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The last piece of the GWS puzzle is now in place, perhaps the piece that will leave the most lasting legacy.
Jumper designs, club captains, coaches, home grounds – all of these things can come and go – but a club song will be there forever.
GWS has broken with the trend of new teams who often seek out modern sounding songs, and deliberately chosen a song with a sound that has its roots in the past.
The composer of the song, Harry Angus, of the jazzy The Cat Empire makes the important point that a club song has to sound “timeless”, something you cannot get by using a modern sound.
He goes on to talk about the uniquely Australian music genre that is the footy club song, and it’s important to fit into that genre, to have respect for it.
The song’s lyrics open with: “Well there’s a big, big sound…” which is matched by a very big, big band sound, with fat horns that give it an almost burlesque feel.
Harry Angus has succeeded in creating a unique sound and melody that fits in well with the tradition of club songs, although it has to be said that the song takes some getting used to.
The traditional clubs songs that we are all familiar with are generally based on marching band or Broadway songs that all have that unique attribute of inviting large numbers of people to sing along.
The new clubs, starting with the Eagles, and including Freo and Port, tried to introduce a modern sound, but as Harry Angus says, they never quite sound right, and they have no longevity to them.
Adelaide ended up changing their original club song to the more traditional sounding “pride of South Australia”, coincidentally, on the eve of their first premiership, and it was the right move.
Outside of the AFL, the Brumbies have a fantastic club song based on “Click go the shears”, and it too wins in that it’s timeless and it can be sung by large groups of people.
Going back to GWS, I think they have made a good choice with Harry Angus’ composition, but it might take a while for us to get used to it, primarily because we’re unlikely to hear it played for some time to come.
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February 17th 2012 @ 2:08pm
gurudoright said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Ha ha!!!!!
February 17th 2012 @ 2:22pm
Atawhai Drive said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Linda Mottram played it a couple of times on ABC radio this morning, and we’ve also heard it on Fox Sports.
Someone said it would make a perfect song for Cossack dancing.
It was also suggested that Russians will sing the song at the next Eurovision contest.
Keep an ear out for it. It redefines the whole idea of “naff”.
February 17th 2012 @ 2:32pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Hi Atawhai
I had to look up “naff” – my Macquarie describes it as British English meaning inferior or tasteless.
Not sure if you would necessarily describe it as inferior – inferior to what? Sure it’s not as good as the Richmond or Geelong songs, but it’s better than some of the newer songs we’ve had.
I would agree with you that it’s not as good as the Brumbies song.
Is it tasteless? I’m not sure.
February 17th 2012 @ 2:35pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
I take your point about the Cossack motif – some truth in that.
February 17th 2012 @ 2:44pm
Jaceman said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Naff is from the last century as perhaps this song is – a bit too fast for a singalong but Lennon and McCartney were unavailable
February 17th 2012 @ 2:27pm
Jaceman said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/gws-giants-unveil-team-song/story-e6frexwr-1226273245245
For those avid Daily Telegraph watchers, the headline in the printed paper was something like “GWS to hit bum note” and Kylie Gillies (Seven identity) gives it less than a thumbs up. So hardly supportive although on the key 3rd back page..
February 17th 2012 @ 2:35pm
Brett McKay said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
I have to say Catters, in the grand scheme of AFL club songs, it’s not the worst I’ve heard.
But…
Who controls the British Crown,
Who keeps the Metric system down
We do! We do!!
February 17th 2012 @ 2:58pm
Chris said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
And that song won an Emmy nomination!
February 17th 2012 @ 3:06pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
heh, heh – in the great tradition of beer drinking songs!
February 17th 2012 @ 2:47pm
Atawhai Drive said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
True, in the grand scheme of not just AFL club songs but sporting club songs generally, it’s not exactly the worst.
So using The Cattery’s definition of naff, it’s not inferior. Nor is it especially tasteless, in an environment where taste usually takes a holiday anyway.
But taking naff to mean silly, embarrassing, corny and childish _ as I do _ it fits all four.
This is subjective, of course. No doubt someone will like it, just as some people like hearing Rod Stewart murder the Great American Song Book.
The consolation is that we are unlikely to hear it very often in the Giants’ first season.
February 17th 2012 @ 2:51pm
Brett McKay said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
AD, I’ll at least give them credit for making it sound like an AFL club song – it sounds like the song of a club that is 50 or 60 years old, rather than one entering it’s first season…
February 17th 2012 @ 9:34pm
The_Wookie said | February 17th 2012 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
this. a thousand times this.
February 17th 2012 @ 3:11pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
“….in an environment where taste usually takes a holiday anyway.”
What about the operatic grandeur of: We are Geelong….
or the jazz-blues-gospel infused: Oh when the Saints…..
February 17th 2012 @ 7:01pm
Atawhai Drive said | February 17th 2012 @ 7:01pm | Report comment
Touche, TC.
Good taste of the highest order . . .
February 17th 2012 @ 2:49pm
seanoroo said | February 17th 2012 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
I didnt have high hopes based on recent history, but Im impressed it sounds great, fits in the genre of most traditional footy club songs but still got its own flavour, catchy too Ive had “ba da da daa da da” in my head all morning.
February 17th 2012 @ 3:13pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
Analysing clubs songs is an interesting activity.
Why does Tigerland sound so great, even the kids love it, fat horn section and all – why is that? And it’s hard not to sing along to We are the Navy Blues, or at least hum to it in your head.
Who knows the answers to such perplexing questions – but the answers are out there.
February 17th 2012 @ 10:32pm
stabpass said | February 17th 2012 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
Its called the hook line, people make millions of $$$ out of it, its the jingle that gets in your head, its worth finding out about.
February 17th 2012 @ 3:15pm
mds1970 said | February 17th 2012 @ 3:15pm | Report comment
It goes round and around and gets into your brain. I like it.
February 17th 2012 @ 4:50pm
Antonio said | February 17th 2012 @ 4:50pm | Report comment
Better than i first expected, not great but could be a lot worst. Example Port Adelaide’s or West Coast’s club song.
February 17th 2012 @ 5:02pm
The Cattery said | February 17th 2012 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
Ok – it’s slowly starting to grow on me…
February 19th 2012 @ 8:25am
Redb said | February 19th 2012 @ 8:25am | Report comment
like a fungus