To The Band

[andyw2100]

I love seeing/hearing the Pep Band at away games and donate to help them get there.

One way the band might contribute beyond just music would be to tap its alumni (or archives/database, if they have one) and learn more about the history of songs and cheers at Lynah, to renew some of the traditions that have slipped away or changed for the worse.  There was a time when the band started some of the cheers at games, or at least encouraged those students in Section A (and B) to start some.  To me, the Pep Band is more likely to learn about and implement "oldies but goodies" than the student sections as a whole.  And it would help with what seems to me to be a lack creativity in recent (or many) years.  For example, I was at the Harvard game, on the townie side, and heard audible groans each time the students started a "Harvard Sucks!" chant.  Some were ruing the vulgarity (if you want to call it that), but many lamented the lack of creativity.  Shouldn't we be better than that?

An easy and obvious one to restart is when the keys came out in the third period and the generic "warm up the bus" chant started.  Against Harvard, or any Boston-area school, we used to chant, "go staht the cah" (and "go start the tank" when we played Army).  I'm disappointed no one thought that up on their own (and, of course, not surprised no students seem to know it existed oreviously.  The band can take the lead and get other students involved.  There were plenty of Harvard-specific cheers in the past that also might be worth considering:
 
"H-A-R, H-A-R, H-A-R, V. V-A-R, V-A-R, V-A-R, D. Hah-Vahd, Hah-Vahd, Rah."

or

"That's H-A-R with a V.  V-A-R with a D. Knit one, pearl two, Harvard boys, yoo hoo! (crowd waves)."

Of course, not everything should be tied to the past and today's students and band should have the freedom to be as creative as they can, but there is some value in looking to the past also, when it can make a positive difference.

Keys and "Go Start The Bus" still exist.

I --WAS-- surprised that the band did not play the theme from "Love Story" at the Harvard game this year.

[stereax]

I love seeing/hearing the Pep Band at away games and donate to help them get there.

One way the band might contribute beyond just music would be to tap its alumni (or archives/database, if they have one) and learn more about the history of songs and cheers at Lynah, to renew some of the traditions that have slipped away or changed for the worse.  There was a time when the band started some of the cheers at games, or at least encouraged those students in Section A (and B) to start some.  To me, the Pep Band is more likely to learn about and implement "oldies but goodies" than the student sections as a whole.  And it would help with what seems to me to be a lack creativity in recent (or many) years.  For example, I was at the Harvard game, on the townie side, and heard audible groans each time the students started a "Harvard Sucks!" chant.  Some were ruing the vulgarity (if you want to call it that), but many lamented the lack of creativity.  Shouldn't we be better than that?

An easy and obvious one to restart is when the keys came out in the third period and the generic "warm up the bus" chant started.  Against Harvard, or any Boston-area school, we used to chant, "go staht the cah" (and "go start the tank" when we played Army).  I'm disappointed no one thought that up on their own (and, of course, not surprised no students seem to know it existed oreviously.  The band can take the lead and get other students involved.  There were plenty of Harvard-specific cheers in the past that also might be worth considering:
 
"H-A-R, H-A-R, H-A-R, V. V-A-R, V-A-R, V-A-R, D. Hah-Vahd, Hah-Vahd, Rah."

or

"That's H-A-R with a V.  V-A-R with a D. Knit one, pearl two, Harvard boys, yoo hoo! (crowd waves)."

Of course, not everything should be tied to the past and today's students and band should have the freedom to be as creative as they can, but there is some value in looking to the past also, when it can make a positive difference.

Keys and "Go Start The Bus" still exist.

I --WAS-- surprised that the band did not play the theme from "Love Story" at the Harvard game this year.

The issue with keys is that it usually starts with like 4-5 minutes left in the game if we're up by 2 or more, and people get tired of it by the end of the game :/

[VIEWfromK]

I --WAS-- surprised that the band did not play the theme from "Love Story" at the Harvard game this year.

I swear that I heard it once at a random time during that game

[Chris '03]

The issue with keys is that it usually starts with like 4-5 minutes left in the game if we're up by 2 or more, and people get tired of it by the end of the game :/

N minus one!

[stereax]

The issue with keys is that it usually starts with like 4-5 minutes left in the game if we're up by 2 or more, and people get tired of it by the end of the game :/

N minus one!

I think I remember the rule from the old Elynah site, yeah, but it always seems to start early and peter out by 2 minutes or so left.

[andyw2100]

I --WAS-- surprised that the band did not play the theme from "Love Story" at the Harvard game this year.

I swear that I heard it once at a random time during that game

Hmmmm...I guess I could have missed it. Better if I missed it than having the band have missed playing it.

[David Harding]

"Fight Fiercely, Harvard"

[Jim Hyla]

I --WAS-- surprised that the band did not play the theme from "Love Story" at the Harvard game this year.

I swear that I heard it once at a random time during that game

Hmmmm...I guess I could have missed it. Better if I missed it than having the band have missed playing it.

Yes I'm pretty sure they did play it.

[pjd8]

I love seeing/hearing the Pep Band at away games and donate to help them get there.

One way the band might contribute beyond just music would be to tap its alumni (or archives/database, if they have one) and learn more about the history of songs and cheers at Lynah, to renew some of the traditions that have slipped away or changed for the worse.  There was a time when the band started some of the cheers at games, or at least encouraged those students in Section A (and B) to start some.  To me, the Pep Band is more likely to learn about and implement "oldies but goodies" than the student sections as a whole.  And it would help with what seems to me to be a lack creativity in recent (or many) years.  For example, I was at the Harvard game, on the townie side, and heard audible groans each time the students started a "Harvard Sucks!" chant.  Some were ruing the vulgarity (if you want to call it that), but many lamented the lack of creativity.  Shouldn't we be better than that?

An easy and obvious one to restart is when the keys came out in the third period and the generic "warm up the bus" chant started.  Against Harvard, or any Boston-area school, we used to chant, "go staht the cah" (and "go start the tank" when we played Army).  I'm disappointed no one thought that up on their own (and, of course, not surprised no students seem to know it existed oreviously.  The band can take the lead and get other students involved.  There were plenty of Harvard-specific cheers in the past that also might be worth considering:
 
"H-A-R, H-A-R, H-A-R, V. V-A-R, V-A-R, V-A-R, D. Hah-Vahd, Hah-Vahd, Rah."

or

"That's H-A-R with a V.  V-A-R with a D. Knit one, pearl two, Harvard boys, yoo hoo! (crowd waves)."

Of course, not everything should be tied to the past and today's students and band should have the freedom to be as creative as they can, but there is some value in looking to the past also, when it can make a positive difference.

A lot of those cheers may have died out because in the '80s they were making fun of Harvard in an effeminate manner. Certainly the alternate words to "Ten Thousand Men of Harvard" made direct jabs at sexuality that today's generation has evolved beyond.

What surprised me was I didn't hear the crowd do "winning team, losing team". Did I just miss it?

[chimpfood]

Winning team losing team still happens every win. There are also plenty of creative chants, just since they aren't traditional they get chanted less and are less audible from the townie side or the broadcast. One example was I think from the u Toronto exhibition. Someone found out their goalie's parents were divorced and there were chants of "every other weekend" and "double Christmas". That might've been a bit too far for an exhibition game but it shows that innovation is still alive.

[Trotsky]

Someone found out their goalie's parents were divorced and there were chants of "every other weekend" and "double Christmas".

The kids are alright.

[VIEWfromK]

The kids are alright.

But not alt-right?

[Jim Hyla]

Winning team losing team still happens every win. There are also plenty of creative chants, just since they aren't traditional they get chanted less and are less audible from the townie side or the broadcast. One example was I think from the u Toronto exhibition. Someone found out their goalie's parents were divorced and there were chants of "every other weekend" and "double Christmas". That might've been a bit too far for an exhibition game but it shows that innovation is still alive.

But unfortunately inside jokes just don't make it for the general population.

[stereax]

Winning team losing team still happens every win. There are also plenty of creative chants, just since they aren't traditional they get chanted less and are less audible from the townie side or the broadcast. One example was I think from the u Toronto exhibition. Someone found out their goalie's parents were divorced and there were chants of "every other weekend" and "double Christmas". That might've been a bit too far for an exhibition game but it shows that innovation is still alive.

But unfortunately inside jokes just don't make it for the general population.

Honestly, just have some enterprising Section B'er come up with some good chants before the game and distribute a "dirty laundry list" of things they want the crowd to say and why.

[VIEWfromK]

Honestly, just have some enterprising Section B'er come up with some good chants before the game and distribute a "dirty laundry list" of things they want the crowd to say and why.

I saw someone try this a few years back but to no avail.