Cricket World Cup songs stun all

Photo / Getty Images

It's the official ICC Cricket World Cup song that isn't. Actually, make that two songs. One talks about the two great powers that "shaped the post-war world"; the other bangs on incessantly about "winning every moment" and "playing for love". Neither, says the ICC, despite online claims to the contrary, is the official Cricket World Cup anthem.

"There is no official tournament song, per se, but what will be used prominently across the tournament is the music from our television commercial," an ICC spokesman said.

That track is Bob's Beat, by WDL, described by the ICC an "up-and-coming electronic music artist based out of [the great cricketing nation] Sweden".

The lyrics make no mention of cricket or any of the countries competing, but do appear to reference post-war superpowers the US and Russia.

"Launched in November, this has been well received in New Zealand, Australia and around the world, and so we have broadened its use to include other channels such as social media videos and in-venue music," the ICC said.

That will be disappointing for the unknown artists of another excruciating track claiming to be the tournament's official anthem that links to the Pakistani cricket website cricket.com.pk. Boasting the official ICC tournament logo and introduced as "the official theme song for the ICC 2015 World Cup which is interestingly been sung in different languages including English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Sri Lanka (Tamil) etc" the song is described by Herald music critic Chris Schulz as a "synth-fuelled dance-rave shocker".

The claim on the website that "the people belonging to the hosting nations have remembered it by heart and this song has become a part of their life for all those residing in Australia and New Zealand" certainly appears dubious. Not that lyrics such as "after so many prayers and after walking many paths, we have set out to achieve our destiny, we shall make a mark and we shall write this story to win hearts" don't naturally roll off Kiwi and Aussie tongues.

The song "embarrasses like a butter-fingered outfielder dropping a sitter at long on", said Schulz.

"Over the interminable, near-unlistenable five minutes, it takes in multiple languages, includes two ridiculously indulgent and unnecessary guitar solos, has more "woo hoos" than Blur's Song 2.

"Then there's those lyrics. It's unlikely anyone's going to be singing along to 'Raise your head so high / Shout and touch the sky / Your dreams, your destiny / celebrate victory' en mass from Eden Park's stands over the next six weeks."

Not that Schulz was much more impressed with the ICC-endorsed Bob's Beat.

"It doesn't really work as a beer-cups-in-the-air sports anthem," said Schulz.

Those hoping for a Kiwi-inspired ditty to croon along with as the Black Caps march to glory will be disappointed. There is no official team song, a team spokesman said. Following notable victories the Black Caps often gather mid-pitch and sing a "team pledge" but the content of that is a secret.

Soon playing at a stadium near you

Bob's Beat featuring Mawe:

It is time for us
You are alone
And what if I just got your uhh ...
In the background was
The growing struggle between
The two great powers
Who shaped the post-war world
Tell me you got the power
And I say uhh ...
You say you've got the power
And I say NO NO NO ...