My way/We are Southampton

Better then the **** I just heard Everton play...

 

Second Stain

This is a really sensible and intelligent post. I think that a lot of the tunes football teams come out to does have some cultural significance (I can't quite remember how the theme from "Z-cars" became associated with Everton) hence the reason why a version of "When the Saints" always seems appropriate. This tune was purely a gospel number and I think it was Louis Armstrong who first appreciated it's possibility as a jazz vehicle as late as 1936 why which time there had already been a recording legacy with jazz for 19 years. Unfortunately, it seemed to garner more credentials in the repertoire of Trad bands in the 50's and 60's which is why most serious jazz fans tend to shun this tune because of it's associations.

I am very curious about the notion of a particular music being identified as the "soul of a football fan." Iconic tunes do often come from blues or R n' B because this music is so strong and there is a very powerful working class identity with this music even if this might not necessarily be a British Working Class identity. Anything too familiar or "commercial" will never have the right level of credibility and I totally concur with your comments.

The was a study about twenty years ago regarding chants and music in football stadia which looked at the musical structure of the tunes / chants favoured by football fans and the conclusions were quite interesting regarding the tendency to prefer particular musical intervals as well as the type of harmony (unwittingly) employed. The weirdest thing is the Southampton "Strawberry grower" song which incorporates the opening strains of a tune by 1920's hokum blues artist Georgia Tom Dorsey called "Beedle-um-dum." I think he also went by another name when he recorded blues material (usually full of sexually explicit lyrics and innuendo and in the company with Tampa Red) ) whilst also having a career as one of the most successful composers in gospel. The connection with the Southampton tune must either be coincidence or maybe a connection to the city's role as a port across the Atlantic and the first stopping off point for many black musicians between the 20's and 50's. It would be fascinating if anyone else on this board could shine a light on this issue.

 

Perhaps one day, the Northam could have a choir lesson at half time, as I find the modulation in Liebherr Wonderland annoying. Why is the "Walking along, singing our song" line in a different key from the lines before and after it? Perhaps the Gentleman of the Northam need tighter jeans as the line should a third higher than it is sung at present. Or they could leave that line to the Ladies?

 

I think Kylie with "I should be so lucky" would be both catchy and appropriate.

 

It has always intrigued me slightly that football crowds are notorious for singing songs at anything upto a whole note out of key. Usually lower. I once thought it had something to do with the Doppler Effect [honest, I even spent all of 20 minutes reading up on it to see it my thought had any basis in fact - it hadn't]. But really I think it just comes down to it that many people who sing in crowds are just tone deaf and can't carry a tune properly. So while half of the crowd are ok, and belt out a song pretty much in tune, there is an undercurrent of tone deaf people dragging the overall sound down so that the whole thing sounds slightly flat. Of course, I can't account for one line only being out, unless it's the simple bit where the tone deaf people chime in too.

I seem to remember several years ago that, in a study throughout the UK, Saints fans were the most 'in tune' of all football supporters. When Southampton FC are the best at so few things you cling to these little victories.

 

Everyone around me (block 9) hates it with a passion. It's embarrassing, dirge-like and should be confined to the bin asap. We've got a song. Why not play that? The whole ground singing "Oh when the Saints" would be an epic way to start each game

 

Not a bad shout- we already have a Jazz band on site every game. How hard could it be to organise? Everyone knows the words and does sing it in tune. Could be a thing.

 

I would be more in favour of "spinning around" but I think we would need the video on the big screens every week to, er, remind me of the words...

 

No! Don't put the words up on the screen! Other fans would rip the piss!

 

I've changed my mind about the pub

 

Or "Do the Cucomotion"

Or "Spinning Around"

Or "Can't get you out of my head"

Or "Virgil Van Dijk he's got a new bike" **



** Kylie hasn't released this last one yet, but we're working on it. It's the only song I've ever written.

 

Ok then, just on the screen above the Northam. I know the Northam won't see it, but they make less noise than the Itchen these days, so no great loss.
*gets popcorn*

 

It is not going anywhere, I was sitting in the Itchen centre stand about 4 rows from Les Reed a couple of games ago and he was REALLY singing along to it.

 

Is it Shane Long singing it?
For some reason I thought the players had a big hand in it creatively.

 

They did

https://southamptonfc.com/news/2016-12-10/we-are-southampton-video-song-southampton-players

 

Because when it is sung about 20 times per game, every week during the season, it might be possible to have an alternative to sing, otherwise it might get a bit stale. Anyone thought that the players might like to hear something else as well, to inspire them.?

 

Oh I thought that was what the booing was meant to do......

 

The average Kylie fan is male, over 55 and posts on this forum!

 

To be honest I thought the little snippet we first saw of Long singing the original version acoustic practically improv was better than the heavily produced version we ended up with. There was potential there to have something unique, fun and upbeat, but it ended up being stale and out of place. Or cringe as the kids say these days.