It was madness.
It was July 3, 1994, and I had just witnessed Sweden defeat Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup Round of Sixteen at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Two hours later, I was jumping up and down in the middle of the West End, surrounded by thousands of
people, clad in replica soccer jerseys from around the world-Dutch orange, US white, Italian purple-speaking countless tongues and
jumping, gyrating and dry-humping in a mass dance as seven fans in bright yellow Brazil jerseys provided non-stop, rhythmic South American drumming.
It's what the World Cup is all about, right? A celebration of music, community and (most important) sport, on a scale of which you've never seen. It's something you either get or you don't.
Local DJ (and futbol fan) Melanie Moore gets it. In fact, she gets it so much, she has organized a sort of Santa Fe DJ World Cup, to parallel the upcoming tournament.
"I'd been thinking about doing something for the World Cup throughout the year," Moore tells me during a phone chat. "I don't even remember exactly how this came about, except I knew this area is plentiful for talent and DJs
and
soccer fans."
The idea is this: The Cowgirl will be showing World Cup games on their TVs, and also will have food and drink specials corresponding to the nationality of each team. Meantime, Moore has enlisted 32 local DJs to represent each of the 32 2006 World Cup teams. For instance, DJ Dynamik represents Brazil, where his mother is from. (Each DJ must have a strong connection to the team he or she represents-in other words, you can't represent Brazil just cuz they're good.) The DJs whose corresponding teams are playing will spin following the match. As teams get eliminated, so do the DJs, til there are just two standing, and they'll play after the final match.
"Every time you read an article [about US soccer] it's usually negative-'Americans don't care, they'd rather watch the spelling bee,'" Melanie says. "That's always upset me, because the World Cup is awesome ground for camaraderie. There's so much musical talent in Santa Fe, it's kind of a parallel universe-let's not get competitive, let's come together. Let it be about soccer or music."
Of course, Santa Fe has no hope of replicating the giant, big-city party that marks the World Cup culture of larger burgs. But it shouldn't; our World Cup fete should be intimate, unusual, small-town, like the city itself, and Moore's idea (a pain in the ass for her to put together) is perfectly suited. What could be more appropriate, more Santa Fe, than banding together at our favorite social meeting place, hanging out, partaking in our own small way in something positive that overtakes the world, sharing music and camaraderie and sport?
"There's not a lot going on to be happy about sometimes, with the political climate and the war," says Moore. "This is one of those times where people lay down their weapons and just watch."
That's the thing-it's unbelievably cheesy, this world-coming-together thing, but it's so universal, such a stunning reminder of what can happen when humanity finally
gets it
. And Moore's ingenious plan is so…fun. And so…City Different. So grab your kids (Moore plans for these events to be family-friendly) and your jerseys and cheese out while you can, because after about a month, it will all go back to normal.
The World Cup lasts until early July. Stay tuned to J Spot for weekly scheduling/DJ updates. Here's your handy clip 'n' save schedule for the first weekend of Round One:
FRIDAY, JUNE 9
10 am
GERMANY (DJ PHYLLI) VS. COSTA RICA (BRIAN MAYHALL FROM D NUMBERS)
1 pm
POLAND (DJ SHERDON) VS. ECUADOR (DJ DP)
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
7 am
ENGLAND (BEN WRIGHT) VS. PARAGUAY (DJ ROCQUE RANALDI)
10 am
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (DJ XAVIER) VS. SWEDEN (DJ GUDIE)
1 pm
ARGENTINA (DJ DONOVAN) VS. IVORY COAST (DJ QUELA)
SUNDAY, JUNE 11
7 am
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO (DJ REVEREND MITTON) VS. THE NETHERLANDS (DJ MELANIE MOORE)
10 am
MEXICO (DJ CANTON) VS. IRAN (PETE AND NANCY)
1 pm
ANGOLA (DJ SOUL) VS. PORTUGAL (DJ BILLA)
