SPORTS MUSIC
Ananya Warrier
FY B. Sc. Economics (2024-2028)
Reading Time – 4 mins
Whenever there were any kind of sports events at school, a popular song that we used to chant was ‘We Will Rock You.’ Perhaps it was the simplicity of it – all we needed was two stomps and a clap or maybe it was the anthemic energy of it – just sing (or shout) the first two lines and you’ve got the entire school chanting. In fact, this idea seems to be the go-to choice for sports halfway around the world so much so that it managed to become the most played song in American stadiums, three decades after its release.
In a similar vein, most British football clubs have also adopted anthems. Liverpool FC has adopted “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and the Scottish Hibernian, and English clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all have varying versions of “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.” Songs such as, “Eye of the Tiger” and “Welcome to the Jungle” are unofficial stadium anthems of American football.
But how and why does music have a seat at the table of sports? This answer could be steeped in the history of the Olympics . These Panhellenic games had a very high cultural significance, with many cultural elements included in the event. At many festivals, music played an integral role in the contests.
Due to this, when in 1896, the Olympic games were revived, music was also incorporated into the event, especially when it came to festivities connected to the competition. On March 25th, 1896, nine philharmonic orchestras and 250 singers performed the first Olympic Hymn, as well as the national anthem. The first Olympic Hymn was written by poet Kostis Palamas and set to music by Spyridon Samaras, the famous Greek composer. Since then, classical and modern music have been present at the Olympics every year, as part of showcasing the host country’s culture and talent, with many greats like Paul McCartney, Queen, Arctic Monkeys, Celine Dion, and many more having performed at various Olympics’ opening nights, over the years.
Soon, other sporting events around the world followed suit, with the National Football League of USA’s Super Bowl replacing college marching bands at the half-time show with spectacular performances by the most popular artists of the time. In a similar vein, the Indian Premier League (IPL) also has musicians perform at their closing ceremonies.
Cricket and football World Cup performances, too, are now hosting extravagant opening ceremonies, and even having official anthems that have become chart-topping hits, like “Waka Waka” for the 2010 Football World Cup held in South Africa.
But Why Does Music Play Such A Huge Part? After all, one would think sports and music have very little in common. However, in a paper published on 30th October, 2020, it seems that both produce moments of community, transcendence, and emotional resonance; both are also vital components of the past, present and future of modern culture. Music and sport are similar forms of modern leisure: created by performers, mediated by critics, and admired by fans which is why, fans look forward to these musical acts as much as they do the actual sport.