Recycling with Tura (1982)
Tura reworked his album again for the World Cup in Mexico and Italy. — © rr
With The Red Devils go to Spain, Will Tura delivers the first real Belgian World Cup song. He pushes the Devils himself into the studio and ropes in Jan Ceulemans, Jean-Marie Pfaff and Eric Gerets, among others. Call it uninspired or efficient: Tura reworked the song in 1986 (The Red Devils go to Mexico) and again in 1990 (The Red Devils go to Rome). The original reaches number five in the hit parade.
Last dance for Van Moer (1982)
In 1982, national coach Guy Thys gave three-time Golden Shoe winner Wilfried Van Moer his ‘last dance’ at a major tournament. Van Moer is already 37, but can go to the World Cup in Spain. To the delight of football animal Raymond van het Groenewoud, who adapted his hit Je veux l’amour to Je veux Van Moer for the occasion. Paul Van Himst, Josip Weber, Jan Boskamp and football club RWDM also appear in Raymond’s oeuvre.
Always Prize (1986)
Not only the 1970 World Cup in Mexico ended in a fizzle. We gon nor Mexico by De Strangers also misses the mark. Sixteen years later the second chance follows. Even before the Devils qualify for their second participation in Mexico – they ultimately finish fourth – the Antwerp folk group re-releases the song. To be sure, in two versions: the A-side reads We gon nor Mexico, the B-side We gon nié nor Mexico. Winning guaranteed.
Anderlecht’s world hit (1986)
Lange Jojo, king of the supporters’ song, writes the record champion’s personal number with Anderlecht champion. He renamed the chorus – “Allez allez allez allez, we are the champions” – for the World Cup in Mexico “Olé olé olé olé”. It is an international hit and is sung in all stadiums in Europe. In 1993 and 1994 it was the biggest foreign hit in Japan. Only Anderlecht manager Michel Verschueren can’t laugh about it.
Double Touch with Schlager (1990)
For the World Cup in Italy, Rocco Granata competes with Will Tura as a TV joke. Under the name Rocco & De Micro’s, the Italian Belgian had a hit with the schlager anthem De global, get a pint. Sports commentator Rik De Saedeleer plays a starring role in the video clip. Just like Tura, Granata drops his pants four years later: the successor The Belgians score turns out to be a blind copy, albeit under his own name and with a different text. (Continue reading below the video)
(False) Singing Devils (1994)
© rr
What you do yourself, you do better. Or not at all. For the World Cup in the US, the Red Devils will sing their own World Cup song: a cover of Go West by the Village People. A joke by Hugo Matthysen and Carl Huybrechts, but it becomes a cult. Thanks to the impressive falsetto of Danny Boffin and the cat howling of Franky Van der Elst, Marc Degryse and Luc Nillis. The recordings immediately caused the late Robert Mosuse to have a nervous breakdown. (Continue reading below the video)
For millions of viewers (1998)
Not a Belgian World Cup song, but a World Cup song by a Belgian: Axelle Red is making the official anthem for the World Cup in France. She sings La cour des grands with the Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour and performs it live during the opening ceremony in the new Stade de France in Paris. Millions of people follow along on TV. The Belgians do without their own number and return home after the group stage. (Continue reading below the video)
The inverted tricolore (2000)
For Euro 2000 in your own country, the football association is turning to Sergio Quisquater. He writes Allez allez allez with Kris Wauters from Clouseau and released three versions: in Dutch, French and bilingual. In his text he simply turns the Belgian flag around – “Red, yellow, black, the colors of our heart” – but Sergio camps in the Ultratop for thirteen weeks. To this day, Allez allez allez remains a café hit and a fan favorite. (Continue reading below the video)
With Courtois as an extra (2014)
© IMAGEGLOBE
When Belgium qualifies for the World Cup in Brazil after twelve years without a tournament, the football association dreams of one name: Stromae. Our world star takes the bait and lends out Ta fête. Thibaut Courtois, who is a fan, appears in the video clip. Ta fête becomes a hit beyond the borders. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Oscar and the Wolf later try the same, but can’t match Stromae. Max Colombie does climb onto the Atomium to sing Warrior. (Continue reading below the video)
The Forbidden Song (2018)
At the request of some Devils – including Eden Hazard – Damso may create the fight song for the World Cup in Russia. But before the release, the association stopped the collaboration, after the Brussels rapper came under fire for his misogynistic lyrics. Natalia, Tom Waes and Pat Krimson volunteer, but the Golden Generation leaves without an official song. They take bronze, our best result ever.
© RR
