“Here’s to England,” Neil said.
Although “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond is a well-known song, some may question why it is played at English football games.
After all, Neil is an American musician who debuted the song back in 1969. So, why do you hear it at English matches nowadays?
Why does England sing “Sweet Caroline” at games?
The story of how “Sweet Caroline” became a victory song in general begins in 1997 at Boston’s legendary Fenway Park, when a stadium employee called Amy Tobey (who was in charge of the music) played the song in honor of a coworker who had recently given birth to a baby girl named Caroline.
The song became a regular at Fenway Park in 2002, courtesy to the new executive VP for public relations, Dr. Charles Steinburg, who believed it had “transformative powers,” as reported by the Berkeley Beacon. It would play before the eighth inning of every Red Sox game, before the team batted.
Okay, so that’s all well and good, but how does it connect to England? The answer is simple: it’s a great, catchy music that makes you happy. And it’s easy to sing along to, making it ideal for a tournament anthem.
The song gained popularity as an English football anthem after Arsenal’s 2017 FA Cup semi-final triumph. It has since been played at several English sporting events, including boxing and rugby, according to the BBC. It has also become a favorite song among Aston Villa supporters in particular.
Neil Diamond is all about the British affection for his music. Neil expressed his excitement to The Telegraph in 2021 when England fans sang the song at Wembley Stadium during Euro 2020.
“Well, I hope you can do it again — here’s to England,” added the president.
You have to admit, “Sweet Caroline” is the perfect tune to put everyone in a good mood. Neil originally composed the song about his wife, Marcia, but changed the name to Caroline since it sounded better with the tune. Apparently, his inspiration came from viewing a magazine cover featuring JFK’s daughter Caroline Kennedy. The rest was history.
By most reports, people appear to be pleased to hear the music played during sports. Simply listen to the crowd singing along in the video below and try not to sing along:
Isn’t it really addictive? Long live Neil Diamond and “Sweet Caroline” as a happy and upbeat song for many years to come!
