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Wimbledon Playlist

Perhaps as a result of the enforced silence during all matchplay, tennis has a less illustrious musical heritage than other sports. Cricket boasts the considered intellectualism of The Duckforth Lewis Method, whilst football’s raucous hits are perhaps best represented by the joyous World In Motion, but we have to look a little further afield to find lyrical contemplation of tennis, that most psychological of sports.

Foals- The French Open (Live on KEXP)

Typically fidgety fare from Oxford’s own. This live version has a bit more panache than the studio cut- as one astute Youtuber has pointed out, the drummer’s squeals would not sound out of place following a vicious backhand in the ladies’ singles. “D’air sur la terre” is a beautifully evocative description of the game as played by its most graceful practitioners.

Skizzy Mars ft G-Eazy- Pay for You

In this delightful piece of lo-fi hip-hop Americana, tennis represents the affluent lifestyle of the fictional party girl who takes the down-on-his-luck narrator under her wing (“Tennis lessons? I wonder what those Lacosted”). A pleasing lyrical subversion of the normal flow of hip-hop cash from sugar daddies to female hangers-on is tied to a sample just the right side of mournful.

The Shins- Turn A Square

“She shone up bright like a knife/wearing tennis shorts made of stripes/hand in hand to the grass and we got it right/got it nice, nice, nice/just a glimpse of an ankle and I/react like it’s 1805”. One for any young men who have felt a quiver of excitement at the sight of the stately blonde Russians and buxom Belgians of the ladies’ tournament (or indeed any girls similarly titillated by the brawny biceps on display over on the mens’ courts). 

 

Lorde- Tennis Court (Cymbol 303 remix)

In the original track by the soon-to-be-huge 16-year-old New Zealand electro-pop waif, the tennis court is the site of a clandestine tryst between teenaged lovers. This remix adds bite to the track.

De La Soul- Tennis

De La Soul’s Plug 1 and Plug 2 Present… First Serve is the unwieldly title of De La Soul’s 2012 concept album concerning the struggles of two young up-and-coming rappers. Dave, the rapper who makes up one half of the project alongside Posdnuous, explains the imagery:

“I love watching tennis. [The title] is a lyrical thing, wordplay. It’s the perfect match. The falling in love and out of love relationship between the two guys. It refers to a tennis vibe.” 

I’m not sure Andy Murray has much love to spare for Novak Djokovic, but De La Soul have never been ones to shy away from a stretched metaphor, or from timeless hip-hop joints like this. 

Booker T & The MG’s- Gotta Serve Somebody

A tenuous semantic link, but no matter. This electrifying performance has far more clout than Bob Dylan’s version of the same joint, making the more famous Dylan track sound [insert heavy-handed tennis metaphor of your choice here]. The band learnt over 80 tracks for this performance, and this ferocious commitment is reflected in the tightness of their groove. I only wish rock bands still came with sub-gospel backing singers dancing in unison.

Indian Wells- Wimbledon 1980

“Italian mysterious producer(s) declinating tennis aesthetic with nocturne electronic sounds”, according to their record label. The percussive striking of the ball punctuates an eerie, gritty soundscape full of brushes of noise and moments of dark, looming tension.

Cream- Anyone For Tennis

Obviously.

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