England fans sing Sweet Caroline upon claiming a victory. Here’s why.
The Three Lions are taking on Spain in Berlin, hoping to claim their first major tournament crown since 1966.
And should Gareth Southgate’s men do the unthinkable and claim the trophy outright, England fans in Berlin and across the world will be bellowing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. But why?
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The hit came out in 1969, three years after the team’s aforementioned World Cup triumph.
But in the last European Championships, after a historic round-of-16 victory over Germany, Wembley DJ Tony Perry deliberated between playing fan favourites Three Lions or Vindaloo.
According to the New York Times, however, at the last he changed his mind, opting to play Sweet Caroline instead. England fans rose to belt out the lyrics, with some Germany fans singing along too.
The song has long been a fan favourite in England, though often associated with boxing and cricket rather than football.
However, having been DJ when two American baseball teams, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, visited London for two games in 2019 Perry remarked the US-centric crowd chiming along to the song.
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“That’s where I picked up on those special powers,” Perry told the New York Times.
In turn, he commandeered it for the football faithful, and it hit the spot.
“This one seemed to hit the button with so many people,” Perry said.
“It’s a song to celebrate good things, and it seems to bring good luck to those who embrace it.”
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On the song, Diamond explained in 2021: “I love seeing the joy in the videos. Especially after such an isolating year during the pandemic and years of heartbreak.
“I always thought God came into my room that evening [he wrote it] because once I had the title, the song came easily and chords that I never even heard of were coming from my guitar.
“It’s also a song of unity and can bring together even the fiercest of competitors. But of course, I want England to win because I love the way they sing it with such gusto.”
Chris Byfield