With the only news around just now being of the non-news kind - that the club will definitely not be signing a replacement for Miki Roqué and will instead make do with Betis B call-ups if necessary - let's try the second in our series of looks at some of the songs you might here at the Benito Villamarín.
As promised, next up is the official Himno del Betis (Betis anthem). Written by local songwriter José Alonso in the late '70s, this is the tune that blasts out over the PA as the teams emerge from the dressing rooms, is sung with scarves aloft on Gol Sur at strategic points of most games, and is the ringtone of thousands of mobile phones around Seville.
Here it is being belted out lustily (and defiantly) by tens of thousands at the anti-Lopera demonstration back in June 2009.
The words are as follows (with very approximate English translation on the right-hand side):
Aquí estamos todos Here we all are
Pa’ contarte tu canción, To sing your song
Estamos apiñados And primed
Como balas de cañon. Like cannon balls
Y es que no hay quién pueda And there's no-one who can cope
Con esta afición With these fans
Y aunque último estuvieras And even if you were last
Siempre te ven campeón They'd still think you were the best
Beeeetis, Beeeetis, Beeeetis Betis, Betis, Betis
Ahora, Betis, ahora Now, Betis, now
No dejes de atacar Don't stop attacking
Ahora, Betis, ahora Now, Betis, now
Porque el gol ya va a llegar. 'Cos the goal is about to come
Hay una leyenda There's a legend
Que recorre el mundo entero That's told right round the world
Verde y blanco sus colores Green and white are its colours
Blanco y verde es el sendero. White and green the path to follow
Luz en la mañana The sunlight in the morning
Y en la noche quejío y quiebro, And at night soulful flamenco singing,
Betis, mucho Betis, Betis, mucho Betis,
En este mundo lo que más quiero. What I love most in this world.
Luz en la mañana
Y en la noche quejío y quiebro
Betis, mucho Betis,
En este mundo lo que más quiero.
Beeeetis, Beeeetis, Beeeetis
Ahora, Betis, ahora
No dejes de atacar
Ahora, Betis, ahora
Porque el gol ya va a llegar.
I'm sorry that if it sounds a bit lame in English - that's entirely the fault of the translator. And some phrases - mucho Betis, for example - are pretty much impossible to express in another language. But I think you've got the general idea.
Do you hear many people with 'Stereo Love' as their ringtone?
Posted by: Rob Wilson | Thursday, 10 March 2011 at 05:30 PM
No, that's only you, Rob (ha ha!). (Actually, I'm sure there must be some...)
Posted by: Adam | Thursday, 10 March 2011 at 11:07 PM
I'm the only nerd then!!!! That's ok I'll bluetooth it to you in a few weeks!
Posted by: Rob Wilson | Friday, 11 March 2011 at 10:47 AM