When the chant "Qui ne saute pas n'est pas Marseillais!" rings out, the entire Vélodrome leaps up in unison. "Qui ne saute pas n'est pas Marseillais" , a Marseilles adaptation of the famous "Bella Ciao", has become one of Olympique de Marseille's most participatory chants.
Sung during moments of collective euphoria, this Marseille chant, OM, transforms the stadium into a surging mass of 67,000 people. But how did the anthem of Italian supporters become the ultimate test of Marseille allegiance? Discover the story of this chant that makes the Vélodrome erupt.
"Bella Ciao": the anthem of the Italian partisans
The story begins in Italy with "Bella Ciao," the anthem of the Italian resistance during World War II. The original melody actually comes from a popular song from the early 20th century, sung by the mondine (rice paddy workers of the Po Valley).
During the war, anti-fascist partisans adopted this melody as their rallying song. "Bella Ciao" became the symbol of the struggle against Mussolini, sung clandestinely by resistance fighters in the Italian mountains.
After the war, "Bella Ciao" crossed borders and became a universal anthem of resistance and freedom. Its catchy melody and message of hope made it a song sung all over the world, from political demonstrations to football stadiums.
The importation into football by Italian ultras
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Italian ultra movement transformed "Bella Ciao" into a stadium chant. The fans replaced the anti-fascist lyrics with supporter slogans, creating different versions for each club.
One of the most popular adaptations becomes "Chi non salta [name of rival club] è!" ("Whoever doesn't jump is from [rival club]!"). This version transforms the political chant into a sporting provocation: by jumping, one proves that one is NOT a supporter of the opposing team.
This brilliant concept transforms singing into a test of physical belonging. It's no longer enough to just sing; you also have to jump. Those who remain motionless are symbolically excluded, identified as opposing or lukewarm supporters.
The Marseilles adaptation: an identity test
When Commando Ultra '84 discovered this chant in Italy in the 1980s, they immediately understood its potential. They adapted it to Marseille, creating "Qui ne saute pas n'est pas Marseillais!"
The Marseilles version is more radical than the Italian ones. It doesn't say "whoever doesn't jump is Parisian" or "whoever doesn't jump is from Lyon," but "whoever doesn't jump IS NOT from Marseilles." It's a total identity exclusion: if you don't jump, you don't belong to the Marseilles community.
This radicalism creates intense social pressure. At the Vélodrome, when the chant starts, even the most passive supporters get up and jump. To not jump is to set oneself apart, to break with the collective.
The mass phenomenon: 67,000 people jumping
The visual effect of "Qui ne saute pas" is spectacular. Viewed from the upper stands or on television, the entire stadium becomes a rippling mass . The stands rise and fall in rhythm, creating giant waves.
The engineers at the Vélodrome even had to factor in these collective jumps in their structural calculations. When 67,000 people jump simultaneously, the force exerted on the concrete is considerable. The stadium literally shakes.
The players on the field attest to the psychological impact of this phenomenon. Seeing the entire stadium erupt in chants of "Marseillais!" gives them superhuman energy. Their opponents, meanwhile, are intimidated by this display of collective strength.
Full lyrics to "Qui ne saute pas n'est pas Marseillais"
Here are the lyrics of the Marseilles chant as it is sung at the Vélodrome:
Words :
Anyone who doesn't jump isn't from Marseille!
Hey!
Anyone who doesn't jump isn't from Marseille!
Hey!
Listen to "He who does not jump is not from Marseille"
Find below "Qui ne saute pas" as it is integrated into the SoundKop music magnets , to relive the energy of the Vélodrome.
Who doesn't jump - OM
A universal chant in French football
After Marseille, "Whoever doesn't jump" spread throughout French football. Each club created its own version: "Whoever doesn't jump isn't from Lyon," "Whoever doesn't jump isn't from Paris," "Whoever doesn't jump isn't from Nantes"...
But the Marseille version remains the benchmark, the one with the greatest intensity . At the Vélodrome, the chant reaches an unparalleled power, fueled by the particular fervor of the Marseille crowd.
This broadcast demonstrates the influence of Marseille's fan culture on French football. In the 1980s and 1990s, Marseille was the laboratory for ultra chants and practices in France, subsequently inspiring other clubs.
The final "Hey!": collective punctuation
The "Hey!" that concludes each repetition of the song is not insignificant. It is a synchronized collective punctuation mark that signals the moment when everyone lands after the jump.
This synchronization creates a powerful rhythmic effect. The stadium rises ("Whoever doesn't jump isn't from Marseille"), then falls abruptly on the "Eh!", creating a giant percussion that resonates throughout the Vélodrome.
The capos (chant leaders) use this "Hey!" to maintain the tempo. If it comes too early or too late, the rhythm is lost. When it's perfectly timed, the whole stadium pulses as one.
Memorable moments of singing
Some matches have become legendary thanks to "Who doesn't jump?". OM-PSG 2020 , the first Classique with fans after Covid: the entire Vélodrome jumped for 10 minutes straight before kick-off.
Another iconic moment: the match against Atletico Madrid in 2018. The Spaniards, accustomed to the Calderon and the Metropolitano, admitted they had never seen an entire stadium jump with such intensity. The chant "Who doesn't jump?" lasted 15 minutes.
These moments go viral on social media. Videos of the Vélodrome crowd jumping in unison regularly get millions of views, fueling the reputation of having one of the best atmospheres in Europe.
Inclusion through gesture
What makes "Qui ne saute pas" so powerful is its paradoxical inclusiveness . By threatening to exclude those who don't jump, the song actually forces everyone to participate.
Children love this song because they can finally participate fully: jumping requires no special vocal skills. Shy people who would never dare to sing loudly can join in the group through movement.
Even tourists and casual fans end up jumping. The social pressure is so intense that remaining seated becomes uncomfortable. Singing thus creates a communion that transcends usual levels of engagement.
The physical impact and the collective euphoria
Jumping for several minutes produces a physiological effect : increased heart rate, release of endorphins, and a feeling of euphoria. Singing creates not only a symbolic communion, but a shared physical experience.
This physical dimension reinforces the sense of belonging. It's not enough to simply say you're from Marseille; you prove it through physical effort. Supporting the team becomes a collective physical performance.
After an intense "Who doesn't jump?" chant, the fans are breathless, sweaty, but elated. This shared fatigue creates bonds: they have lived through a common physical experience together, they are part of the same collective body.
Singing as a rite of initiation
For a young Marseillais, participating in their first "Qui ne saute pas" at the Vélodrome is a rite of passage . It's the moment when they cease to be a spectator and become an active participant in the atmosphere.
The parents initiate their children: "Come on, let's jump now!" The boy leaps, clumsily at first, then with more confidence. At the end of the song, he beams: he has proven he is from Marseille.
This transmission of the gesture, from generation to generation, makes "Qui ne saute pas" much more than a simple chant. It's an identity ritual that marks entry into the community of supporters.
Who doesn't jump at your place?
Relive the energy of the Vélodrome with SoundKop music magnets. The legendary chants of OM at your fingertips.
FAQ – If you don't jump, you're not from Marseille
Where does the melody of "Qui ne saute pas" come from?
The melody comes from "Bella Ciao," the anthem of the Italian resistance during World War II. Italian ultras transformed this political song into a stadium chant in the 1970s and 80s, creating the version "Chi non salta [name of rival club] è!" which the Commando Ultra '84 later adapted in Marseille.
Why does this song require jumping?
The chant transforms vocal support into a physical test of belonging. Jumping proves that you're fully committed, that you're part of the collective. Those who remain still are symbolically excluded from the Marseille community. This social pressure even pushes the most passive supporters to participate.
What is the physical impact of this singing?
When 67,000 people jump simultaneously, the Vélodrome literally shakes. Engineers had to factor these collective jumps into their structural calculations. For the fans, jumping for several minutes causes an accelerated heart rate and the release of endorphins, creating a collective euphoria.
Does this chant exist in other clubs?
Yes, after Marseille, almost every French club created its own version: "Those who don't jump aren't from Lyon," "Those who don't jump aren't from Paris," etc. But the Marseille version remains the benchmark for its intensity. Marseille was the laboratory for ultra chants in France during the 1980s and 1990s.
0 comments