Aberdeen FC’s unofficial anthem The Northern Lights has proved to be a hit, entering the UK’s top 40 download charts.
A new version of the song was released last week, starring Huntly folksinger Iona Fyfe, who tweaked the lyrics to give it a north-east twist.
The collaboration between the Dons and the young singer was recorded to aid the launch of the club’s 2021-22 season tickets campaign.
It forms the soundtrack for an emotive video that is part of the campaign and is an ode to fans across the region.
Since the launch last week, the video has been viewed more than 225,000 times on social media.
The single entered the UK iTunes Download Charts and reached number 39 briefly in the morning on May 1.
I’m at #39 on the iTunes download chart with The Northern Lights! ❣️ A collab with @AberdeenFC. Help me knock oot Dua Lipa by downloading it from iTunes here ⬇️
https://t.co/n0TbmI9RU3 pic.twitter.com/Gulu0oLNLH— Iona Fyfe (@ionafyfe) May 1, 2021
The video has received lots of support online from Aberdeen fans and Scottish people alike.
I TOTALLY recommend you spend the week before we pump Hibs listening to The Northern Lights by @ionafyfe https://t.co/mnF1sGd05S #DANDIES #STANDFREE ⭐️ ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/bplkhMpWJm
— Graham Hunter (@BumperGraham) May 3, 2021
Thanks @GaryInnes for playing 'The Northern Lights' on Your Requests on @BBCRadioScot and to Callum and Jenny for requesting it. Hear it from 13:42. Download/stream the track here ➡️ https://t.co/2mPyEcoAtb https://t.co/Ms2WhSlg5k
— Iona Fyfe (@ionafyfe) May 3, 2021
The Northern Lights (of Aberdeen)
The iconic song was written by Mary Webb back in the early 1950s and has been adopted by Aberdeen FC.
The new interpretation was created with award-winning Scottish folk musicians Graham Rorie, Aidan Moodie (Gnoss) and Michael Biggins, the current winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.
Ms Fyfe, who was the youngest ever winner of Scots Singer of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, was excited to be asked to record the song.
She said: “It’s wonderful to partner up with Aberdeen Football Club to release a new version of such an iconic song, written by Mary Webb.
“At a time when musicians can’t tour or perform live, I’ve really appreciated being able to collaborate with the club creatively, and really appreciate them supporting the arts. I’ve been overwhelmed with the response it has received so far.”
Lisa Sheran, head of communications at Aberdeen Football Club added: “As we eagerly anticipate the return our supporters to their spiritual home at Pittodrie, we were keen ignite that sense of belonging with a season ticket campaign which pulled at the heart strings.
“In order to complement our, #MyHomeinAberdeen campaign, it was our desire to collaborate with a local musician who could record a unique and poignant version of the ‘The Northern Lights,’ a song which has echoed around Pittodrie for years.
“Our search led us to Iona and with her links to the North East it was the perfect partnership.
“Iona and her fellow musicians have done a wonderful version of the song, a song which means so much to many Aberdeen supporters, and we’re extremely thankful to her for helping to bring our vision to life.”
The Northern Lights is out now on all major music platforms.
Aberdeen Football Club season tickets are now on sale here.
You can sing along to the powerful anthem using these lyrics.
The Northern Lights
When I was a lad, a tiny wee lad
My mither said tae me
Come see the Northern Lights my child
They’re bright as they can be
She called them the heavenly dancers
Merry dancers in the sky
I’ll never forget, that wonderful sight
They made the heavens bright
The northern lights of old Aberdeen
Mean home sweet home tae me
The northern lights of Aberdeen
Are what I long tae see
I’ve been a wanderer all o my life
Any many a sight I’ve seen
God speed the day when l’m on my way
To my home in Aberdeen
I’ve wandered in mony far-aff lands
And traivelled mony a mile
I’ve missed the folk I’ve cherished most
The joy o a friendly smile
It warms up the hairt o a wand’rer
The clasp of a welcomin hand
Tae greet me when, I return
Hame tae my native land
The northern lights of old Aberdeen
Mean home sweet home tae me
The northern lights of Aberdeen
Are what I long tae see
I’ve been a wanderer all o my life
Any monys the sight I’ve seen
God speed the day when l’m on my way
To my home in Aberdeen
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