The song «Buenos Dias Argentina» went around the world in 1978 and was enjoyed by millions. Today it looks like being a hit with football fans in Germany.

«Buenos Dias, Argentina», the theme song of the German football team at the 1978 World Cup in 1978 was recorded by Udo Juergens (born September 30, 1934) together with the national team players. It also received airplay on many Argentinian radio stations, a light pop tune at a difficult time when the county was in the throes of a military dictatorship.

The tune will be released ahead of this summer's World Cup by one of Germany's most successful music producers, 66-year-old Jack White, who was previously went under the name of Horst Nussbaum when he was himself a professional footballer. The song sold around one million copies but following Austria's defeat in Cordoba the song quickly lost its popularity.

Today a retro-wave is sweeping through Germany, giving the song a chance to once again climb the music charts. «It's an exceptionally well-written song which makes the point perfectly,» explains White. «It is one of the most beautiful songs that Udo ever wrote.» White wrote the German theme song for the 1974 World Cup in Germany. Titled «Football is our life» it too will be re-released.

«We made the song in 1974 and we became world champions with the song helping us along,» he says. «Maybe the same with happen this year.» Juergens has even written an article about his song «Buenos Dias, Argentina», which was published in Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily newspaper. «The World Cup taking place in this country (Argentina) was controversial and it naturally wasn't ideal to be singing about the country in the situation,» says Juergens.

«Naturally, it was never considered that myself and the German football team would sing a political or critical song about the Argentinian government.» Juergens got the idea that he should sing about the beauty of the country and concentrate on clichés. «It had to contain everything that your average naive tourist would expect from Argentina: La Plata, the Pampas, sunshine, senoritas, sombreros as well as having a guitar in the hand and a song on the lips,» he explains.

The idea was a resounding success. To help the German team containing such football legends but inexperienced singers as Sepp Maier, Karl-Heinz-Rummenigge, Manfred Kaltz and Berti Vogts sound better, their voices were double-looped so as to add depth. «The record was a worldwide success even before the World Cup,» remembers Juergens. «Internationally, the German team was identified with the song. The Spanish version of the song was a top hit in several South American countries.»

The skyline of Frankfurt as seen from the Main River Source: Presse- und Informationsamt der Stadt Frankfurt am Main

Businessman White believes Argentina will «definitely be among the favourites» at this summer's tournament but the music and football expert isn't so sure about how the host team Germany will perform on home soil. «I sat together at a private meal with Franz Beckenbauer on Easter Monday. We were all agreed that Germany were always a tournament team. But you simply never know. Anything is possible,» he says.