I'm interested In DL's thoughts on our ground entry music. Does the two-song theme we have - ie Hells Bells/ Sandman (or whatever) leading into Grand Old Flag - work for you in creating the maximum theatre and atmosphere for players and spectators alike? Personally, I don't think it does for two main reasons. Firstly, no "inspirational" music seems to blend seamlessly into Grand Old Flag. Secondly, there is nothing original in what we are doing - nothing uniquely MFC, which i believe is important. With the musicians, producers and wannabe songwriters we have on DL, surely, we can create something so much better.

So I am interested in DL's thoughts and ideas on this subject. Is it time for a change, or are you happy with the current situation, or perhaps it is of no concern either way?

I know tradition will be a big factor in this - and change is always difficult to accept at MFC. And I certainly don't wish to be aligned with the poster of a couple of seasons ago who wanted us all to sing "Walk on" or whatever it was. I would like something uniquely ours, without losing our historic identity - which to me is the lyrics to Grand Old Flag - definitely not the tune.

I have sent an email to the Club on this issue which expresses my reasonings and thoughts on this issue - as well as a sample of what I believe could be done. Extracts from that email and my sample are contained below:

"The MFC has/is undergoing great recent change, and I'd like to respectfully suggest that we also need to review our player ground-entry music, because in my opinion it's not working to create the atmosphere that is intended - for players and spectators alike. Seems very minor when compared to the new coach, new CEO etc, but I think it is an important one to address crowd participation and atmosphere.

We have had many years of player entry music like Hells Bells and Sandman. While they are mood inspiring, they don't naturally flow into our theme song, Grand Old Flag (GOF). Nothing seems to flow into GOF due to the age of the tune and its ebullient nature (as one supporter described it). 

As you are probably aware, GOF was taken from the 1906 song "You're a Grand Old Flag" written by George M. Cohen. In 1912 the MFC rewrote the lyrics to suit its own purpose, but retained the original music. So our theme song is 113 years old. Our words are partially original, but the music is not - which was written by Cohen to show pride in the American flag.

My idea is that instead of trying to blend two songs for our player entry - which we know is not successful - why not try modifying the GOF music (not the lyrics) so that one song provides the atmosphere and crowd participation that we want. To me, the lyrics are sacrosanct, and should not be changed - but I have no problem with modernising the music somewhat to suit its purpose. 

The aim in changing GOF musically would be to have an initial build up (resulting in crowd participation), leading smoothly into the players entering the field; followed by a verse where the supporter base becomes fully involved.

I've had a go at modifying GOF (see attached), as an example of what could be done. I've purposefully used a slow introduction, then a first verse to build atmosphere and crowd involvement; then a guitar bridge that signals the players to enter the field and approach the banner; followed by a repeat of the first verse where, hopefully, all supporters would be joining in.

I believe the use of one song - our song, not someone else's-  rather than two is the way to go to provide seamless entry theatre. Our original words are retained, but the American tune is changed into our own unique version. It doesn't have to be this version - I'm sure we'd have supporters more talented than me that could come up with an improved version. 

And it only needs to be played at player entry. The old version could still be retained for all other purposes if required / wanted."

1 hour ago, Neil Crompton said:

I'm interested In DL's thoughts on our ground entry music. Does the two-song theme we have - ie Hells Bells/ Sandman (or whatever) leading into Grand Old Flag - work for you in creating the maximum theatre and atmosphere for players and spectators alike? Personally, I don't think it does for two main reasons. Firstly, no "inspirational" music seems to blend seamlessly into Grand Old Flag. Secondly, there is nothing original in what we are doing - nothing uniquely MFC, which i believe is important. With the musicians, producers and wannabe songwriters we have on DL, surely, we can create something so much better.

So I am interested in DL's thoughts and ideas on this subject. Is it time for a change, or are you happy with the current situation, or perhaps it is of no concern either way?

I know tradition will be a big factor in this - and change is always difficult to accept at MFC. And I certainly don't wish to be aligned with the poster of a couple of seasons ago who wanted us all to sing "Walk on" or whatever it was. I would like something uniquely ours, without losing our historic identity - which to me is the lyrics to Grand Old Flag - definitely not the tune.

I have sent an email to the Club on this issue which expresses my reasonings and thoughts on this issue - as well as a sample of what I believe could be done. Extracts from that email and my sample are contained below:

"The MFC has/is undergoing great recent change, and I'd like to respectfully suggest that we also need to review our player ground-entry music, because in my opinion it's not working to create the atmosphere that is intended - for players and spectators alike. Seems very minor when compared to the new coach, new CEO etc, but I think it is an important one to address crowd participation and atmosphere.

We have had many years of player entry music like Hells Bells and Sandman. While they are mood inspiring, they don't naturally flow into our theme song, Grand Old Flag (GOF). Nothing seems to flow into GOF due to the age of the tune and its ebullient nature (as one supporter described it). 

As you are probably aware, GOF was taken from the 1906 song "You're a Grand Old Flag" written by George M. Cohen. In 1912 the MFC rewrote the lyrics to suit its own purpose, but retained the original music. So our theme song is 113 years old. Our words are partially original, but the music is not - which was written by Cohen to show pride in the American flag.

My idea is that instead of trying to blend two songs for our player entry - which we know is not successful - why not try modifying the GOF music (not the lyrics) so that one song provides the atmosphere and crowd participation that we want. To me, the lyrics are sacrosanct, and should not be changed - but I have no problem with modernising the music somewhat to suit its purpose. 

The aim in changing GOF musically would be to have an initial build up (resulting in crowd participation), leading smoothly into the players entering the field; followed by a verse where the supporter base becomes fully involved.

I've had a go at modifying GOF (see attached), as an example of what could be done. I've purposefully used a slow introduction, then a first verse to build atmosphere and crowd involvement; then a guitar bridge that signals the players to enter the field and approach the banner; followed by a repeat of the first verse where, hopefully, all supporters would be joining in.

I believe the use of one song - our song, not someone else's-  rather than two is the way to go to provide seamless entry theatre. Our original words are retained, but the American tune is changed into our own unique version. It doesn't have to be this version - I'm sure we'd have supporters more talented than me that could come up with an improved version. 

And it only needs to be played at player entry. The old version could still be retained for all other purposes if required / wanted."

I really like the sound of the revamped GOF as our walk out song NC, could really get the crowd involved.

Ditch the jingoistic US theme song.

While they're at it the Fitzroy/Brisbane song is indefensible.

So long as we don’t cringe it up like Port…. So embarrassing.

I personally like the juxtaposition. The brooding walk-out music that suddenly goes into our old twee theme song always makes me chuckle. I imagine the players feel this as well which is good to lighten the mood and relieve pressure that builds up in the rooms.

Keep as is I say.

Edited yesterday at 01:331 day by Young Blood

Sticking with the AC DC theme, What about this ==>

I like many aspects of discussion.

I do think that the choral/vocal range of the example needs some work.

Any proposal needs to be small vocal range and still recognisable when full participation of unsophisticated crowd.

Different pace can be used to encourage participation.

Tigerland still the benchmark for me with the gutteral "yellow and black" always having full participation

Our own ad libbed rhetorical "What do we sing" is the closest match but doesnt always inspire the same participation.

Of course the result winning is always significant.

If anyone gets the age on Saturdays & reads the good weekend magazine, they do a story on 2 people.

On Saturday they did a story on 2 brothers & one plays in the band the temper trap & is a die hard demon. He said he's writing a song for demons fans to sung before the game.

My immediate thought was oh no. Why can't we just run out to our theme song?

25 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

If anyone gets the age on Saturdays & reads the good weekend magazine, they do a story on 2 people.

On Saturday they did a story on 2 brothers & one plays in the band the temper trap & is a die hard demon. He said he's writing a song for demons fans to sung before the game.

My immediate thought was oh no. Why can't we just run out to our theme song?

I saw the article and like the idea of a dedicated ground entry song rather than ripping off someone's idea of a rock classic. That depends on the actual product they come up with of course, but I am open to the idea.

Just use Hells Bells/Enter Sandman (other songs? By Demons Be Driven or any other satanic music) whatever we choose for the run through the banner/warmup and keep GOF for after the final siren when we win.

We can have both, but the timing is too jarring. I reckon just play the walkout banger (eg; Hells Bells, Sandman, whatever) PAST the point of players running through the banner. Let it play out whilst the players sprint over to their warm-up area, kicking balls at goal, crowd going crazy, music still pumping THEN flick over to GOF.

I remember this happened by accident a few years ago, just 15-20 seconds beyond the banner break, and it was a lot more powerful.

Hello Bells / Enter Sandman I thought were ok.

Whatever they changed to last season was awful

I’d ideally like to see them have a walk on piece of music (no lyrics), that begins as a deep resonating heartbeat, slowly transforming into a dark foreboding piece of music (think Pink Floyd’s Careful With That Axe Eugene, but using modern instrumentation and beats), that slowly builds in intensity, and eventually bursts into some very uptempo beat driven piece as the players run onto the field. Lyrics are pointless except for the GOF, after a victory has been secured.

Failing that, I’d like to see all players learn an assigned instrument (brass, woodwind, and percussion including even the triangle), and come into the ground, marching band style, led out by King, twirling the baton, and playing a very upbeat version of the GOF. The rest of the coaching crew and office staff could be forming human pyramids and waving red and blue pom-poms and so on and so forth. Are we all on board with that?

Also, we shouldn’t get too caught up on the so called ‘tradition’ when it comes to the GOF club song… it and pretty much all club songs barring a couple, were introduced only in 1972 when they (all club songs) were recorded by the Fable Singers… I think Carlton had got Smacka Fitzgibbon to do theirs, some time in the 60’s…I’m assuming that’s what influenced all of the others to have that trad jazz style.

So tradition be damned, there is no tradition, it doesn’t even relate to the period of our greatest dominance!!

4 hours ago, hardtack said:

Also, we shouldn’t get too caught up on the so called ‘tradition’ when it comes to the GOF club song… it and pretty much all club songs barring a couple, were introduced only in 1972 when they (all club songs) were recorded by the Fable Singers… I think Carlton had got Smacka Fitzgibbon to do theirs, some time in the 60’s…I’m assuming that’s what influenced all of the others to have that trad jazz style.

So tradition be damned, there is no tradition, it doesn’t even relate to the period of our greatest dominance!!

Hush your mouth. The second verse of GOF, which references the 1926 and 1939 premierships, was included in the first history of the MFC which was published in 1957, so even without consulting the book itself it is clear that the club theme song long pre-dates 1972. In fact I think the second verse was added before the end of WW2.

Collingwood's been banging on about a cakewalk for a similar period. Only Hawthorn, which adopted Yankee Doodle Dandy in the early 1960s even comes close to your claim.

How do you come up with this nonsense?