WHO DAT NATION

Imagine the year is 2019 , we will all be 10 yrs older. New Orleans may still have unsecured levees, we may still be the #1 crime city in the nation and we will still have vivid memories of our individual Katrina experience BUT one thing for sure we will all remember fondly will be the Saints 2009 season. At this point our team is riding as high as ever with their 11-0 Victory and the season is far from over. Sports Illustrated named the Saints as their pick for the Big Superbowl win, something that has never happened in the complete history of our Beloved team.

Many Non-Believers have written off the Saints and have showed no faith but they've proven that through hard work, dedication, leadership and teamwork they can rise to the very top. Our New Orleans NFL team can be seen as a metaphor for all that is good in our city and as an example of what can be accomplished with a little faith and insight. Just as the Saints had been written off so has New Orleans due to our Sea level, our levees & our crime but these Swamp Rats will survive no matter what rough seasons we must endure. We are a resiliant wonderful city steeped in historical culture, mystery, culinary wonders and NOW a football team that is on its way to being LEGENDARY. I propose Drew Brees run for mayor, why not lets give a real leader a chance for once.

Throughout the Saints History many songs have been associated with the Team. These songs or anthems keep our hopes and spirit alive. Our infamous chant "Who dat" has a long history as well and will be uniquely ours for many years to come. Our music which is woven into every aspect of a New Orleanian's life forms a link directly to our Saints Loyalty.

The Who dat cheer actually began in Vaudeville acts of the late 1800's/early 1900's and was used as a line in negro minstrel shows. In the 1960's the chant gained popularity as the chant for fan's favorite football teams. In 1983 the Saints adopted the phrase for the team during the Coach Bum Phillips residency. Who dat is now used as the main cheer for the team and has been used in countless songs.

As is fitting for a world reknown Jazz city, the first song associated with our team was "When the Saints go Marching In" an old jazz spiritual standard. I truly believe when anyone from New Orleans hears this song it immediately evokes images of tailgating, second lining and Saints Fever. Of course there have been countless renditions of this song but ,In my humble opinion, the greatest version is the Louis Armstrong interpretation.

Another song that has become part of the Saints Culture is the "Who Dat" song recorded by Steve Monistere, a New Orleans musican and producer recorded the 1983. Aaron Neville sang the lead and the Saints offensive line yelled the chant. It was Monistere's recording that made the phrase an indigenous part of the New Orleans language. The song became popular during the days of Jim Mora as head coach and Bobby Herbert as Quarterback. This song brings me back to being about 10 yrs old watching the games with my stepfather and hearing that "who dat , who dat, who dat say you gonna beat dem Saints!" in the background. Aaron Neville's voice sounds as beautiful as ever in this song as he sings "Oh when the Saints go Marching In....."

The year 2006 brought many grand returns to our city including the hope for the Superbowl. That same year the team acquired coach Sean Payton, Drew Brees as quarteback and Heisman Trophy Winner Reggie Bush.2006 has been the teams most successful year, that is until NOW of course. The Saints return to the dome in 2006 was truly an eventful experience after the chaos that took place there during Katrina. The Dome needed to be cleansed physically not only because it is home for our team but for the spiritual symbolism it meant to a city trying to pick up the pieces after bitter devastation. The season ended with a record 11-7 and many attribute a huge factor in the championship loss to be the unfamiliar wintary conditions present when the Saints played the Chicago Bears.

Inspite of our loss, 2006 brought us another Saints Anthem "The Saints are coming". This song is a cover song originally done by punk group the Skids. U2 and Green day recorded the song to help charitable organization "Music Rising" created by U2's The Edge to bring back music in schools as well as donate instruments. The song was released during the Pregame show of the New Orleans Saints versus Atlanta Falcons game on September 25, 2006. This was the first game played in the dome since Hurricane Katrina. The band for this performance was a 7 piece band and included New Orleans own Rebirth Brass Band. Troy Andrews (aka Trombone Shorty) and Big Sam. U2's Bono and Billie Joe Armstrong of Greenday wowed the massive crowd at the Dome as they personalized lyrics as a testament to our trials and victories since August 2005. Bono sings one lyric that stands out "Lower 9 will rise again above the waters of Lake Ponchartrain" This tune is played now every game prior to the Saints entering the Field.

Another song that has been inspired by our Saints Devotion in 2009 is "Bring Em to the Dome" by New Orleans own Shammar Allen and hip hop artist Dee-1. Shammar and Dee-1 have paired up in other instances and decided to unite their different musical styles in a Saints song. This track is huge mixture of various genres incorporating rock, brass band, jazz and hip hop beats into a successful hit. The song includes lyrics such as
"They wanted me to root for their team
but I don't do that,
Baby I'm a Saints Fan that's why I say Who Dat
That's why I say Who Dat"
The track is currently being played on different radio stations in the city in hopes it will be picked up by the Saints Organization.

No doubt the New Orleans Saints have inspired a list of other songs too many to name and will continue to make musicians produce track after track of Saints anthems for the duration of our team and our City's history. The greatest of Saints songs has yet to be produced surely when we win the Superbowl this year! Who Dat, Go Saints!

"Without Music, life would be a mistake"
------Freidrich Wilhelm Nietzsche