Vindaloo by Fat Les

Album: Greatest Hits (1998)

Charted: 2

License This Song

Songfacts®:

This song was made by an England football supporter during the World Cup. The song is very comedic and only parts of it get to the "main point" which is England wining the world cup, which didn't really happen. This song is often played at football matches.
The title came very late in the planing of the song. Fat Les got up to the lyric "We're off to waterloo" (referring to a war that England won) and he picked a random rhyme "Vindaloo" which became the name of the song.
The video is about as random as the song, with loads of weird characters marching down the street. Bits of the video are a parody of The Verve and feature either Richard Ashcroft or his lookalike. You can make out where the parody takes place with him smacking into people as Ashcroft does in the "Bittersweet Symphony." >>
Suggestion credit:
Mjn Seifer - England, for all above
In 2021, a group of celebrities came together to record a charity version titled "Vindaloo Two" to raise money for the NHS and mark the start of Euro 2020. Among the famous faces are actors Will Mellor and Danny Dyer, TV personalities Paddy McGuinness, Keith Lemon, Happy Mondays' Bez and Rowetta, and original Fat Les member Keith Allen.

Comments: 6

Hp from WolverhamptonThat's not Richard Ashcroft obviously. You're right it's a lookalike. Without his orange hair you would be forgiven for not recognising Dennis Pennis actor and bane of 90s red carpet events, Paul Kaye. Many people today would recognise him more as Thoros of Myr from Game of Thrones.
Tony from West Yorkshire The original title for the song was going to be chicken tikka masala, which was the most popular takeout in England at the time. However Keith Allen couldn’t think of any other words that rhymed so it became vindaloo instead.
Jarvis from London, UkWaterloo in the song does not refer to the famous battle of 1815, but rather the train station in London (which was named after the battle). At the time of the song's release, it was the London terminal for the Eurostar - the direct train to France, where the Football (soccer) World Cup was taking place in 1998 (which is what the song was written for). Nowadays the Eurostar goes from St Pancras (word has it the French got annoyed about Waterloo, since they lost the battle). The song is an affectionate, good natured tribute to English football lore and football fans, and the sort of chant they render when at matches.
Darren from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdomthe annoying guy in the shirt - main singer Keith Allen, is equally as annoying as his daughter, who's a so called singer - Lilly Allen!!!!

However, keith is famous for his acting and has been in such films as Shallow Grave - the lodger: Trainspotting - the buy for the cocain begbie and co are selling in a London hotel room.....and is 100% hilarious set in wales, as the farmer whos high on magic mushrooms and has his way with a sheep - Twin town
Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandI never knew that. Thanks Dave.
Dave from Cardiff, WalesThe video was a spoof of The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony", however, the video for "Bittersweet Symphony" was itself a spoof of the similarly titled "Unfinished Sympathy" video, a 1991 hit for Massive Attack in collaboration with Shara Nelson

see more comments

More Songfacts:

American PieDon McLean

Don McLean's "American Pie" starts in mono and gradually goes to stereo. It isn't full stereo until the end of the song, which is over 8 minutes long.

Hangin' ToughNew Kids On The Block

"Hangin' Tough" came at the peak of New Kids On The Block mania (1988). Their writer/producer Maurice Starr wrote it about the struggles the band faced early on. It was a #1 hit in both America and the UK.

Scooby SnacksFun Lovin' Criminals

The Scooby Snacks in the Fun Lovin' Criminals song aren't dog treats, they're Valium pills.

The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson

The first single from the Thriller album was "The Girl Is Mine," chosen over "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" because it was a duet with Paul McCartney and thus guaranteed airplay.

CenterfieldJohn Fogerty

"Centerfield" was the first song enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

Love Never Felt So GoodMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson became the first artist in history to score Top 10 hits in five consecutive decades on the Hot 100 when "Love Never Felt So Good" landed at #9 on the chart dated May 31, 2014.