Much like Pablo Zabaleta to Manchester City or Branislav Ivanovic to Chelsea, the songs which EA sports choose to accompany FIFA are no doubt the unsung heroes to our gaming experiences. We find ourselves singing along as we set-up a big tournament, and tapping our controller to the beat as we make the keeper dive in random directions in the pre-game arena. There has been some big hits that have made their name from the game and here we look at the classics that have made our FIFA experience a bit more special over the past decade. So, in no particular order…

“Dy-na-mi-tee” – Miss Dynamite
Always made you jump as you hear a sudden “MISS DY-NA-MI-TEE-HEE” as you’re mentally preparing to boss your opponent with Theirry Henry at his peak. Indeed, this FIFA 2003 classic certainly kept us in check – making sure we didn’t drift off during team selection and accidentally start Pavel Nedved in goal or set Laurent Blanc to taking penalties. A tactical selection by EA sports I would say, making sure we stay concentrated on what really matters. Don’t really know what happened to Miss Dynamite, but I think all of us would like to thank her for this banger.

“Jerk it Out” – Caesars
One hit wonders aren’t exactly uncommon in FIFA, and it’s safe to say that this one sticks out in the memory. Hailing from the days of FIFA 2004, many of us no doubt bopped along to this one on the retro PS2. Its notorious introduction was indeed quite jerky in name, and was one of the first FIFA songs that started the wave of rock and indie that became prominent in future games of the series. Aside from the very occasional air time it gets on the radio when people try to “guess the year”, I don’t think anyone has ever heard this song any other time apart from on FIFA, and it’s safe to say no one really expected much more from Caesars, but who knew they would be semi-revolutionaries in FIFA trends.

“Hands” – The Ting Tings
Few can be forgiven for seeing the Ting Tings come on at the bottom of the screen of FIFA 12 and thinking “ughhh”, but this one has gone down in FIFA folklore as an absolute classic. The “Shit FIFA Players Say” defines the brilliance of this song, as the chap features on the video sings the infamous line of “CLAP YOUR HANDS IF YOU’RE WORKING TOO HARD” in between screaming expletives at the animated players on-screen. I think all of us can identify with this. We work so hard to grind out that 1-0 win when there’s a 3 star difference between the teams. Of course we cannot clap our hands, because we are playing FIFA, but we would if we could.

“Rules Don’t Stop” – We Are Scientists
Another song that really defines the mantra of the FIFA player. Whether it’s the stepping over of social boundaries in general society, playing Nigel de Jong at right-back or just turning off fouls on the game settings, rules are something that FIFA players are not confined to. And indeed, this FIFA 11 belter really was relatable, as you raise your controller in the air and scream the lyrics to the high heavens, as FIFA gets you quite angsty for about 3 minutes or so. The revolution is coming.

“Complicated” (Pablo Rossa remix) – Avril Lavigne.
A guilty pleasure for all of us when it used to come on in the good old days of FIFA 03. Most got the initial “God, Avril Lavigne is such a douche” comments out the way initially, before leaning forward to do the team management in silence and enjoy the lyrical wisdom of the Canadian rock chick. Afterwards someone would say “at least it’s the Pablo Rossa remix” and everyone would concur, justifying it with “it sounds completely different from the original” despite its numerous similarities. Of course I didn’t actually like it, but I knew all my mates did, they just never admitted it. But I never liked it, honest!

“She’s Got Me Dancing” – Tommy Sparks
This bouncy number is really one that you can tap to. It perfectly contrasts with the relatively sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity that occurs whilst playing the computer, and really makes you feel like you’re actually doing something as you tap along to this belter from FIFA 10, even though you’re not. Sure, Tommy Sparks may be dancing, but you are doing complex tactical thought and team selection in your mind, so I think we all know who the real winner is here…

“Always” – Suburbia
The graveyard of one-hit wonders that is FIFA strikes again. And if you want an idea about just how big the tombstone is for Suburbia, they don’t even have a Wikipedia page (shock-horror). Nevertheless, FIFA 04 managed to get that much-needed bit of publicity for this band, and act as that medium for us to subconsciously listen to new stuff – in this case without even realizing. Indeed, this song sounds so similar to most other songs of its kind that you can’t really dislike it (or really like it for that matter). FIFA should have a record label.

“No Problem” – Chase & Status
Introduced for FIFA 12, it certainly ticks the “modern” and “hip” sections of the requirements to get on this much desired list, as it showcases one of Chase & Status’ less well-known and less banging beats so not to bore the player with the same old choons. This song is featured on this chart because of the legendary line “I move like water, I go with the flow” at the start of the song, which is just excellent, amongst a series of equally excellent lyrics. Not only this, but it sounds suspiciously like it is being said by Emmanuel Adebayor, making it even more relevant!

“Take Your Mama” – Scissor Sisters
Let’s be honest – nobody really dislikes Scissor Sisters. That high-pitched male voice reaches notes and octaves that we all we wish we could reach, and although this may not be their best song, it certainly is a top one. There’s a subtle irony in this hit which we’ve sourced from FIFA 05 – the idea that, although you may be listening to a song about taking your mother out and showing her a ruddy good time, you’re actually just sitting and playing FIFA instead. And that’s what your mama (and no doubt the Scissor Sisters too) really wanted you to do. Probably.

“Don’t Turn the Lights On” – Chromeo
An extremely obscure choice by EA sports for FIFA 11 here, but one that you cannot deny has inspired all of us, and made the time we spent button bashing and abusing the TV a lot more pleasant. The chorus of “Don’t turn the lights on, because tonight I want to see you in the dark” has been sung by many a FIFA player across the land, recited as private jokes and downloaded onto their iPod for humorous purposes. No one knows if Chromeo have any other songs, but the truth is that it doesn’t really matter, because they can retire knowing they have made a massive tune, and we should thank both Chromeo and EA Sports for bringing this into our lives.

That, my friends, is why FIFA is so good. Next stop – The FIFA Tour.

What makes your FIFA playlist? Or are you the sort which turns the volume down? Let us know on twitter @talkingbaws/@SB_Crocker or comment below.