L0311 Liberty Shrimper
Striker
Trends ebb and flow through the decades, as you age you notice this more and more it seems. When I first started attending games in the early to mid eighties the chants from the terracing were quite melodic and largely Christian Hymn based. I don't need to list them, those of a certain vintage will know most if not all of them. These were a staple for the longest time, stretching right the way through the nineties. Why these timeless tunes have been lost is perhaps a nod to the secularisation of society at large...but that's a discussion for another time.
As we progressed through the nineties, more contemporary tunes were thrashed out as they became popular (a mid nineties one that springs to mind as I type is Blur's "All the people", excellently adapted for the Shrimpers singers). As we moved into the new century we started hearing more dance tracks being adopted (insert names on fire, your defence is terrified), these were also very welcome for me as they were upbeat and suited thousands singing in unison.
The current trend, and one for me that has very much out stayed it's welcome, is the monotonous "Follow (insert team name) away" and "We're the (insert team name) boys, making all the noise" with precious little variety thereafter. Most every fanbase is guilty of it right now. I do not know where the "tunes" have been adopted from? In the past this was clear and obvious, and perhaps I'm a middle age grump shouting at the sky...but oh for rousing Chorus of "Southend, Southend, SOUTHEND!" aka Chelsea, hands aloft.
Standing on the atmospheric vacuum of the FGR terrace yesterday I was quite impressed with the small band of home supporters and the relative variety of songs they got through. There was one about Cheltenham. No matter what decade though I think we have always struggled to have a real identity through song. We have nothing involving our nickname as an easy example.
I think TBV have done a superb job since the mid naughties in uniting the fanbase in song, but I guess the lead voices change and promote the current trend. What's my point? I'm not sure there is one. I want to hear some of the old classics come back, but I sadly think they are lost to time as people simply do not hear those tunes in their lives. The hymn based chanting I guess arose because up to a certain point we all sung these in school assembly, maybe even on a Sunday with family.
Whatever the next thing is it can't come quick enough for me.
As we progressed through the nineties, more contemporary tunes were thrashed out as they became popular (a mid nineties one that springs to mind as I type is Blur's "All the people", excellently adapted for the Shrimpers singers). As we moved into the new century we started hearing more dance tracks being adopted (insert names on fire, your defence is terrified), these were also very welcome for me as they were upbeat and suited thousands singing in unison.
The current trend, and one for me that has very much out stayed it's welcome, is the monotonous "Follow (insert team name) away" and "We're the (insert team name) boys, making all the noise" with precious little variety thereafter. Most every fanbase is guilty of it right now. I do not know where the "tunes" have been adopted from? In the past this was clear and obvious, and perhaps I'm a middle age grump shouting at the sky...but oh for rousing Chorus of "Southend, Southend, SOUTHEND!" aka Chelsea, hands aloft.
Standing on the atmospheric vacuum of the FGR terrace yesterday I was quite impressed with the small band of home supporters and the relative variety of songs they got through. There was one about Cheltenham. No matter what decade though I think we have always struggled to have a real identity through song. We have nothing involving our nickname as an easy example.
I think TBV have done a superb job since the mid naughties in uniting the fanbase in song, but I guess the lead voices change and promote the current trend. What's my point? I'm not sure there is one. I want to hear some of the old classics come back, but I sadly think they are lost to time as people simply do not hear those tunes in their lives. The hymn based chanting I guess arose because up to a certain point we all sung these in school assembly, maybe even on a Sunday with family.
Whatever the next thing is it can't come quick enough for me.
