Germany

Signature song: Zeit, Dass Sich Was Dreht ($oho Bani, Herbert Grönemeyer & Ericson)

Warm-up: Kernkraft 400 (Zombie Nation)

Goal music: Major Tom (Peter Schilling)

Post-match: Tage wie diese (Die Toten Hosen); Der Zug hat keine Bremse (Mia Julia, Malle Anja & Lorenz Buffel)

Ghana

Signature song: Kakalika (DopeNation); Ntem Ntem (King Promise)

Warm-up: Ghana Black Stars (2006 World Cup) (Obaayaa Grace Ashly); Gidi Gidi (Fire) (Stonebwoy); STREET CROWN (African Dancehall) (Shatta Wale)

Goal music: Kakalika (DopeNation)

Post-match: Dem Confuse (Shatta Wale); Oofeets (Sarkodie & Prince Bright)

Jul 9: World Cup Playlists #3 - Country choices

This Reuters article explained the background to the musical choices we are hearing from each venue and host city.

It explains that each team chooses a tune for when their line-ups are announced, and when they score a goal.

Argentina, for instance, have chosen Los Fabulosos Cadillacs' "El Matador" (literally, "the ​killer") as their warm-up and goal song. This relates to dictatorships in the 1970s.

The track, with its chorus of "Matador! Matador!" may sound like it's celebrating the deadly goal skills of Lionel Messi.

The Ghanaian duo DopeNation's irresistible 2025 dance track "Kakalika" is both the signature and goal tune for Ghana. This is intended to embrace diversity and encourage listeners to enjoy themselves.

Daft Punk's "One ​More Time" plays when Kylian Mbappé scores...

Australia go back to the 80s for their tune...

Mexico went for Mariachi bands. South Korea had an easy job with K-Pop tunes from BTS and Blackpink (as described by Carl Lee in a guest post).

The USA had the good taste to adopt some John Denver...

More to come....

Apr 6: Film Soundtracks #4: Amelie

In my top five films is a film by the director Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

It's the delightful film 'Amélie' or Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain. It was made by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who had previously made several other films which I also loved. It evokes a particular area of Paris particularly well, around Montmartre - I visited a few of the locations when on a recent visit to Paris, including the 2 Windmills restaurant where scenes were shot.

I saw the film for the first time at the Showroom cinema in Sheffield: an arts cinema where I saw many films at the time.

Amelie's soundtrack was composed by the musician Yann Tiersen. I saw Yann play live at the Barbican last year and also attended a Q&A session before the concert started.

I was due to head down to the Royal Festival Hall in June for a special screening of the film accompanied by an orchestra.

However, it was cancelled in March - probably due to a rights issue. Hopefully it will eventually happen.

There are some classic accordion-led pieces on the soundtrack album.

Check out this Behance film poster.

There is also an excellent review here.

What are your favourite film soundtracks?

Not too late to answer that, and other questions on the link here.

Feb 8: G is also for Gabriel Yacoub

Gabriel Yacoub is a French musician, who sadly passed away in January of 2025 in the city of Bourges.

He was a member of a group called Malicorne. These were similar in style to groups like Blowzabella, Fairport Convention and Bellowhead, putting a spin on traditional music and classed as folk-rock. 

Gabriel's album 'Elementary Level of Faith' was one I had on vinyl back in the day.

This track is called 'Seduction' and is an example of his style changing to a more electronically tinged one during part of his long career.

He had a fantastic voice and guitar style and will appear elsewhere on the blog. 

All of Malicorne's back catalogue is available on Bandcamp and other places.

Check out Gabriel's music...