Comments on: Europop 2008: Group D - Spain v Sweden

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:05:43 +0000

Sweden right back in it! Spain have a mathematical chance of progression - this group could still end with four teams on four points.

I now have all the Group B tracks so that’ll go up on Monday.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:54:12 +0000

I’m extending this until tomorrow (which is when the Group B finale will go up too) - vote vote vote!

By: Matt DC

Matt DC — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:37:37 +0000

The Spain track is awful, the beat drags and the MC has no rhythm or flow whatsoever, just rambles all over the place like a Spanish version of El-P or one of those other dreadful Anticon type rappers. Ugh.

The Swedish track I’m not feeling either, it’s got that trademark tweepop over-earnest bounciness that is so peppy as to be faintly creepy, like happy clappy Christians or something. And it has a xylophone, peppy tweepop kids should never be allowed near xylophones, is this the Swedish Los Campesinos or something?

These are both pretty bad, I’m voting for Spain by virtue of not being annoying puppy-eyed tweepop, and because nobody else will. Still, Alan Hansen is rolling his eyes, Mark Lawrenson’s every word drips with a combination of boredom and disdain, Gary’s doing that sheepish mocking ‘well, they can’t all be great’ look.

By: Kat but logged out innit

Kat but logged out innit — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:34:42 +0000

I like the Massive Attack sample, not so keen on the Go Team chirpiness.

By: jel

jel — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:39:14 +0000

I always know Lex will hate my songs :(

By: lex

lex — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:25:27 +0000

ESP = lumpen and flat-footed, TERRIBLE rapping
SWE = twee and vile and the xylophone does tip it right over the edge

worst match yet? I think so!

By: jel

jel — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:39:53 +0000

Lacrosse are a guilty pleasure. I almost sent a song by “I’m From Barcelona” instead. They are are like a 1-1-8 formation.

By: CarsmileSteve

CarsmileSteve — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:10:34 +0000

blimey sweden is like some massive hole in the space-time continuum back to the mid/late 80s isn’t it? it’s possible that the glockenspiel (xylophone? can never remember which is which) sends it over the edge into “oh dere lord, is there ANY need” territory, but the spanish beats are rly quite lumpen even if the rapping’s not bad, so i think the swedes, after running rings around the spanish defenders and having 40 shots off target, just manage through weight of numbers (and more of a 3-2-5 formation frankly!) to knock a couple in, despite the crunching tackles.

By: koganbot

koganbot — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:26:09 +0000

This intrepid observer has now listened to each track twice and is now on his third go with Sweden. Anyhoo

Spain: I like the sampled vocal shots, the beat is monolithic and slow which could be mesmerizing but isn’t, the rapping has feeling and phlegm but no lift. Sluggish, on the whole.

Sweden: Indie pop by singers who want to make something of their ordinariness and their shambling nonsynchronicity. As for the song; well, it is a song. Has shambling synths. Whoever heard of shambling synths? The whole thing is like grass that’s trying to flower and that sort of half succeeds. This gets them by the Spanish, but won’t take them to a fourth shot on my mp3 player.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:05:34 +0000

Yes I think the Spanish one falls into that comfortable 5-out-of-10 zone most Eurorap lands in. I don’t think the Swedish tune is a stellar example of its genre either but it’s more than bearable.

By: Pete Baran

Pete Baran — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:56:18 +0000

Oh, the jangle pop of the Swede’s wins this one by a mile - the Spanish track is just a bit of a lumpen mess. Albeit my Swede vote is mainly based on a guitar sound which reminds me a bit of Thousand Yard Stare, which I doubt will win them friends elsewhere.

By: lockedintheattic

lockedintheattic — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:38:29 +0000

I think my vote might go a different way at another time - but sat here on a gloriously hot Friday afternoon, the languid tempo of the Spanish team just works perfectly.

By: SteveM

SteveM — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:42:29 +0000

I cannot decide. Spain’s backtrack is little similar to Massive Attack’s ‘Better Things’ - as usual it’s difficult to guage the vocal delivery but it sounds competent enough - as much as any other rap played in this tournament so far at least. Perhaps the Spaniards aren’t sparkling enough at this tempo tho.

The Swedes are quicker this time but lightfooted with it - constantly launching and leaping for high balls I’m not sure they can always win. The pace may give them the edge here but it should be a fairly close call. I just hope the stadium fills up a lot more before the half time naranjas.

By: lockedintheattic

lockedintheattic — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:11:40 +0000

My god. I never expected to draw against Italy. I’m very proud of my squad for pulling that off. Now that the match is over I’m happier to comment that the Italian song is easily my favourite of the tournament so far, it’s fantastic. Can’t believe I haven’t heard of them before.