IN THE time-honoured tradition of FA Cup finals, the inevitable cup songs are beginning to raise their heads above the music industry parapet - and Southampton has been no exception.
Saints fans have been flocking to the recording studios to sing the praises of their team's first cup final for 27 years.
With the club deciding not to release an official song for the final - Arsenal have also decided not to release a song - Saints supporters have been getting in on the act instead.
Following in the footsteps of annoyingly memorable cup anthems such as Chelsea's 1970 effort Blue is the Colour and Tottenham's 1981 ditty Ossie's Dream, some supporters are hoping their musical talents do not go unnoticed.
So while the team is gunning for glory in Cardiff on Saturday, May 17, Saints fans could also be top of the pops with their tribute to Gordon Strachan's men.
A total of six unofficial Saints cup final anthems have gone on general sale.
Today the Daily Echo is giving you the chance to sample each of the six tracks and vote on the song you think is the best. Are you ready, pop pickers?
SOUTHAMPTON BOYS BY THE RED AND WHITE MACHINES:
Bookies' favourite for pop success is the Power FM and Mark Hill Productions collaboration Southampton Boys, by The Red and White Machines.
The song, which was produced in just three days, has already received airtime from Power FM DJ, Des Paul, and has already caused quite a stir. Written by Saints fans Carl McIntosh and Dan Molinero, it features vocals from the Artful Dodger's MC Alistair and commentary from Power FM's sports commentator, Peter Hood.
Des Paul said: "It's a great record. Football records are funny things. Sometimes they're very cheesy but this one's a good record."
Carl, 25, added: "As far as me and Dan go, we are such big Saints supporters. Our motivation was to get it played at the FA Cup Final and maybe on Match of the Day," he said.
William Hill are already giving odds of 33-1 on the record reaching the top ten and Southsea-based bookies Flutters are offering odds of 100-1 for it to reach the top of the charts.Southampton Boys goes on sale at all good record shops and supermarkets on May 12 priced £3.99.
Verdict: A typical cup final anthem featuring some quirky lyrics but look out for the even catchier Brazilian samba B-side Marsdinhio.
JUST LIKE '76 BY MARTIN MURPHY:
PROFESSIONAL musician and Saints Supporter's Club compere Martin Murphy wrote his anthem Just like '76 shortly after the victory against Wolves in the quarter-finals.
The 32-year-old season-ticket holder from West End has dedicated the song to the 1976 final goal scorer Bobby Stokes - the only player from the 76 side who is no longer alive. Already on sale priced £3 at HMV, Virgin, the Le Tissier Feet and the Northam Club, profits from this single will be donated to the cerebral palsy charity Scope.
Martin said: "I wanted to give the fans something to sing at the final."
Verdict: A catchy number and some nostalgic commentary from the 1976 final, it has already been selling like hot cakes in the city's pubs.
WE ARE THE SAINTS, WE'RE STRACHAN'S CLAN BY HOOK-WITH WARSASH SCHOOL AND GORDON STRACHAN:
SAINTS manager Gordon Strachan has been tempted behind the microphone to perform with Hampshire schoolchildren on a specially penned song to mark his team's bid for cup glory.
It might not be destined for chart success but it's a tune soon to be on the lips of many a Saints fan.
The We are The Saints, We're Strachan's Clan anthem features the backing vocal of the Saints manager and could spur Southampton all the way to the cup glory.
The Saints manager is accompanied by more than 400 children, teachers and governors at Hook-with-Warsash school in the song, written by music teacher Mark Baxter.
It was recorded at the Warsash school and all proceeds from the CD will go to Christian Aid.
It is available priced at £5 from Hook-with-Warsash Primary School, Church Road, Warsash.
Verdict: It was good of Strachan to stretch those vocal chords but it reminds me too much of that 1980 classic There's No One Quite Like Grandma, by the St Winifred's School choir.
ALL SOUTHAMPTON BY LLOYD TWO:
LONG time Saints season ticket holders Adrian Payne and brother Russell have collaborated to produce All Southampton, performed by Lloyd Two.
Written by Adrian, who now lives in Epsom, Surrey, the upbeat sing-a-long was produced in just three days and could be a crowd favourite in Cardiff.
Saints has been a way of life for the Payne family with three generations regularly turning out to cheer the team on.
Music is also in the blood. Pop group Lloyd Two enjoyed brief success in Southampton during the 1980s.
Russell, a financial adviser, from Hedge End, said: "The ideal result would have been to get the team to sing it."
The single is on sale now priced £3.99 at FM Music in the Bargate Centre and Football Memorabilia in Old Northam Road.
Verdict: Daily Echo Saints reporter Adam Leitch has a soft spot for this one, and with its upbeat tune and trumpet fanfare it's not hard to see why.
WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON FOOTBALL CLUB (AND WE'RE GONNA WIN THE FA CUP) BY MIKE SHANNON:
FOR season ticket holder Mike Shannon chart success is not uncommon. The company manager from Rownhams enjoyed a brief period of musical success with the 1980s Southampton band You Laugh I Cry.
In 1986, their hit The Old Routine went to number one in the local charts and brief recognition in London followed.
Now the part-time songwriter has come up with his own quirky cup final ditty We are Southampton Football Club (And We're Gonna Win the FA Cup).
Season ticket holder Mike, who shares a name similar to a 1976 Saints legend, said: "I did this for a bit of a laugh.
I recorded it at home and I already had the tune in my head by the time we won the quarter-final."
The song is on sale priced £3.50 at the football memorabilia shop in Old Northam Road, Southampton.
Verdict: A dark horse and could prove popular among the fans. Catchy rhythm and fun lyrics could make this a popular choice.
OH WHEN THE SAINTS BY SAINTS SUPPORTERS:
IT'S a Southampton classic and just before you began to wonder why everyone had forgotten about Oh When The Saints, well here it is.
Originally released two years ago to celebrate Saints moving to St Mary's, this anthem features live crowd recordings from the days at The Dell.
It has been re-released to mark Saints' first FA Cup final appearance for 27 years.
Produced by Southampton record producer, Barry Upton, who was one of the men behind former pop sensations Steps, he even managed to persuade Matthew Le Tissier to MC on the B-side, called Southampton, Southampton.
Sentimentally could be the winner here and there is a hint of that 1996 England classic, Three Lions.
Verdict: Le Tissier's skills on the pitch have been the stuff of legend but we will let you decide on his talents as an MC, although the main A-side does have a nice familiarity about it.
But who cares what we think? We want to hear which of these songs you prefer. So pick up the phone and start dialling for your choice of top of the pops . . .
SONG FOR SAINTS: HAVE YOUR VOTE
To hear all the songs call 0906 210 2302 and enter the selection number you wish to listen to when prompted.
Please use a touch tone phone.
6070: To hear around 25 seconds of each of the six songs and at the end place your vote for your favourite and also hear more of the song of your choice.
6076: JUST LIKE '76 BY MARTIN MURPHY
6077: WE ARE THE SAINTS BY HOOK-WITH-WARSASH SCHOOL
6078: ALL SOUTHAMPTON BY LLOYD TWO
6079: OH WHEN THE SAINTS BY SAINTS SUPPORTERS AND BARRY UPTON
6080: SOUTHAMPTON BOYS BY THE RED AND WHITE MACHINES
6081: WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON BY MIKE SHANNON
Calls charged at 25p per minute and lines will remain open until Tuesday, May 13.
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