Music at the 2010 IIHF World Championship features, apart from the usual rock-pop mix, a touch of German techno, highlighted by Scooter with the official song “Stuck on Replay” and the band’s four songs played when a goal is scored.

But there’s more than that. Before the tournament, songs could be suggested on Facebook to the Organizing Committee. So let’s take a look at which song each nation got, and if it was a good fit.

Belarus

The Belarusians got Scooter’s interpretation of “Whatever You Want”, originally from British rock band Status Quo (1979).

Whatever you want, whatever you need [...] whatever you win, whatever you lose.

Unfortunately, the Belarusians lost more often than they won, and had to say goodbye after the Qualification Round.

Canada

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69” is Canada’s goal song in 2010. Not really a chart-topper when it was released in 1984, it can still be heard all over the world at rock-oriented locations, and it’s no different in Germany.

Me and some guys from school had a band and we tried real hard. Jimmy quit and Jody got married. I shoulda known we'd never get far. Oh, but when I look back now...

Seeing any parallels between the Canadian selection and performance and the lyrics would be a bit sarcastic, but at least Canada’s fourth-place finish in 1969 allows the Canadians to hope that they’ll survive the quarterfinals against Russia after their below-average fourth-place finish in their Qualification Round group.

Czech Republic

After scoring a goal, the Czech players feel as if they’re in an electro club in Prague with the song “Get Shaky” (2008) from American house DJ Ian Carey.

Baby go crazy, break the rules. Oh oh there you oh oh there you go.

With 78 penalty minutes so far, the Czechs have broken the rules quite often (fifth overall). But with the tournament’s second-best penalty killing, the Czechs could apparently afford it until now. And their quarterfinal opponent, Finland, is not known for the best power play (12th). But less penalties could mean being less shaky. Will the Czechs take it up a notch or continue to get shaky?

Denmark

Denmark’s goal song, “Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song)”, comes from the Danish Safri Duo, famous for their electro-instrumental songs and most notably this one-hit wonder from 2000 that went platinum in several countries.

There are no lyrics, but the Danish players don’t mind hearing “their” song, and will probably link it forever to the biggest success of Danish hockey: reaching the 2010 quarterfinals. Or perhaps even more?

Finland

Finnish rock band The Rasmus provided the Finnish goal song, “In the Shadows”, a number-one hit in 2003 in Finland, and a top-10 song in many other European countries.

It sounds like a song that should help Finland win the gold medal for the second time in history after 1995.

No sleep until I’m done with finding the answer. [...] I’ve been watching, I’ve been waiting, in the shadows for my time. I’ve been searching, I’ve been living, for tomorrows all my life.

Will Finland come out of the silvery shadow in the days to come?

France

Daft Punk, a French house music duo, rocked the clubs in 2000 with “One More Time”, a number-one hit in Canada and France. And it’s one more time for France: After several years against second-tier opponents like Great Britain, Korea and Israel, the French secured their fourth consecutive top-division appearance for next year by defeating Italy and Kazakhstan in the Relegation Round.

One more time, we’re gonna celebrate. Oh yeah, alright, don’t stop dancing.

Next year Les Bleus hope to celebrate and dance in Slovakia.

Germany

Originally done by Italian group Matia Bazar in 1986, Scooter’s 2009 cover version of “Ti sento” was chosen as the host nation’s goal song.

Twenty-four hours a day. Twelve months a year. It's all about the sound you’re about to hear.

And the Germans want to hear more of it in the quarterfinals against their traditional rival Switzerland. They’re appearing there for the first time since 2003.

Italy

The natural choice for La Squadra Azzurra was Adriano Celentano’s evergreen “Azzurro“ (1968), which was covered by numerous musicians in various styles. A widespread version in Germany is the one from punk band Die Toten Hosen, done as a tribute to the 1990 World Cup in football that Germany won in Italy, and the selected song for the 2010 Worlds was an electro version.

Azzurro, the afternoon is too blue and too long for me. I remember, not having enough resources anymore, without you.

After winning only one game in the Relegation Round, the Italians are going back. Back to Italy to their loved ones, and to Division I, to find more resources for the next time.

Kazakhstan

What song would be a good fit for Kazakhstan? That’s a tough question in parts of the world where Kazakhstan is mostly known due to a British comedian in scary outfits... The song chosen was “J’adore hardcore” (2009) from Scooter.

I like the way it’s hard, I like the way it’s loud. [...] You know who I am. When me come me coming rough, you know I'm above.

The Kazakhs were above. At least if you look at the final ranking from bottom. And they have yet to make themselves a name at the elite level to the point where everybody knows who they are.

Latvia

 “Maria (I like it loud)” was originally produced by DJ Marc Acardipane (1997) in Germany, but came out from the underground to become a top-ten hit in Scooterland with Scooter’s version in 2003.

Maria believe me I like it loud.

Nobody has ever doubted that the numerous and noisy Latvian fans like it loud. Nobody!

Alright everybody. Tie your shoes! The third chapter has just begun.

Unfortunately, the third chapter at the 2010 IIHF World Championship will begin without Latvia. But it will be loud next year, when the Latvians play in Bratislava or Kosice. Slovakia, we’re coming!

Norway

The Norwegian pop band a-ha provides their team’s goal song with the number-one hit “Take on me” (1985).

Take on me. Take on me! Take me home. Take on me! I'll be gone in a day or two.

How true it is. The Norwegians will go home on Wednesday, being tied with Canada in points but finishing fifth in the Qualification Round, and unfortunately being the clear leader in penalty minutes and suspensions. But the Vikings will be back next year. Hopefully displaying less of a rough style.

Russia

The snowball tree, or in Russian, Kalinka, never dies. The folk song of international fame from Ivan Larionov (1860, not related to Igor Larionov) deals with admiring berries sacrificed for the ancient Slavonic goodness of nature, love and fertility, Lyuli, and lives on in uncountable interpretations from the Red Army Choir to Western bands.

The one in Cologne is a techno version from Party Factory, and apparently the Russians like to party with Kalinka, winning game after game.

Is it the berries that make the Russians strong? Or the light-hearted lyrics of the probably most popular Russian song? Or the Kalinka dance that gets faster and faster? And will Lyuli be with Mother Russia in the quarterfinal rematch against Canada? We will know soon.

Slovakia

The Slovaks got “I Wanna Go Crazy” (2009) from French house DJ David Guetta.

Let’s go. I wanna go to Ibiza. I wanna go to Argentina. Yeah. I wanna go and dance. I wanna dance in Paris, France. I wanna go around the world and party with the girls and when I get there, when I get there, when I’m there, I wanna go crazy!

Wherever the Slovaks want to go crazy, the holiday season has started with their loss against Germany. Maybe the song was not the best omen. But next year there’s the next chance to make the quarterfinals – on home ice.

Sweden

“Mamma mia!” is an Italian expression in surprising situations, close to “My God!”

And it’s a song released in 1975 by Sweden’s most famous music export, ABBA. The 1999-version of Swedish ABBA cover band A*Teens played in Mannheim repeated the success of the song, as do many Swedish goals at the World Championship. And there were many.

There’s a fire within my soul. Just one look and I can hear a bell ring. One more look and I forget everything, o-o-o-oh. Mamma mia, here I go again.

The fire is burning and Sweden has won its group. Time for more mamma mia against Denmark?

Switzerland

“Bring en hei” by Swiss pop singer Baschi was the choice for Switzerland, where it was a number-one hit in 2006. The singer’s Basle-Berne mishmash dialect can hardly be understood even by Germans, but the Swiss players and fans at SAP Arena in Mannheim don’t care and like to hear it over and over again.

Originally it became Switzerland’s song for another event in Germany, the 2006 World Cup of football. However, the Swiss were ousted in the 1/8-finals and the song didn’t bring any success at the Euro 2008 that was co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland either.

Come on bring it home, bring it home, to me. [...] Everyone’s waiting for you. This is my team. These are my heroes. I live my life for the game.

Will the lyrics work better in hockey and inspire the Swiss to bring “it” home?

United States

This one is easy to guess. “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984) from Bruce Springsteen came out of the speakers when Team USA scored a goal, although the song dealing with the Vietnam War wasn’t played that often in the Preliminary Round.

Nowhere to run, ain’t got nowhere to go.

The American NHLers were in an odd place in the Relegation Round, and they’ll hope to have more success next year and go to the playoffs. And maybe sing the chorus with medals around their necks?

MARTIN MERK