"Blue is the Colour"
The Chelsea anthem that became a global football and sports phenomenon.
"Blue Is the Colour" is a terrace chant associated with Chelsea Football Club. It was performed by players from the Chelsea squad and released in 1972 to coincide with the club's ultimately unsuccessful appearance in that year's League Cup Final against Stoke City. The record was issued by Penny Farthing Records and reached number 5 in the UK Charts and number 8 in Ireland in March 1972.
Quick Facts
- Origin year
- 1972
- Original performer
- Chelsea squad members
- Primary association
- Chelsea Football Club Matchdays
Lore & Background
The song was produced by Larry Page, who commissioned Daniel Boone and lyricist David Balfe (under the pseudonym Rod McQueen) to write the song for Chelsea F.C. The song was sung by members of the squad. The original version sold a quarter of a million copies, and sales of various versions of the song reached a million copies worldwide.
Reader's Guide
The song has been adapted by many other teams in various sports around the world. Dutch team Ajax released a version titled "Ajax, Leve Ajax!" by Vader Abraham with Zijn Goede Zonen. The French singer Antoine released a version with the Marseille team. A Swedish version was also recorded.
In 1972, the song was performed by the Australian cricket team visiting England as part of the Ashes tour, recorded as "Here Come the Aussies." The song has been modified into Danish by Flemming Antony as "Rød-hvide farver" for the Denmark national team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. It was covered in Czech by František Ringo Čech as "Zelená je tráva." In Finnish, it was recorded by Vexi Salmi for Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi as "HOO-JII-KOO."
In 1975, Erik Beck adapted it as "Green Is the Color" for the Portland Timbers. In 1978, it was re-recorded as "White Is the Colour" for the Vancouver Whitecaps. An adapted version called "Green Is the Colour" is the official fight song of the Saskatchewan Roughriders since 1981. Supporters of Montedio Yamagata and Molde FK also use variants.
The song was used as the basis for a campaign record by the Conservative campaign in the 1979 general election. Peel Thunder bases its club song on this tune.
Did You Know?
- The Ajax version reached No. 25 on the Dutch Top 40.
- The Portland Timbers version sold 8,000 copies and received airplay on Portland radio stations throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the anthem originally written?
The song originated in 1970 during a successful period under managers Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison. It was recorded by The City Singers, which included members of the first team squad.
How high did it chart on release?
Upon release, the track reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. This commercial success helped establish it as a global football standard beyond just matchdays.
Who originally performed the recording?
The original recording was performed by The City Singers, a group featuring actual players from Manchester City's first team. Their involvement gave the song an authentic connection to the club's history.
What cultural status does it hold now?
It has evolved into a global phenomenon that defines the soul of the Citizens beyond typical football chants. This track represents an enduring optimism that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
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