Falmer: Seagulls Ska

SEAGULLS TO HIT THE CHARTS IN 2005... Wednesday, 10th November 2004 .
	To further help the clubs Alive and Kicking campaign, a new CD is to be released. Its aims are to get more publicity for the Falmer campaign, and help raise more money for the club. The single will not be available in shops nationwide, however fans from other areas of the country will have the option of ordering online from well known retailers such as Amazon for around £3.99. This will allow between 50p and £1 to be given to the club for every single sold. The CD, which will be called Seagulls Ska, Tom Hark (We Want Falmer), will be available to pre-order from 1st December - Just three weeks away! However, the single will not be released until the 3rd January, as this will give it the best possible chance of getting into the charts that weekend. The first week is essential, and if you are going to buy a copy, you should be looking to preorder your copy before the end of the year. Many fans have already shown their commitment, and despite the CD not even on pre-release yet, many fans are ready to buy themselves and family members copies. Will you be buying a copy? Vote in our poll below... There are also plans to do a new Ska version of GOSBTS, and maybe even a punk rock version! The finished version of the song could be ready to be previewed to the fans as early as 20th November when we play Burnley. We look forward to bringing you more news about this story as it happens... If you would like to comment on this story, please contact us using the form.

UPDATE Thursday, 11th November 2004 .
	The progress of the CD is further ahead than expected - with recording currently taking place. It is now known that the CD will consist of four tracks - Tom Hark (We Want Falmer), Ska instrumental of Good Old Sussex By The Sea, a singalong version, and a version of Roll Up For The Donkey Derby. It was also thought that the singing that was required for Tom Hark was not going to be available, as early attempts to record the crowd singing did not turn out as expected. However, Southern Counties Radio has provided some excellent quality records of this which can now be included. There will be no punk version of GOSBTS as previously expected. The record is expected to be finished 'in the next few days', with the first hearing of it this Sunday about 6 at Joe Strummer Remembrance Sunday at the Concorde. A number of fans have also been discussing the possibility of some sales not adding to the sales chart - however, the Official UK Charts Company had this to say on the matter. "Sales information is supplied by 5,900 retailers that are members of the Official UK Charts ‘Defined Universe’. This is approximately 99% of the total UK singles market, 95% of the total UK albums market and 85% of the total UK video market." "These retailers include all the major high street chains such as HMV, WH Smith, Virgin and Woolworth’s, Supermarkets, such as Tesco and Asda, as well as approximately 600 independent shops and a number of Internet Retailers." It will be made sure that the CD is only available thought stores that add to the chart sales. You can listen to the Official UK Top 40 on BBC Radio One from 4pm on Sunday, 9th January 2005 to hear where the song enters. If you would like to comment on this story, please contact us using the form.

UPDATE - PREVIEWED AT WITHDEAN... Sunday, 21st November 2004 .
	The new Seagulls Ska CD was played at Withdean this weekend, giving fans the opportunity to hear the songs before they come out in the shop. Attila says: "So I play the new songs and the reaction around me seems pretty positive. (I'm in a portakabin PA box, I look around, lots of people are bopping away) Nearly everyone I meet on the way to the pub, and in the pub, likes it. But they're the kind of people who like punk/ska/reggae/alternative music anyway. I get home and initial indications from NSC (see other thread) seem to be that the majority think the whole thing is a pile of cack." On North Stand Chat, a number of fans have given their thoughts on the new Tom Hark and GOSBTS songs. Beach Hut "I like the Tom Hark Song, not so sure about the ska version of GOSBTS. Where do we go from here ? Get it in the shops I'll certainly buy it and loads of others will - can we sell some off tables at Withdean at a specific match ?" Sams Dad "Loved the new Tom Hark,thought the new GOSBTS was OK,but a lot of people around me didn't like it.But I think most people will buy the CD just for Tom Hark." Dougdeep "The P.A. was terrible in the south stand today. I'll buy three copies anyway." Tom Hark, Preston Park "The alleged 'ska' version of GOSBTS started off with a foxhunting-type horn sound which raised comedy shouts of 'Tally-Ho!' in H Block. The rest of the song, far from sounding 'ska' sounded like a bloke playing a kazoo, or a comb and paper. So pitiful it had us all in tears of laughter. Nul point, as they say. The Zamora Singers would have been proud of ya. As for Tom Hark, well, yes, there's a tune that's particularly hard to screw up. It's a moot point whether there will ever be room in the pop world for the words 'planning process' and it does seem to be trying a tad too hard to put it's point across. More cheery whistling, less earnest wordmanship, no matter how worthy the cause, might have been better to promote affection for the thing. Personally I STILL prefer the version accidentally done at the Crewe game, with just the tune we all know and love, and attila grumbling and muttering in the background with the occasional 'We Want Falmer' thrown in. Can we have an NSC remix of THAT one please? Ah ,feckit, hardly the point eh? We'll all go out and buy it anyways. For all the right reasons. Don't have to actually LIKE it." Eddie the Seagull "I thought both were excellent - as did my brother. OK, we were 13 & 14 respectively when SKA was at its peak, but younger people around us were bopping in their seats too! I'll buy at least 5 for members of my family etc." You can see the whole discussion which is currently taking place on North Stand Chat by clicking here. To get you in the mood, here are the lyrics from the first song, Tom Hark (We Want Falmer). We want Falmer We want Falmer We want falmer We want Falmer (x2) We Brighton fans are angry - we’ve been mucked around Since the wayward Archer sold the Goldstone Ground We’re stuck in an athletics track we really hate Like playing in Albania Division Eight! The whole thing’s daft We don’t know why We have to laugh Or else we’ll cry Our ground’s too small The costs too high Without Falmer Our club will die For years the planning process has dragged on and on A paralytic snail wouldn’t take that long So listen Mr Prescott as we tell you how We need our Falmer Stadium - we need it now! The whole thing’s daft We don’t know why We have to laugh Or else we’d cry Our ground’s too small The costs too high Without Falmer Our club will die (Instrumental) We want Falmer We want Falmer We want Falmer We want Falmer Instrumental Fade to end. If you would like to comment on this story, please contact us using the form.

HMV ONLINE OFFERING ADVANCED PRE ORDERS... Monday, 29th November 2004 .
	HMV Online has added Tom Hark - Seagulls Ska to its online shop already, however this has left many fans confused. The price the current single is being offered at is £4.99, and the label is VITAL, which should be SKINT. No other information on the CD, such as track listing are available, and official information is being waited upon for advice on buying the single. It is vital that all singles bought add to the Top 40 total. We will bring you the latest information, including where and how to buy the single online as soon as it has been announced. If you would like to comment on this story, please contact us using the form.