Music is an important part of life that is woven into many of our most memorable moments. It can help us relax, reflect, and even grieve. At The Music Man, one of our favorite purposes music can serve is when it’s used as a vehicle for celebration. For football fans across the UK, many will have memories of belting out ‘Sweet Caroline’ by Neil Diamond in celebration. In 2016, Northern Irish football fans had a spectacular reason to celebrate with the same song.
In 2016, for the first time in history, the Northern Ireland football team qualified to compete in the Euros. On their qualifying success, an ecstatic celebration broke out amongst fans, who immediately launched into a jubilant rendition of ‘Sweet Caroline’. The online video received over 1.8M views as it attracted viewers all over the world who showed their appreciation with comments such as “I got goosebumps watching this, respect from Croatia,” and “Sing it Northern Ireland! Love from USA.”
Many online videos surfaced of Northern Irish football fans singing in celebration during the 2016 Euros. While some videos showed fans celebrating in pubs back home, fans also flocked to France to support their team in person. Over the course of the competition, Northern Irish fans became renowned for their passionate support for their team. They were filmed singing their support on balconies and in train stations across France, as international fans were amazed by their energy and enthusiasm.
Their voices were loudest, of course, when inside the stadium to watch a match. The Music Man readers will love to see the video of when fans once again broke out into a performance of ‘Sweet Caroline’ at a match in Lyon in support of their players. Receiving over 11M views, global fans were once again astounded by the fans’ enthusiasm, with one commenter writing, “Northern Ireland should get automatic qualification for every tournament. Their fans were top class at this tournament.”
Music and sport are both powerful forces that have proven time and time again their ability to bring people together. At the 2016 Euros, Northern Irish football fans reminded us here at The Music Man of the magic that can be made when those two things come together. Through the power of music, Northern Ireland fans moved the world with their display of passion, support, and solidarity. Their epic renditions of “Sweet Caroline” still remind us just how unifying these moments can be and are sure to have left a lasting impression on fans and players long after the final whistle.