“New Songs, We Really Need New Songs”

“New Songs, We Really Need New Songs”

It’s a classic chicken and egg situation. What comes first, good results leading to better support or good support leading to better results? It’s probably safe to say that neither side of that equation is being met for Bournemouth fans after one point in 3 League matches & a narrow EFL Cup victory. Whilst a clear case can be made for better days on the pitch, once key players arise from the treatment table, the same cannot be said about our off-field support.

Much has been said about the new regime – some good, some bad. Dissatisfaction has been voiced in some quarters about the emphasis on hospitality & its impact on “ordinary” supporters but few would dispute that, this season, Dean Court has not been a seething cauldron of noise & hostility which raises up our team and sends opponents scurrying for the exits at the earliest opportunity.

So why is this? To paraphrase Shakespeare, “If music be the food of love…”, then singing may be the key to producing better performances & results on the pitch. Dean Court has been particularly quiet this season & our one Premier League away fixture at Anfield was also a muted affair. Why aren’t AFCB fans singing very much anymore?

“I’ve always thought a significant number of our songs are about players rather than the club”

In truth, how many songs do we really have now and how many of those have not been kicking around for a number of seasons? This may be my perception and may also be an observation that could be levelled at other clubs but I’ve always thought a significant number of our songs are about players rather than the club. This is not, in itself, a problem and must be great for players. Solanke, Brooks, Billing & Anthony could claim to have their own ditties. Others may also have their own tune but I don’t think we can count a repetitive chant of “Neto” as a chart-topper.

The problem with this is that when a player leaves, the song goes with them. The departures of Jeff, Jordan Zemura & Mark Travers reduced the Cherries playlist and, although it was only sung for about 6 games each season before a 6 month hiatus ensued, Junior Stanislas had his own, unique refrain. Whisper it quietly but even Scott Parker and Gary O’Neil could lay claim to their own chant. Compare that with how many new players, even those who joined us for the second half of last season, are hearing their names sung from the terraces. I’ll leave that for you to answer in case I’ve missed any but the answer is precious few. Likewise, you can probably count on one hand the number of “Bournemouth” songs that fans can fall back on.

So how do new songs take shape? The truth is I haven’t a clue. Many fans confidently suggest new chants via social media but the audience for these is self-limiting due to the very platform they’re delivered on. I’ve yet to hear any suggestions that I’ve seen adopted by the masses.

I would tentatively venture the idea that, unlike charity, most songs do not begin at home. The nature of our home ground, where fans are scattered on all four sides, makes getting songs, and particularly new songs, going is very hard to do. Arguably this problem has been and will be exacerbated by the increase in the number of “corporates” at matches. And despite the new regime’s good intentions of trying to arouse the crowd from its pre-match lethargy, the best & probably only songs and chants are developed organically rather than thrust upon a fanbase.

No, it is down to our away support to get our lyrical contribution going again. Packed together in one, small section of an away venue, it is much easier to get a good thing going. Add to that, away supporters are usually more vociferous and, arguably, more committed to the cause than some and it is surely obvious that away games are the cradle of invention for any new songs we will embark upon this season. One only has to compare Man Utd’s relatively passive, “prawn sandwich” home fans at Old Trafford to their away following where you don’t get a sniff of a ticket unless you’re fully committed to the cause. Love them or loathe them, they are amongst some of the most inventive & humorous wordsmiths when it comes to creating a new chorus.

“I know that there are many talented, witty lyricists amongst them who have a good song buried within them which is just waiting to be shared”.

Having not missed any Away league fixture for almost two years, I have met and enjoyed the company of the many, diverse people that make up the AFCB away support. I cannot believe, no scrub that, I know that there are many talented, witty lyricists amongst them who have a good song buried within them which is just waiting to be shared. I refuse to believe that creativity lies only with the “big” clubs.

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter where a song originates but it is important that a steady trickle of new numbers hit the ground running each season. And, as I’ve already explained, I believe it’s down to us Away fans to take the lead, starting at Brentford on Saturday. Please, any AFCB fans with a good idea for a song (& which has been trialled with your mates to ensure you’re not making a real idiot of yourself, or us) give it a go at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. And I implore the rest of us to listen carefully and then join in if we think it worthy. The team need our support which we, as fans, can best provide by lauding them and the club to the skies.

Much as I like “Allez allez allez ohh” and “Dom Solanke used to be Scouse”, I’d love to come away from West London on Saturday with 3 points and a new song or two in my heart.