The World Cup may be years away but the songbook is already being audited. A poll released this morning by the Football Supporters' Association reveals that ‘Olé, olé, olé’ remains the undisputed champion of terrace anthems. More than 4,000 fans surveyed ranked the chant above ‘Three Lions’ and ‘Vindaloo’.
But let’s not kid ourselves. This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about branding.
The FSA’s report, obtained by our sources, shows that the so-called ‘experts’ – a panel of musicologists and marketing executives – gave the chant a 9.2 out of 10 for ‘global singability’. Translation: it sells shirts.
FIFA knows this. When you hear ‘Olé’ echoing from Moscow to Qatar, you’re hearing a cash register. The poll also exposes a darker trend: the decline of original chants.
‘Seven Nation Army’ is now a corporate jingle. ‘Waka Waka’ was a PR stunt. The report’s authors admit that ‘organic’ songs are being replaced by engineered hooks.
One musicologist called the shift ‘soulless’. But nobody listens to musicologists. The real power lies with the broadcasters who loop these tracks during ad breaks.
The FSA says they’ll campaign for more grassroots chants. Good luck. The last time fans tried to start something new, it was drowned out by the PA system playing ‘Sweet Caroline’.
That song, by the way, scored 7.8. Not bad for a cover.
But ‘Olé’ owns the top spot because it requires no lyric sheet and no talent. Just a pulse. And that’s exactly what the suits want: a product anyone can consume.
The question is: how long until they trademark it?
