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When football hearts sing: stadium anthems in the focus of sport!
Discover the meaning of stadium anthems in football: emotions, traditions and the unforgettable fan chants in Kiel.
When football hearts sing: stadium anthems in the focus of sport!
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, NDR broadcast a captivating program entitled “When the whole stadium sings – North German football anthems”. This fascinating documentary, broadcast between 11.40pm and 12.10am, highlights the power and charm of stadium music, which is an essential part of the football experience as teams arrive. This edition particularly highlights the anthem “The heart of St. Pauli” of FC St. Pauli, which has enormous emotional significance not only for the players but also for the fans.
The show explores the question of why stadium anthems are so important. Political backgrounds, sporting relevance and the emotional connection of the fans play a central role. These songs are more than just acoustic accompaniments to the game; they embody the heartbeat of the clubs and their supporters. NDR explains how the anthems find lasting acceptance in the hearts of fans thanks to their precise content and emotional impact.
The power of singing together
A particularly moving moment at every FC St. Pauli home game is singing the last verse of “The Heart of St. Pauli” together. This unofficial anthem is played after the “guests’ anthem” and brings the stadium to life as fans join in an impressive a cappella choir. The blog describes the fan chant as an indispensable part of football that symbolizes the connection to her club and mobilizes the team. The unique dynamics and emotion that the fans put into their chants create an atmosphere that thrills both players and spectators.
But the hymns are not just limited to St. Pauli. Fan chants in Germany can be found in stadiums everywhere and many clubs have their own characteristic songs. Well-known anthems such as “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool FC, “Ein Hoch auf uns” by Andreas Bourani for FC Augsburg and “Hamburg, meine Pearl” for Hamburger SV are just a few of the well-known examples that characterize football in Germany. Fangesang.de also illuminates how these songs are often adaptable and can be heard in the nation's stadiums from Tuesday evening to Sunday.
Emotions that connect
Football anthems are more than just tunes; They are a source of emotional energy that transmits enthusiasm for the game and the club. These songs create unforgettable moments that connect fans and players forever. So you can say that stadium anthems have become an indispensable part of football culture in Germany and beyond, shaping not only the games but also people's hearts.
The NDR documentary, conceived by Ole Zeisler, examines the journey of stadium music, starting with the creators of the songs and ending with the stories that lie behind them. Production manager Matthias Most and the editorial team around Peter Carstens, Barbara Schöneberger and Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt also contributed to making this journey through the soundscapes of football a complete success.
Ultimately it turns out that music in the stadium is much more than just a Schaller experience. It is an element of cohesion and joy that football fans celebrate around the world. Anyone who has ever sat in a stadium knows: When the crowd sings, it's more than just a song - it's a collective emotion.