Music
EM songs evoke confidence and cohesion
Tim Bendzko used to play for Union Berlin. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Football fever is rising: the home European Championship starts in a month, and the musical squad is now in place. The tournament songs are not about victories – but about the mood in the country.
The home European Championship mission for the German national soccer team starts in four weeks. The fans are already getting into the musical mood for what will hopefully be a successful and peaceful summer of football. The EM songs also convey a lot Optimism that the country can really use at the moment. An overview.
Mark Forster – “When You Call Me”
The official ARD song comes from football fan Forster, who was already part of the TV reporting in 2016 with “We are big” (for ZDF). At that time the German team made it to the semi-finals. “That’s probably why ARD chose me, so that we don’t get eliminated in the preliminary round again,” jokes the pop star with the baseball cap.
Brass band and children’s choir: At the end of the entertaining radio catchy tune, Forster brings out the really big cutlery. It’s about deep relationships between people, lovers or friends, a nation or in a football team, that remains deliberately open. “I’m always there when you call me. As long as we’re together, everything will be fine.” It sounds rather banal, but according to Forster it is meant as a vow for a united summer.
The most fitting football line: “Some dreams come true… and sometimes unfortunately nothing happens.”
Province – “Do You Believe”
The euphoric single by the indie rock quartet from Upper Swabia (“What makes us high”) is entering the European Championship race for ZDF, probably has the greatest sing-along factor and best conveys the anticipation of an exhilarating summer. “Do you believe in me? I believe in you. We’ve missed each other for far too long. Welcome home,” says the chorus with a poppy guitar sound.
It’s about long-standing and deep friendships, “nostalgia on the streets”, a lot of euphoria (“Jump on lanterns, we’re in a fever”) and a little bit about the love of football (“Childhood, kick field, all the kids go outside . Panini magazines sold out”).
The most fitting football line: “And sometimes my legs can’t carry me. Then you run double for me.”
Tim Bendzko – “Come On”
Pop singer Tim Bendzko, who was active for Union Berlin when he was young, knows his way around sports songs. His single “Hoch” became the team anthem for the German Olympic team at the 2021 Tokyo Games. “Come on” is the next motivational boost that Magenta TV uses for its EM reports. “I know from many Olympians that they push each other by shouting “Come on”. With this song I want to try to give the final push musically,” Bendzko told dpa.
And why shouldn’t that work in football too? “Now is the moment. The moment you live for. It won’t be easy. It won’t all happen by itself. Come on!” These lines could also come from a motivational speech by national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Come on” is clearly the one with the most sporting context among the EM songs.
The most fitting football line: “Come on!”
Meduza, OneRepublic, Leony – “Fire”
The official song of the European Football Association (UEFA) is of course a joint project – from the Italian EDM trio Meduza (“Bad Memories”), the German singer Leony (“Remedy”) and the band OneRepublic (“Apologize”) from the USA, which are quite far away from Europe.
“The request was a huge deal for me, of course because I come from a football-crazy family,” said Leony about her European Championship nomination. But the song seems more like a generic set of lyrics thrown together. “We’re on fire tonight. Like a million diamonds in the sky,” says the electronically influenced pop song. So something like: “We’re hot. Like a million diamonds in the sky.”
The most fitting football line: “Whoa-oh, oh-oh.”
And what do the fans hear?
“Completely detached from the earth, the spaceship floats completely weightless”: The 80s hit “Major Tom” by Peter Schilling experienced a brilliant comeback shortly before the European Championships. In a petition in March, tens of thousands spoke out in favor of the song as the German goal anthem. “Major Tom” is now conquering the stadiums, shooting festivals and the Ballermann – there also in the Malle version by Buddy, Bronaldos and Andy Luxx.
And others also want to take advantage of the EM hype, such as party singer Ikke Hipgold (“Make him clean”) or “Sommerhaus der Stars” candidate Carina Crone (“Hot Balls”).