Take 3,545: MLS Attempts To Make Soccer Popular In The US
The MLS has revealed a new campaign that involves hip bands and their music. They have designated songs to each team—songs already recorded by commercial artists—and called them anthems. We can’t help but think this is another bit of absurdity on the part of Major League Soccer. Can you imagine Juventus (from Italy) or Manchester United (from England) to allow some brit-pop band or techno-crazed Euro group to allocate an anthem. We don’t drink cheap tequila here at Machochip. And we sure as hell don’t want to export a cheap version of the game. So que chingados MLS? Why not just allow fans to do what they always do and let THEM create ridiculously awesome chants that drip with praise for their team. They’ll also probably create some tunes ripping their opponents as well. Prescribed anthems? Simple: no gracias. Check out the list of MLS rations after the jump.
- Chivas USA Chivas Explosivas – Akwid
- New York Red Bulls Whoo! Alright, Yeah…Uh Huh – The Rapture
- Real Salt Lake The Mighty R-E-A-L – Meg and Dia
- Colorado Rapids Goal! – Rose Hill Drive
- Houston Dynamo Houston Dynamo (Don’t Play) – Mike Jones
- FC Dallas H-O-O-P-S Yes! – The Polyphonic Spree
- LA Galaxy We are the Galaxy – Kinky
- Kansas City Wizards Ain’t Nobody Gonna Stop Us Now – Blackpool Lights
- Chicago Fire Here Comes the Fire – OK GO
- Columbus Crew It’s Your Crew – RJD2
- Toronto FC TFC – Barenaked Ladies
- DC United D.C. United – Bad Brains
- New England Revolution Revolution - Damone
MLS Represent: Team Anthems [The Offside]
6
- Editor
Alex Ferreyra
- Contributing Editors
John DeSio
Nicholas Deleon
- Editor at Large
Daniel Mauser
- Video Editor
Marcelo Cunning
Do you see how excited I am about the Revolution, or Damone, or the MLSs shitty song selection? No, really, look…
You can always depend on the MLS making futbol uglier, less fun, and completely inorganic.
Posted by pocho_guey_al_norte | October 25, 2007
The MLS is doing what it thinks is best to promote the league. Some things work, some things don’t and I appreciate them for their efforts. In any case, since I live in the U.S. and want to see soccer grow in this country, then I support their efforts.
The MLS teams whip up on the smaller leagues from this side of the pond (Central America) and give the stronger teams (Mexico) a run for their money. Not bad considering its short history.
Posted by Piero | October 25, 2007
@Piero: I’m not saying that MLS teams can’t compete. They can, and sometimes defy (pretty low) expectations. They have solid players. But I don’t know if it’s exactly a matter of time yet as to whether they can compete against those powerhouse South American and European teams.
What I am saying, tough, is that these corporatist, top-down initiatives are ridiculous, and ultimately, LAME, as cool as execs think they’re being.
Hopefully someone who wasn’t paying a band or insulting fans will have the good sense to do what wound up happening with the Red Sox with ‘Dirty Water’ or with the Pumas de UNAM (see ‘Traditions’ section). Besides, you can’t sing along to those MLS songs. Have you heard them?
Posted by pocho_guey_al_norte | October 25, 2007
@pocho: Agreed, they won’t be beating the powerhouses any time soon, if ever.
As I understand it, the guy running the MLS was in charge of promoting american football in Europe. That’s like selling popsicles in Antarctica. So quien sabe? Maybe the focus groups and market studies are telling him this is a good idea.
Haven’t heard the songs.
Posted by Piero | October 25, 2007
Oh…be prepared to cringe, or not want to go to a game just so your precious ears don’t have to be exposed to such drivel. You can listen to all of them while Ahdeedaas sells you futbol.
Posted by pocho_guey_al_norte | October 25, 2007
They have to get back to grassroots promotions and stop trying to be some hip league everyone should be paying attention too.
First
Change the league format. Having all your games played in the summer hurts the league. All the good players get called up for international duty and people are doing other things than sitting at home watching Chivas USA.
Second
Invest in youth academies, create youth teams based on the city and the team. People will start to invest more than just interest in the league.
Posted by latinogamer | October 27, 2007