THE SOUND OF NOR MALISA TION At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. verona, 2012, [00:55]

01 IF WE SING WE’LL WIN Singing gets you involved in the match. Singing is an intervention in the match. Singing is a way of lifting the team and roaring them on to victory. This is the fundamental ultras’ belief; the firm Oh dai gnari. conviction that their voices can change the result of the match. FORZA BRESCIA FORZA BRESCIA FORZA BRESCIA FORZA BRESCIA FORZA BRESCIA FORZA BRESCIA FORZA BRESCIA FORZA BRESCIA Oh sè sintìt un casso! FORZA BRESCIA Oh dai oh! I can’t hear shit! Dai che vinciamo 2 a 1, Come on now! però beogna cantà! Louder! Brào bel discorso, beogna cargài. We are going to win 2 -1 but we Se cantom vensom, se no no. have to sing! If we sing we’ll win, Dai! Se cantiamo vinciamo! if not we won’t! Come on, if we sing we will win! VERONESE È VERONESE È VERONESE È VERONESE È VERONESE BASTARD! VERONESE È VERONESE È VERONESE BASTARD! VERONESE È VERONESE È VERONESE BASTARD! VERONESE BASTARD! BASTARDO! At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. atalanta, 2002, [02:06]

02WE ARE SINGING Oh dai anche sopra! Oh questo è il derby non un’amichevole. FOR YOU Dai anche sopra, bisogna cantà fino ala fì! The leaders of the ultras stand with their backs to the match. They do not need to watch the Alura! Dai oh! match. They read it through the eyes of the supporters. They guide the supporters with their personality and charisma. In between the chants the leaders shout out instructions exhorting the supporters to sing louder, guiding them, sometimes pushing them, sometimes praising Dai che ne facciamo una secca. them, never letting them rest. Singing is a group activity. Everybody should be involved. This is the only way to let the team feel that you are there and transmit warmth and energy to the Facciam venire giù tutto qua. players. The efficacy of the chanting depends as much on the ability of the leaders to conduct the group as on the initiative of the individual supporters. Dai però anche li sopra! Dai porco dio! Come on guys! This is a derby, not a stupid friendly! Dai che facciamo FORZA BRESCIA OLÉ. This means you need to sing until the end! Come on up there! FORZA BRESCIA OLÉ Come on, let’s sing a big one here. Oh, dio porco! Let’s tear everything down. Hey, I’m calling you at the back, for fucks sake! Let’s sing ‘Forza brescia olé’. FORZA BRESCIA OLÉ FORZA BRESCIA OLÉ NON MOLLARE Come on, louder! FORZA BRESCIA OLÉ PERCHÈ NEVER GIVE UP BECAUSE C’È UNA CURVA CHE THERE’S A CURVA THAT SINGS FOR YOU! CANTA PER TE! At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. cittadella, 2015, [03:21]

03 THEY’VE GOT TO HEAR US Supporters criticise the team when the players don’t put enough effort into the game. The Sveglia! Dai una per il Brescia! team should always show strength of character and dedication. Winning is not essential. Ga sta però ades un ‘Fuori i coglioni’. Eh, non la sentiranno neanche... What counts is to believe and to commit till the end. Eh, perchè invece non facciamo ‘Noi vogliamo unidici leoni’? UNDICI UNDICI UNDICI Now we have to sing ‘Give it some balls’! ELEVEN LIONS Facciamo ‘Fuori i coglioni’! LEONI Why don’t we sing ‘We want eleven WE WANT ELEVEN LIONS È ora di farglielo, stanno facendo NOI VOGLIAMO UNDICI lions’? cagare! LEONI Let’s do ‘Give it some balls’... You fucking retarded! Dio porco stiam retrocedendo! Oh, dai figa, som dre a züga col They’re playing like shit! We’re playing vs. cittadella, not real Oh beogna desedàs föra che eh, dai! cittadella mia col real madrid, We’re going down! madrid! I ga de svegliàs fò. Hey, they’ve got to wake up! mongoi de merda! Come on, let’s do it! Let’s show them who we are. FUORI I COGLIONI Fomega eder chi che som noter dai! Come on everybody! TIRATE FUORI I COGLIONI GIVE IT SOME BALLS Let’s sing ‘If we go down to serie C’. Dai töcc però! Wait wait! Warm up the guys first! FUORI I COGLIONI Facciamo ‘Se nom en serie c spacom GIVE IT SOME BALLS So... ‘If we go down to serie C’? TIRATE FUORI I COGLIONI sö töt’? Aspetta aspetta! GIVE IT SOME BALLS Yes, do that! FUORI I COGLIONI TIRATE FUORI I COGLIONI Carica i gnari prima... They didn’t understand shit! ‘Se nom en serie c spacom sö töt’? Come on, another time! IF WE GO DOWN I ga mia capìt un casso! Dai! Dai amò un’otra olta! GIVE IT SOME BALLS TO SERIE C SE NOM EN SERIE C GIVE IT SOME BALLS FUORI I COGLIONI SPACOM SÖ TÖT WE’LL DESTROY TIRATE FUORI I COGLIONI SE NOM EN SERIE C GIVE IT SOME BALLS EVERYTHING FUORI I COGLIONI SPACOM SÖ TÖT Wake up idiots! TIRATE FUORI I COGLIONI Hey look at them, they’re scared! FUORI I COGLIONI Eh, guardali, hanno paura... Ok guys, that was enough. Let’s do a slow one to help the team now. TIRATE FUORI I COGLIONI Facciamone uno lento, tipo: ‘E oe oe Now we do one for Brescia. Let’s do ‘E oe oe oe oe oe oa’. oe oe oe oe oa’. ...they won’t even be able to hear it. No, that one doesn’t work. Sveglia merde! No quello no, quello è entusiasmo. Adesso facciamo ‘Undici leoni’. Facciamo... At the stadium, ancona vs. BRESCIA, 2008, [01:17]

04 WHERE ARE THE

ULTRThe voice is the most direct tool for communicating and establishing contact with the opposing AS? team’s supporters. The voice should be loud, so that it can cross the whole stadium to reach Dove sono gli ultras? the opponents’ ear. Ultras? Where are the ultras? Caso ada che ùs! Ultras? Hey listen, what a voice! Ultras? Ultras? Giochiamo a far la guerra? Do you wanna play war? Senti senti! Listen, listen. What did he say over there? Che gal dit chèl là? Who the fuck are you? Ma chi cazzo sono loro! At the stadium, salerno vs. BRESCIA, 2007, [02:38]

05 RESPECT

THEIt can happen that for some reason (protest, solidarity...) two groups of SIopposing fans make an LENCE agreement not to sing during the match. If at a certain point one of the groups breaks the pact Ma non avevan detto Perchè cantano? and doesn’t respect the agreed silence, it risks losing credibility and damaging its reputation che non cantavano? Ma ghiem mia parlàt in the eyes of the other. Before the salerno away match in 2007, a group of local supporters approached 1911 and Perchè noter ´nfà hito coi sò de lur prima? asked whether they would agreed to stay silent during the whole match as a mark of respect for a friend of theirs who had died on his way to the stadium. 1911 agreed but all of a sudden e lur i canta? Si, coi loro capi... during the match the salerno fans started singing. Alla fine han fatto Perchè cantano? L’è Hadn’t they said they were not sing out of respect for the guy un quarto d’ora di mia giösta! gonna sing? but now they’re singing. silenzio... Why are we silent while they’re Fet come a fai mia singing? They asked us to be quiet for the A noi avevan detto first half but they stayed quiet for cantà con d’öna cürva Why are they singing? fifteen minutes... tutto il primo tempo isè... But how can they be silent when però! their curva is full? We’re silent for someone we Eh dai, alla fine han Where are their leaders? don’t even know while they’re I can’t see them... singing! cantato solo sulle Oh i gà rumpit i coioni They can’t keep their supporters Why is nobody telling them to re- azioni... lur che adès! quiet... spect the silence? Ma dove sono i loro L’è mia giösta! What happened? But they are just too many... they can’t keep quiet. capi gruppo? Oh s-cèc, me rie mia Someone died. So mia. a capéser com-öt che This is not right, it’s a disgrace! I have enough now! noter ´nfa hito e lur i We’d agreed not to chant. Why are we silent while they’re Cosa è successo? We said we were also not gonna canta... singing? È morto uno. At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. carpi, 2014, [02:01]

06INTERACTING WITH THE PITCH Chanting is organised in relation to the game. It is never fixed but it changes according to the situation. The choice of the chants, the right moment to start a chant, the content of the chant, Oh facciamo un coro contro il carpi o no? its duration, its harshness and dynamic are all parameters that are defined in relation to what is Li caghiamo o no? happening inside (and outside) the stadium. Why don’t we sing one against carpi? Cosa è successo? Do we care about them? Il raccattapalle non gli ha dato il pallone e il tipo del carpi gli ha rotto i coglioni. What happened? The ball boy didn’t give the ball back to their player and Chi él pò? now he’s insulting us. Il numero 3. Who is he? He’s number 3. Dai fomega el coro, nom! Secondo me dobbiam farglielo. Come on let’s do the chant, come on! Come si chiama? I think we should do it. What’s his name? Letizia. Letizia! Letizia? Letizia? What a shit name! Che nòm de merda! Ok then let’s do it. Dai alura fomeghel dai! Start it when there’s silence. Quando c’è silenzio, quando c’è silenzio! LETIZIA YOU SON OF A BITCH LETIZIA TU SEI UN FIGLIO DI PUTTANA LETIZIA YOU SON OF A BITCH LETIZIA TU SEI UN FIGLIO DI PUTTANA LETIZIA YOU SON OF A BITCH LETIZIA TU SEI UN FIGLIO DI PUTTANA On the train, on the way back to Brescia after the match in crotone, 2006, [03:11]

07 THEY ARE ALL WAITING FOR US This recording documents part of the process of creating the chant ‘Aspettan tutti me’ (They are all waiting for me). 1) One person begins the chant and starts the process. 2) The group accepts IN QUESTURA TUTTI Dai dai fermiamoci. the intuition of the individual (initiator) and starts to sing showing its approval by contributing to SBALLATI the development of the chant. It is important to note how the last verse of the chant changes each TUTTI A RIMINI time before it reaches its final form. NON CAPISCO PERCHÈ As often happens, the lyrics of the chant take inspiration from real life experience. The chant ‘As- pettan tutti me’ refers to an event that took place a few hours before its creation. After a fight with ASPETTAN TUTTI ME TUTTI A RIMINI another faction of supporters from Brescia, the ultras group Brescia 1911 decides to delay their A MILANO ALLE 3:00 TUTTI A RIMINI own arrival at Milan station to avoid encountering the police and potential arrests. NON CAPISCO PERCHÈ! WE’RE ALL PISSED UP AT THE EVERYBODY TO RIMINI Eh leggi! Hanno scritto: POLICE STATION STOM EN GIRO 3 DÉ ‘Giustizia per Paolo’. Hey, are you recording? I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY Sure! This is the best part to record. STOM EN GIRO 3 DÉ Eh, lo abbiam fatto noi THEY ARE ALL WAITING FOR ME I can give you a copy if you want. STOM EN GIRO 3 DÉ prima... IN MILAN AT 3:00 Hey look! Somebody wrote: I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY! Eh, facciam fare un NON CAPISCO PERCHÈ ‘Justice for Paolo - Brescia 1911’. bagno al Ciccio, dai! WE’LL STAY AWAY FOR 3 DAYS Yes, it’s us, we did it earlier. ASPETTAN TUTTI ME Fermiamoci a rimini A MILANO ALLE TRE WE’LL STAY AWAY FOR 3 DAYS I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY WE’LL STAY AWAY FOR 3 DAYS THEY ARE ALL WAITING FOR ME che vuole lavarsi... STOM EN GIRO 3 DÉ! What if we stop in Rimini? IN MILAN AT 3:00 NON CAPISCO PERCHÈ ...so we can take Ciccio to the WE’LL STAY AWAY FOR 3 DAYS CICCIO RIMINI beach. He needs to wash! ASPETTAN TUTTI ME I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY CICCIO RIMINI A MILANO ALLE 3:00 CICCIO RIMINI CICCIO RIMINI THEY ARE ALL WAITING FOR ME CICCIO RIMINI CICCIO RIMINI IN MILAN AT 3:00 CICCIO RIMINI LIBERTÀ PER GLI CICCIO RIMINI CICCIO RIMINI FREEDOM FOR THE ULTRAS! CICCIO RIMINI ULTRAS! Hey Rasta, what a shitty wine you EVERYBODY TO RIMINI brought... CICCIO RIMINI Eh, Rasta, che vì de EVERYBODY TO RIMINI CICCIO RIMINI merda ghe töt pò? On the train, on the way back to Brescia after the match in bergamo, 2008, [04:13]

08ON AWAY MATCHES The majority of chants are created while traveling to away matches (trasferta). This is the moment E CHI NON BATTE LE MANI... E TORO MERDA TORO TORO when the enthusiasm and the supporters’ sense of belonging to a group reaches its maximum. What ...NON BATTE LE MANI MERDA follows here is a series of different chants improvised during one trip. These are mostly nonsense, [versione originale: e chi non batte le mani è taking parts of existing “official” songs, using them to mention friends, or just repeating refrains. un bergamasco] SI CHIAMA MASSIMO With the introduction of the Tessera del Tifoso* and the ban from attending away games, the chance IL SUO VERO NOME È MASSIMO for supporters to spend time together and create new chants has been reduced. As a consequence, QUANDO ENTREREMO NELLA the process of creation is being stifled and chants are not developing as they were before. They are SI CHIAMA MASSIMO... starting to die. CURVA NORD...... MA PER TUTTI È MANOLO * Tessera del Tifoso = a police-approved register of those permitted to enter the stadium. ...NOI ENTREREMO NELLA CURVA NORD ULTRAS TITO CERCA LO IF YOU DON’T CLAP YOUR HANDS... THEY CALLED HIM BULLHEAD... [versione originale: quando entreremo nella SCONTRO ...YOU DON’T CLAP YOUR HANDS ...HE DID THE BULL curva nord, come una bomba il tifo esploderà] [original version: If you don’t clap your ULTRAS TITO CERCA TORO* IS SHIT hands you’re from bergamo] PERCHÈ PERCHÈ? TORO IS SHIT CONFORTO WHEN WE STEP INTO THE CURVA NORD... TORO IS SHIT PERCHÈ PERCHÈ PERCHÈ ...WE STEP INTO THE CURVA NORD PERCHÈ PERCHÈ PERCHÈ? SIAMO QUA HIS NAME IS MASSIMO [original version: when we step into the SIAMO QUA... HIS REAL NAME IS MASSIMO PERCHÈ PERCHÈ PERCHÈ Curva Nord, like a bomb our cheering will ...SIAMO QUA HIS NAME IS MASSIMO... PERCHÈ PERCHÈ PERCHÈ? explode] SIAMO QUA ...BUT WE CALL HIM MANOLO PERCHÈ PERCHÈ? WHY WHY WHY WHY? SIAMO QUA ULTRAS TITO IS LOOKING FOR A FIGHT PERCHÈ PERCHÈ PERCHÈ WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY [coro originale: “siamo qua, siamo qua, se WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY? HERE WE ARE PERCHÈ PERCHÈ PERCHÈ? volete caricare siamo qua”] WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY HERE WE ARE... [coro originale: “perchè perchè, ci domandano WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY? ...HERE WE ARE se noi siamo i bresciani, lo dovrebbero capire SE VENIAMO DI LÌ WHY WHY? HERE WE ARE dalle mani, perchè perchè, se c’incontri lo cap- SE VENIAMO DI LÌ... WHY WHY? HERE WE ARE isci pure te] ...SE VENIAMO WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY [original version: here we are, here we are, if PANDA SUO PADRE VENIAMO DI LÌ WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY? you’re looking for a fight here we are] [coro originale: “se veniamo di lì, se venia- [original version: why why why why? peo- PANDA SUA MADRE IF WE COME OVER THERE mo di lì, vi facciamo un culo così”] ple ask if we are from brescia, they should IF WE COME OVER THERE... PANDA LA FIGLIA DELLA know from our hands*, why why why why? ...WE COME OVER THERE SORELLA ERA PANDA PURE NORCINO LALA LALA LALA if you meet us you’ll soon understand why] WE COME OVER THERE QUELLA HIS FATHER WAS A PANDA [original version: if we come over there, if ERA PANDA PURE QUELLA OH NORCINO PEZZO DI MERDA HIS MOTHER WAS A PANDA we come over there, we’ll have you] HIS SISTER’S DAUGHTER SHE WAS A UNDICI UNDICI UNDICI VIOLA* IS THE COLOUR OF THE DEAD... PSYCHO KILLER OLÉ PANDA NORCINO SHE WAS A PANDA LO CHIAMAVANO TESTA ...VIOLA IS THE SURNAME OF THE DEAD VIOLA L’EL CULÙR DEI MORCC... PSYCHO KILLER OLÈ DI TORO...... FACEVA IL TORO ...VIOLA L’EL COGNÒM DEI * ‘They should know from our hands’ refers to the fact that 1911 does not use knives. FACEVA IL TORO ** In this case ‘Toro’ refers to the nickname of a member of the group as well as to the Turin. MORCC *** In this case ‘Viola’ refers to the surname of a member of the group as well as to the Fiorentina. At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. crotone, 2012, [03:17]

09 LEARNING A NEW CHANT This recording documents the moment of learning and sharing a new chant at the stadium. At first Questo è un inno vecchissimo. Oh gnari non c’è un cazzo only the creators know the chant. Then one of the leaders starts to sing the chant and repeats it until the group has learnt it. At the end of the match the chant is spread by word of mouth outside Sono quattro strofe. da ridere. the stadium in bars, social and working places. If the chant is greeted with approval during the Occhio perchè la tonalità Questa è una cosa seria. week, many more people will know it and it will be easier to sing it in the next match. è bassa. Dai che la rifacciamo. Dai fatta bene. E LE STRADE SON DESERTE This is a very old chant. BRESCIA IS ONLY Dai oh! It’s four lines. QUANDO BRESCIA GIOCHI TU Pay attention because the WHITE AND BLUE! SUGLI SPALTI È LA TUA GENTE E LE STRADE SON DESERTE tone is very deep. Guys, come on, this is a E poi un boato: QUANDO BRESCIA GIOCHI TU SUGLI SPALTI È LA TUA GENTE NO ONE IS ON THE STREET serious thing! BRESCIA È SOLO WHEN BRESCIA ARE PLAYING This is not a fucking joke. BIANCO BLU! BRESCIA È SOLO YOUR PEOPLE ARE ALL HERE Come on, let’s try another time! Do it well! BIANCO BLU! And then we explode: Ce la facciamo? LA LALALALALALALA NO ONE IS ON THE STREET Ma la regorde za piö! BRESCIA IS ONLY Com’è che fa? LA LALALALALALA WHITE AND BLUE! WHEN BRESCIA ARE PLAYING LA LALALALALALALA YOUR PEOPLE ARE ALL HERE Dai tutti qua che la proviamo. Can we do it? BRESCIA IS ONLY Dai oh! LA LALALALALALA Mmm... I already forgot it... Wait wait! How was it? WHITE AND BLUE! E LE STRADE SON DESERTE E LE STRADE SON DESERTE QUANDO BRESCIA GIOCHI TU QUANDO BRESCIA GIOCHI TU Come on everybody, let’s try it. LA LALALALALALALA SUGLI SPALTI È LA TUA GENTE SUGLI SPALTI È LA TUA GENTE LA LALALALALALA NO ONE IS ON THE STREET BRESCIA È SOLO BRESCIA È SOLO WHEN BRESCIA ARE PLAYING LA LALALALALALALA BIANCO BLU! BIANCO BLU! YOUR PEOPLE ARE ALL HERE LA LALALALALALA At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. catania, 2015, [02:29]

10WE ARE BRESCIA What the supporters demand from the club is transparency and dedication. When these pre- rogatives are not in place it is their right to raise their voice. 1911 has been always very critical Oh gnari, ada un momento. SOCIETÀ DEL CAZZO towards the club and its president mr. corioni. They denounce the president because he has never included the ultras in any executive decisions. They feel he is incapable of leading the Gom mitìt fò el strisciù. SOCIETÀ SOCIETÀ club for the benefit of the supporters. Dice così: ‘brescia calcio SOCIETÀ DEL CAZZO Hey guys, we’ve hung FUCK THE CLUB per favore pietà’. BRESCIA CALCIO a banner here. It says: FUCK THE BRESCIA I ga rumpìt i coioni! I ga SOCIETÀ DEL CAZZO ‘brescia football club FOOTBALL CLUB rumpìt i coioni! Noi ci Dai dai dai! please have mercy’. mettiamo la passione. We are fed up with them. Remember that it doesn’t Noi ci mettiamo l’anima E ricordatevi che, al di là We put our passion into matter how big we are. e lur i sa fà i casi sò. E l’è del numero, in italia nel this. We put our soul into Even if we’re not so many, mia giösta! Perchè siamo movimento ultras stiamo this and they just don’t we’ve always been active noi il Brescia, siamo noi! facendo anche noi la care! This is not good! and fought for the right Dai dai, dai oh! nostra parte, e non da causes! poco... Fare parte del 1911 Because we are Brescia! PERCHÈ IL BRESCIA We are Brescia! Being part of 1911 is è una cosa non comune. a very special thing. SIAMO NOI Applauso a voi che siete BECAUSE WE ARE Well done for being here. PERCHÈ IL BRESCIA qua. Applauso a voi. Adès Now we all leave together. SIAMO NOI nom föra töcc ensèma. BRESCIA All together! Oh, töcc ensèma! BECAUSE WE ARE PERCHÈ IL BRESCIA 1911 THERE’S SIAMO NOI 1911 COME NOI NOBODY LIKE US NON C’È NESSUNO BRESCIA Dai ancora uno. 1911 THERE’S 1911 COME NOI Let’s have another one. Dai assieme! All together. NOBODY LIKE US NON C’È NESSUNO 1911 THERE’S SOCIETÀ SOCIETÀ SOCIETÀ DEL CAZZO 1911 COME NOI FUCK THE CLUB NOBODY LIKE US BRESCIA CALCIO NON C’È NESSUNO Press conference after the protest against the brescia football club, august 2009, [03:09]

11WE OWN

THEEvery supporter invests all of their emotional capital in the team. For this reason the realT owner of the EAMGiornalista: Giornalista: team is not the president but the supporters. The team belongs to the social memory and the sym- Alcune puntualizzazioni sulla Secondo voi corioni cosa dovrebbe fare? bolic capital of the people who love it and identify with it, and not to those who bought it or manage it. contestazione di due giorni fa. Brescia 1911: Journalist: Journalist: Brescia 1911: corioni dovrebbe circondarsi di persone Could you please tell us something about What do you think the president corioni Dal nostro punto di vista la più competenti. Quello che abbiamo last week’s protest? should do? contestazione non è stata violenta sempre denunciato è la carenza di ma rabbiosa. Questa sensazione organico, di persone nei propri ruoli. Brescia 1911: Brescia 1911: di rabbia ci deriva dal cuore e dalla Non abbiamo un direttore sportivo, non Our protest was not violent, it manifested The president should work with more passione che abbiamo per il Brescia e abbiamo un direttore generale... Sulla our anger. Our rage orginates from our competent people. In the club we don’t secondariamente dal senso di ingiustizia carta ci sono ma non sono all’altezza. hearts and from the passion we have for have the right people in the right roles. Our e impotenza di fronte ad una situazione Brescia. Our anger comes from the sense managing board is not good enough. They paradossale nella quale la società del La nostra contestazione di mercoledì of injustice and helplessness in the face are not capable. They are all very well paid brescia calcio arranca e allontana i tifosi probabilmente non è stata condivisa nei of the football club and its president gino though... sempre di più dallo stadio. modi ma è stata sicuramente sostenuta corioni. nelle intenzioni dalla maggior parte dei Our opinion is shared by the majority of Ci amareggia la reazione di qualcuno tifosi, altrimenti non ci si spiega perchè The problems of the club are technical, the fans. They all agreed on the intentions che ha cercato di spostare l’attenzione 15000 tifosi non vengono più allo stadio. organisational, and economic and the fact of our protest last week. dai veri problemi del Brescia che that there’s no transparency in the club sono di natura tecnica, economica e Non vogliamo fare guerra a corioni. We don’t want to make war with president doesn’t make things easier. organizzativa. Vogliamo solo che ci si fermi a riflettere corioni. We only want the club to stop and affinchè a Brescia si trovi una soluzione Our team belongs to the whole city. It think, so they can find a good solution. Brescia è patrimonio di tutta la città, di dignitosa per tutti. Una soluzione che belongs to all the citizens and therefore it’s A solution that will benefit everybody who tutti i cittadini, quindi anche nostro. Il faccia il bene non di corioni, non del also ours. Mr. president corioni is only a supports Brescia not just the president. presidente corioni è un amministratore gruppo Brescia 1911 ma del Brescia e di temporary administrator! temporaneo di questa società. tutta la sua tifoseria. At the bar after the away match in pisa, 2009, [01:26]

12 I WANT

To sing is to magnify yourself. Singing empowers you. It makes you feel bigger; feel stronger. The Eh, io dico solo una cosa, dovevo fare. Ieri sera TOjoy of singing and the chance to share the experience with other people Sgives you a feeling of ING fulfillment and satisfaction. oggi non ho niente da sono stato a casa, non ho rimpiangere. Ho rotto i bevuto, stamattina a 7:30 I say only one thing: today ning I didn’t drink; I stayed I got nothing to regret. home. This morning I got coglioni? È vero! Ma sai ero in piedi. Ho aspettato Was I pissing everybody up at 7:30, I waited for a cosa c’è di giusto? Io un momento e poi bam! off? Yes, it’s true! But you second and then... I be- mi sono detto: “quando Son partito. Eh, sie là che know what? The truth is.... gan. I was grabbing peo- andiamo a pisa non faccio sudae come un cà, tirae zo I said to myself: “when we ple, pulling them down. I silenzio, voglio tirar tutti tocc. avanti e voglio cantare”. go to pisa I’m not gonna was sweating like a dog. I Però dio cane, mi son be quiet. I wanna push was so happy. Volevo essere lì e l’ho divertito. Se succedeva everybody forward and I fatto! La mia testa era If someone had stopped che qualcuno mi diceva want to sing”. I wanted to partita due settimane me I would have said: “eh, qualcosa gli avrei detto: be there and I did it! prima così. I’m sorry I can’t... today “eh mi spiace, non posso... Today I knew what I need- you’ve got to understand Ada, oggi sapevo cosa oggi dovete capirmi”. ed to do. Yesterday eve- me”. At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. inter, 2003, [02:24]

13 ULTRA S GIRLS A group of girls repeats out loud the last syllable of each line of the chant. The group does not emulate the male voice but it maintains its female identity. The frequency range of the group is distinct from the male tone crating dynamism in the chant. ...FORZA BRESCIA DAI NOI NON TI LASCEREMO ...NEVER... MAI...... FORZA BRESCIA DAI ...WE... LOTTA E VINCI INSIEME A NOI...... AH...... OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÀ...... OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ ...AH... OLÉ OLÀ... At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. atalanta, 2005, [02:04]

14 WE MADE A CHOICE TODAY NOT TO FIGHT At the stadium before the derby game against our rivals atalanta, the group chooses not to clash Oh gnari dai, un’attimo Ognuno fa quello che vuole with the visiting fans. The potential fight would have led to heavy charges and diffide* which would have jeopardised the inner structure of the group. In order to preserve their own existence, the group d’attenzione. gnari, noi non comandiamo chooses to avoid confrontation. With the exacerbation of repressive laws (like banning-orders, ex- nessuno, però riflettete: chi pulsion-orders, charges, etc...) the chances for fights and direct confrontation between supporters’ Sapete tutti la settimana che va di là oggi lo rovinano, lo groups is reduced. In this way the rivalry slowly dissipates. The chants against away supporters è stata. C’han sputtanato da rovinano tutta la vita e noi non diminish while the ones against the police and the repression increase. tutte le parti... *Diffida: football banning order. It can be used to ban a certain individual from attending football matches both vogliamo far rovinare nessun home and away. In real life, the ban is used by the local police as a discriminatory strategy that favours certain Noi oggi abbiam fatto la di voi. groups and persecutes others. scelta di non scontrarci coi Hey guys, you all know what Think guys! Whoever goes bergamaschi. Se ci muoviamo, ci muoviamo this week was like. They threw over to the other side today Non perchè non ci piace, ma tutti assieme e alla fine shit at us from every side... will be beaten up by the cops. perchè non ha senso. Farlo facciamo uno scontro leale, He’ll be ruined for the rest of oggi vorrebbe dire eliminare uno scontro vero ma oggi non We made a choice today not his life and we don’t want this tutto, eliminare questa è possibilie farlo. Lo faremo to fight against the supporters to happen to you. aggregazione, eliminare la però... from bergamo. Doing that curva, e noi non vogliamo today would mean destroying If we go there, we all go questo. Dai che li carichiamo dai! everything, eliminating this together but today it’s not group and our collectivity and possible to have a real fair Soprattutto dopo l’andata.. FORZA BRESCIA ALÉ we don’t want this. fight. Chi c’era c’era... Non dobbiam BRESCIA ALÉ dimostrare più niente a loro... BRESCIA ALÉ We’ll fight with them ALÉ Lo faremo ancora another time. MAGICO BRESCIA ALÉ sicuramente.Lo faremo con BRESCIA ALÉ We’ll do it when the special MAGICO BRESCIA ALÉ la massima lealtà. Lo faremo ALÉ laws don’t exist anymore. quando non ci saranno più MAGICO BRESCIA ALÉ When the army won’t be FORZA BRESCIA ALÉ BRESCIA ALÉ queste leggi, quando non ci MAGICO BRESCIA ALÉ outside waiting for us, ready saranno più queste situazioni to throw us in jail. They called BRESCIA ALÉ con l’esercito fuori pronto a FORZA BRESCIA ALÉ the army, you see that? BRESCIA ALÉ sputtanarci. BRESCIA ALÉ... At the stadium, gallipoli vs. BRESCIA, 2010, [02:59]

15 LEAV ING

THEThe supporters are talking about leaving the stadium and not watching M the match after one of ATCHOh gnari dai un momento tutti Per noi è importante fare delle their group was taken by the police. Some things are more important than the match, like the qua. Abbiam parlato con gli scelte di gruppo e rispettarle. sense of community and solidarity between the members of the group. sbirri. Civi non lo riportano Civi è sempre venuto con noi. Guys listen up. It’s very sad but try to fino a fine partita. Ho sentito Quello che è successo poteva understand how serious the un pò di pareri e crediamo sia capitare a chiunque. Petöst dè Civi has been taken and he’ll situation is and how important meglio uscire fuori. Ad essere sta che a vardà la partida come sincero poi a me adesso son i pensionàcc, fom chèl che gom not be released until the end of it is to respond to what già passate tutte le voglie di de fà e pò nom föra dai coioni. the match... happened. I talked to a few guys and we star qua a cantare... So che magari qualcuno non Se c’è gente che vuol vedere la think we should walk out of the Does anyone want to say partita, che magari è la prima stadium rather than staying in something? è d’accordo però cercate di capire anche voi quel che è volta che viene al sud possiamo and watching the match. The majority should decide... capire, però s-cècc dai... dèle I don’t even feel like chanting successo. When we’re together we olte gh’èl bel e dèle otre beogna anymore. Ghè argu che ga argot de di? fà pò al bröt. consider ourselves as a group, So mia... qualcuno vuol dire What do you think? not as individuals. qualcosa? Oh, ala bé à töcc? Lo so, Lo so! La so la mentalità. I think that when the game Dai oh s-cècc, disìm argota! Oh dai, fom un coro che isé I know that somebody might starts we should all walk out. e pò, quan che i vambia, nom not agree... Guys, is this ok for everybody? Solitamente quando andiamo We came all the way down to in giro siamo un gruppo, non föra dai coioni. Allora quando lecce and now we’re not even Ok, so we leave when the siamo i singoli. inizia la partita usciamo! watching the game... game starts! On the bus to St. Etienne, 2012, [01:13] On the bus to St.Etienne VS Nice, 2012, [01:10]

16 YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR HEART IN IT To sing is to give yourself completely. It’s a proof of love that only few can give. The 16 amount of love and passion that is put when a chant is sung defines the character of YOU HAVEthe group and it differentiates it from others. Davide: The others are not very good at chanting, right? Brescia 1911: TO PUT YOURNot at all! They ONLY SING FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES. If you are lucky for the first twenty. If Brescia doesn’t score, they stop. If Brescia scores, they start again. HEARTTo sing is to give yourself up completely. It is proof of the love that only a few can give. The INTO IT Davide:If the OTHERS SCORE, THEYcosa del STOP. canto per certi amount of love and passion that is put into the singing defines the character of the group and it differentiates it from others. Groups compare themselves with each other and use the differ- Non mi sembra che gli altri gruppi sia importante e ences between groups to produce their own identity. If ultras had no one to compete against, sianoDavide: in grado di tenere i per altri no. Non capisco how would they define themselves? coriI don’t a lungo. understand why perchèsome groupscerti gruppi don’t non Davide: Davide: cantano, mi sembra un Bresciachant 1911: at all. How do they sing? Not very I don’t understand why pò una posa, entrano e Loro cantano i primi dieci well, right? some groups don’t chant They just get in and standguardano there. la partita. È come minuti. Quando sono in at all. They just get in and se non volessero sporcarsi formaThey i primi act like venti. posers. Se poi Brescia 1911: stand there. To me they le mani... la squadra non segna si They only sing for the first seem like posers. ten minutes. If you are lucky spengono.Brescia Se1911: la squadra Brescia 1911: for the first twenty... If they Brescia 1911: segnaThe ricominciano.reason is that Se singing Non for è the tanto whole una posa,game è it’s don’t score, they stop. If Singing for the whole inveceA LOT segnano OF WORK. gli altri, che cantare tutta la partita they score, they start again. game it’s a lot of work. It’s allora si fermano e non è impegnativo. Arrivi alla If the others score, they exhausting, especially if you cantanoIt’s exhausting, più. especiallyfine if che you sei put distrutto, your soprattutto se ci metti il stop. That’s how they sing. put your heart into it. That’s Davide:HEART in it. They’ve always done like why certain groups don’t cuore. Ecco perchè molti Però è strano come questa that. feel like singing. That’s why certain groupsnon don’t han feelvoglia like di farlo.doing it. At the training ground two days before padova vs. BRESCIA, 2010, [01:34]

17 EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO SUPPORT THEIR TEAM On the eve of an important away match, the supporters complain about the incompetence Oh gnari, dai! Adesso si fan le cose serie. of the institutions who should be supporting their trip. They defend their right to support the club and to attend the game. After encouraging the team at the training ground the supporters Come sapete, molti di noi sono senza biglietto. Non decide to go to the city centre and put pressure on the mayor to do something about their problems. Due to the high number of people who will follow the team to the match, they want solo noi ma anche gente che non è del nostro gruppo. him to put pressure on the prefecture in padova and on the police so that there will be more L’unica maniera per sbloccare la situazione è andare tickets available for the fans and a special train with enough carriages for all the supporters so that they can travel together. a rompre i coglioni alle istituzioni e far si che ci diano altri biglietti. Al di là delle belle parole chi doveva So far we had fun but now we have to take it seriously. You know that many people are without a ticket, right? garantire questa trasferta non ha ancora fatto niente! The only way to have more tickets is to go and bother the institutions who haven’t done anything yet. Adesso andiamo tutti in Piazza Loggia. Cerchiamo di andarci tutti assieme. Now we all go to the Piazza Loggia and look for the mayor. We go all together! Oh ragazzi queste non sono cazzate, queste sono We’re all fighting for one cause. The fight is for everybody and we all have to fight it together. cose serie. Qua c’è in gioco una trasferta e dietro questa trasferta c’è dietro una città. Guys this is not bullshit. This is a serious thing. E ricordatevelo sempre: tutti devono avere la A very serious match is at stake here. possibilità di andare a seguire la propria squadra. The whole city has the right to attend this match. Always remember that everybody has the right to support their own team! TUTTI IN PIAZZA ALÈ EVERYBODY OUT ON THE STREET TUTTI IN PIAZZA ALÈ EVERYBODY OUT ON THE STREET EVERYBODY OUT ON THE STREET TUTTI IN PIAZZA ALÈ

At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. catania, 2015, [02:05]

18 HERE IS

FRIENWhat is at the heart of an ultras group is the relationship between their members. The more a sup- DSHIPOh, dai che ne facciamo una Questo è orgoglio bresciano. porters’ group cherishes the sentiment of friendship the stronger it grows. secca! Dai dai! Come on, let’s do a big one. Dai, dio cane! You aren’t tired, are you? Non sarete stanchi vero? LEONESSA LIONESS Oh, dai convinti! Come on together now! LALA-LALA-LALA LALA-LALA-LALA Our group is worth more Oh, questo gruppo va oltre than any division. LIONESS ogni categoria. LEONESSA Here’s friendship! Questo è un gruppo che LALA-LALA-LALA This is a group that is built on LALA-LALA-LALA ha alla base il valore friendship. dell’amicizia. LEONESSA Oh! Come on! LIONESS Oh, fim mi girà i coioni Don’t fuck with me because LALA-LALA-LALA perchè encö l’è mia ‘l dé! LALA-LALA-LALA today is not the day... LALA-LALA-LALA Su le mani dai! LALA-LALA-LALA LIONESS LALA-LALA-LALA LEONESSA D’ITALIA LALA-LALA-LALA Grandi gnari. LEONESSA LIONESS È così che si fa! OF ITALY LALA-LALA-LALA Questo è orgoglio bresciano. LALA-LALA-LALA We’re the pride of Brescia. Noi abitiamo in questa terra. LALA-LALA-LALA... We live in this land. LALA-LALA-LALA... Weekly meeting, 2010, [02:11]

19 HOW MANY NEW CHANTS DID WE MAKE? The more new chants are created, the more the group is alive. The lack of new chants and the Se siamo arrivati a questo punto ci siamo arenati. standardisation of the repertoire are perceived as signs of crisis. è soprattutto colpa nostra. Otto anni fa, facevamo minimo If we’ve got to this point it’s also lost our spirit. Non sono gli altri che c’hanno fatto male ma siamo noi che tre canzoni nuove a partita. Poi our fault. It wasn’t the others su dieci ne rimanevano due ma who hurt us... This is of our own Eight years ago we would come ci siamo rovinati con le nostre up with at least three new mani. Avevamo un patrimonio e questo non lo si faceva perchè making. We had a history and non c’era un cazzo da fare... Lo si we’ve given it away. chants every game. We did it l’abbiamo diperso. to keep our spirit high, it was a faceva per tenere alto l’umore... Purtroppo prima di incolpare gli Before blaming others we need sign of commitment... Chiaro che adesso non ci sono to be honest with ourselves. altri dobbiam guardarci dentro. We all know that conditions più le condizioni, chiaro che c’è For example: how many new have changed. There is the Tanto per fare un esempio, una la repressione ma alla fine la songs have we made in the last repression of supporters and cazzate eh... Quante canzoni differenza la facciamo noi. three or four years? One? Have there’s not as much enthusiasm nuove abbiamo fatto negli ultimi quattro anni? Una? Ne abbiam Allora, vogliamo tornare a we even made one? Two? This as there was before but, in the fare crescre questo gruppo o shows how much we’ve dis- end, it’s us who can make the fatta una? Due? E’ una cazzata eh... soprattutto perchè abbiam vogliamo continuare vivere di engaged. This doesn’t matter difference. So... do we want to rendita? E’ questo che voglio so much because we’ve been make this group grow, or do we fatto un sacco di altre cose in giro fuori dallo stadio però sentire, soprattuto dai più doing many other good things want to continue living off our giovani. outside of football but we have past glory? comunque vi dà l’idea di quanto Weekly meeting, 2010, [02:13]

20 DOES THAT CHANT REPRESENT US? Here the ultras are discussing the possibility of merging with another group of Brescia supporters. Una delle mie paura è cori per gli ultras. “Queste They analyse the other group’s chants and the different attitude towards singing. The character- istics of your singing define you as a group. Singing habits are the crucial element that determine che restando in curva cose le fate in strada”, alliances between different groups. ci si fossilizzi troppo, ci così c’han detto... Così One of my fears is that if we They told us: “you can sing si riduca a subire la loro c’han detto. influenza e si diventi come share the same curva we will those chants in the street” E quando fanno ‘alcolismo loro. Se non abbiamo die. We will be under their in- [not in the stadium]. That’s e puttane’ voi cosa fate? fluence and will become just what they told us... abbastanza forza c’è il Gli battete le mani? No, like them. If we do not have rischio anche di questo. And when they sing ‘alco- enough force, that’s what’s fatemi capire... Quando hol and whores’? Tell me... going to happen. Se rimaniamo in curva, ci ho sentito quel coro mi If they sing ‘alcohol and saranno sicuramente dei sono vergognato. Qui If we stay with them there whores’, what would you do? condizionamenti a livello non si tratta di goliardia... will obviously be influences Will you clap your hands? di scelte, proteste, cori... Goliardia è sinonimo on our choices, our protests, When I heard them singing Ad esempio: nel momento d’intelligenza. Queste our chants... For example that chant I was ashamed. It in cui il Brescia sta cose sono patetiche. when Brescia are losing we was so pathetic... It was not perdendo non potremo would not be able to sing for funny at all... If we choose to Credete che poi la gente permetterci di fare our friends who have been stay with them, that chant normale sarà capace di un coro per i diffidati, banned from the stadium... will also be ours. Do you fare i giusti distinguo o dovremo cantare solo per we would have to sing only want that chant to be ours? alla fine ci metteranno for Brescia... There would il Brescia... L’unica cosa Do you think people will be tutti assieme nello stesso be no more chants against che conta per loro è il able to distinguish between gruppo? Saranno in grado the club, no more chants for Brescia. Quindi basta cori us and them or will they just di capire che noi siamo the ultras, no more chants per i diffidati, basta cori think of us as a single group? una cosa e loro un’altra? against modern football. contro la società, basta At the radio, a few days after verona vs. BRESCIA, 2005, [02:45]

21FRIENDS COME FIRST The group Brescia 1911 announces a strike from vocally supporting the team in order to de- Radio Onda d’Urto: questurino di turno ma per nounce the attempted murder of Paolo Scaroni and the beating of the ultras from 1911 by the police at the end of the match verona vs. Brescia, 24-09-2005. The ultras try to gain support from Parliamo della scelta presa ordini che partono dall’alto. the media and the public by remaining silent during games. The strike lasted 6 months. Some dal gruppo Brescia 1911 Ci vogliono mettere a say that during the strike, when matches were broadcast on television an audio track with pre- recorded chants was added in order to prevent the audience at home from noticing the protest. di non partecipare alle tacere. Stanno partendo da Brescia, Bergamo, The strike action inside the stadium was matched by counter information initiatives. 1) Instead trasferte e di non tifare in of supporting the team, every Sunday the group would travel to the hospital in verona and stand casa. dalle piazze ultras più underneath the window of Paolo’s room, chanting for him. 2) Journalists were put under pressure impegnate, ma l’obiettivo è to write the truth about the incident. 3) The group organised a national demonstration against Brescia 1911: the repression of supporters and in support of Paolo’s case. More than 1500 ultras from all over di mettere tutti a tacere. Italy gathered together. 4) Local and national politicians were consulted. 5) An investigation was Finchè non avremo la opened which cast light on the violence perpetrated by the police. Eight police officers went to certezza che Paolo starà Viviamo un misto tra rabbia court. After eight years of legal complications, the police were found guilty, but were cleared due e impotenza. È assurdo to the lack of evidence (the video from the CCTV had been altered and the ten minutes showing bene, non ce la sentiamo the attack on Paolo had disappeared). di organizzare trasferte e aver dovuto subire un pestaggio così vile. Penso Radio Onda d’Urto: police and this time not for the di tifare allo stadio. Per noi Let’s talk about the choice not pleasure of the cop-of-the-day vengono prima di tutto gli che questo debba far to travel to away matches and but because of the orders from amici. riflettere tutti. not to support the team during above. They have started with home games. us but their goal is to repress Questa sera entreremo allo Ancora una volta chi ha all of the ultras... stadio non per sostenere compiuto questo pestaggio Brescia 1911: è la polizia e la polizia Until we can be certain that It’s crazy to think that we were il Brescia ma per parlare Paolo will recover, we don’t feel victims of such a vile act. The con le persone che non non sta pagando. Quando that it’s right to organise away victims of the beating were conoscono ancora cosa è noi ultras sbagliamo, matches and support the team. not only men but also women successo. Cercheremo di paghiamo... Friends come first. and children. Once again the perpetrators of this beating farle riflettere; soprattutto Noi non siamo dei santi e Tonight we’ll go to the stadium were the police and they won’t la gente normale. non vogliamo esserlo. Ci not to support Brescia but to pay for it. When we ultras make talk with the people who aren’t a mistake we pay for it... Quello che è successo chiediamo però perchè aware of the situation. We’ll be a verona è un fatto persone che dovrebbero I don’t understand why there to make them think about gravissimo. Siamo stati garantire l’ordine pubblico what happened. the people who are here to guarantee public order commit pestati brutalmente dalla compiono atti di questo What happened in verona is actions of this sort and they polizia e, questa volta, non genere e non pagano extremely serious. One more never pay for what they do. tanto per lo sfizio di un quando sbagliano... time we were beaten up by the At the stadium, gallipoli vs. BRESCIA, 2010, [01:15]

22FREEDOM ULTRAS LIBERI

At the stadium, Gallipoli vs BRESCIA, 2010,ULTRAS [01:12] LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI FOR THE22 FREEDOM ULTRAS LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI FOR THEULTRAS LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI ULTRASULTRAS LIBERI ULTRThe supporters respond to the arrest of a friend by singing a loud and precise chant. The dis- ASThe supporters respond to the arrest of a friend singing a loud and precise chant. cipline and power of the singing expresses the rage of the group. Had their friend not been The tightness of the singing expresses the rage of the group. Had their friend not arrested, the chant would have sounded much less powerful. The way in which a chant is sung ULTRASbeen arrested, the chantLIBERI would have soundedULTRAS much more weak. LIBERI The way in which depends on the situation the group finds itself in. The chant is lived; it is not an act. a chant is sang is dependent on the situation the group finds itself in. The chant is ULTRASnever interpreted, it isLIBERI lived. ULTRAS LIBERI FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS ULTRAS LIBERI FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS ULTRAS LIBERI FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS ULTRAS LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS ULTRAS LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS ULTRAS LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS FREE ULTRAS ULTRAS LIBERI ULTRAS LIBERI At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. catania, 2015, [01:44]

23 Some chantsFREE are dedicated to friends who are unable to be at the stadium because they have DIEGO Oh gnari, adesso been banned (they have been given a diffida). Chanting is a way to keep the group close to the DIEGO LIBERO individual and allow that person still to be present during the match. facciamo un coro per By banning the same people repeatedly the police try to remove them from the stadium so that their influence on the group can be limited. Diego. DIEGO LIBERO

Now we sing a chant for Non è questione di DIEGO LIBERO Diego. FREE DIEGO leccare il culo. DIEGO LIBERO La questione è che He’s been banned from the city for three years for an FREE DIEGO Diego ha sempre dato DIEGO LIBERO unjust reason. tantissimo a questo DIEGO LIBERO He’s been punished because FREE DIEGO gruppo e adesso viene he always behaved as an FREE DIEGO colpito da un foglio di via DIEGO LIBERO ultras, and as a man. che è ingiusto. What has happened is DIEGO LIBERO unheard of. FREE DIEGO Ingiusto! Non può più DIEGO LIBERO It’s not possible to limit entrare in città per i somebody’s freedom to this FREE DIEGO prossimi tre anni. DIEGO LIBERO extent. FREE DIEGO Non si può limitare così DIEGO LIBERO So now we sing ‘Free Diego’. la libertà di una persona. He deserves that. This is friendship. THE GOVERNEMENT Viene colpito perchè si è LA DISOCCUPAZIONE Here there’s friendship! GAVE YOU sempre comportato da TI HA DATO UN BEL Come on! A GOOD JOB ultras e da uomo. MESTIERE IT’S A SHIT JOB Perciò ades ga fóm un MESTIERE DI MERDA FREE DIEGO bel ‘Diego Libero’. CARABINIERE TO BE A COP MESTIERE IT’S A KILLER JOB Se lo merita. FREE DIEGO Dai dai! DELL’ASSASSINO TO BE A COP Qua c’è l’amicizia. IL CELERINO At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. catania, 2015, [01:43]

24 BannersPOLIC are often accompanied by chants that amplify their meaning. In this case a banner about E JOB Adesso mettiamo fuori lo striscione per la sentenza the Stefano Gugliotta affair* is displayed and a themed chant immediately follows. * Stefano Gugliotta affair: an example of aggressive policing that took place in Rome in 2010. Despite Stefano su Gugliotta, quel ragazzo di roma che è stato had not having attended the match, he was stopped and beaten up in the street by the police. picchiato anni fa fuori dallo stadio. Hey guys let’s wave a banner about the Gugliotta Noi quando sbagliamo paghiamo. sentence. Adesso è giusto che anche le forze dell’ordine The guy from rome that was beaten up paghino. Pare che li abbiano condannati a cinque by the police. The cops have been condemned to five years. anni... When we make a mistake we pay for it. Accompagnamo lo striscione con un coro. It’s right that the police has to pay for their mistakes Dai ragazzi, tutti assieme. too. Tutti però! We are all equal in front of the law. Questi cori sono importanti! They cannot always get away with it! Tutti! THE GOVERNEMENT LA DISOCCUPAZIONE GAVE YOU A GOOD JOB TI HA DATO UN BEL MESTIERE IT’S A SHIT JOB TO BE A COP MESTIERE DI MERDA CARABINIERE IT’S A KILLER JOB TO BE A COP MESTIERE DELL’ASSASSINO IL CELERINO Oh! Non si è sentito un cazzo! Louder! LA DISOCCUPAZIONE THE GOVERNEMENT TI HA DATO UN BEL MESTIERE GAVE YOU A GOOD JOB MESTIERE DI MERDA CARABINIERE IT’S A SHIT JOB TO BE A COP MESTIERE DELL’ASSASSINO IL CELERINO IT’S A KILLER JOB TO BE A COP Dai ancora! Outside the stadium, BRESCIA vs. catania, 2015, [01:08]

25 SOLIDARITY BEYOND RIVALRY The group Brescia 1911 protests against the decision of the police to shut the curva sud (the area located in the south end of the stadium) following an attempted clash organised by the group Oh gnari, dai qua un succedere anche a brescia curva sud. The group Brescia 1911 decides to remain outside the stadium and to not attimo. noi che ci chiudono il attend nor chant during the first half of the match. The aim of the protest is to make the public and the journalists aware of a decision that unfairly affects all the supporters that sit in the curva settore dove andiamo Oggi abbiamo fatto sud, whether or not they were involved in the incident. per colpa di pochi. la scelta di stare Guys listen for a same thing could fuori il primo tempo. Noi non giudichiamo second. happen to us... La nostra protesta è nessuno; dei suoi atti Our protest is against We don’t judge contro il sistema. Non ognuno prende le sue the system. It’s not the others. Their è giusto che chiudano responsabilità. Noi lo right that they close actions are their own un settore intero facciamo contro the area because of responsibility... Today magari per un evento il sistema. what the other group we are staying outside fatto da pochi. Va mia bé! Ok? did last week. to condemn the Noi non giudichiamo Even if we are not system. That’s all. Is nessuno, ognuno fa Facciamo un bel coro quello che vuole... adesso che inizia la like them, we have to that ok? Noi sappiamo qual’è partita e poi andiamo show solidarity and Let’s sing a good one la nostra mentalità! avanti a divertirci qua take a stand against now and let’s stay out fuori. the system. here. We’ll all go in Noi lo facciamo contro il sistema Entriamo dopo, Remember that the at the end of the first half. perchè potrebbe al secondo tempo. Outside the prison, Brescia, 2011, [04:30]

26FREEDOM

FORSupporters organise a demonstration outside the prison in Brescia. Instead ofA chanting for the LLBrescia 1911: .1VINCI PER NOI team, they chant for the detainees. Chants from the stadium enter the city. Tenete duro! FORZA BRESCIA The demonstration was organized to express solidarity with the detainess and bring attention to the problems of prison overcrowding and the poor conditions of italian detention centres. Being FORZA RAGAZZI GLI ULTRAS SON CON TE engaged in socio-political issues is a direct consequence of supporters’ anti-authoritarian atti- FORZA RAGAZZI tude. The more they are confronted with repression and state control, the more they sympathise FORZA RAGAZZI SIAM VENUTI PER VOI and express solidarity for other social struggles. NON MOLLARE MAI E CHI NON SALTA Brescia 1911: WE CAME FOR YOU NON MOLLARE MAI È UN CELERINO FORZA RAGAZZI WE CAME FOR YOU NON MOLLARE MAI OOOO OOO OOO O O NEVER GIVE UP E CHI NON SALTA IF YOU DON’T JUMP PERCHÈ IL BRESCIA SIETE VOI È UN CELERINO YOU ARE BRESCIA YOU ARE A COP! PERCHÈ IL BRESCIA SIETE VOI OOO O O O O Detainees: IF YOU DON’T JUMP PERCHÈ IL BRESCIA SIETE VOI Thank you guys! YOU ARE A COP! LA DISOCCUPAZIONE IF YOU DON’T JUMP Brescia 1911: Carcerati: TI HA DATO UN BEL MESTIERE YOU ARE A COP! ALL THE ULTRAS Siete grandi! MESTIERE DI MERDA CARABINIERE MUST SING THE GOVERNEMENT GAVE YOU A Brescia 1911: GOOD JOB MESTIERE DELL’ASSASSINO WE’RE HERE FOR THE DETAINEES TUTTA LA CURVA FORZA BRESCIA IT’S A SHIT JOB TO BE A COP IL CELERINO ...oh non si è sentito un cazzo! BRESCIA WIN FOR US IT’S A KILLER JOB TO BE A COP TUTTA LA CURVA Carcerati: FORZA BRESCIA Detainees: THE ULTRAS ARE WITH YOU DEVE CANTARE Auguri a tutti! Merry Christmas! I RAGAZZI HAN BISOGNO DI NOI Libertà! Freedom! FORZA BRESCIA Tutti a casa... WE CAME FOR YOU We wanna go home! Outside the prison, Brescia, 2011, [06:34]

27 FREEDOM

FORAfter the supporters have left the area surrounding the prison, the detainees A continue to sing LL .2 from their cells. The prisoners use the rhythms and melodies of the supporters and make them Brescia 1911: their own. The chant are appropriated. They are contagious. They spread from mouth to mouth. OI MAMMA MAMMA MAMMA Brescia 1911: SAI PERCHÈ SO CHE A CANTÙMOMBEL OH MUMMY MUMMY MUMMY ME GO SPACÀT SÖ TÖT YOU KNOW HOW I GOT TO JAIL? I MESSED UP EVERYTHING TIFE ÈL BRÈSA ÈNSÈMA AI DELINQUENCC I’M SUPPORTING BRESCIA WITH ALL THE DETAINEES Carcerati: LIBERTÀ Detainees: FREEDOM LIBERTÀ FREEDOM LIBERTÀ FREEDOM Brescia 1911: Brescia 1911: CELERINO ASSASSINO OLÉ ALL COPS ARE KILLERS CELERINO ASSASSINO OLÉ ALL COPS ARE KILLERS ALL COPS ARE KILLERS CELERINO ASSASSINO OLÉ Detainees: Carcerati: Police bastard! Celerino bastardo. Outside the stadium, BRESCIA vs. catania, 2015, [03:09]

28 FOLLOW THE DRUM Further to the ban on taking drums into the stadium becoming law in 2007, chants have lost their rhythmic support. Clapping of hands only is not enough to ensure the potency and the power Dai oh, uno per il Dai, seguiamo il of the chants. Without the drums setting the rhythm, supporters lose the tempo and have the tendency to accelerate. Brescia adesso. tamburo! Su le mani. In the same year, in addition to drums, the ban was extended to the use of megaphones and Col tamburo! any other amplification system, usually used to coordinate the supporters within the stadium. By NOI VOGLIAMO banning these means, the modern football system chooses to silence stadiums and annihilate Dai, dai! participation in the game. The aim of such restriction is to separate the audience from the game, QUESTA VITTORIA to exclude the supporters from the event. Dai che devono Come on, sing one for You can’t do it anymore? sentirlo in campo, NOI VOGLIAMO Brescia now. Let’s follow the drum, dai! QUESTA VITTORIA With the drum! come on! They have to hear it from Put your hands in the air. NOI VOGLIAMO QUESTA VITTORIA the pitch! WE WANNA WIN BRESCIA WE WANNA WIN 1911 COME NOI BRESCIA WE WANNA WIN BRESCIA NON C’È NESSUNO 1911 COME NOI BRESCIA 1911 THERE’S BRESCIA NON C’È NESSUNO BRESCIA NOBODY 1911 COME NOI LIKE US BRE... NON C’È NESSUNO BRE... Più piano gnari. 1911 THERE’S Più piano! NON NE POSSIAMO PIÙ You are off the beat! NOBODY DELLE DIVISE BLU Your voices are faster than Seguite il tamburo. NO AL CALCIO MODERNO the drum. LIKE US Oh! NO ALLA PAY TV! Slower guys, sing it WE CAN’T STAND THE Seguite il tamburo NON NE POSSIAMO PIÙ slower! POLICE ANYMORE dio cane! DELLE DIVISE BLU Follow the drum, for fucks NO TO MODERN FOOTBALL NO AL CALCIO MODERNO sake! NO TO PAY TV Non siete più capaci? NO ALLA PAY TV! At the stadium, BRESCIA vs. bologna, 2001, [08:17]

29 THIS IS OUR

ANTHEVoices and hands follow the drums. Drumming brings people together. The power of the sound M .1 and the vibration makes our bodies oscillate, holding them together. (Recordings 29 and 30 are QUESTO È IL NOSTRO INNO CHE the same chant recorded 9 years apart, with and without the drums). LA DOMENICA ALLO STADIO THIS IS OUR ANTHEM TUTTI INSIEME CANTEREMO WE SING IT ALL TOGETHER E IL BRESCIA ECCOLO QUA EVERY SUNDAY AT THE STADIUM NOI SIAMO FORTI E VINCEREMO THIS IS BRESCIA IN OGNI STADIO IL BRESCIA SEGUIAMO WE ARE STRONG AND WE WILL WIN E NOI PER SEMPRE FORZA BRESCIA WE FOLLOW BRESCIA EVERYWHERE WE WILL SING FORZA BRESCIA FOREVER CANTEREMO! LA LALA LALA LALA LA LALA LALA LALA LALA LALALA LALA LALALA LALA LALALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA O OO OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO O OO OO O OO OO O OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO At the stadium, cittadella vs. BRESCIA, 2010, [05:36]

30 THIS IS OUR

ANTHEWithout the drums, the voices and the clapping hands struggle to keep the tempo. Although there M .2 is an absence of a shared beat, at a certain point a unifying structure slowly emerges. LA LALA LALA LALA LA LALA LALA LALA LALA LALALA LALA LALALA LALA LALALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA LA LALA LALA LALALA O OO OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO O OO OO O OO OO O OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO OO O OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO Thanks to: Marzia Dalfini, Serenella Martufi, Vittoria Soddu, Justin Bennett, Raviv Ganchrow, Tia DeNora, James Lappin, Paul Whitty, Attila Faravelli, Enrico Malatesta, Pieter Van Bogaert, SoundImageCulture Bruxelles, Jonathan Sterne, Diego Piccinelli, Radio Onda d’Urto, Brescia 1911 Ultras Liberi! THE SOUND OF NORMALISATION is a collection of audio recordings documenting the sound culture of the ultras group Brescia 1911 in relation to modern football and the wave of repressive measures targeted at organised supporters groups. The recordings were made over a period of 15 years and cover: 1) the creation, uses and meanings of the chants 2) group principles and collective identity 3) audience participation and the process of social exclusion from the stadium 4) police repression and the political implications of the chants 5) the evolution of drumming in the stadium in relation to the drums ban-order of 2007. Each recording comes with a short introductory text and is presented here as a video with subtitles.

Recordings: 2002 > 2015 Video: 2015 > 2018 Editing and Mixing: 2013 > 2015 Design: 2015 > 2018

Concept and realisation: Davide Tidoni Graphic Design: Marzia Dalfini together with Davide Tidoni Publisher: SARU and viaindustriae SUONO

Supported by SARU at Oxford Brookes University as part of the project Get some chalk on your boots!