20 years ! I will be as dead as Elvis, then you can sing what you like.

[quote]Hobart, I heard one really weak start... and some of the older guys in our block drowned them out with an Arsenal chant. But, the season is young! Wink[/quote]

Hope they can carry on drowning it out!

I was still typing my reply whilst you were replying etc, etc, it all make sense but just not in the right order.

[quote]the dreadful "are you ready" coming off the tannoy[/quote]


arrgghhhhhh

How about Black Lace's "Lets All Do The Conga" as the new Arsenal anthem?

[quote]20 years ! I will be as dead as Elvis, then you can sing what you like.[/quote]

Until then we'll just ask your permission, okay?

The thing that annoys me the most about the Elvis song, is usually when people sing Elvis songs at Kareokes, parties etc, they always do the elvis voice too, and I can't get that voice out of my head, and it just sounds wrong at a footie game argghh it does me head in

[quote]They should expand the "singing" section.

Its a shame that there is the need for a singing section but there is.

If a coherent "home end" is singing rather than small pockets it is likely to get the rest of the ground singing.

Its not easy to do, its just quite odd when a few of you start singing in the upper tier and people look at you like you are some sort of hooligan!!![/quote]

I may be in a minority here but i actually believe that the singing section has been detrimental to the atmosphere in the ground. there are many strata and personality types that make up a crowd, but if we simplify it (for the purpose of ease of explanation) to four groups.

The first who will sing as much as possible and will particularly focus on tribal songs' eg SUIYHT, If you all hate Tottenham etc. The second group who are not as vocal but will still start up songs, probably with more supportive or comedic content, Emmanuel (for Petit), Perry Groves world etc. The third group are people who will join in any chant as long as they don't stand out in the crowd. The fourth are those that will not chant at all.

(I will say again for the nitpickers who will come on and say that they don't fall into any group. THIS IS A SIMPLIFICATION and is my opinion only.)

Now if we look at how we were spread out at Highbury. On the Clock End we had a majority of group 1 with a mixture of 2 and 3 thrown in. On the North Bank there was probably a majority of group 2 with a mixture of 1,3 and 4. In the East stand a majority of 3's with some 2's and 4's. In the west stand Mainly 3's and 4's ( I swear i have actually seen people die in that stand during a game).

This generated a decent atmosphere as both ends were vocal and the East stand used to join in on a regular basis.

It was a simple dynamic. Group 1 will prompt lots of songs during the game and this will cause the 2's to join in causing the 3's to join in. At regular intervals during the game the 2's will start a song and the 1's and 3's join in.

At the Emirates the singing section in combination with the season ticket policy has killed this dynamic. I believe that a large number of the 1's in the old crowd are now in the signing section. The 2's have been split up around the ground in club class the upper tier and sporadically around the lower tier.

This simply means that there are not enough 1's and 2's in a great enough density to create an atmosphere in all areas of the ground. The only atmosphere has been coming from the 1's in one section which means that the 2's may join in but the 32' and 4's wont.

Hopefully, in time, a new dynamic will be found, but at the moment this is why i think the singing section may have been bad for the atmosphere.

I don't feel that having the "No 1's" greater dispersed around would improve the situation.

[quote]I don't feel that having the "No 1's" greater dispersed around would improve the situation.[/quote]

My thoughts are that it would help the number 2'2 and 3's out to create a better atmosphere.

Also we used to have two singing sections at Highbury. One was called the North Bank the other was called the Clock end.

[quote]Also we used to have two singing sections at Highbury. One was called the North Bank the other was called the Clock end.[/quote]

I'm quite aware of the names of the stands! If you note above I said that I feel that the fact we need a singing section at all is a real shame. Anyway, the singing section did actually begin at Highbury anyway as I recall due to the lack of singing in the latter days there.

[quote]I'm quite aware of the names of the stands! If you note above I said that I feel that the fact we need a singing section at all is a real shame. Anyway, the singing section did actually begin at Highbury anyway as I recall due to the lack of singing in the latter days there.[/quote]

I wasn't criticising you, more confirming your comment about the need for a signing section at all.

As for highbury getting quiet, it did towards the end. but nowhere near the levels at the Emirates. For example i was aware of a singing section at Highbury and i think it was over in the North bank east area, but tbh i couldn't be sure because there were other areas of the ground signing and starting chants as well. At the emirates it is very obvious that the majority of the noise comes from one place.

[quote]that the fact we need a singing section at all is a real shame.[/quote]

Maybe we should just admit the atmosphere is dying and let it die peacefully?

[quote][quote]that the fact we need a singing section at all is a real shame.[/quote]

Maybe we should just admit the atmosphere is dying and let it die peacefully?[/quote]

i wish all the people who sing would quieten down a bit...it's so annoying when i'm trying to read my book...i keep reading the same line twice...so inconsiderate

[quote]Maybe we should just admit the atmosphere is dying and let it die peacefully?[/quote]

??? Don't really understand?

I'm saying that I want the singing to increase, but find it odd, and a shame, that our club has to create a contrived singing area in order to get people to sing. In most grounds people sing anyway.

If a singing section is what we have to do to increase the atmosphere and volume of singing then i'm all for it.

[quote][quote]Maybe we should just admit the atmosphere is dying and let it die peacefully?[/quote]

??? Don't really understand?

I'm saying that I want the singing to increase, but find it odd, and a shame, that our club has to create a contrived singing area in order to get people to sing. In most grounds people sing anyway.

If a singing section is what we have to do to increase the atmosphere and volume of singing then i'm all for it.[/quote]

TW that comment was a throw away comment as i was just popping out for lunch and was directed at the world in general not just you.

On the other stuff we are generally agreeing but both of seem to be getting the wrong end of the stick. The wondersd of typing instead of actually being face to face.

We both want more singing. We both feel it is a shame hat we have to create a singing section at all. The difference in opinion is that i think that having no singing section would have been better in the long run. However we have one and cannot go back in time to change that fact.