Europop 2008: A Freaky Trigger Event
In 2006, in tandem with the FIFA World Cup, the Poptimists community on LiveJournal ran the Pop World Cup game, and a great success it was too.
This year, of course, it’s Euro 2008. I have just been reading up on the two mascots, Trix and Flix, and on the official Euro 2008 Slogan, “Expect Emotions”. So clearly it’s time to do it all over again with Europop 2008, which this time will run on Freaky Trigger - meaning Poptimists won’t be clogged up with posts about the game and meaning we might get an even wider voting and playing base. Our slogan? EXPECT EMO.
But just what is this game, anyway? It’s very simple:
There are 16 players. Each of them is given a country to ‘manage’ and has to find music from that country (some kind of Irish granny rule will no doubt apply). You the reader then vote on the music they find, which will be streamed on the FT server. The format of the game will be roughly the same as the Euro 2008 football tournament.
If you would like to be a player, this post is your chance to sign up (in the comments box). You will be required to supply me with between 3 and 6 (depending on how far your team progresses) MP3s and short (c.50 word) blurbs. Only one at a time though - and not right away! The game will take place between mid-March and the end of June so if you’re going on holiday for a big chunk of that time you might be better off not playing.
Also let me know what your ideal team would be - if you don’t have one, but still want to play, I will allot one randomly. You won’t necessarily get your ideal team - I’ll draw lots if there’s a clash, so don’t worry if someone else has mentioned a team beforehand. The countries you can choose from are:
Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Holland, Italy, Romania, France, Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY’S MUSIC TO PICK THEM. If you’ve ever wanted to pick up a bit of expertise in Romanian pop, now is your chance!
Tournament schedule and list of players to be announced next week. (Ask any questions you might have in the comments box too!)
NB to Googlers: Very obviously this is not an official Euro 2008 tie-in and we have no connection whatsoever with anyone involved with Euro 2008, which we urge you to watch and enjoy and consume lots of the sponsors’ products while yr at it.
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Steve on February 21st, 2008
I’m in (this is SteveM, i can never be bothered to login usually). Slight preference for a Western European nation but not that fussed really.
Matt DC on February 21st, 2008
I’m also in, as a dedicated pundit during the Pop World Cup it was very enjoyable indeed. My nation of choice would be Italy but happy to go with the luck of the draw anyway.
lex on February 21st, 2008
i’m in! i’d like FRA or GER for preference.
Kat on February 21st, 2008
I’d like Croatia or Turkey please!
lockedintheattic on February 21st, 2008
I’m in. Any will do for me!
Matt DC on February 21st, 2008
I’m tipping Turkey or Romania as DARK HORSES already.
Pete on February 21st, 2008
I’m in too. Would like one of the host nations if possible (esp Switzerland).
lord sukrat even more logged out then usual on February 21st, 2008
as the moral winner of this contest last and every other year, mullah resmat is refusing to recognise the competition in its current format and returning his OBE in protest against war oppression and kate nash’s single going down the charts
FT's Doctor Mod on February 21st, 2008
I’ll gladly take Holland.
Alyson Tamara Guard on February 22nd, 2008
Gladly sign up, 1st preference France, 2nd preference Poland (so I can just send 6 Alicja Janosz tracks!), but really, not botherd! I want to represent Australia well via another country!
Alyson
FT's mitya on February 22nd, 2008
russia, of course :)
Ben on February 22nd, 2008
Me, me, me.
Can I be Spain if possible? Mainly because it provides me with an incentive to expand my Spanish music collection. But also because I have a hot Spanish friend and it gives me an excuse to email her, ask for translation assistance etc.!!
Matt DC on February 22nd, 2008
See, sport brings people together!
Tom on February 22nd, 2008
OK, still 6 open slots for players - very good to see some new faces though! (Dr Mod - I hope you do a better job representing Holland than I did in the Pop World Cup, where I slipped to an ignominious first-round defeat)
Matt DC on February 22nd, 2008
I am assuming Starry will be in as well?
Andrew Farrell on February 22nd, 2008
Anyone But Switzerland, please.
coco on February 23rd, 2008
I’ll have a bash. Would probably like France or the Netherlands, but I’ll take what I’m given, me.
FT's Doctor Mod on February 23rd, 2008
But Tom, I do have some sort of advantage–forty (well, thirty-nine) years of listening to Nederpop. (Which, of course, doesn’t mean that anyone else will like what I serve up.)
WBS on February 24th, 2008
I’m in. No particular preferences, since at least I won’t get Ecuador again…