Newcastle United have today released a brand new version of the iconic anthem Blaydon Races, with fans seemingly split about whether they like it.
The Magpies had been using a version much quicker than the original, which drew criticism from fans for a long time inside St James’ Park, but this newer rendition is thought to be an attempt to reconnect with the song’s roots so it can be sung on the terraces once again, creating a better matchday experience.
Whilst it is much closer to the folky, soulful vibe of the original, the early reaction seems to be questioning why there was a need for an entirely new version instead of just returning to the old one.
Did we really need it?
I must admit, having listened to the new version, I don’t mind it. I’m just not really sure it was necessary to be quite frank.
If they really wanted to change it to match the feedback given about the strange sped up version we’ve been using, why couldn’t we have just gone back to the original?
I mean, we’ve just modernised the badge, which at least made sense commercially, but I’m not quite understanding what making an entirely new version of a beloved song is going to achieve.
In fact, I actually think the club have basically put themselves in a situation with a very slim chance of a positive outcome here, because what are the possible outcomes? Either you get everybody on board, which is exceptionally unlikely and, given the reaction I have seen thus far, hasn’t been achieved.
Or you end up with a split; possibly even the majority of the fanbase disliking it, and you’ve just caused yourself even more problems in a time where not everyone is too happy anyway given the update to the club’s branding or on-pitch performances.
To be quite honest, it feels as though the club are trying to latch onto the sort of publicity the likes of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ has gained at Anfield, but it has ended up feeling a bit manufactured and forced, especially considering the song already exists in a better form.
The timing isn’t great
As a club, Newcastle United do seem to have a strange ability to time things wrong.
I mean, it’s all well and good if this was decided upon as the date to release the song, but you would maybe think someone internally would have suggested that two days after a 4-1 defeat might not be the best time to tamper with something the club holds so dear.
It was always going to cause some controversy either way, but there are things the club could have done to minimise that risk - syncing it up with a frenzy of negativity isn’t one of those…
Ultimately, I don’t think the new version is terrible, and perhaps it will grow on people once it is being sung inside St James’ Park.
But I still can’t shake the feeling that the club has created a problem it didn’t need to have. If the aim was to bring Blaydon Races back to its roots and make it easier for supporters to sing, why not just give them the original back? Sometimes, not everything needs modernising.
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