Europeans Are White: White Stripes Enthusiasts, That Is.

Songs and anthems at sporting events are quintessential for any team wanting to involve their fans in more ways than allowing them to bring flares and toilet paper to games. Apparently there’s an official Euro 2008 song called “Can You Hear Me?” sung by Enrique Iglesias and everyone’s ignoring it. And fans are also ignoring Shaggy’s official Euro 2008 mascot song, “Feel The Rush.” What’s been blaring on every speaker, in every locker room and team tunnel is White Stripes’ 2003 hit single “Seven Nation Army”, which Italian soccer fans embraced when they thought it was a call to Mussolini’s late army.

The song’s catchy guitar riff is everywhere: accompanying the teams from the tunnel before matches, bellowed by fans on the streets of the Swiss and Austrian host cities, on radio and television and in shops and supermarkets.
Fans have dreamed up their own lyrics, such as Italians’ “Cam-pioni-del-Mon-do” (world champions), or simply joined in unison to shout along with the thumping riff: der-de-de-de-de-der-der.

Der, der, der, indeed.
White Stripes win battle of Euro 2008 songs [Reuters UK]
Image [Sony]