Ole, Ole, Ole

We've been watching the Women's Soccer World Cup. The DVR is such a wonderful invention. You just tell it to record all 1st run occurrances of an event or program on a given channel and when you check of an evening you have two to four games recorded (which originally broadcast as early as 4:55AM) so you just pick and choose the games you want to watch!

The games are being played in various venues in China and as a result the crowds are often sparse, but there always seems to be a band. Now we often see drums and sometimes horns at soccer games - especially if the Brazilians are playing - but a band? It's not like the home team brings the band and cheer leaders, so we can only assume these are "Rent-A-Bands" that the host country has provided to add a festive air to the proceedings.

The only problem is that there is not too much music written specifically for the sport of soccer - or football, if you will. In fact, the only song I know is the "Ole, Ole, Ole. Brazil, Brazil," which you sometimes hear with other country names inserted. And it's not a very long song. I mean, the band would just be getting started and the song is over. Hardly worth it.

So instead, we've been hearing songs like "Jingle Bells." Yes, Jingle Bells, complete with the verse. And "Edelweiss" from Sound of Music. How about the "William Tell Overture?" And a number of military marches that we are not familiar with, as played by a German OomPah band. Or a couple of songs that must have originally been funeral dirges. And I'm not positive, but I think we heard "Yellow Rose of Texas." But there is no mistaking the finale; it's "Auld Lange Syne" in honor of these good friends whose acquaintance will never be forgot - especially if they are the losing team.