In this episode of The World Cup, But Not Really, Rune makes the case that football chants are among the loudest and most important things humans do together. Stefan finds them unnecessarily aggressive. Rune sits down with Jorge Knijnik, Brazilian-Australian academic and lifelong football devotee, to unpack why chanting isn't just noise. It's belonging, carnival, and controlled war all at once. And Caroline Carnegie, CEO of Melbourne Victory, shares how they work with fans, stadiums, and police alike to make sure the few who cross the line don't define the many who are simply there to sing. Along the way, Rune trace the Aussie Aussie Aussie chant back to Cornish pasty sellers, and follow a Gloria Gaynor disco track through Dutch pop music to the streets of Paris. This episode is about what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself, and how chanting is how we get there.
| Credits |
| Host: Rune Pedersen joined by Stefan Delatovic |
| Producers: Rune Pedersen at Onomato People, Stefan Delatovic |
| Writers: Rune Pedersen and Stefan Delatovic |
| Artwork: Wendy Tang |
| Post production and sound design: Dom Evans and James Coster at EARSAY |
| SBS Audio team: Joel Supple, Max Gosford, Bernadette Phương Nam Nguyễn, Phil Soliman |
| Guests/voices: Jorge Knijnik, Caroline Carnegie |
Short Clips:
Audio clips of fans chants used as examples for commentary, sourced from YouTube:
@bensteptoe3239 “Let's pretend we scored a goal - Tottenham Hotspur away fans 4-0 at Liverpool”
@turkiye764 “Beşiktaş Liverpool maçı 132 desibel ses rekoru.” | Besiktas Liverpool 132 decibels
@Gcphotos62 “Chant : Ce soir on vous met le feu” | Short | Tonight we're setting you on fire
@footballfanspassion “Argentine fans - Muchachos”
@France24_en “French fans sing "I will survive" after world cup victory.”
Song commented on and hummed is "I Will Survive", written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris (1978), originally performed by Gloria Gaynor. Football refrain derived from the Hermes House Band cover, "I Will Survive (La La La)" (1994)
All rights remain with their respective owners.
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