Songs for the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat

ugliest trophy ever

It’s an exciting time if you’re a World Cup fan. Group play is almost done. Some teams have already gone marching home (bye bye, France!) and some teams have gained a spot in the round of 16, including my arch enemy, Argentina. You know it’s time to get serious when Maradona starts boasting and he’s already made a pledge to run naked through the streets of Buenos Aires if Argentina wins the cup. So let’s make that not happen.  If the USA team gets eliminated I’ll be sure to cheer for anyone but Maradona’s team because the world has enough environmental disasters without Mr. Hand of God running around in his birthday suit.

Today’s an exciting day. Both England and the USA are playing in games that will determine if they get out of the round or not. Unfortunately, I’ll be at work while those games are going on with no access to a television or a computer with internet. So I’ll be obsessively checking twitter for signs of GOOOOOAAAAAL tweets and living vicariously through those who are in a pub or at home where they can blow their vuvuzelas for the whole game. Did I mention I bough vuvuzelas? I did. They arrived last night. My neighbors hate me, my family wants to disown me and the geese that fly over my house think I want to make love to them.

So with all that in mind, I thought we’d make a playlist for the last few games of group play. For some, these games will let them feel the thrill of victory. For others, the agony of defeat. Surely I’m not the only around here old enough to know where that comes from, right?

This playlist is like a double sided album.  Side one is not just for all the winners out there – or the potential World Cup winner – but for all those who are traveling the hopeful road to victory. Side two is for those who want to wallow in their defeat. I dedicate that side to you, Maradona, with a dose of wishful thinking.

Side One: The Thrill of Victory

Queen – We Are the Champions
Todd Rundgren – Just One Victory
Abba – Winner Takes it All
Faith No More – A Small Victory
Kanye West – Champion
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
Nelly – Heart of a Champion
NoMeansNo – Victory
Tina Turner – Simply the Best
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing

(Listen, I didn’t say they would all be good songs. Just be thankful I’m not putting up the video for Joe Esposito’s “You’re the Best” from Karate Kid or Stan Bush’s “You Have the Touch” from the original, animated Transformers movie)

Side Two: The Agony of Defeat

Beck – Loser
Three Doors Down – Loser
The Beatles – I’m a Loser
Green Day – Nice Guys Finish Last
The Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Kings of Convenience – Failure
James – Defeat
Descendents – I’m Not a Loser
Swans – Failure

I’m quite aware that I could very well be playing side two for my team by next week, but I’ll keep side one queued up until then.