What Is The Evolution Of A Soccer Chant? Part One

Posting Is Inspired by FIFA World Cup Brazil, 2014. 

Effortless Singing During Matches:

Have you watched an English Premier Soccer League on television and listened to the very loud, and sometimes, irritating drone in the background throughout a match (play video, Poetry in Motion)? An American wanted to know how these chants were sung by supporters effortlessly throughout the season, in each and every game, without reference to a document or song sheet as these compositions seemed to be quite lengthy.  

Liverpool FC Chants - YouTube Video by: The Redman TV

From his observation, although the tunes were different, the lyrics were familiar with everyone and sung with great confidence during the match.  He questioned if they were the same words with different tunes and if the songs were made up along the way.

The Anatomy of a Chant

According to an ardent fan the chants were not written on song sheets or previously rehearsed because some articulate leader in the crowd would have started the chant and the rest would automatically follow.  Herd (heard) instinct? A reader gave an example, "If meat pies are available for sale before and during a game and if a player on the field looks overweight, it's, 'Who ate all the pies?' as soon as the ball arrives at his feet." 

Another reader replied tongue-in-cheek that fans went to soccer song school to learn the art and it was usually a Friday night in the back room of the local pub.  

Fans had their own set of songs they picked up from the crowd when they went to watch their group playing. They also had different chants and insults that they would sing to jeer the other team. Both sides would sing their own songs all the way throughout the match to encourage their team and to disgrace the opposition.

These songs were most times spontaneous and humorous so if someone said something amusing another fan might create a song from it and the idea would spread like the Mexican Wave.  These chants consisted of only four to five lines and were repeated over and over again throughout a match. 

At the end of the day, the same tunes were used by all clubs and the words subtly changed.  Sad to say, over the years the songs had tended to become more abusive and irritated many fans.

A Caxirola

A Culture Developed:

During international soccer matches, these football or soccer chants became much rowdier and noisier as flags, blowing instruments, drums, maracas, cymbals and in the last World Cup, vuvuzelas (special trumpets - image above) were used to encourage a carnival atmosphere. This year's 2014 world cup in Brazil would feature the caxirola (wazzat?) Ah, but that's another posting...

Chants have become part of the culture that is football today as they keep the players energized, determined and goal hungry; pumping adrenalin and bursting to win. Just like our Kallang Roar in Singapore a long time ago. BTW, with our new stadium opening soon, can we ever get back the Roar?

Enjoy the games on TV during FIFA World Cup Brazil, 2014.  We Are One, Ole Ola!

The Routers - Let's Go (Pony) - 1962

 Video by nebroskomusic

The Routers

Hand Clapping Chants

Remember the song?  One of the most recognizable hand clapping chants in UK football in the 1960s were composed by an American group from  Illinois.  Two brothers wrote, Let's Go, for the guitar pop group The Routers. It was an international hit and very successful in Singapore, played by our bands during stage performances then.
 

😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

Latest News: 

14th June, 2014:
Singaporeans are watching World Cup Brasil 2014, not from their home but from the comforts of the Community Clubs all around the island. And it's free and on large screens too.

"We can enjoy the games together with our neighbors and cheer as spectators, rather than watching alone at home," remarked a soccer enthusiast.

Probably most UK football fans would be surprised to learn that one of the most instantly recognisable hand-clapping chants heard in England’s soccer grounds during the 1960s and 1970s was created fifty years ago by two brothers born in rural Illinois, Lanny and Robert Duncan.
The brothers wro
- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/ace-records-releases-roundup-reviewed-ian-johnston/#sthash.Ha5oNugY.dpuf

Probably most UK football fans would be surprised to learn that one of the most instantly recognisable hand-clapping chants heard in England’s soccer grounds during the 1960s and 1970s was created fifty years ago by two brothers born in rural Illinois, Lanny and Robert Duncan.
The brothers wro
- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/ace-records-releases-roundup-reviewed-ian-johnston/#sthash.Ha5oNugY.dpuf

Probably most UK football fans would be surprised to learn that one of the most instantly recognisable hand-clapping chants heard in England’s soccer grounds during the 1960s and 1970s was created fifty years ago by two brothers born in rural Illinois, Lanny and Robert Duncan.
The brothers wro
- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/ace-records-releases-roundup-reviewed-ian-johnston/#sthash.Ha5oNugY.dpuf