Cardiffvision Song Contest

Time for a review of the offerings served up by various parties as the Cardiff City FA Cup Final song.

1. James Fox - Bluebirds Flying HIgh


You know it's strange. I couldn't wait to mock this effort and when I heard the liune about Peter Ridsdale, I knew I could be safely cynical and rip the piss mercilessly. BUt I watched it again yesterday, and I welled up. Bloody Hell. Once you get past that Ridsdale line, it's OK actually. It's the sort of thing you want the club to release. It's catchy, cheesy, but there is a grain of authenticity lent to it by Fox, who is a proper City fan by all accounts. And one line is a pearler; "From the Canton to the Grange End let it roar". And yes, it is the Canton, and not the Spar bloody Family Stand. I think what got me all emotional was the whole thing of Cardiff City making an FA Cup Final song for God's sake. The video of the team in the studio is bizarre. What the hell is dangermouse doing there? And why are they eating? There is a clip of Paul Parry mumbling the words and Peter Ridsdale doing his best like a school teacher in Assembly. But apart from that, there's nothing to show that the team actually sings on the record. But who cares? It's our FA Cup Final song.

2.Leighton James Don't Like Us


This one came totally out of the blue. When I heard there was a Soul Crew song I feared the worst. It couldn't be any good, and I prejudged it with my customary aloofness. But bloody hell, it's cracking.
I don't think I know the lad singing it, but he's hit just the right note. I love the video and I think this is the best of the lot. Youtube pulled it down for some reason. Probably the mild references to hooliganism, though with the dozens of violent hoolie clips out there, I can't see why. Maybe Leighton James complained? More likely the BBC, who are known to employ youtube spotters. It's a pity that it references Swansea so much. I mean, we're in an FA Cup Final...why are you even thinking of Swansea? but nonetheless, it's a great production and the video is superb.
It isn't anything to do with the Soul Crew really of course. They don't actually exist as an organisation. But it's funny how City fans have taken that group of Pringle-wearing Docks lads from 1982, and turned them into some sort of cuddly rascals that we can laugh about. Oh what fun we had when Swansea ran away on new Years Day.

3.Rob Woodward : Do the Ayatollah!


Karl Woodward is a well respected and well-loved journalist who has written on Cardiff City for many years for the Western Mail. Rob Woodward is his son, and he is a "comedian".
Rob Woodward is also undeniably naff. He's a safe pair of hands on stage and is without doubt the Welsh Michael Barrymore.
The first version I heard of this song had him singing in an Indian accent. I think the poor reaction to that effort made him re-record and here he has this exagerrated Cardiff accent which sounds pitiful, especially in those spoken bits where he says funny stuff. The video is excrutiating. He wears a yellow polo shirt under his City top, and his jeans ...well, I don't want to be cruel. I'm glad the song was made because it probably appeals to a certain denomination of fans - those who also watch the Cardifff Devils perhaps. But for a snob like me it's mortifying.

4.Helen Love: Cardiff City Superstars Wembley Mix


Let me declare an interest here. I made this video. It's not one of my better efforts but it was done at short notice and I had technical problems and the dog ate my homework. Yes, I am in it, but then Hitchcock and Tarrantino appeared in their own films too.
I was told that the Super Furries were making a song for the final, so I was a little disappinted that it turned out to be a re-hash of this 1990s track from Helen Love. I'm not sure which of the Furries was involved but I think it might just have been Cian Ciaran.
This is the top choice for us white middle class, studenty fanzine type who cut their teeth in the post-Hillsborough football love-in. It was one of the first post-modern ironic football songs from that era, and I've got the original single on 7". The lyrics are sublime, with name checks for Scoular and Harry Parsons making this the most authentic nostalgia fest. It places the Cup Final in the Grand scheme of things, and gives the event a sense of perspective in our miserable little history.

5. Ian Hunter: Bluebird


I'm not sure this should be included. It's just a collage of clips over an old track by someone called Ian Hunter. I'll admit that I have no idea who Ian Hunter is, but it sounds like someone who was once a member of a famous group, maybe Free or Van der Graaf Generator. That said, the tune is cool, and the video is lovely.