W La Gialappa's Band

Amid all this posturing over which nation is the greatest and cleverest at football, many have lost sight that the World Cup is also a gigantic party.  The best teams in the world are giving us a show, and people from all nations have flocked to South Africa to cheer and mingle.  Millions more flock to their local bars, pubs, salons, TV sets, radios, computers and Iphones to watch, meet, eat, drink and engage in other merriment.  For the most part, no matter the outcome, fans remember that they have been protagonists of the global celebration.  And they celebrate...

There are certainly those glum and angry with disappointment with Italy's poor show.  I pity them, but I will not linger over them.  I would like to call attention to three Italians who have not lost heart despite this, and treat this event as it should be: a global celebration.

Viva La Gialappa's Band...Long Live the Gialappa's Band, that's the title of today's blog.  Who are the Gialappa's Band?  They would need explaining to the American public; indeed, to most of the world who has not lived in Italy for some time.  They are Carlo Taranto, Marco Santin and Giorgio Gherarducci (respectively, see photo) a comedy trio who launched themselves via radio with their sarcastic and derisive commenting on national team football games, beginning with the 1986 World Cup.  Since then, they have commented every World Cup, including this one, and every European Cup as well.   From this notorious beginning, the Gialappa's Band have since conducted a series of shows named "Mai Dire..." "Never Say...", such as Mai Dire Gol (Never Say Goal), Mai Dire Grande Fratello (Never Say Big Brother) and Mai Dire Domenica (Never Say Sunday) that are comedy skits and running commentaries on various cultural phenomena, such as Japanese bonzai shows, football and sport, music, reality shows and politics.   They often tread a fine line as they designate significant time to ridiculing PM Silvio Berlusconi, the owner of the media network which employs our sardonic trio.  This year, as many have hoped, they are back for more World Cup Madness.  They are broadcasting on Radio RTL.  Here is the link: Radio RTL.  The show is called Noi Dire Gol (We Say Goal).  Here are some very simple instructions for full appreciation: First, at the start of the game, turn off the TV volume.  Second, click on the link to listen to the radio transmission.

The Gialappa's Band like to have guests that are the nationalities of the teams of the game they comment- preferably beautiful women.  (According to our kind hosts, their female guests are always indeed always quite stunning.)  The guests read off the rosters, so the audience can hear the "correct" pronunciation of the names.  There is a lot of banter between hosts and guests, but most of the commentary is reserved for the players, coaches, referees and anything that has to do with the event.  They interact with their radio audience by asking questions and inviting answers sent via text messaging, emails, Facebook, radio website and telephone.  They then read back answers, and chat with callers on-air.  The trio also conduct various polls; the main one for the tournament this year is "Chi e' il pippero del torneo, cioe' chi si e' messo in luce"... "Who is the tournament screw-up; that is, the person who has stepped into the spotlight."  Blanco has the lead so far, followed by Domenech and Senderos.  You can vote on the website or by text message.  Furthermore, a Facebook page has just been created for those who would like to have their lives commented upon by the Gialappa's.  There are already over 6,000 members.

If commenting the World Cup games aren't enough (The Gialappa's do 2 a day, at 10 am and 2:30 pm, Miami FL time), in the morning, one half hour before the start of the first game (7:00 Miami, FL), they do a one hour radio program on another radio station called Radio DeeJay.  The program is called Mai DeeJay Gol (Never DJ Goal).  They do not comment the first game, though the transmissions briefly overlap.  Instead, our trio of friends conduct a more classic-style radio show, with music, dialogues and interviews, but with a World Cup Theme.  For example, during the very first broadcast, they introduced the World Cup Theme Song, Somalian musician K’Naan’s "Wavin’ Flag."  They thought it was horrible (and I wholeheartedly agree), so they decided that something else should be the official theme song.  Their friend and musician Rudi Zerbi suggested a song that "has been close to my heart for a very long time"; "Er, exactly how long a time are we talking here?"  Giorgio Gherarducci sneered back.  The song was "Jozin z Bazin" a Czech folk song from 1978.  The video is hilarious (click here to see it).  I highly recommend watching it.  Even though you have no idea what they are saying...  Actually, there is an English subtitled version, but I'm going to let you find it...(hehehe).  This is one of their main running themes so far.  The Gialappa's also feature telephone "interviews" with famous personalities.  Most are Italian sports figures, such as Mario Balotelli, Davide Mannini, Massimo Moratti, Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.  Of course, the sports personalities are really comic imitators, and the dialogues are loaded with double senses, "news flashes" and running jokes. 

The Gialappa's Band remind us that this event is a celebration, and that there is laughter to be found in every tragedy, even one as big as Italy finishing last in their qualifying round and going home early.  So for the World Cup Blues, Dr. Maria suggests a minimum 1 hour of Gialappa's Band a day.

I apologize and admit that I was so caught up with them, it hadn't occurred for me to share it with the rest of you from the very beginning.  But never fear: if you can't catch them live, you can listen to a rebroadcast, and it lets you skip the commercials too!

Click here for Radio DeeJay show rebroadcasts.  The full calendar is at the bottom right.

Click here for Radio RTL game rebroadcasts

W la Gialappa's Band!!!