Warm up for the World Cup with the Radio Sounders Show

There are just three days to go before all our lives are put on hold. In this first World Cup warm up pod cast, Radio Sounders takes a look at the South African anthem, Nkosi Sikilele Afrika, the European challenge and the fate of the North American qualifiers.

Does anyone reckon there could be anything tougher to sing that the words of the South African national anthem to the tune of Danny Boy?

The show also begins a journey through the sewage pipes of atrocious World Cup songs. If your country has released something so awful it made Three Blind Mice sound like Vivaldi, write in and let us know, and we’ll feature it if it’s awful enough.

No Scots need bother writing. Ally’s Tartan Army is already on the list. Why doesn’t the USA have a World Cup song? Maybe Clint Dempsey could write one.

Liverpool once had a song called the Anfield Rap. It was so bad, ex England striker Jimmy Greaves called it Rap with a capital C. And that from the home of the Beatles too.

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika Lyrics

	English
(Xhosa) Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo, (Zulu) Yizwa imithandazo yethu, Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.	God [Lord] bless Africa Raise high Her glory Hear our Prayers God bless us, her children
(Sesotho) Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, Setjhaba sa, South Afrika – South Afrika.	God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation, South Africa – South Africa
(Afrikaans) Uit die blou van onse hemel, Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse antwoord gee,	Ringing out from our blue heavens, From our deep seas breaking round, Over everlasting mountains, Where the echoing crags resound,
(English) Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

A tongue in cheek pronunciation guide to the South African national anthem