Line #36 Main/BattleChant


1	Prior to a major engagement on the battlefield (or, in more modern settings, a sports game), TheLeader or TheHero riles his troops (or team) with a stirring speech (but not always).
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3	Suddenly, the troops (or team) burst into a chant, usually repeating the name of their glorious leader, their motto, or, if they happen to be particularly religious, their God. Alternatively, they may repeat a phrase or a single word (e.g. 'Victory!') over and over again, building in speed and volume as they continue to psyche themselves up for the upcoming battle.
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5	Another variation occurs when the troops in question sing a battle chant as they march into the field of battle (or are preparing to defend themselves behind walls, forts, or other barriers), accompanied by horns, drums or bagpipes. Soldiers without musical instruments may substitute with shield bashing or shooting into the air.
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7	Related to BattleCry and RousingSpeech. Compare CrowdChant, CrowdSong, MusicForCourage and SoundOff.
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9	[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused]] with the recurring ability in the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games.
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11	!!Examples
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13	[[foldercontrol]]
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15	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
16	* In ''Manga/OutlawStar'', Ctarl-Ctarl SpaceMarines do this all the time.
17	* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', starting with Episode 16, the opening credits show Gihren Zabi at Garma Zabi's funeral leading the Zeon soldiers in the chant "Hail Zeon!"
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20	[[folder:Film]]
21	* In ''Film/RedCliff'' Cao Cao's troops are dying of typhoid. Then, in a rare, villainous example of this trope, he gives a rallying speech to his men, who gather around him and together with the rest of his troops begin chanting 'Victory!' over and over again.
22	* ''Film/TheLastStarfighter''. When Ambassador Enduran gives a pep talk to the personnel of the Starfighter base, he concludes by saying "Victory or death!". They all start chanting "Victory or death!" in unison.
23	* A non-military version appears in ''Film/{{Meatballs}}''. The Camp North Star summer camp is losing badly to their rivals Camp Mohawk. Head Counsellor Tripper Harrison gives the Camp North Star members a rousing speech including the slogan "it just doesn't matter", and by the end they're all chanting it.
24	* When star ''Film/{{Rollerball}}'' player Jonathan E scores the winning goal in the final game, despite rules changes meant to destroy him, the crowd begins chanting his name in a building crescendo. This portends a social revolution in which the corporate masters lose control of their formerly docile populace.
25	* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings''
26	** In ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing The Return of the King]]'', just before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Théoden gives his "arise, arise, riders of Théoden". The entire army begins then chanting "Death" over and over (even Merry chants it).
27	*** In the book, the "Death" chant appears only at the end of the chapter, just before the corsairs' ships arrive.
28	** Also done by the Uruk-Hai in ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers The Two Towers]]'' at the battle of Helm's Gate. This was a ThrowItIn moment inspired by the bored extras doing it between takes.
29	* The Columbia-Tristar production of ''Film/PeterPan'' from 2003 has the scene where Pan finds Tinkerbell lying dead. The Darling children and the Lost Boys had been captured by Captain Hook. Hook had told them that Pan is dead, and they had no choice but to join Hook's crew, or walk the plank. With the heroic morale at its nadir, Pan's "I do believe in fairies" then belies Hook's claim, and puts fresh heart into the children to resist Hook. With the repetition of the mantra "I do believe in fairies! I do, I do!", Pan's passion and conviction became so strong that the Lost Boys took up the chant, then the Darling children joined them, then other children in London joined as well, eventually spreading to Hook's own pirate crew. This results in Tinkerbell coming back to life.
30	* ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' subverts this with the hominids. When Moonwatcher's group first encounters another group at the waterhole, the two groups shriek and howl at each other until Moonwatcher's group retreats. Soon after, Moonwatcher's group has contact with the monolith. When the two groups meet again at the waterhole, the second group makes a cacophany, while Moonwatcher's group is silent. The second group mistakes this for weakness, and their leader charges. Moonwatcher easily clubs his foe to death, causing the second group to quail and retreat. Silence, in this case, proved more unnerving than bluster.
31	* The battle chants of the Zulu warriors in ''Film/{{Zulu}}'' (which also include shield bashing) before the final battle; perhaps the full-throated rendition of the song ''Men of Harlech'' (made in response to the Zulu chants) by the Welsh soldiers could fit as well.
32	* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' has the "Two Men Enter, One Man Leaves!" chant whenenver two men enter the arena/ring.
33	* ''Film/TheMightyDucks'': "Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!"
34	* In ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', before T'challa leads the Wakandan troops into battle against Thanos's forces, they all chant "Yibambe!"[[note]]Xhosan, translates to "Hold fast" or "Hold the line"[[/note]]. It's also the main part of [[https://youtu.be/5iOhzJdDawE the "Chant" TV-spot]].
35	* In ''Film/{{Alexander}}'', the Greek pikemen chant "Pezhetairoi" ("Foot Companions"), the term for their kind of units, as they march in phalanx formation akin to "one-two-three-four" so they all step in unison.
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38	[[folder:Literature]]
39	* In ''Literature/TheSongOfRoland'', Roland is fond of shouting "Pagans are wrong and Christians are right!" That's ''one'' way to do it...
40	* In the Franchise/StarWarsLegends, ''Literature/RepublicCommandoSeries'' the Mandalorians and the Clone Troopers had the chant "Dha Werda Verda", which was accompanied by a ritual dance based on the Māori haka.
41	* In ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'' the Gacony Cadets have a chant/song they do for Christian to demonstrate their togetherness.
42	* The ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' novel ''The Traitor's Hand'' parodies the Khornites' catchphrase by having someone (mainly Cain) snark back at them whenever they show up (e.g. "Harriers for the Cup!", "Well, he can't have mine" "I'm getting really sick of hearing that"). Also played straight when Cain finds himself (accidentally) leading a squad of men into battle against the heretics and his presence so buoys their morale that they start chanting "Cain! Cain! Cain!" as they go. Cain even theorises that the similarity of the chant to the name of the Khornite's own god may have confused the World Eater Berserker they come across next.
43	* In ''The Rangers Apprentice'', the Emperor of Nihon-Ja has the Kikori chanting "Isho ni!" as heir chant.
44	* ''Literature/TheIcemarkChronicles'' has "OUT! Out! Out! OUT! Out! Out! OUT! Out! Out!" which is chanted by the people of the Icemark to invaders.
45	* In ''Literature/GuardiansOfGahoole'' Great Gray owl Twilight is fond of these. He’s always singing battle chants as the chaw is fighting.
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48	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
49	* ''Series/DoctorWho'', series 6 introduces us to the [[ChurchMilitant Headless Monks]]. During the season finale, [[spoiler: they begin chanting their "battle chant" as they close in on the Doctor and Co.]]
50	* The Klingons sing this in the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "Soldiers of the Empire".
51	* In ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24: Redemption]]'' ChildSoldiers are persuaded that an opposition leader (whom they have trussed up in front of them) isn't human and therefore can be killed by making the kids chant "kill the cockroach!"
52	* In ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Miri", at one point, the LongLived children get together and start chanting the word "Bonk" repeatedly (as in "Bonk on the head") as an indication of what they plan to do to the Enterprise crew who have beamed down to their planet.
53	* In ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'', Admiral Adama leads the troops in a chant of "So say we all!" in one episode.
54	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
55	** The dwarf Tyrion Lannister shows a [[HiddenDepths surprising ability]] to inspire the Mountain Clans in "Baelor" and Lannister soldiers in "Blackwater". They respond with the cry of "[[NWordPrivileges Halfman!]]"
56	** The Smalljon uses a pretty impressive one to rally the Bolton infantry before personally leading them into battle.
57	--->'''Smalljon:''' Who owns the North?!\
58	'''Bolton soldiers:''' We do!\
59	'''Smalljon:''' WHO OWNS THE NORTH!?\
60	'''Bolton soldiers:''' WE DO!\
61	'''Smalljon:''' SHOW ME!
62	* ''Series/{{The 100}}''. Prior to the assault on Mount Weather, the Grounders and Sky People repeatedly chant the phrase "''Jus drein jus daun''". Translated from the Grounders' language, it means "Blood must have blood".
63	* ''Series/Lexx'' The Hymn of the Brunnen-G 'Yo-Way-Yo' is only ever used in such a context, as it means 'Victory or Death' and is used as part of a LastStand
64	* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': After Adar's RousingSpeech, the Orcs start to march chanting "Nampat Udûn!" in BlackSpeech.
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67	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
68	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' has quite a few (to the point of that they're practically the catchphrases for some factions). The most well known comes from the [[Main/GodOfEvil Chaos]] forces, more specifically Khorne's worshippers: "Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!"
69	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has the [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=270996 Battle Hymn]] card, which provides an interesting variation of this trope.
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72	[[folder:Video Games]]
73	* The [[RobotWar Automatons]] of ''Videogame/{{Helldivers}}'' have a very heavy, very {{punctuated\|ForEmphasis}}, rhythmic chant that makes it ''quite'' clear what is on their mind.
74	--> ''HEART. STEEL.''\
75	''WE. KILL.''\
76	''IRON. WILL.''\
77	''ONTO WAR!''
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80	[[folder:Western Animation]]
81	* Done in Ralph Bakshi's ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLordOfTheRings Lord of The Rings]]'', when the Orcs from Isengard assault Helm's Deep.
82	* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'': BigBad Lord Hater's Watchdogs chant "Hate's great! Best villain!" as he takes over a planet.
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85	[[folder:Real Life]]
86	* The New Zealand All Blacks (rugby team) do the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjVqZkDZrgg Haka War Chant]] before their games.
87	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDucvQYlWj4#t=0m5s As does the New Zealand Basketball Team.]] In New Zealand's Maori culture, challenging your opponent into battle with the dance is considered a way of honoring them.
88	** Some teams from other cultures with a war chant tradition have been known to reciprocate in kind, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyZEUeAoFKE the Tongan team performing the Sipi Tau]]. Double the badass!
89	[[/folder]]

Context Main / BattleChant