Ricky Warwick - The Arms Of Belfast Town
World Cup songs are always big sellers but rarely are they held up as particularly innovative musical triumphs. An infectious tune, a fat bloke to chant the chorus and a handful of wooden cameos from footie stars are usually enough to secure a few weeks at Number One.
Ricky Warwick, formerly of 80s metal band The Almighty, seems to have avoided such clichés with his bid to support his native Ireland’s famous Green & White Army with the thoroughly Irish anthem The Arms Of Belfast Town.
A bright and upbeat tone is set right away with the quick shuffle of traditional percussion and no shortage of tin whistles. As Warwick enters with his gruff and gritty vocal it’s like you’ve stumbled, bewildered, into a packed Irish pub complete with minstrels, fiddlers and countless merry drunkards.
But now a warning; it’s incredibly cheesy. Lyrically, it’s a love poem to the city and the team this man clearly adores, and melodically it’s dreadfully twee and unoriginal.
With the negatives out of the way, let’s focus on what’s great about this record. It’s a tuneful and coherent account of a county’s love for the beautiful game, washed down with a hearty pint of stout and a cockle-warming stew.
Included alongside the single is a rock version of the song which actually carries the message much more confidently and is generally more listenable. The chances are, you’ll love it, just as long as you’re Irish and like football.
FemaleFirst - Anthony Hill