As rumours circulate that Federico Chiesa’s future may not lie at Liverpool, fans began to mourn the loss of another great Kop anthem…
I HOPE they don’t sell Federico Chiesa.
This isn’t borne of any special affection for the Italian, though I obviously wish him the greatest of everything. He’s a League Champion who plays for the Champions after all, but it’s not that.
No, it’s because of his song.
Like pretty much everyone in the red world, over the past few weeks I’ve learned and loved his song to the point of an earworm and want nothing more than to sing it to him in the ground. I can’t really do that if he’s lining up for Napoli next season.
For the uninitiated, Fede’s song is based on the old Dean Martin song ‘Sway’ and involves him telling Juventus where his loyalty now lies. Plus expletives.
Actually, it’s not Dean Martin’s first link with terrace favourites. His ‘That’s Amore’ was used for former Brighton and West Ham striker Bobby Zamora and was equally affectionate…
‘When the ball hits the goal, it’s not Shearer or Cole, it’s Zamora.’
When things weren’t going so well for him, the same song was used with an unkinder tone…
‘When you’re sat in Row Z and the ball hits your head, that’s Zamora.’
Inspiration is found in the most unlikely of places.
I wonder if Dean Martin is aware that he’s inadvertently penned Liverpool chants and other bangers. Unlikely, I suppose. He’s been dead for 30 years.
Transfers kill songs, particularly if the ending is unpleasant. See Fernando Torres. One week we’re all doing the Torres bounce and praising his adherence to You’ll Never Walk Alone and the next he’s wearing a Chelsea kit and being booed.
What a waste of a great song. At the time I mourned that as much as his abdication.
And now Trent’s gone too. No more ‘Scouser in our team’. I suspect Madrid won’t go with ‘El Scouser en nuestro equipo’ though I’d sort of respect that if they did… Nah, not really. We all know the policy towards them.
Songs are important. It cements the relationship between the player and fans. I often wonder how the players feel when they hear the crowd bellow their name.
Andy Robertson was visibly overcome with emotion the first time he heard his. Then again, Javier Mascherano claimed he had no idea that the version of The White Stripes ‘Seven Nation Army’ was about him until well after he’d left the club. I mean, how? The only lyrics were ‘Javier Mascherano,’ surely that would be a hint?
You don’t have to be an Anfield great to get a song. Sometimes it just works and we go with it regardless of ability and reputation and ability.
Andy Carroll’s song probably had more airing than Alan Hansen’s, which doesn’t seem right somehow. Karl-Heinz Riedle – here ten minutes, great song. Danny Murphy – numerous trophies and winners at Old Trafford, not so much.
Ryan Gravenberch’s song is a direct replica of his fellow Dutchman Gini Wijnaldum, which is quite nice if a bit unoriginal.
Whether Fede ever gets on the pitch to hear his song at Anfield is doubtful, but it’ll always be part of the story of an unforgettable season. When he shows up in an LFC Legends game in 15 years time he’ll be looked at with affection solely for that and his boss tune.
That song will never be forgotten. Fans never struggle to remember the words. These things are important.
Times and traditions change all the time, but I hope we never stop making up original songs for our lads. It’s a huge part of the culture. I loved the days when most players would be namechecked during the warmup by a half-full Kop. We don’t tend to do that so much these days. A pity.
I hope Fede doesn’t say ‘Ciao’. Not for a while anyway. He’s a Kopite now.
Right, now what rhymes with ‘Florian Wirtz’?
Comment *