Vuvezuelas 'not that bad' shock

They really are not that bad, really. In fact I actually rather like them.

First of all they are not that high pitched buzzy noise you get on TV. It’s a more lower and throaty, quite a sort of bloke-y sound. You kind of experience it in the ribs rather than the ears. And because you have to blow the thing, not hit it like a drum, or press it like a Klaxon, it’s a very ‘human ‘ noise. The idea is to sort of make the horn ‘say’ something, there’s quite a skill to it. It ends up sounding worried and anxious, very much like a football fan feels before or during a game, always thinking something bad is going to happen. It’s the sort of noise you can imagine in Robert Green’s head before a game. (Not that he’ll be having a game before August). So it’s not in any way aggressive or triumphant, it’s just a random noise. Although it’s not always random, occasionally there will be a call and response rhythm set up, with people just passing by or in another part of the stadium, or part of a rival group. The rhythm will get louder and faster until it inevitably breaks down and disappears into the background wail.


And then on the way back (never going to games) there’ll be a more kind of organised street party band set up as a few groups will all join up. The Ghanans had whistle blowers and drums, and do you know what, it was really rather good. With all the row there is no chanting, no hilarious comments very little applause, and no singing. But who wants to hear ‘Keep ‘em out , Daggers’ all afternoon? The local papers here hate the horns (no, I can’t spell the v-word) as they say that it silences the crowd and the tradition of tribal type rebel song type singing has gone. But me, I like them.