“Muchachos”: Who is behind Argentina’s World Cup anthem?

taketonews

In a dramatic final against France, the Argentine national team led by Lionel Messi shot their country to the world championship title on Sunday. Since then, Argentina’s white-blue sky has been full of violins, millions of people have been dancing in a frenzy on the streets of Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Mendoza – and above all, hooting a song that was already heard from the ranks during the World Cup in Qatar was heard: “Muchachos, ahora nos volvimos a ilusionar” is the title of the title. It’s about tears, hope and Diego in heaven. Here we tell his story.

An old tango served as a template

The song comes from an Argentine formation called La Mosca Tsé – Tsé. Since their formation in the mid-1990s, the musicians have interwoven traditional American styles such as merengue, cumbia, salsa and ska with contemporary pop and rock music – as is the case with this piece. The unofficial World Cup anthem is based on her nineteen-year-old tango “Muchachos, Esta Noche Me Emborracho”, a jeremiad for a loved one who has passed away. The new version also tells a tale of woe – only that the grief here is not based on a woman, but on lost endgames.

Tears, hope, pride – and Diego in heaven

So it says in translated words: “I can’t explain it to you because you just won’t understand. How many years I cried for the finals we lost. But that’s over now because Papa won the final against the Brazucas in the Maracanã.” With this, singer Guillermo Novellis praises last year’s Copa América, which he won against Brazil, as a turning point in football history – and draws new courage: “Boys! Now we’re getting our hopes up again, I want the third star, I want to be world champion. And Diego we can see in the sky cheering on Don Diego and La Tota Lionel.” Of course, since Diego Maradona died two years ago, Argentina’s national hero has continued to be on their shirts and in their hearts. On the top stand – in metaphorical football heaven – he is joined by his father Don Diego and mother La Tota.

But the song also reflects the glowing national pride of the Argentine population. It begins with the lines: “In Argentina I was born, the land of Diego and Lionel, of the children of the Malvinas, whom I will never forget.” It also refers to the Falkland Islands, which to this day hardly belong to the United Kingdom wants to recognize a soul in Argentina.

The fans and team sang their anthem together

In the course of the soccer World Cup, the song became a huge hit in Argentina – and also reached the team dressing room. After winning the knockout games, the players cheered him along with their fans. On Tuesday they were received in Buenos Aires in the middle of the night and drove through their capital in an open-top double-decker bus. Needless to say, La Mosca Tsé – Tsé performed their anthem. The hope they sung was not in vain, Lionel Messi and his team have returned as world champions.



ttn-29