But surely now with all the standing going on anyway the safety measure of ordinary seats are actually more of a danger.
Singing Section One Step Closer
- Thread starter Drifter
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
But surely now with all the standing going on anyway the safety measure of ordinary seats are actually more of a danger.
Standing is more dangerous now, yes. How many stories have you heard (or perhaps experienced yourself) when people are wildly celebrating a goal, and they've either cut their shins on the seat in front or fallen down a row (or several)? All it takes at the moment is to lose your balance for whatever reason and you can easily take a tumble, and land on other people. With the rail bars in front that is impossible. This is why I keep saying 'it's a no brainer'. There are absolutely no reasons not to go for it. I've yet to hear any reason for it not being introduced. Hillsborough isn't a reason either. That wasn't safe standing. That was police inadequacy and poor infrastructure throughout the country's football grounds. Clue's in the title folks.
Totally, but if the regulations were down to common sense and logical reasoning, they'd have brought in safe standing years ago.
Going back to the link between standing and singing...
Sitting down is a massive imepdement to loud, consistent singing and you'll never get a genuinely good, noisey atmosphere without everybody standing. Everybody who regularly goes to football matches, stands and sings already knows this to be true, but I've seen it disputed by people on the caf. "Why do you have to stand, why can't you just sing anyway" etc.
Well, I witnessed an interesting parallel last night...
I went to see a gig by a band who I've seen two or three times before, and whose songs are big sing-alongs. Although the band do well crafted harmonies, with three members singing etc, they are also quite a "good time" band live, and positively encourage everybody to sing along, holding the mic to the crowd for chorus lines etc. On previous occasions, in standing venues, nobody would hesitate to bellow those chorus lines back to the band, totally unconcerned about our own lack of vocal ability etc.
However, last night's gig was an all-seated affair, billed as an acoustic gig. in reality, it was far from acoustic - electric bass, keyboards, amplified guitar and vocals - the drummer using those brush-drumsticks was about the only concession to keeping things marginally quieter than ususal. But the whole seating thing made it feel very different - better in some ways, as you could really take in what the band were doing and appreciate their talent - but a whole lot more reserved, with relatively polite clapping when they came on etc.
And when it came to the first of those big sing-along lines, the lead singer stopped, waiting for the crowd to take over, only for their to be a murmered, under-the-breath response form the crowd. The singer gave us a jokey "Hey, it's OK to sing along!", and next time round there was slightly more response, but it was nothing like what I'd experienced at other gigs. Ultimately, people just didn't feel able to bellow the lines out while sitting down. I tried my best, but felt suddenly self-conscious in a way I never have in a standing gig, despite having had a couple of pints.
My guess it's that it's a combination of a couple of factors:
1. It's physically hard to sing at full volume while seated. This is why every band or singer you've ever seen (other than the most gentle piano-crooner) and every choir and every bloke at the top of a mosque doing the call to prayer stands up. It's some pretty basic stuff to do with your lungs and that.
2. Sitting down immediately instills a different set of social norms. We associate it with watching a play, being in a classroom or a church (in which, when it's time to sing, everybody stands up) etc. We are brought up to know that you sit down to listen / observe and you should make minimal noise while doing so.
Anyway, as I say, none of this is anything we didn't already know, but I did find the experience of the gig interesting (it was very good by the way).
Sitting down is a massive imepdement to loud, consistent singing and you'll never get a genuinely good, noisey atmosphere without everybody standing. Everybody who regularly goes to football matches, stands and sings already knows this to be true, but I've seen it disputed by people on the caf. "Why do you have to stand, why can't you just sing anyway" etc.
Well, I witnessed an interesting parallel last night...
I went to see a gig by a band who I've seen two or three times before, and whose songs are big sing-alongs. Although the band do well crafted harmonies, with three members singing etc, they are also quite a "good time" band live, and positively encourage everybody to sing along, holding the mic to the crowd for chorus lines etc. On previous occasions, in standing venues, nobody would hesitate to bellow those chorus lines back to the band, totally unconcerned about our own lack of vocal ability etc.
However, last night's gig was an all-seated affair, billed as an acoustic gig. in reality, it was far from acoustic - electric bass, keyboards, amplified guitar and vocals - the drummer using those brush-drumsticks was about the only concession to keeping things marginally quieter than ususal. But the whole seating thing made it feel very different - better in some ways, as you could really take in what the band were doing and appreciate their talent - but a whole lot more reserved, with relatively polite clapping when they came on etc.
And when it came to the first of those big sing-along lines, the lead singer stopped, waiting for the crowd to take over, only for their to be a murmered, under-the-breath response form the crowd. The singer gave us a jokey "Hey, it's OK to sing along!", and next time round there was slightly more response, but it was nothing like what I'd experienced at other gigs. Ultimately, people just didn't feel able to bellow the lines out while sitting down. I tried my best, but felt suddenly self-conscious in a way I never have in a standing gig, despite having had a couple of pints.
My guess it's that it's a combination of a couple of factors:
1. It's physically hard to sing at full volume while seated. This is why every band or singer you've ever seen (other than the most gentle piano-crooner) and every choir and every bloke at the top of a mosque doing the call to prayer stands up. It's some pretty basic stuff to do with your lungs and that.
2. Sitting down immediately instills a different set of social norms. We associate it with watching a play, being in a classroom or a church (in which, when it's time to sing, everybody stands up) etc. We are brought up to know that you sit down to listen / observe and you should make minimal noise while doing so.
Anyway, as I say, none of this is anything we didn't already know, but I did find the experience of the gig interesting (it was very good by the way).
Everything you said there is right.
Letter that will be given to every fan in the Singing Section tomorrow night ...
Where are the away fans being moved to? Assuming it's east tier 2?
Yes I think so. Didn't know they were bringing 5000+ fans, they'll drown us out...
Looking forward to tomorrow.
Ye it is not ideal actually as the crazy basques will outnumber the singing section by 4 to 1! So hopefully more of Kstand get involved as well
I'll be there all being well and hopefully I'll make it to the march from Bishop's. Hope it really kicks off, and the letter is excellent.
Got to say, that letter pretty much nails it. Is it really just 1,000 or so in the singing section?
1,400 - hopefully will be expanded for future trials
Hope so... get it upwards of 3 or 4 and it could get seriously noisy.
Absolutely delighted we've managed to get this far to be honest. Can't wait for tomorrow night now. Hopefully it will be be a special night.
We need those of you in other areas of the ground to do your bit as well though.
We need those of you in other areas of the ground to do your bit as well though.
I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but which Stand or which area of the stadium is this singing section in? I will definitely do my part when i'm there in December
Is the singing section exclusive to season tickets holders then, or were those tickets open for ballot?
I am sure that the fact that there is over 1000 singing United fans in the corner will extend over to the rest of K stand. And Nahealai it was open to season ticket holders to relocate to the singing section, any spaces left were open to members to apply for.
I really hope it does. K Stand can be noisy when it wants. If there's noise right next to them I don't see why it won't catch.
And as an aside, no tickets went to members. They all went to ST holders. Does anyone know which block the singing section is? Still haven't picked my ticket up.
Yes it's the away stand in the corner, they are in East stand t2
Think it might be the entire away end, i am in e230.
http://www.manutd.com/en/Tickets-And-Hospitality/Seating-Plan.aspx
Away section's about 3600 though isn't it, and the SS is only 1400.
Not really sure how they're going do it, might cover some sections in net.
Everytime I see this thread I think its about you guys singing a Linkin park song!
Yeah that's not the first time I've seen that comment. And I do see it myself. Any chance we can have 'Singing Section'?
Me too
row 12.Heh I scrolled through and saw 2 comments saying that now, hadnt seen them before!
I am on the back row.Me too
Watch it.
Good luck everyone going tonight. I hope this works a treat and that the thing spreads and grows. I'm sure you're all in for a great night!!
Hopefully great performance from fans and players tonight, I have feeling it will be good night.
I can't wait to see how this works out. Hope the atmosphere is electric!
Can hear them loud and proud on MUTV. Wish I was there!
Wish I was there, god I hope this idea takes off and the place will be rocking again like it once was.
It feels awful to me this singing section.
I love its giving a chance for fans to have a real good night singing along but it seriously sounds like weve got an our own away section in our own ground...
Tbf they are killing it. Aint seen an away following outsing us like our own away section is tonight!
I love its giving a chance for fans to have a real good night singing along but it seriously sounds like weve got an our own away section in our own ground...
Tbf they are killing it. Aint seen an away following outsing us like our own away section is tonight!
It sounds loud, but European nights are always loud.
Not sure quite what you don't like, but I agree that they sound like out away support.
Anybody in there checking their phone at half time... Keep it up!
They sound brilliant on the tv. No idea what it sounds like in the stadium.
Fantastic job today, absolutely fantastic, I'm loving it.
Sounded great and it can only spread.
Surely a few more games like this and they'll extend it to 2000 or more.
Surely a few more games like this and they'll extend it to 2000 or more.