Especially because tomorrow is Soccer Sunday in Buffalo.
Thanks to a harmonious convergence not only does FC Buffalo kick off their new season tomorrow at 7 PM, but the English Premier League (the most popular sports league in the world) wraps up their season at 10 AM on Survival Sunday. Now, that might not sound like a huge deal, but it's completely a huge deal. Ginormous in fact. Get this- on the final day of the season all 10 games go off at the exact same time, and for the first time in television history all 10 games will be televised in the US (more or less). A league champion will be determined and crowned, a team will earn the chance to play in Europe, a team will be booted out of the league, and it's all happening tomorrow.
With that in mind, I've whipped up a little Buffalo soccer playlist for your listening pleasure and for FC Buffalo, and I've sort of retooled it to also serve as a mini guide to tomorrow's EPL action. After the tragedy that was the Buffalo Sabres, both on the ice and over the PA, I'm not leaving anything to chance and have decided to offer a completely unsolicited playlist of songs worthy of attention now that FC Buffalo's season is about to kick off this Sunday at the All High Stadium. Indeed, the folks at FC Buffalo do have their heads screwed on straighter than the ones calling the shots at the First Niagara Center, so this might be entirely unnecessary... but I need to go on the record because 1) I'm a soccer fan; 2) I care about FC Buffalo and support what they're doing; and 3) nobody should do what the Sabres did to themselves and their fans last season. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band? For @#$%'s sake.
My 2012 FC Buffalo Playlist:
BLK JKS, "Zol." The South African indie rock band's official World Cup 2010 song. This is utterly joyous, funky, soulful, and beautiful.
Oasis, "Stand By Me." Manchester is a proud, post industrial, northern city with a vibrant underground. We're a proud, post industrial, northern city with a vibrant underground. Just saying, this means there has to be some Oasis.
Curtis Mayfield, "Move On Up." The Scousers (supporters of Liverpool FC) among us would no doubt prefer to hear "You'll Never Walk Alone," but you frankly can't get down to it. You can however get down to this Curtis Mayfield classic, the song played at the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal home wins... proof of impeccable taste from this fine North London club. Note: Nick Hornby, writer of High Fidelity, is a die-hard Arsenal supporter, as is John Lydon. Tomorrow, Arsenal plays for a spot in the UEFA (European) Champions League (and the millions and millions of dollars that come with it)- a win over West Bromwich Albion will seal the deal, a loss or tie could be disastrous. This game will be on MSG.
M83, "Steve McQueen." Come on now. You have to play a song that begins with the lyric "I woke up stronger than ever!" even though the taste challenged clowns at the First Niagara Center succesfully ignored my numerous #Sabretunes requests for it. "Steve McQueen" also totally reminds me of Clint Dempsey, American soccer hero (soccer god!). Dempsey has scored more goals in the EPL than any other American (17 this season alone!), and he wraps up his magnificent season for London team Fulham against fellow London team Tottenham Hotspur on Fox Soccer Channel. A win for Spurs coupled with an Arsenal loss will put Spurs in the Champions League and destroy Arsenal fans worldwide, as Spurs and Arsenal are hated rivals. Hated.
The Style Council, "Shout To The Top".... to the top of the table that is. You can't go wrong with the Modfather. Other games of note tomorrow include Newcastle (the UK's northernmost team) versus Everton (Liverpool's other team) with a possible spot in the Champions League up for grabs (on FoxSoccer.com) and Swansea (the little team that could) versus Liverpool (I hate Liverpool) on Fuel TV.
Os Mutantes, "A Minha Menina." Many have pondered what is the source of Brazil's mastery of the game of soccer/football/futbol, their "joga bonito" (translation: to play beautifully). I don't know the answer to that one, but I suspect it has something to do with the samba and Brazilian rhythms, hence the inclusion of Brazil's legendary psychedelic masterminds Os Mutantes.
Alas, I wish I could include Neneh Cherry's "Buffalo Stance," but unfortunately upon further review the subject matter is not fit for the family friendly atmosphere that FC Buffalo and their supporters have cultivated at the All High Stadium.
And, in the event of a loss at home... "Don't Look Back In Anger" from Oasis.
FC Buffalo's season kicks off this Sunday at All High Stadium (behind Bennett High School) at 7 PM. Tickets are $5, Lloyd's Taco Truck will be there for your eating needs, and a good time is pretty much guaranteed because FCB plays the game the right way, and because the FCB supporters put on a good show. In fact, you can join with those supporters (The Situation Room) and other Buffalo soccer nuts at Mes Que on Hertel Ave for a pre-match adult beverage or several to get ready for the match. Mes Que will also be open Sunday morning at 10 for EPL Survival Sunday, serving as a "Soccer Central" and the place to be to if you want to keep an eye on multiple matches and enjoy the full Survival Sunday experience. It is going to be a doozy, and a great prologue for the UEFA Champions League Final next Saturday May 19, the European Championships in June, the start of World Cup qualifying for the US National Team and the road to World Cup 2014 in Brazil, and FC Buffalo's new season...
People get ready. Spring is here, we've got our bar, and we've got our club. It's soccer time in Buffalo.
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