Watch Ella and the Fox Version of the song
Never Tear Us Apart - Ella & The Fox
What does it truly mean to have passion? Is it possible for a song to encapsulate the essence of yearning, the spirit of a place, or the collective heartbeat of a crowd? Ella & The Fox's cover of “Never Tear Us Apart” captures these emotions thoughtfully, each note and lyric sweeps you into a world where fiery fandom and a deep love for an AFL football club converges.
The Connection of Music, Memories, and Sports
As a one-eyed Port Adelaide supporter, knowing the history of the club and the significance of this song to its timeline, the lyrics and energy of this song constantly serve as a reminder to persevere & to hold onto the principles and people that you love. The sentiment within the lyrical lines speaks just as clearly for a fan's unwavering love and support to their club as it does for the passion and fealty we have for our loved ones.
Now living in Sydney, away from the familiar roar of "The Portress" (AKA Adelaide Oval), this song resonates even more—it’s a siren that calls me back to the chilly winter games, the vocal crowds, and the shared joy of the sport.
Personal Reverie:
"Packing out the Adelaide Oval and singing this song at the top of my lungs along with every other member of the Port Adelaide faithful just before that siren goes is the most amazing thing you’ll ever see in the AFL."
This is more than 'just a love song' for fans about their team. Never Tear Us Apart, or - NTUA (as referred to by Port Fans) reflects dually on the battle for recognition of the club's history before it joined the AFL, and the unwavering loyalty a True Believer has for the creed, club, culture and passion of the Port Adelaide Football Club.
The idea for a united pre-game song was formed in 2013 after the club attended a Liverpool FC game after playing an exhibition AFL match against the Western Bulldogs. The power and emotion of the famous "You'll Never Walk Alone" stayed with the club executives and the INXS classic was selected for it's emotion, strength and lyrics that speak to the club's history.
The pre-game event at each Port Adelaide home game is unrivalled within the AFL, and being part of a packed stadium, all singing together with their scarves aloft in unity for their beloved club is something you will not see at any other team's home match. Even interstate rival club players and supporters will tell you it's an experience all of itself.
The Deeper Meaning Behind "Never Tear Us Apart"
The 1987 INXS song was given new life in March 2014 when it was played for 60 seconds before the opening bounce of Port Adelaide's first home game at Adelaide Oval and has become a standing item on the pre-game agenda ever since. The choice of song reflects on the club's battle to enter the AFL in the early 90's, ultimately achieving this in 1997 - but forced to completely cut ties with it's traditional football league base, the Port Adelaide Magpies. The club continued to fight to be recognised as one club in the same way as the Victorian clubs, including the Sydney Swans who originated from South Melbourne, and The Brisbane Lions, who merged with the old Fitzroy team. This was achieved in 2014, and the club's status as the oldest league football team in Australia is now recognised, with 1870 worn with pride on the jumpers of all players to commemorate the club's heritage. The sentiment of "Never Tear Us Apart" is therefore a nod to the attempts that were made to tear the SANFL and AFL clubs apart, but the triumph of once again being recognised for their full history.
Musically, this track isn’t just a beloved anthem for Port Adelaide fans; it goes deeper, touching on universal themes of love, resilience, and endurance. The phrase "I told you that we could fly because we all have wings" profoundly underscores the ability in each of us to rise above challenges, mirroring the literal flights taken by the players on the field as they strive for victory.
"Never Tear Us Apart" is as much a personal narrative as it is a collective declaration from the fans to their beloved team. It’s an avowal that despite the challenges (be it a tough season or the heartaches that come with any sporting pursuit), the bond shared is resilient—a tensile strength that only sports fandom could understand and appreciate.
INXS reaction to their music becoming a club anthem
Andrew Farriss, who wrote the song with Michael Hutchence said "I must say I was overwhelmed when I first saw (Port) Adelaide audiences participating with 'Never Tear Us Apart'.... It makes me very emotional because I recognise that this is not a pop moment, this is not an award, it's not even about money - it's about culture. This song that I wrote with Michael (Hutchence) all those years ago, perhaps even naively, is now part of Australian culture and I take that very seriously".
The Cultural Impact of Music in Sports
Integrating music such as this into sporting events does more than hype up the crowd. It creates a legacy, etching moments into memories with lyrical reminders of why fans gather game after game, season after season. It is a cultural phenomenon where music and sport, two seemingly distinct worlds, spin together forming a communal identity and an unbreakable bond.
Imagine standing amidst a sea of fans, the air electric with anticipation, and then the first note strikes. The entire stadium erupts in unison, a choir of hundreds, their voices unified by the chords of a song that’s more than just a melody—it’s a herald of unity and undying loyalty.
Each line of the song, "we all have wings, but some of us don’t know why," speaks to the mysterious and often unexplainable fervour that sports and team allegiance can rouse in an individual. It reflects the highs and lows, the tears and the triumphs, of following a team not merely as a hobby but as a way of life.
More Than Just a Game
Being a part of something bigger than oneself, like the Port Adelaide Football Club, combines nostalgia, current excitement, and future hopes all into one. The essence of sport isn’t encapsulated purely by the scores or the statistics—it's also in the shared experiences, the anthems belted from loyal lungs, and the everlasting memories created with every game. As I invite each one of you, sports enthusiast or not, to experience this phenomenon, consider this not just an invitation to watch a game, but to feel the pulse of a community, and to be swept away by a song that will indeed, never let us tear apart.
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