World Cup Time Makes the Eastside Team Show Its Beautiful Colours

The late nights and early starts are no deterrent, a few gulps of coffee or some strategic midday naps are all that is required to keep the game time snores at bay. Sadly there is no good remedy for the eyes hanging out of your head and the “what is sleep?” look that follows you around for the days to come. But we do it nevertheless, driven by national pride, to share in the universal quest for glory or just by a love for the excitement of the contest. Yes, it’s that time again, it’s the World Cup.

And so it follows that every 4 years, the nations represented at Eastside Radio come together to celebrate the cultural diversity of our big melting pot planet through the beautiful game.

Imperious and confident, Vibez Brasil has been playing samba and bossa nova especially loud as the home team look like adding a 6th title to their collection. Just nearby at the top Freedom Jazz Dance have had the Kühn and Mangelsdorff on repeat as the Germans loom as a big threat to break Brazilian hearts. Many nonchalant Gallic shrugs from the ladies at Queen Kafé and Forever French suggest an indifference to the result, but they could not be unhappy with the recent form of Les Bleus.

With a number of African teams in the tournament, PJ from Dial Afrika has decided to hedge his bets and back all of them. There are likely to be sparks if he runs into Katerina from Merchants of Sound and Manny from Moodswing who would have enjoyed seeing the Greeks send the Côte d’Ivoire packing.

Music director Chelsea’s brummie accent exposes her allegiance for the cup. The long trip into the station every morning has forced Chelsea to content herself with catching a glimpse through pub windows when stopped at traffic lights on the way to work. Except of course when the three lions are playing. Poor Chelsea and the Pommy bunch at New Thing and Drive Thursday will, however, have to wait another four years to pretend that the English are capable of realising their potential.

As the Azzuri head home prematurely as well, the tunes on Sincopatico and Unknown Pleasures are certain to take a mellow and sombre tone. They can be as mopey as they like, they still owe us for 2006.

For those of us who got behind the futile cause of the Socceroos, we cannot be surprised or too upset about our early exit. The guaranteed comfort and satisfaction for us is seeing the sad, miserable faces of the Kiwis behind Taste of Honey and Jammin’ Friday. At least we made it to Brazil.

But if ever in doubt of which team deserves your support, of course there is a handy flow chart to help you sort that out: