Football chant: Difference between revisions

A '''football chant''' or '''terrace chant''' is a form of vocalisation performed by supporters of [[association football]], typically during football matches. Football chanting is an expression of collective identity, most often used by fans to express their pride in the team they support, or to encourage the home teamthem, and they may be sung to celebrate a particular player or manager. Fans may also use football chants to slight the opposition, and many fans sing songs about their club [[sports rivalry|rivals]], even when they are not playing them. Sometimes the chants are spontaneous reactions to events on the pitch.

Football chants can be simple, consisting of a few loud shouts or spoken words, but more often they are short lines of lyrics and sometimes longer songs. They are typically performed repetitively, sometimes accompanied by handclapping, but occasionally they may be more elaborate involving musical instruments, props or choreographed routines. They are often adaptations of popular songs, using their tunes as the basis of the chants, but some are original.

Football chants are known to have been used by fans from the late 19th century onwards, but developed into the current popular forms in the 1960s. Football chants can be historic, dating back as early as the formation of the club popularly sung down the years and considered the anthems for these clubs. They may also be popular for only a relatively short time, with new chants being constantly created and discarded. The tradition of football chants vary from country to country and team to team, but some chants are common to many clubs and popular internationally. Football chants may be considered one of the last remaining sources of an oral [[Folk music|folk song]] tradition.<ref>Chris Roberts, ''Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind Rhym''e, Thorndike Press, 2006 ({{ISBN|0786285176}}) {{Page needed|date=April 2022}}</ref>

Football fans' vocalisations came in the forms of cries, chants and songs in the 19th century. [[Battle cry|War cries]] were known to have been used by football fans from the 1880s onwards, with the earliest recorded in Scotland after the [[Scottish Cup]] final of [[1886–87 Scottish Cup|1887]].<ref name=Nannestad /> The first known song that references football, "The Dooley Fitba' Club" later known as "[[Football Crazy|'Fitba' Crazy]]", was also written in the 1880s by James Curran, although it was intended for the [[music hall]] rather than the terrace.<ref name=Nannestad /> It was also recorded in the 1890s that [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] fans had adopted a music hall song, the "Rowdy Dowdy Boys", while [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] fans sang a "Yi! Yi! Yi!" chant based on a war cry.<ref>{{cite book|last=Russell|first=David|date=1997|title=Football and the English: a social history of association football in England, 1863–1995|publisher=Carnegie|isbn=978-1859360385|pages=[https://archive.org/details/footballenglishs0000russ/page/58 58–59]|url=https://archive.org/details/footballenglishs0000russ/page/58}}</ref><ref name=Nannestad>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QLpYCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA30 |title=Sport, Music, Identities|editor= Anthony Bateman |pages=30–31 |chapter='Bubbles', 'Abe my boy' and 'the Fowler war cry': singing at the Vetch Field in the 1920s|first=Ian |last=Nannestad |year= 2016|isbn=978-1315763149|publisher=Routledge}}</ref> [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] fans were reported to have chanted "We've won the cup before – many a time" before their [[1891 FA Cup Final]] match against [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]. Composer Sir [[Edward Elgar]] wrote a football song in honour of the [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] striker, [[Billy Malpass]], after watching a match in February 1898 between Wolves and [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]. However, the anthem he wrote, "He Banged The Leather For Goal", never caught on among fans on the terrace.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8026215/Sir-Edward-Elgar-wrote-football-chant-along-with-his-classical-music.html |title=Sir Edward Elgar wrote football chant along with his classical music |first=Richard|last= Alleyne|date= 26 September 2010|work=The Telegraph }}</ref>

The oldest football song in the world that is still in use today may be "[[On the Ball, City]]", a song believed to have been composed in the 1890s by Albert T Smith, who became a director of [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] in 1905.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/06/the-joy-of-six-football-chants |title=The Joy of Six: football chants |first1=Paul |last1=Doyle |first2= Barry |last2=Glendenning |work=The Guardian |date= 6 May 2016}}</ref> The song was adopted by fans of the club and it is still sung by Norwich's fans.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.canaries.co.uk/club/history/| title=Club history| publisher=Norwich City F.C.| access-date=3 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420215354/http://www.canaries.co.uk/club/history/| archive-date=20 April 2017| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=p24>{{cite book | last = Eastwood | first = John |author2=Mike Davage | title = Canary Citizens | publisher = Almeida Books | year = 1986 | isbn = 0711720207 | pages = 24 }}</ref> Such club song may have its origin in the public school system, while others have links with working-class music hall.<ref name=Nannestad /> Other early football chants still sung today include "Pompey Chimes" or "Play up, Pompey" sung by [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] fans since the 1920s (a form of the chant is believed to have been sung at [[Fratton Park]] in 1899, therefore it is arguably older than "On the Ball, City"),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://familyfellows.com/pompey-songs-book.htm |title=Sing Your Hearts Out for the Lads |work=Family Fellows |author1=Brian Fellows |author2=William Fellows }}</ref> and "[[Blaydon Races]]", a [[Geordie]] folk song from 1862, which was adopted by [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] fans in the 1930s.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Hoqp2xO7OEC&pg=PT61 |title=A History of Football in 100 Objects |first= Gavin|last= Mortimer |publisher=Profile Books|date= 2012|isbn=978-1781250617 }}</ref> Some of the songs sung at football ground by the 1920s were modified from popular music hall songs, for example "Kick, Kick, Kick, Kick, Kick it" from "Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken" and "Keep the Forwards Scoring" from "[[Keep the Home Fires Burning (1914 song)|Keep the Home Fires Burning]]".<ref name=cox>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKbb02bg6zYC&pg=PA212 |pages=211–212|title=Encyclopedia of British Football |editor= Richard William Cox |editor2=Dave Russell |editor3=Wray Vamplew |publisher=Routledge|year= 2002|isbn= 978-0714652498 }}</ref> Chants that referenced players were also heard on the terrace; for example, "Give it to Ballie" chanted by [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea]] fans in reference to a player name Billy Ball who played for the club in 1912-1920.<ref name=Nannestad />

Chants became more extensive in the 1960s, and popular songs became increasingly common as the basis of chants as fans adapted these songs to reflect situations and events relevant to them. Chanting the name of the team, chants for players and managers started to become prevalent.<ref name="luhrs">{{cite web |url=http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/12799/1/489131.pdf |title=Football Chants and the Continuity of the Blason Populaire Tradition|first=Joanne|last= Luhrs | pages=51–52 }}</ref> Liverpool supporters, particularly those on the [[Spion Kop (stadiums)|Kop]], were known for modifying songs in the early 1960s to suit their own purposes, and this practice quickly spread to fans of other clubs who created their own versions after hearing these chants.<ref name=morris>{{cite book|last= Morris|first= Desmond|author-link=Desmond Morris|date= 1981|title= The Soccer Tribe|publisher= Cape|isbn= 978-0224019354|chapter= Chapter 43 Tribal Chants |pages= 304–315|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/soccertribe0000morr/page/304 |chapter-url-access= registration}}</ref> Repertoire of chants credited to Liverpool fans included the rhythmic clapping based on "[[Let's Go (Pony)|Let's Go]]" by [[The Routers]], the chorus from "[[I Shall Not Be Moved|We Shall Not Be Moved]]",{{sfn|Irwin|2006|pages=165–166}} and "[[When the Saints Go Marching In (sports anthem)|When the Saints Go Marching In]]" used to honour [[Ian St John]], chants which were then also adopted by fans of other clubs.<ref name=morris /> Fans of many clubs now have a large and constantly evolving repertoire of chants in addition to a smaller number of songs closely associated with their club.

A more controversial aspect of this period of change was that abusive chants targeted at rival team or fans also became widespread.<ref name="luhrs"/> These may be taunts and insults aimed at the opposition teams or players to unnerve them, or obscene or slanderous chants targeted at individuals. A sampling of English football chants in the late 1970s found these types of chants to be the most numerous.<ref name=morris /> Threats of violence may also be made to their rivals in chants; although such threats were rarely carried out, fights did occur which, together with increasing level of [[football hooliganism|hooliganism]] in that period, gave these threats a real edge.<ref name=morris /> Some abuses are racial in nature; for example, [[Antisemitism|anti-Semitic]] chants directed at [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] began in the 1960s,<ref name=jc>{{cite web |url=https://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/features/how-tottenham-became-the-jewish-football-team-1.53784 |title=Spurs and the Jews: the how, the why and the when |first1=Martin |last1=Cloake|first2= Alan|last2= Fisher|date=6 October 2016 |work=The Jewish Chronicle |access-date=30 June 2018}}</ref> also against the Argentine club [[Club Atlético Atlanta|Atlanta]] (commonly heard in the 1960s but may have begun as early as the 1940s),<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zn-WBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA145 |title= Fútbol, Jews, and the Making of Argentina |first= Raanan |last=Rein|publisher= Stanford University Press |date= 2014|isbn= 978-0804793414 |pages=145–146 }}</ref> and against the Dutch club [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i21W_KN_iUMC&pg=PA196 |title=Understanding Football Hooliganism: A Comparison of Six Western European Football Clubs|first= Ramón|last= Spaaij |pages=196–197 | publisher=Vossiuspers UvA|date= 2014|isbn= 978-0804793049}}</ref> Racist insults directed at black players began to be heard in the 1970s and 1980s in England and Spain when black players started appearing in their leagues in increasing numbers.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8TQlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150|title=Fan Culture in European Football and the Influence of Left Wing Ideology |editor=Peter Kennedy |editor2=David Kennedy |pages=150–151 |isbn=978-1351668354|date= 2014 |publisher= Routledge }}</ref> Concerns over the abusive nature of some of these chants later led to measures in various countries to control them, for example, the British government made [[Racism in association football|racist]] and indecent chants an offence in the UK in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/19/section/3 |title=Football (Offences) Act 1991 |work=legislation.gov.uk }}</ref> In Italy, the [[Mancino law]] was used to prosecute fans for inciting racism.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.varesenews.it/2015/05/racist-chants-against-boateng-pro-patria-fans-acquitted-on-appeal/376209/ |title=Racist chants against Boateng, Pro Patria fans acquitted on appeal |date=30 May 2015 |work=VareseNews }}</ref> Despite efforts to stop them, some chants remain an issue around the world, such as the "''Eh puto''" chant used by Mexican fans,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://remezcla.com/features/sports/mexico-puto-chant-fifa/ |title=Mexico's "Puto" Chant Won't Ever Go Away, No Matter What FIFA Does |first=Gustavo |last=Arellano |work= Remezcla |date=9 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/measures-to-stop-fans-chanting-eh-puto/ |title=Soccer authorities plan measures to stop fans chanting 'Eh puto' |date=21 September 2019 |work=Mexico News Daily }}</ref> and racist chants in many countries.<ref name="nytimes chants">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/sports/soccer/romelu-lukaku-inter-italy-racism.html |title=When the Monkey Chants Are for You: A Soccer Star's View of Racist Abuse |work=The New York Times |first=Rory |last=Smith |date= 22 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50212951 |title=Bulgaria fans' racism: Racist abuse of England players leads to stadium ban |work=BBC |date=29 October 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/italy-footballer-mario-balotelli-threatens-to-quit-match-after-racist-chants/a-51099367 |title=Italy footballer Mario Balotelli threatens to quit match after racist chants |date=3 November 2019 |work=DW}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ipsnews.net/2003/03/argentina-bolivian-immigrants-complain-of-racist-football-chants/ |title=ARGENTINA: Bolivian Immigrants Complain of Racist Football Chants |first= Marcela |last=Valente |work=IPS News Agency }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/02/player-walks-off-peru-racist-abuse-fans |title=Player walks off pitch in Peru over racist abuse from fans|agency=Reuters |date= 2 March 2015 |vianewspaper=The Guardian }}</ref>

As the sport of football spread to other countries, so did its associated fan culture of football chants. Many countries, however, have developed their own tradition of football songs and chants; for example, most Italian clubs have their own official hymns, often written specially for the club by a prominent singer or composer who is a fan of the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goaldentimes.org/football-chants-in-italy/ |title=A Brief History of Football Chants in Italy |first= Tilak|last= Dutta |date= 7 March 2016|work=Goalden Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/05/serie-a-anthems-official-songs-of-all-20-top-flight-clubs/ |title=Serie A Anthems: Official Songs of All 20 Top-flight Clubs|work=Forza Italian Football |date=5 May 2016}}</ref> Many countries also have football chants dating from the early part of the 20th century,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kajahlsved.com/2015/11/16/heja-grabbar-friskt-humor-det-ar-det-som-susen-gor/ |title=Heja grabbar, friskt humör, det är det som susen gör!|work= Musik, sport & allt där emellan |date=16 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal= Literatura y Lingüística|url=https://scielowww.conicytredalyc.clorg/scielopdf/352/35201003.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-58111997001000003pdf |title=Las voces del fútbol. Análisis del discurso y cantos de cancha|first= Lelia Mabel |last=Gándara|year = 1997|doi=10.4067/S0716-58111997001000003 |volume=10|issue = 10|pages= 43–66 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and clubs such as [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] may have an official club song as early as 1903.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.es/futbol/historias-eurosport-el-curioso-origen-de-las-mocitas-madrilenas-y-otras-canciones-del-clasico_sto7167864/story.shtml |title=El curioso origen del himno de las mocitas madrileñas, en historias Eurosport|work=Eurosport |lang=es |date=2 March 2019 |first=José Manuel|last=Antequera }}</ref> Football chants created in different countries may be specific to the local culture. Hand-clapping chants were popular in South American countries such as Brazil before it spread to other countries.<ref name=morris /> Some chants originated from other sports; for example, the "two, four, six, eight!" chant that was used for sports in the United States from the early 20th century was adopted by football fans in the UK in the 1950s.<ref name=cox /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/06/2-4-6-8-the-history-of-two-four-six-eight-who-do-we-appreciate.html |title=Two, Four, Six, Eight, Who Do We Appreciate? A modern history of childhood, in one postgame cheer |first= Rebecca |last= Onion |date=4 June 2018|work=Slate }}</ref> The "Olé" chant from [[bullfighting]] is believed to be first used in Brazil for [[Garrincha]] in 1958,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/he-had-left-the-ball-behind-the-day-garrincha-gave-ole-to/1w1jfqscn3a1v1n9zdy91icukr |title='He had left the ball behind' – The day Garrincha gave 'Ole' to football|first=Tauan |last=Ambrósio |work=Goal |date=20 September 2018}}</ref> and one version of the "[[Olé, Olé, Olé]]" chant was first heard at a league game in [[Spain]] in 1982,<ref name="yahoo sports">{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/soccer-chants-of-the-brazil-world-cup-explained-221127198.html |title=Soccer chants heard at the Brazil World Cup explained |first=Alex|last= Baker|date=21 June 2014|work=Yahoo Sports}}</ref> while another version quickly spread around Europe in 1986 and became widely popular around the world.<ref name=VRT>{{cite web |url=https://www.vrt.be/nl/over-de-vrt/nieuws/2020/09/30/selah-sue-opent-jubileumreeks-van-belpop/ |title= Canvas brengt jubileumreeks van Belpop |work=VRT |date=30 September 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://focus.knack.be/entertainment/muziek/hoe-wijlen-showbizzproducer-roland-verlooven-de-wereld-aan-een-voetballied-hielp/article-column-921065.html|title=Hoe wijlen showbizzproducer Roland Verlooven de wereld aan een voetballied hielp |date=11 March 2017 |work=Focus }}</ref>

*{{unordered list| Anthems – These are songs that are closely associated with a club, and are commonly sung by fans to express their collective identity. Unlike other types of chants that are variations of widely-used chants, these songs tend to be unique to a particular club.<ref name="luhrs2"/> The best-known example may be "[[You'll Never Walk Alone]]" sung by Liverpool fans, although it has also been adopted by a few other clubs such as Celtic and [[Borussia Dortmund]].<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/noblmdwp-you'll-never-walk-alone-at-borussia-dortmund-429300.jsp |title='You'll Never Walk Alone' at Borussia Dortmund |first=Chris|last= Mayer-Lodge|work=Bundesliga}}</ref> Other notable club anthems include "[[Blue Moon (1934 song)|Blue Moon]]" ([[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]), "[[I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles]]" ([[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]), "[[No one likes us, we don't care]]" ([[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]),<ref name="luhrs2">{{cite web |url=http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/12799/1/489131.pdf |title=Football Chants and the Continuity of the Blason Populaire Tradition|first=Joanne|last= Luhrs | pages=98–99 }}</ref> "[[Stern des Südens]]" ([[Bayern Munich]]), and "[[Cant del Barça]]" ([[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]).<ref>{{cite web |url= https://bleacherreport.com/articles/678665-world-football-listing-the-top-10-football-songs-of-all-time|title=World Football: Listing the Top 10 Football Songs of All Time|first=Mitch |last= Hubble|date=12 May 2011|work=Bleacher Report }}</ref> Some anthems are written specially for the club, for example "[[Marching On Together]]" for [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], and more recently "[[Hala Madrid y nada más]]" for [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/06/02/redone-nets-another-hit-with-real-madrid-soccer-anthem/9882317/ |title=RedOne nets another hit with Real Madrid soccer anthem |first=Edna|last= Gundersen | work=USA TODAY |date=2 June 2014}}</ref> but many are popular songs that for whatever reason have become identified with the club.

Tragedy chanting involves chanting about an opposition club's tragedies or tragic events that happen in their home cities.<ref>{{Cite webnews|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-64796080|title=Liverpool v Manchester United: What is 'tragedy chanting'?|date=4 March 2023|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Instances in English football include exchanges between Manchester United and Leeds United fans,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-man-utd-tragedy-chanting-eradicated-2146479|title=Tragedy chanting is a stain on English football and must be eradicated immediately|first=Daniel|last=Storey|date=13 February 2023|website=inews.co.uk}}</ref> and between Manchester United and Liverpool fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-19663132|title=United and Liverpool fans warned over tragedy chants|date=21 September 2012|viawork=www.bbc.co.ukBBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite webnews|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/04/erik-ten-hag-jurgen-klopp-fans-stop-tragedy-chanting-liverpool-manchester-united|title=Jürgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag united in urging fans to stop 'tragedy chanting'|first=Andy|last=Martin|newspaper=The Observer |date=4 March 2023|via=The Guardian}}</ref> Subjects of the chants have included the [[Munich air disaster]], the [[Heysel Stadium disaster]], the [[Hillsborough disaster]], the [[2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence|murder of two Leeds fans in Istanbul]], the [[Bradford City stadium fire]], the [[2019 English Channel Piper PA-46 crash|death]] of [[Emiliano Sala]], the [[Grenfell Tower fire]], and the [[7 July 2005 London bombings]]. However, some tragedy chants have also spread to international competitions. During the [[2016 UEFA Euro]] in [[France]], English fans began chanting about [[Daesh|ISIS]], which came months after the [[November 2015 Paris attacks]]. During the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022 World Cup]], some English fans began to chant and mock the [[September 11 attacks]] during a match against the United States. Some Mexican fans have also been reported to have chanted [[Osama bin Laden|Osama]] during matches against the United States in the early 2000s.

Some chants are spoken, sometimes accompanied by percussion. These chants may simply consist of the name of the team and/or words of encouragement. The chants may also be in a call-and-response format. For example, [[Chile national football team]] fans will do a routine whereby one group of fans will chant "Chi-Chi-Chi", and another group will respond "Le-Le-Le".<ref name="yahoo sports" /> For the [[Indonesia national football team]] one group of fans will chant "In-Do-Ne-Sia" with an [[air horn]] and hand clap in response. "Garuda Di Dadaku" is sung by fans when Indonesia plays at home.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

"You're Gonna Get Your Fucking Head Kicked In", sometimes pluralised to "You're Gonna Get Your Fucking Heads Kicked In", is a football chant originating in England. It is also used as a case study in [[psychology]] and [[sociology]].<ref name="agg" /><ref>{{cite book |first=Peter E. |last=Marsh |title=Aggro: The Illusion of Violence |year=1978 |page=24 |publisher=J. M. Dent |isbn=978-0460120265}}</ref> The chant is often used as an intimidatory chant towards the opposing fans rather than as an actual threat of violence,<ref>{{cite book |first=Roger |last=Ingham |title=Football Hooliganism: The Wider Context |page=64 |publisher=Inter-Action Inprint |year=1978 |isbn=978-0904571158}}</ref> but there have been a number of occasions when it has led to a fight between fans.<ref name="agg">{{cite book|title=Aggression in the Sports World: A Social Psychological Perspective |url=https://archive.org/details/aggressionsports00russ |url-access=limited |author=Gordon W Russell|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0195189599|year=2008|page=[https://archive.org/details/aggressionsports00russ/page/n44 32]}}</ref> The chant is sometimes used after the opposition have scored. It is now considered to be a dated chant with little current usage in English [[Association football culture|football culture]] despite being in common use in the 1970s and 80s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turnbull |first=Simon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-last-word-how-the-once-beautiful-game-can-get-rid-of-its-snarling-face-2265709.html |title=The Last Word: How the once beautiful game can get rid of its snarling face |work=The Independent |date=10 April 2011 |access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref>

Several football chants are based on [[hymn]]s, with "[[Cwm Rhondda]]" (also known as "Guide me, O thou great redeemer") being one of the most popular tunes to copy. Amongst others, it has spawned the song "[[You're Not Singing Any More|You're not singing anymore!]]",<ref>{{cite journal | last = Caudwell | first =J.C. | title = 'Does your boyfriend know you're here?' The spatiality of homophobia in men's football culture in the UK | journal = Leisure Studies | volume = 30 | issue = 2 | pages = 123–138 | year = 2011 | issn = 0261-4367 | doi = 10.1080/02614367.2010.541481 | s2cid =144386213 }}| access-date =14 February 2012</ref> "We support our local team!", and "I will never be a [[Cardiff Blues|Blue]]!".

Some chants are based on [[spiritual music|spiritual]]s. "[[We shall not be moved]]" and "[[He's Got the Whole World in His Hands]]" are both used by fans. An example of the latter's use was "He's got a pineapple on his head" aimed at [[Jason Lee (footballer)|Jason Lee]] due to his distinctive hairstyle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/953251.stm |title=Keegan's the hair apparent |work=BBC News |date=2 October 2000 |access-date=17 February 2012}}</ref> The song was later popularised by the television show ''[[Fantasy Football League (TV series)|Fantasy Football League]]''.

[[Popular music]] is the most common source of football chants. In the United Kingdom, [[music hall]] songs such as "[[My Old Man (Football)|My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)]]", "[[Knees Up Mother Brown]]", "[[I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles]]", "I Came, I Saw, I Conga'd" and "[[Two Little Boys]]" have long been used as the basis of terrace chants. Popular [[Traditional pop music|standards]] such as "[[Winter Wonderland]]", [[Scott Joplin]]'s "[[The Entertainer (rag)|The Entertainer]]", and the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1958|1958 Eurovision entry]] "[[Volare (song)|Volare]]" are also widely adapted to suit players and managers.<ref name="chiles">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/adrian-chiles-originality-the-key-for-fans-who-always-win-when-theyre-singing-6159926.html |title=Adrian Chiles: Originality the key for fans who always win when they're singing – News & Comment – Football |work=The Independent |date=16 October 2004 |access-date=17 February 2012 |location=London}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The [[Music of Cuba|Cuban]] song "[[Guantanamera]]" became popularly used as a chant in the UK as a version by [[The Sandpipers]] charted soon after the 1966 World Cup; it is commonly sung in a large variety of chants, for example in the form of "There's only one [player's name]", or "You only sing when you're winning".{{sfn|Irwin|2006|pages=16–17}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.1843magazine.com/culture/how-a-cuban-song-became-a-football-favourite |title=How a Cuban song became a football favourite |first=Katia |last=Chorniki |magazine=1843 Magazine|date=14 June 2018 }}</ref> The tune "[[Tom Hark]]" is often played at many stadiums following a goal by the home team and for chants such as "[[Thursday Nights, Channel 5]]", whilst "[[Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)]]" by [[Doris Day]] is generally reserved for matches where the venue of the final is [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].

Music of [[1960s in music|the 1960s]] influenced terrace chants. "[[Ring of Fire (song)|Ring of Fire]]" by [[Johnny Cash]] and "[[That's Amore]]" by [[Dean Martin]] have been used by several sets of fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/johnny-cash/23005 |title=Liverpool team up with Johnny Cash &#124; News |work=NME |date=8 May 2006 |access-date=17 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/2947211.stm | work=BBC News | title=Zamora ready for the big time | date=18 April 2003 | access-date=2 May 2010 | first=Paul | last=Fletcher}}</ref> "[[Lola (song)|Lola]]" by [[The Kinks]], and "[[Hi Ho Silver Lining]]" by [[Jeff Beck]] have been adapted by several clubs – most prolific of these include [[Aston Villa]], [[Sheffield Wednesday]] and [[Wolverhampton Wanderers]].<ref name="indy">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1734013.html|archiveurl=httphttps://archive.today/20130125142603/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1734013.html|url-status=dead|title=Football: The Sweeper|journal= The Independent |location=London |archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref> "[[All You Need Is Love]]", "[[Hey Jude]]" and "[[Yellow Submarine (song)|Yellow Submarine]]" by [[The Beatles]] are often used.<ref name="indy" /><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/irish-fans-no-longer-dreaming-of-a-team-of-gary-breens-82205.html | work=Irish Independent | first=Daniel | last=McDonnell | title=Irish fans no longer dreaming of a team of Gary Breens | date=9 August 2006}}</ref> Songs from musicals have become very popular as football chants, such as "[[Chim Chim Cher-ee]]" from the 1964 musical ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2006/10/12/deportes/1160604007_850215.html |title=Kanu, el marcapasos de la 'Premier' &#124; Edición impresa &#124; EL PAÍS |newspaper=El País |publisher=Elpais.com |date=12 October 2006 |access-date=17 February 2012|last1=Quixano |first1=Jordi }}</ref> Some early songs became popular as football chants later, for example the Venezuelan song "[[Moliendo Café]]" popular in early 1960s first became used as a chant in Argentina in the late 1970s, which spread to Italy as "Dale Cavese" chants in 2006 and then later to clubs around the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/copa90/2016/dec/07/dale-cavese-football-chant-youtube-internet-world |title=Dale Cavese: the football chant that took over the internet and the world |date= 7 December 2016 |work=The Guardian }}</ref>

The emergence of [[funk]] and [[disco]] in the 1970s also made its mark on the terraces with songs such as "[[Go West (song)|Go West]]" by the [[Village People]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-funniest-football-chants-1774361.html?action=gallery&ino=16 | title= The funniest football chants | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Simon | last=Rice | date=19 August 2009}}</ref> and "[[Oops Up Side Your Head]]" by [[The Gap Band]] remaining popular amongst fans. "[[Ain't Nobody]]" by [[Rufus (band)|Rufus]] and [[Chaka Khan]] has been used by Arsenal fans and others. Music popular in the 1980s and 1990s is also used widely. Chants have been based on "[[Just Can't Get Enough (Depeche Mode song)|Just Can't Get Enough]]" by [[Depeche Mode]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Premier League |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8436092/Liverpool-v-Manchester-City-live.html |title=Liverpool v Manchester City: live |work=Telegraph|date= 11 April 2011|access-date=17 February 2012 |location=London}}</ref> "[[Love Will Tear Us Apart]]" by [[Joy Division]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/Observer_Match_Report/0,,-41400,00.html|title=Giggs emphasises gap &#124; Match Reports &#124; guardian.co.uk Football|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]}}</ref> "[[Pop Goes the World]]" by [[Men Without Hats]], the [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] song "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]", "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" by [[Pigbag]] and "[[This Is How It Feels]]" by [[Inspiral Carpets]].<ref name="chiles" /> Other chants have used tunes from on pop songs include "[[Three Lions (song)|Three Lions]]", the official England anthem for [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro '96]] and [[Manic Street Preachers]] song "[[If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weheartfootball.com/2011/07/19/top-5-criminal-footballers-putting-the-laughter-in-manslaughter/ |title=Top 5 Criminal Footballers – Putting the Laughter in Manslaughter « We Heart Football |publisher=Weheartfootball.com |date=19 July 2011 |access-date=17 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004212509/http://weheartfootball.com/2011/07/19/top-5-criminal-footballers-putting-the-laughter-in-manslaughter/ |archive-date=4 October 2011 }}</ref>

More recent releases to have their music appropriated include "[[Seven Nation Army]]" by [[The White Stripes]], which became highly popular across nations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Siegel|first=Alan|title=How The Song "Seven Nation Army" Conquered The Sports World|url=http://deadspin.com/5875933/how-the-song-seven-nation-army-conquered-the-sports-world|work=Deadspin.com|date=13 January 2012 |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> A number of songs became popular in the 2010s, an example being "[[Freed from Desire]]", which is used to celebrate particular players – it was first popularised as "[[Will Grigg]]'s on Fire", then used for others such as "[[Jamie Vardy|Vardy]]'s on Fire" and "[[Antoine Griezmann|Grizi]]'s on Fire".<ref>{{cite news|first= James |last= Whaling |title= Vardy's on fire! Watch England fans adapt Will Grigg chant for Leicester striker |date= 12 June 2016 |newspaper= [[Daily Mirror]] |url= https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/vardys-fire-watch-england-fans-8175728 |access-date= 15 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Yannick |last= Vely |title= Euro 2016: "Griezmann's on Fire ..." |newspaper= [[Paris Match]] |date= 26 June 2016 |access-date= 7 July 2018 |url= http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Sport/Euro-2016-Grizi-s-on-Fire-1004773 |language= fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Callum |last= Davis |title= 'Will Grigg's on Fire!' Fan behind the cult chant given a free Wigan season ticket |date= 17 May 2016 |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/17/will-griggs-on-fire-fan-behind-the-cult-chant-given-a-free-wigan/ |access-date= 30 May 2016}}</ref> An Italian disco song "[[L'estate sta finendo]]" became popular among European clubs such as [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]], [[Juventus F.C.FC|Juventus]], [[FC Porto|Porto]], [[Atlético Madrid]] and others as "Un giorno all'improvviso", later picked up [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] fans, who created their own version as "Allez Allez Allez" for their [[2017–18 UEFA Champions League]] campaign,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Rory|title=How an Italian Disco Hit Became Liverpool's Champions League Anthem|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/sports/soccer/champions-league-liverpool.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=23 May 2018}}</ref> and it then spread to other British clubs in the 2018–2019 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-cardiff-city-fans-singing-16161395 |title=Why Liverpool AND Cardiff City fans are singing the Allez Allez Allez |work=Wales Online |date=21 April 2019 |first=Jon |last=Doel }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/news/spurs-allez-allez-chant-liverpool-16252656 |title=The brilliant new Spurs chant inspired by Man City victory – and Liverpool fans will hate it |first=Rob |last=Guest|date= 9 May 2019 |work=football.london }}</ref> In late 2017, "[[September (Earth, Wind & Fire song)|September]]" by [[Earth, Wind & Fire]] had a big impact in English stadia.<ref>{{cite web|last=MacInnes|first=Paul|title=When a terrace tune goes viral: the hunt for the source of the September chant|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/23/terrace-tunes-viral-source-september-chant|work=The Guardian|date=23 November 2017|access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref> In 2022, fans of [[Tottenham Hotspur]] crafted a chant for [[Dejan Kulusevski]] to the tune of [[ABBA]]'s "[[Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Burton|first=Chris|title=Kulusevski 'Gimme, gimme, gimme' chant: Lyrics & meaning behind Tottenham fan song|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/kulusevski-gimme-gimme-gimme-chant-lyrics-and-meaning-behind-tottenham-fan-song/blt819f59bed25855e2|work=[[Goal.com]]|date=29 April 2022|access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref>

The children's song "[[Ten Green Bottles]]" became "[[Ten German Bombers]]", to the tune of "[[She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain]]," both songs used by English fans to their main rivals, [[Germany]]. The nursery rhyme "[[This Old Man]]" is sung by both supporters of Manchester United and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. The theme"[[Theme from [[Z-Cars]]" has been used in [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]'s [[Goodison Park]] ground since 1962.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/articles/football-anthems/ |title=Football Anthems |work=Football Stadiums }}</ref>