Jump to content

Supporters and Song Stealing: An American Tale


  • Please log in to reply
49 replies to this topic

#1
aTrayne

aTrayne

    First Team

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 540 posts
  • Interests:...association football, tennis, skiing, indie music, culturejamming.
  • Supports:RBNY Metros, Celtic FC
http://www.bigsoccer...is-listen-here/

Used to be, you could just show up and start singing, and everyone around you would join in and praise your creativity and genius. But now that the league is popular, you have more established groups with established chants, and it’s tempting to stay with a set list.

So I’m all in favor of new chants, as long as we realize there’s always room for new chants. The set list should always be growing.


definitely in line with some of the sentiments expressed here. also funny was this tongue-in-cheek suggestion:

Therefore, I suggest the Supporters Song Draft. Each supporters group will participate in a random draw, and then use draft picks to choose which songs will be theirs. Groups will be able to trade picks, release songs, and make “discovery picks,” like DC United did with Andy Williams way back when. If you don’t get good songs in the draft? Well, scout the world for songs you can “sign,” or come up with them in your “homegrown signings.” Go to reserve games and try out potential new additions.


But in all seriousness, what can we do about the problem? I agree with Loney that singing and chanting don't seem to emerge as spontaneous or organic expressions of the masses as determined by the ebb and flow of the game. We seem to be just as guilty of any of following a set list. Is the culture of the South Ward such that it's impossible to change the status quo?

It seems like the majority of people are only willing to pick up a song if the capos start it. And no matter how easy and uncomplicated they are, rarely do songs from the outer sections seem to get picked up by the masses in the middle, like when the GSS tries "Hey Jude" and most everyone ignores it...it's so simple and catchy I don't see why everyone doesn't join in, but no one jumps in unless the people front and center are on board.

I dont even know what kind of point I'm really trying to make, other than asking if there's anything we can do to make things better. Since it's December, I figure now is as good as time as any to bring it up.
RedBull gives you wings...and the wings given to the RBNY marketing/PR team were from a Dodo bird.

RedBull on our chests, Metro in our hearts

#2
Grimnitz

Grimnitz

    First Team

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,630 posts
  • Location:Harlem
  • Supports:RBNY, Hertha BSC, FC Harlem
Welcome to World Football. It happens everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” immediately registers as Liverpool, but you will hear it in Gelsenkirchen too. It all starts with “Hey lets do it like these guys here” followed by a youtube link, and everyone pats themselves on the back about how clever and original they are for thinking of it.

Coming up with new stuff is hard. Just like taking a picture, a forced pose always looks forced. Candid shots have much better impact. Same with songs, if it just flows, it stays… just ask Brent. But if it ain’t flowing, you stick with the formula of known melodies and “strike a pose” til that magic “one shoe” moment.
"What do I have to do to get you into my van?"~Konrad

“Sellouts are extremely important to us for what we're trying to start here.”-Chris Heck
http://www.facebook.com/VikingArmySC

#3
MetroSquard

MetroSquard

    ain't nuttin to fcuk wit

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 3,844 posts
  • Location:Dirtee Jerzee
  • Supports:NY Red Bulls, USA

But in all seriousness, what can we do about the problem? I agree with Loney that singing and chanting don't seem to emerge as spontaneous or organic expressions of the masses as determined by the ebb and flow of the game. We seem to be just as guilty of any of following a set list. Is the culture of the South Ward such that it's impossible to change the status quo?

"Sing what we sing or sit elsewhere" is the mentality right now. I think the last chant to start organically was "One Shoe".

#4
Did I Do That?

Did I Do That?

    Dir. of Football Operations

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 6,747 posts
It's difficult because I understand why the songs are kept general, but the people in the back aren't going to catch on and start singing if you use the same songs for 100 years. There is a definitely a "no suggestions from outside the front 2 rows" bias.

#5
onionsack

onionsack

    Dir. of Football Operations

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 10,765 posts
  • Location:New York CIty
  • Supports:New York Cosmos
I think fan groups have gotten too focused on "singing for 90" that they forget that things shouldn't be forced. Songs for the situation or about a player when he does something great are lost these days.

Granted, it was easier back in the days of smaller sections to have that organic element.

Add to that the current situation, at least here, where people are more interested in forming splinter cells of their own than using their talnets to move the collective forward...which inevidably leads to power struggles and too may chiefs and not enough indians.

My advice, drop the "Sing for 90" mentality and sing often but about the game in front of you with some good long songs here and there. combine the existing groups into a new group with joint leadership that will operate under the same set of rules and expections as a condition to be in the South Ward. Those that want to do their own thing can find their way into a seperate section of the stadium.

Unity has to be generated by ONE voice not 4-6 voices demanded they all say the same thing.
RED BULL OUT!!! - True Soccer fans in NY since 2006

#6
moonyock

moonyock

    Reserve Team

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 213 posts
  • Location:609!!!
  • Supports:RBNY
hey jude sucks.

It's all a bunch of BS and never will be what you want it to be.

I agree with Anthony on this one. Drop the sing for 90, go have some fun.

Sing songs about the game, and maybe even one about the players for once. When's the last time anyone did that? Clint and his magic hat?

Maybe then things will get better.

TRUE BELIEVERS ALL THE WAY!
 


#7
RedBullScouse

RedBullScouse

    Dir. of Football Operations

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 19,798 posts
  • Supports:Irresistable Mermaids/Liverpool/RU

...I agree with Anthony on this one. Drop the sing for 90, go have some fun.

Sing songs about the game, and maybe even one about the players for once. When's the last time anyone did that? Clint and his magic hat?.

I hestitate to be critical of anything the SouthWard does, because I have massive respect for the passion and the effort, but I have to agree on this. Its gotten a bit too scripted, and the singing seems to have less and less to do with what is actually happening on the field.

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Iron Mike

 

Bitch covered my plaid?
The sorrow inside me grows.
I need my plaid pitch.

"It goes without saying that when things don't go your way they just don't go your way. " - JCO

"He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he can't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right.”
George Best, on David Beckham


#8
JayDelight729

JayDelight729

    Dir. of Football Operations

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 17,017 posts
  • Location:The Old El Pastor Parking Lot
  • Supports:Metro
Luke Rodgers songs persisted throughout the South Ward each match he played.

"You got Reamed" after any decent Ream play.

These things existed... just want them in more quantity.

"Obviously, I want to make a living (in soccer), to say the least," he said. "There's so much you can accomplish in the soccer world, and right now I'm focused on having a good season with the Red Bulls. Ultimately, our goal is to win the MLS Cup, and I see no reason why we can't." - #4 Tyler Adams


#9
eightyhoursaway

eightyhoursaway

    Reserve Team

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 202 posts
  • Location:Waterford City boi
  • Supports:RBNY, Celtic

Luke Rodgers songs persisted throughout the South Ward each match he played.

"You got Reamed" after any decent Ream play.

These things existed... just want them in more quantity.



to add to this, we have the ballouchy song now. granted it's sung to make fun of him, but it's still a song about a specific player.
"What these players have to realize, is that when you put on the Celtic jersey you're not playing for a football team, you're playing for a community and a cause" - Tommy Burns


#10
RedBullScouse

RedBullScouse

    Dir. of Football Operations

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 19,798 posts
  • Supports:Irresistable Mermaids/Liverpool/RU

Luke Rodgers songs persisted throughout the South Ward each match he played.

"You got Reamed" after any decent Ream play.

These things existed... just want them in more quantity.

+1

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Iron Mike

 

Bitch covered my plaid?
The sorrow inside me grows.
I need my plaid pitch.

"It goes without saying that when things don't go your way they just don't go your way. " - JCO

"He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he can't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right.”
George Best, on David Beckham


#11
BlancDaBody

BlancDaBody

    First Team

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,362 posts
  • Location:Bronx, NY
  • Supports:RBNY, Coventry City, USMNT

Luke Rodgers songs persisted throughout the South Ward each match he played.

"You got Reamed" after any decent Ream play.

These things existed... just want them in more quantity.


+2

I hear player specific chants during each game, but it seems like the same people attempting to do them. They almost never catch on unless its about Luke Rodgers.

And seriously, can we chill with the "WOAH...WOAH!" chant when we score a goal for one second so that we can all belt out the goal scorer's last name? It seems like we're always doing that when the PA is looking to us to be congratulating the player - and we're still off in lala land doing our own thing.
"I'm Thierry Henry, BITCH!"
"I'M STRONG!" - Thierry Henry

#12
Did I Do That?

Did I Do That?

    Dir. of Football Operations

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 6,747 posts

And seriously, can we chill with the "WOAH...WOAH!" chant when we score a goal for one second so that we can all belt out the goal scorer's last name? It seems like we're always doing that when the PA is looking to us to be congratulating the player - and we're still off in lala land doing our own thing.

Agree with this. Any chance of being spontaneous (using the scoring player's name) goes out the window.

#13
head_hunter

head_hunter

    First Team

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 759 posts
  • Supports:USMNT, RBNY, Everton FC

Henry is the bestest

#14
Eleazar

Eleazar

    One who helps God

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 23,966 posts
  • Location:New York City
  • Interests:Metro, the USMNT and Boston College Athletics
  • Supports:METRO
Well, a player's name chant after the goal would be nice and all, but the WOAAAH WOAAAH usually starts up organically from the center near the drums in 101. Very rare that I'd start that up after a goal when I was on the perch.

If folks are so amped about that, it's better to not complain. Instead stand in the center of the section you're in and be with the core of singers. You'd have a bigger say in what is sung, I'll tell you that much. It's usually where the perch guy looks to first for songs, not the side and definitely not the back of the section.

Better yet, do a shift on the perch. Then you'll see what you're dealing with. So if you're standing there with a beer in your hand and EXPECT songs to be done, or if you'd rather just chill off to the side rather than stand in the middle or be on the perch...

RIP Guillermo Romulo, Alexander Francis Orig, Celenio Eleazar, and my Mom, Resurreccion Eleazar.

 

RIP Cesar Castello, Mike Vallo, Glenn Stampiglia, Bob Paquette, and Warren Lee

 

 

 


#15
C.O.Jones

C.O.Jones

    First Team

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,028 posts
  • Supports:CF Cadiz
Glad this topic surfaced. I've been layed up this week recouping from knee surgery--bored out of my mind--- and I've been thinking about this topic.
Song stealing will always happen. One thing we can do as a group is to focus on using local musicians as a base to start new songs. That way when KC (or especially Seattle) steal something we started from say The Beastie Boys, Agnostic Front, Ramones, or another group from the Tri State Area, they'll look silly. I don't think you'll ever see LA sings any songs from east Coast rappers (I could be wrong though).

Don't know if this one has ever been tried, from the Beastie Boys "Open Letter to NYC" The chorus speaks for the Southward: our area, and our cultural makeup (well we can sub in a NJ area to represent NJ).
Here's a link, chorus starts at 36 seconds....
video:

"Brooklyn Bronx, Queens, And Staten, from THE IRONBOUND to the top of Manhatten...Asian, Mddle Eastern and Latin, black, white, you make it happen".

Subbing Ironbound for "the Battery"

Easy to pick up, has a catchy beat to it.




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users