Arrivederci, Boleyn Ground

  • by Staff Writer
  • Wednesday, 4th May 2016

KUMB.com's favourite new band have released a new version of West Ham's club anthem, 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' - as the Hammers prepare to bid farewell to their home of 112 years.

Following a request from KUMB, Joao Maravilha, Antipa Ugarteburu and Ilmarco Manzella - who are perhaps better known collectively as Italian trio Marcilo Agro FC - put together a brand new version of 'Bubbles', in their own inimitable style, to mark the end of West Ham's spell in Green Street.

Talking about their cover of the the famous old song, originally writen in 1917 by Jaan Kenbrovin and John William Kellette, Joao from the band explained: "We worked on our version of 'Bubbles' whilst we were watching the Man Utd FA Cup replay.

"It was a magic atmosphere; you sang, there were the bubbles on the ground and in the air and we were here to prepare the song! it seemed that we really were United through this beautiful song that you treasure."

Click below to listen to hear Marcilo Agro FC's unique take on the club's anthem! And in case you've never heard the full lyrics to 'Bubbles' before, you may find them here (scroll to 'The West Ham United Anthem - 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'').





Marcilo Agro FC consists of three talented musicians - band spokesman Joao (guitars, vocals), Marco (guitar) and Antipa (vocals). The band have been together for more than 10 years, but have only recently began releasing their brilliant football-related ditties via YouTube.

So far the band have previously sung an ode to Paolo DI Canio plus a tribute to Leicester's title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri - amongst many more, which may be found on their YouTube channel.



The Band: (midfielder) Ilmarco, (defender) Joao and (forward) Antipa


Joao takes up the band's story. "Marcilo Agro e is an acoustic project that began in 2004. We have published three albums in the past, whilst in 2005 we played as special guests for Oasis in Milan.

"in 2014 we started again with the band's related side project, Marcilo Agro Football Club.
Because we play acoustic, just two guitars and voices, we play at home - at my home - and generally we watch matches and play at the same time.

"So, it is natural that at some point football entered in the songs. We play Acoustic Football and we sing not only about Italian football, because we like to sing in different languages.

"Frequently we include other music, interviews and articles in our songs. For example, as Marcilo Agro e il duo Maravilha we made a piece of Divina Commedia of Dante Alighieri or an Iraqi medieval poetry!"



The band onstage in a more traditional setting


"Everything we read can become a song, but we can’t decide what and when. Sometimes when I read, I add a little melody to the words that I’m reading - which means that there may be a song. But is not possible to decide the topics beforehand."

WIth regards to his - and the band's - affection for English football, Joao explained: "I'm a supporter of Genoa, the first football club founded in Italy (in 1893, by an Englishman called Sir James Spensley). Antipa supports Athletic Bilbao - his mother is from the Basque region - and Marco is a Juventus fan.

"I love English football. You are the game's founding fathers, and for that reason I've followed the Premier League since I was a child. I don't have a team there though, as I only support Genoa CFC.

"Our link with West Ham United is Paolo Di Canio, who was your legendary skipper. Our first song about West Ham was called 'Claret and Blue'; it was about Di Canio and his genuine affection for West Ham.

"In January Paolo invited us to play on his FoxSports Italy show and for the occasion, we composed our version of your famous chant. When we sang 'Paolo di Canio, Paolo di Canio' in front of him we felt unbelievable emotion!



Meeting Paolo: the band backstage at Paolo's TV show


"With your request you gave us the possibility of playing and singing this beautiful song, 'Bubbles', which was an honour for us. We chose vintage images from the '70 for our video because our cover is vintage - plus our 'striker', Antipa, has a crooner's voice!"

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