Can the English (or anyone else) sing?
Boris Notquitegoodenuff
By Boris Notquitegoodenuff
August 11 2008
A provocative question perhaps - but one that comes to mind as we approach the start of a new season, back in the premiership with all of the excitement of some real contests that we are assured will accompany the match day experience. Let's explore the premise...
Can the English (or anyone else) Sing?
A provocative question perhaps - but one that comes to mind as we approach the start of a new season, back in the premiership with all of the excitement of some real contests that we are assured will accompany the match day experience.
Well we have always prided ourselves on the enthusiasm of the Saints supporters and the special atmosphere that is alleged to exist at Franklin's Gardens on a match day. Really ?
Compared to the walls of sound generated at some rugby league venues and even more soccer venues we are a relatively sober and silent spectator group. The average Franklin's Gardens - Oh Wendy - is a faint if garrulous recitation compared to the same song as performed by St Helens RLFC or even Southampton FC.
To tell the truth (well as I see it) we are complacent about our singing support simply because in most other parts of the English rugby universe it is even more fragmented and hesitant. So we can chant with impunity "One Word no song" to our friends from Leicester, Wasps, Gloucester etc on the very tenuous basis that we have "one song" which we repeat ad nauseam.
In terms of singing support we are the equivalent of the one eyed man in the kingdom of the blind.
However, I have another question which is, do we actually sing ?
I think not. What we do to " Oh Wendy" is to shout it in a vaguely rhythmic manner worthy of a bunch of drunken trainee drill sergeants rather than a choir, amateur or otherwise. Once or twice I have even detected a variation in pitch between one phrase and another.
And I - who used to be a reasonably competent choral singer before fags, beer and age corrupted my vocal cords am as guilty as any other of bellowing rather than singing our iconic anthem. So why do we do this?
Firstly I suspect it is because we want to be heard and are very unsure that sufficient numbers will join in to be heard. I wonder sometimes if we all tried to sing then a greater sound and a better sound would ensue and that would lessen the need for a section of the crowd to shout.
Now I know some don't like it - which is not unusual when others do things better than you do - but Munster do actually sing "The Fields" and it is a pretty impressive sound...Why cant we do something similar?
Even at the Millennium stadium the much vaunted Land of Song struggles to make a sound worthy of the epithet compared to the Hwl of yesteryear. A flaccid rendering of "Hymns and arias" just does not compare to a full throated Cwm Rhonda or Calon Lan.
Are we all just so used to being entertained by electronic means that we are afraid to loose our inhibitions and sing ?
Well I for one fear that if we allow ourselves to settle for the occasional chant as a demonstration of our presence and support then we will get to the stage where as I observed in the recent All Blacks tri- nations games - almost any stoppage in play was marked by loud muzack over the public address system.
The rather special arena that is Franklin's Gardens demands something better than that which we are serving up - singing (or chanting if we must) should be used to support and encourage and not just to applaud .
Next season we are back in the premiership and I for one want everyone to know we are back, especially when they visit our patch. " Come on you Saints " should echo round the ground with one section following another and so on and so on.
Let's make "Oh Wendy" something special again. That is a challenge to others and a source of strength to our own.
Boris Notquitegoodenuff
I agree about the lack of atmosphere at FG having commented on it several times in the past myself. The one eyed man quote is spot on. Rugby Union , for whatever reason, produces crowds, who on teh whole are quite quiet. Also teh choice of song/chant is very limited. We have had a couple of rousing occasions at FG, the Newcastle semi final, the Glos league game. So it can be done. But the crowd need motivation form events on teh pitch to get them going. With the Necastle game the extra time in the bar probably helped, but the team inspired teh crowd with their perfromance from the start. The Glos game got the crowd going after the perceived injustice of losing players after the fighting and the backs against the wall performance of the team got the crowd going.
But get the situation where the team need encouragement and quite often you can hear a pin drop (or individual moaning) rather than a wave of support. Maybe this will change in teh prem when most of the crowd will not be "expecting" a win. Perhaps then they will provide the team with encouragement in defence of their line instead of berrating players for not trying hard enough.
But "singing" ? I personally think it would sound a little odd if the entire crowd actually sang OH Wendy to the actual tune. Just imagine 13600 voices all sounding like Louis Armstrong gayfully singing away. It would seem as if you had strayed into some warped gospel service rather than a rugby match. No, to paraphrase the Robin Williams character in Good Morning Vietnam... You can chant anything you want....just chant it LOUD !!
Saint til I die
Having said that I can't come up with any positive suggestions for making more and better co-ordinated noise. Mind you the FG roar can be heard for many a mile when we really let rip !
Not a classic in terms of performance quality when sung by Saints fans, a bit boring and repetitive by the time you get into the final quarter of the match and quite likely to be hijacked by French opposition fans for their own nefarious purposes.
But.....but......we all know the tune and the words and it sure as hell gets right up the nasal passages of opposition supporters and, quite possibly, the other 15 on the paddock.
Maybe we do need cheerleaders after all...
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Saint til I die
Sometimes I am very loud. Sometimes I am really quite quiet.
Whichever it is, - and I sometimes don't know until the game is underway which it is going to be - no money, exhortations, berations, bribery or choralemeisters prodding me with violin bows is going to make any difference.
All I know is, I pays me money and I know which team I support. Having just bought a rather nice new season shirt there should be no doubt on days when I choose to be quiet.
I f I wanted to go to Butlins - I would go to Butlins...
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
dej
PS. My not feeling very well turned out to be a bit more serious on return to the UK. Some regulars may have been disappointed that my contributions, some tongue in cheek, some serious, have been absent. Its because I have been in hospital and recuperating from a major operation to clear fluid and gunge from one of my lungs.
But now you've let the cat out the bag that some of your postings are tongue in cheek things will never quite be the same here again. Though of course that might be the medication talking...
I just wish we could sing Wendy at a less dirge like pace and keep it going for longer.
I also think we need to expand the repertoire. This will however require C block to accept others can lead off. I particularly like "Whats that coming over the hill - is it a Tongan - Is it a Tongan"
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
In answer to the thread question "Can the English Sing" answer NO.
Neither can most RU crowds,and as irritating as those blydi drums are at least Oirish have a go at the Fields. Even if only two of them actually know the words.
I did try to get a Wuss version going entitled "The Fields of Ross on Wye" but there's no hope, it's an English crowd look you.
See you guys on the 7th,looking forward to more visits to what is still the best ground and equal-best crowd in the GP.
But wait till you see our new East Stand, and remember, Wuss have always won at FG.
See you soon.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Quote:Tim
Now that is a tradition wehope toAre determined to end TT.
As far as singing goes, It's just occured to me that we've now got so many Taffs I may well start with Delilah next time. Even if the crowd doesn't join in the team might.