IS THIS THE NEXT GREAT SPORTING ANTHEM?
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Why is no one writing great football anthems
any more - or any sporting anthems, come to that?
Winning
Through
Words
and Music © Bernard Trafford 2005
All rights reserved
Well, here’s one. I think Winning
Through is the sort of thing that fans will sing in a stadium: listen to it
and picture them swaying and singing it at Wembley - or Twickenham. Or at the
2012 London Olympics. Imagine that chorus as the theme tune for TV
coverage. eh?
There are hymn-like elements (think of Jerusalem
or Swing low, sweet chariot) plus the epic emotional flavour of You'll
never walk alone. This recording is only of demo quality, but you can
hear some touches that listeners might latch onto: personally I like the
backing group singing at moments of building tension, and the background
trumpet melody at the climax.
So who should make the cover version? It
shouldn't take itself too seriously, but it’s not a joke song. I think it
should be performed absolutely straight, leaving it to those singing on the
terraces, in the pub or wherever to send it up if they want to. We Brits
are good at irony, and prefer it to laboured attempts at comedy. That ironical,
deadpan approach is what a sporting anthem needs if it is to catch on.
‘Singer/composer Bernard Trafford’
‘Winning
through: even old gits can have a go!’