Melbourne five-piece Vaudeville Smash are celebrating next month’s World Cup by launching a new song that was written about one of the most interesting figures in the world game. The song is titled Zinedine Zidane. This paean to arguably France’s greatest football player, Zinedine Zidane, is a rollicking tune that is driven by vocalist Marc Lucchesi warm tenor, overlayed with dubbed falsetto, crying “Zin-e-dine Zi-dane” times two, followed by “Super-star” times two. And the sonic bed that these rallying vocals lie upon is more of the riveting synth-discotheque that made Vaudeville Smash’s debut album Dancing For The Girl such a success with both fans and critics.
Lucchesi discusses the origins of this songs very specific subject matter. “It started off with a groove that we wrote early last year that we kind of just left lying around,” he explains, “and then in November last year we decided that we wanted to release a song for the World Cup, so we sat down to write lyrics. Dan [Lucchesi] sang a melody that sounded a bit like ‘Zinedine Zidane’ which was perfect, so we ran with it.”
The son of Algerian immigrants, Zidane’s free flowing style and penchant for rough play made him the perfect subject for an alternative music song. Another unique, and very sport specific, aspect of the song is that SBS soccer commentator Les Murray contributes a key spoken word element as he reads out players names and other facts about the world game for each verse. Murray had this to say about the working on a contemporary music track. “I was in a rock band for six years in the ‘60s and ‘70s but we never had a hit so this could be my big break! I never thought I would have to say those names to a rhythm. Luckily my former rock musician days have given me a sense of timing,” laughs Murray.
Despite Murray’s enthusiasm, Lucchesi discloses that it was a bit of a mission to get Murray involved. “Our booker Pat Delves is good friends with Steve Horvath who is an ex-socceroo, so Steve contacted Les. At first he was a little reluctant because he is so busy. But said he would do it, so we flew to Sydney to make it as easy as possible for him.”
It should now be pointed out that there is nothing pretentious or ‘put-on’ by Vaudeville Smash writing a song about soccer. As revealed by his surname, Lucchesi is of Italian decent, and the band also features his two brothers Dan (drums/vocals) and Luca (bass/vocals). As all good first generation Italians, all three Lucchesi’s were keen soccer players… well, some were better than others. “In order of ability it would go Luca, Dan then a very distant third, me,” laughs Lucchesi. “Because I am quite lanky and was a bit unco on the field I earned the nickname ‘The Ballerina’.”
Vaudeville Smash are launching Zinedine Zidane this Saturday May 31 The Evelyn. Lucchesi closes the interview by explaining why this show will be Vaudeville Smash at their best. “We haven’t played in Melbourne for a while, so we are planning a really special show for our fans – we’re going all out,” he reveals. “We will make the most of the soccer theme for Zinedine Zidane with masks from the clip coming out, but we won’t overplay the theme throughout the rest of the night – the last thing we want to do is alienate any none soccer lovers!”
BY DENVER MAXX
