FIFA's greatest song choices

The FIFA franchise has given the males (and to avoid sexism, some of the females) of Britain so much to laugh and cry about, encouraging competition and banter between the many participants. Along with this game there have been many different cultural aspects of life added to it, most recently the 'FIFA apology rules', where the loser of a game shall somewhat gracefully apologise to their superiors for being such a disgrace to the beautiful game. However, over the years it has become notoriously well known for having a diverse soundtrack on each instalment. I'm here to pick apart each of the games to decipher what I feel are the most defining songs of the series. I'll put them in no particular order...

1) Moby - Bodyrock

From: FIFA 2001

I believe I'm right in saying that FIFA 2001 was the first FIFA game that I owned. I remember the countless hours I spent in hysterics fouling the opposition goalkeeper and getting a straight red card for it, no matter how good or bad the challenge was, and listening to the hilarious comments from John Motson and Mark Lawrenson. It's as if the goalkeeper was akin to the Dalai Lama. I think after scoring so many own goals on purpose to constantly hear what gem Motson and Lawro would come up with next eventually led to the games inability to function. Anyway, I'm rambling...
This was the song I first remember when I think of that game. It's lyrics are easy to remember, and it's beats are funky as hell, so who could not remember this? It also introduced the game in the opening credits. Moby has produced some fine gems such as 'Lift Me Up' and 'Porcelain', but for nostalgic reasons this ranks above them in my personal list.

2) Gorillaz - 19-2000 (Soulchild remix)

From: FIFA 2002

Now I'm not normally one for remixes, but when Soulchild remixed the hit song '19-2000' back in 2001, it proved to be more popular than the original. I prefer it because it's more upbeat and definitely more catchy, as opposed to the sluggish snail-race of the original. It managed to staple itself as a FIFA classic when it introduced the 2002 instalment over a montage of players displaying a vast array of tekkers. Whenever I still listen to this song I can't help but think of a badly animated figure doing rainbow flicks over their rivals, and I love it!

3) Caesars - Jerk It Out

From: FIFA 2004

To kick things off (excuse the pun), but this is not a song about masturbation. Well, we're told so.

This song was released as a single back in 2003 but failed to make any significant impact on the charts, peaking at no.60, but a re-release in 2005 prompted a climb up to no.8, most likely down to the impact this song had made on impressionable buyers of FIFA 2004. Show this to most young adult males and chances are they will recognise it from FIFA. Caesars couldn't live up to the quality of this tune, and correct me if I'm wrong but I now assume that they're nowhere to be found, having not released a single since 2008? Or are they just not allowed to leave Sweden anymore since they became their most valuable asset ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the surviving members of Abba?

4) Dandy Warhols - We Used To Be Friends

From: FIFA 2004

Those yankies The Dandy Warhols have sure given us some catchy "aaahh's" de temps en temps. Here is one of the main examples. It is probably more well known as the Veronica Mars opening theme, but when released, it failed to peak in the US charts. However, Britain warmed to it and six months after it charted at no.18 in the national charts, it was added to the FIFA 2004 soundtrack. I wish they could go back to the quality of this and Bohemian Like You, two absolute classics from America over the noughties, although I will say that their songs had a very British feel to them, which was enjoyable and probably why it was so popular here.

5)  Stone Roses - Fools Gold

From: FIFA 2004

Hate on me all you want but FIFA 2004 was the first chance I got to hear this song (I was born in 1993 dammit!). I do like Ian Brown's vocals in this, as there is no way he could've pulled this off had he been hitting a high C above D. The moodiness of his vocals only make this song better, along with it's iconic bassline, shuffling snare drum and wah-wah-pedal-mad guitar. As with the Gorillaz song, hearing this nowadays still takes me back to the young days of playing as England and handing out some ass whoopin'.

6) Kasabian - L.S.F.
From: FIFA 2004

Kasabian broke through into a stage of recognition after the release of their self-titled debut album in 2004. Since then they have yet to disappoint with any of their 4 releases, with each album building yet more on their tower of festival anthems. L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever) was included on the FIFA 2004 soundtrack and whilst it is a successful song in it's own right (named by NME Magazine as no.37 of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever), it has forever been a popular choice by EA Sports and has been identified as one of FIFA's many anthems. I also can't wait until they play this at Leeds Festival, where I shall be soaking up the sweat of the crowd and singing my heart out.

7) The Doves - Black and White Town
From: FIFA 2006

This single from February 2005 is one of The Doves most successful singles, if not the most. Therefore, unlike some of the inclusions here, it's success is not down to it's release on FIFA. Noted for it's heavy piano and atmospheric feel, a staple of The Doves, the band have enjoyed a lengthy success off of many songs like 'Black and White Town'. A popular inclusion in the game, it was sadly mis-credited by EA as 'Stars of CCTV' by Hard-Fi; make what you will of that but they are two completely different songs. Maybe 'Black and White Town' was EA's backup choice that they put in by accident?

8) Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
From: FIFA 2009

Indie pop adults Black Kids re-released this song a year after it came out in 2007 from the band's demo. All bi-curiosity aside ("You are the girl, that I've been dreaming of, ever since I was a little girl"), it is a friendly fun-loving hit that suited FIFA perfectly. However, the song that ended up on FIFA was a remix from The Twelves, but they sounded equally as good. Listening to this always reminds me of playing with Wolves on Career Mode and metaphorically telling Man Utd "get out of the way, here I come".

9) Passion Pit - Moth's Wings
From: FIFA 10

This song didn't make me think about FIFA at all. I thought it belonged on some game like any of the Spyro series (had there been any soundtracks to Spyro games) due to it's spine-tingling piano. It just didn't feel right at first, but I gradually warmed to it and lo and behold it has ended up on this list. When I listen to this I can't help but think of opening my first pack on Ultimate Team and remembering my only decent card was Juanfran (gold)... I miss having the Xbox around.

10) The Enemy - Be Somebody
From: FIFA 10

The Enemy were set for greatness, and even they themselves knew it, once proclaiming that they "are here to save British rock". To be fair, whilst I don't agree with that statement completely considering the amount of decent British rock bands there are at the moment, everything about The Enemy is quintessentially British, and it should be embraced. They are a Coventry version of Oasis (less style and not as many anthems), but give them time and they can be Manchester standard. Take this song for instance, a proper Brit-rock number that Gallagher would've been happy with had he penned it. It is a football anthem for the masses, having appeared on FIFA 10 and now is the theme for ITV's coverage of the FA Cup. A good live band too, so go and see them.