OM chant: The story of the chant "We've been to every stadium"

When the song "Dans tous les stades on est allé" (We've been to every stadium) rings out, it tells the whole story of Marseille's away trips. "Dans tous les stades" celebrates the loyalty of the fans who follow OM all over France and Europe.

Sung during away games and epic journeys, this Marseille OM chant honors the "army of Marseillais" who travel tirelessly. But how did this chant become the anthem of Marseille's away trips? Discover the story of this celebration of nomadic fandom.

The origin: "The Caterpillar" by the Bande à Basile

As surprising as it may seem, this Marseilles song borrows its melody from "La Chenille" by La Bande à Basile , a festive hit released in 1977. At the time, this song set weddings and dance parties ablaze all over France.

Marseille supporters, in their ingenious adaptation, transformed this celebratory melody into a battle anthem. They replaced the lighthearted lyrics with a text celebrating their unwavering support for OM. The contrast is striking: a joyful tune serving a message of fierce loyalty.

"We are the army of the Marseillais."

This self-designation as an "army" is not insignificant. The supporters see themselves as soldiers of OM , engaged in a perpetual war for the club's honor. Away games become military campaigns, expeditions into enemy territory.

This warlike metaphor permeates the entire Marseille ultra culture. They set out to "conquer" opposing stadiums, they "besiege" enemy cities, and they return "victorious" or "defeated but proud" depending on the results. Military vocabulary structures the experience of traveling.

The legendary journeys

Munich 1993 remains a legendary away trip: 40,000 Marseille fans descended on Germany for the Champions League final. Buses, special trains, chartered planes: an entire city traveled to support its team.

Gothenburg 1999 for a UEFA Cup semi-final: 25,000 Marseille fans travel across Europe. Milan, Madrid, Liverpool: every major European night sees thousands of Marseille supporters invade the football capitals.

Full lyrics to "Dans tous les stades"

Listen to "In all stadiums"

The cost of loyalty

Following OM to every match represents a considerable financial investment . A trip to Paris costs €150-200. A European match costs €500-1000. Some fans spend several thousand euros per season on away travel.

But beyond the money, it's about time: sacrificed weekends, exhausted Mondays after returning from a trip at 4 a.m. This loyalty has a concrete, material price, which the song implicitly acknowledges.

"And for OM, we must sing."

The duty to sing is even more crucial when playing away. Outnumbered in a hostile stadium , Marseille supporters must sing louder, for longer, to make themselves heard despite the surrounding hostility.

This obligation creates an intense sense of solidarity among away fans. They sing for the team, of course, but also for themselves, to prove they exist, that they're still there despite everything. Singing becomes an act of resistance.

The invasion of opposing stadiums

When thousands of Marseille fans invade an opposing stadium, the psychological impact is enormous . Teams hosting OM dread these Marseille invasions, which transform their stadium into an extension of the Vélodrome.

In Lens, Bordeaux, and Saint-Étienne, away stadiums regularly see 5,000 to 8,000 Marseille fans descend upon them, creating a noisy away section that reverberates throughout the stadium. "In every stadium" then becomes both a threat and a promise.

The brotherhood of travel

Travel creates unbreakable bonds between supporters . Sharing a bus for 12 hours, experiencing victories and defeats together far from Marseille, facing hostility together: these experiences forge a unique brotherhood.

Many fans say they prefer away games to home matches. When you're away, you're among true enthusiasts, those who make the effort to come. The team spirit reaches its peak intensity.

A song of pride

"We've been to every stadium" is fundamentally a self-celebrating chant . Marseille supporters celebrate their own commitment, their sacrifice, their omnipresence. It's a legitimate source of pride: few clubs mobilize such large numbers of fans when playing away.

FAQ – In all stadiums

Where does the melody of this song come from?

The melody comes from "La Chenille" by La Bande à Basile, a festive hit from 1977 that was a wedding favorite. Marseille supporters transformed this celebratory song into a battle anthem, replacing the lighthearted lyrics with one celebrating their support for OM.

Why talk about an "army"?

This military metaphor structures the entire ultra culture of Marseille. The supporters see themselves as soldiers, and away games as military campaigns in enemy territory. Warlike vocabulary (conquer, besiege, victory, defeat) permeates the away game experience.

What are the legendary journeys?

Munich 1993 remains legendary: 40,000 Marseillais for the Champions League final. Gothenburg 1999: 25,000 supporters. Milan, Madrid, Liverpool: every major European night sees thousands of Marseillais invade the football capitals, proving that "we've been to every stadium" is more than just a slogan.

What is the cost of this loyalty?

A domestic away trip costs €150-200, a European trip €500-1000. Some fans spend several thousand euros per season. Beyond the money, it's the time sacrificed: exhausted weekends and Mondays after returning at 4 a.m. This loyalty has a real price, which the chant acknowledges.