Last night’s World Junior Championship game was a disappointment for Canadians, despite an amazing match-up that was far more interesting than recent NHL games. It set the tone for the upcoming Olympics and rallied Canadians. It also served as a test-kitchen for the new Pepsi sponsored Canada Cheer.
The new cheer is a result of a recent campaign, launched by the soft drink giant, in hopes of creating a cheer for Canada similar to that of other countries. Problem is, nobody asked for it.
Pepsi decided to get behind Hockey Canada which is great, but I don’t seem to remember anyone saying “You know what our boys and girls need? A new cheer.”
Maybe I was asleep for a bit, but hasn’t “Go Canada Go” worked for years?
Pepsi launched web sites, Facebook groups, Twitter feeds, all in hopes of cramming the new cheer down everyone’s throats. Something they were hoping would catch on by the time Team Canada took to the ice. In Pepsi’s defense, it seemed like a good idea, but the majority of Canadians weren’t buying it
As many saw last night during the game and throughout the World Junior series, despite strong efforts by Pepsi, the fans in Saskatchewan were quite content to cheer from the heart, not from the minds of a cooperation.
Fans online were quick to criticize the cheer calling it “an embarrassment” and a “failure”.
And even though Pepsi reminded everyone with commercial after commercial that the new cheer was written by a Canadian and chosen by Canadians, when it came to national pride and the raw emotion that is fueled by competition, you can’t make people say something they don’t believe in.
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I actually kinda like it and did hear it a few times during the game.
“Go Canada Go” is too… stutterish (although I’m fine with it as well) Pepsi’s rolls better. And wouldn’t ya know it, the U.S. scored during at least one of the “Go Canada Go” chants. Bad karma? 
Anywayyyy, they did have a contest for submissions, so if the feeling was so strong that it not change, why didn’t everyone submit the old one? Hmmm…
Those are all very good points. I think what cheapens the cheer is that it stemmed from a marketing campaign rather than pride.
If nothing else, it will be interesting to see what happens, going forward with the cheer.
Agreed! I believe it was created for the Olympics, and unfortunately, the Olympics has turned into a big money-making, marketing opportunity for many companies.
I am really hoping that the new cheer catches on. I have long thought the “Go team Go” cheer bordered on moronic. Especially living in Toronto where the cheer is “Go Leafs Go” and so many people are more than willing to tell them where to go and make sure they never come back. I will be watching the Olympics from my couch for the most part but if I am in a pub for the Hockey playoffs I will cheer whatever everyone elese is cheering and enjoy the moment. Bandwagons are made for folks like me.
I’m surprised anyone still cheers for the Leafs! LOL. I think you’re right about the pub though. Go with the flow and cheer what you feel is right. Unless Pepsi is there to tell you what to say, just let the good times roll!
I kinda like the new cheer. I’d seen it in writing several times and thought it was a little lame, but I just clicked on your link up there to see actual crowds using the cheer and…I like it. It works, and it’s catchy and I like that it’s “uniquely Canadian” with the “eh” in there and the “Oh Canada” thing. It’s clever.
I agree with you though, Chris, that the problem a lot of people may have with it is that it’s coming from a corporation and it’s being referred to as “the Pepsi cheer” (for now). I bet it’ll catch on after a while and especially once people stop associating it with a marketing campaign.
I’m sure it will grow on people given time. Still, it will always be the “Pepsi cheer” to me.