Seven Nation Army - A pop icon

Several years ago I was at a Cal football game when the rooting section began a chant that immediately gripped my attention.  It was one of those things where "I know what this is, and I've heard it before, but I can't place it."  Then I started hearing it all over the place chanted by fans of various sports in various countries.  It was spreading like wildfire.  I finally realized that it was simply the signature riff of "Seven Nation Army" released in 2003 by The White Stripes.

Now, watching the World Cup, I hear the riff chanted by one group of fans or another each day.   So how did this come about?  I have done some research that I will share with you, but first, let's listen to the original "Seven Nation Army" track released in 2003 on an album titled "Elephant."  You will recognize the riff immediately.

Apparently, the chant phenomenon was born in Italy (or Belgium)  in October 2003 and began to mushroom thereafter within Italy reaching its apex at the time of the 2006 World Cup matches.  By that time it had become a theme chanted in support of Italy's World Cup team, "Azzurri." You can read how this all came about by clicking right here.  Another version, which also discusses migration to the US, and includes a Belgian role, can be found here.

Care for some real-life videos of the chant?  Try Spain v. Greece.  Or, Ohio State fans giving it to Penn State fans.  Or this, where San Antonio fans are rubbing it in the face of rival Miami.

Well, now you know the story.  I find it to be fascinating.

Another movie list

I really like lists of movies, books, or music that are based upon a theme conjured up by their creators.  I like them even if I disagree with some of the inclusions or fume over the omissions.  I also enjoy them because they often make me aware of content I have not yet seen or heard.  I just stumbled across a list titled "25 Spectacular Movies You (Probably) Haven't Seen."  It turns out I have probably seen about half of them and I'm going to try to see the one's I have missed out on.  I can say that I have enjoyed all of the one's I have seen (of course "The Big Lebowski" had to be included).  For example, I still dig "Waking Life," which some of my friends just don't get.  And, I dig "Kung Fu Hustle," which it seems none of my friends have seen, but which I find to be insanely funny and entertaining.  And, I always recommend "Downfall" if only to alert folks to the epic performance turned in by Bruno Ganz playing Hitler in the final days.  For a taste of the latter check this out.  Be sure to click on the little "cc" button at bottom right to get the subtitles.

So by all means check out this interesting list.

World Cup rocks!

Way back when, when my son Jesse was playing soccer, I became a certified referee and over the years worked my way up to some State-level games.  I learned a lot about the game and became a life-long fan.  I also played on a team in the "over thirty" league, which was a gas even though our team was pretty awful.

So needless to say, I am fired up for the World Cup, which opens today.  The USA team ended up in a group that has been dubbed the "Group of Death."  The description is apt in that the the other three teams in the group are Germany, Portugal, and Ghana.  Germany is ranked #2 and Portugal #3, and Ghana has knocked the US out of the competition in the last two cups.  No high hopes, but the US getting out of the Group and into the next round would be amazing.

Anyway, things are going to get interesting right away:  Tomorrow (Friday) we have a reprise of the 2010 final with champion Spain taking on Holland.  Then the next day we get England vs Italy.  Love it.

Today's quote

"Would to God your horizon may broaden every day! The people who bind themselves to systems are those who are unable to encompass the whole truth and try to catch it by the tail; a system is like the tail of truth, but truth is like a lizard; it leaves its tail in your fingers and runs away knowing full well that it will grow a new one in a twinkling."
~ Ivan Turgenev to Leo Tolstoy (1856)

At one time or another we've all been left holding the lizard's tail, haven't we?

Surgery status

On Friday, I went in for the surgery to repair my fractured clavicle. The surgery went perfectly and I was home clutching my bottle of Percocet by about three o'clock in the afternoon. As I think I mentioned in an earlier post, they had to put in a plate with screws to ensure that the break healed correctly. In three months I will have to go in again and have the plate removed. However, that procedure will be a whole lot simpler than the initial surgery.

I am still taking Percocet to keep the pain level in check. I have been able to ratchet back my consumption but I still definitely need to pop one of the pills when the pain starts really throbbing. As you might guess, I am watching a ton of television while sprawled out on the living room couch. I have been concentrating on "The Americans" and am about three episodes shy of completing season 2. I have also been watching a lot of the French Open tennis tournament, which has been excellent.

I am hoping to turn the corner in the next day or so. Wish me luck.