Total Football by Parquet Courts Song Info
“Total Football” by Parquet Courts is the opening track to their sixth studio album "Wide Awake!" The title comes from a tactical theory of the same name which was popularized in 1974 by the Dutch national team in the World Cup. This tactical theory explains that all the outfield players (any position that isn’t the goalkeeper) can play all the other outfield positions without having to be substituted by a player from the bench. In football terms, and as an NME interview puts it, “no one part is bigger than the sum of the team.” Parquet Courts delivers a message calling all sectors of society, composed of artists, teachers, blue-collar workers, and many more, to fight against oppressive figures and threatening cults of personality, much like promoting team-oriented football strategies that emphasize teamwork over individual play. Of note as well, is that the whole album is inspired by the band’s love for football. As Andrew Savage puts it, "The lyrics take the form of a manifesto, which is fitting for the first song on this album I think. Bold and declarative."'