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After the Bokke’s winning Rugby World Cup kick-off game against Scotland on Sunday, Spotify’s celebratory spirit kicked in and cooked up two rugby-themed playlists dubbed Locker Room and Rugby Musiek.
The description of the Rugby Musiek playlist on the Spotify app, Hieeeee kom die ref nou! Net die beste Rugby liedjies, acknowledges the referee and pays homage to the best game day songs that speak directly to the South African rugby fan.
Locker Room, on the other hand, is not rugby-specific but is for the listening pleasure of any sports lover, as it is a mix of South African rugby and other sports classics, as well as songs that international audiences have transformed into sports anthems.
READ: Dashiki | Rugby World Cup from lovers’ Utopia
Impi by our very own late legend, Johnny Clegg, affectionately known as White Zulu, is one of the songs featured in the playlists. Featured in Rugby Musiek is well-loved Afrikaans music hitmaker Ruhan Du Toit and Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth’s wife, Anlia Star. Robbie Wessels and Karlien Van Jaarsveld produced the song titled Saam Suid Afrika as a tribute to the Springboks.
Multi-talented Springboks player Makazole Mapimpi graces the cover of the Locker Room playlist in all his glory.
Any self-respecting South African knows that no Rugby World Cup playlist would be complete without Leon Schuster’s Hier kom die Bokke!
The Springboks, who are the defending champions at the 2023 leg of the Rugby World Cup, are not new to victory on the field. Back in 1995, only a year after Mzansi elected its first democratic president, Nelson Mandela, the boys and the then captain Francois Pienaar brought the trophy home and united the new Rainbow nation in such memorable ways that Clint Eastwood and WarnerBros. produced the box office hit Invictus.
Mzansi has come a long way from a time when the colour of your skin was used as a tool to deprive talented black players of the opportunity to wear the national rugby jersey. Tata Mandela would be proud to know how the direct impact of his legacy opened up doors for fellow Eastern Cape native Siya Kolisi to captain the Springboks to their World Cup victory in 2019.
READ: Watch | First lady of rugby is celebrated
Music-loving rugby fans can look forward to Captain Kolisi’s vocals in the playlist as well. Similar to how Shakira and Freshlyground’s Waka Waka and K’Naan’s Waving Flag made the 2010 Fifa World Cup unforgettable, Spotify is here to ensure that the 2023 Rugby World Cup is tattooed in Mzansi’s hearts as well. Go Bokke!
