Le Chant des Oyomen: a song for a whole stadium
From RACKS’s idea to the video directed by KamC, the story behind the official Oyonnax Rugby anthem, performed by HASS’N and MAONIE with the Haut-Bugey Conservatory choir.
Some songs outgrow the recording and turn into moments people share.
In Oyonnax, France, in 2023, music and rugby came together in Le Chant des Oyomen, an anthem made to back the Oyonnax Rugby players and their fans.
It started with one goal: take the chants that ring out at the Charles-Mathon stadium to another level. Rachid Moussaïd, known as RACKS, wrote and composed the track. HASS’N and MAONIE gave it their voices, with the Haut-Bugey Conservatory choir. Legendz Recordz backed the project and KamC directed the video.
On February 9, 2023, after more than a year and a half of work, the anthem filled the stadium as the players walked out. A musical idea became something the crowd lived together.
Where the idea came from
The idea came from two parents involved with the club’s rugby school. One of them was Rachid Moussaïd, known in music as RACKS. He wanted to refresh the stadium’s soundtrack and give the fans a chant of their own.
He built it on a cry the whole stadium knows: « Ici, ici, c’est Oyonnax » (“Here, here, this is Oyonnax”). The chant from the stands became the starting point of the song.
From the first ideas to the first time it played, the project took more than a year and a half.
From the studio to a group effort
RACKS wrote the music and the lyrics. HASS’N and MAONIE carry the track, joined by the Haut-Bugey Conservatory choir: a club anthem is meant to be sung together.
The choir parts were recorded at the Petit Théâtre of the Centre culturel Aragon, with support from the City of Oyonnax and Haut-Bugey Agglomération.
The track came out on Legendz Recordz, which pitched the project and saw it through to release.
The visuals: KamC’s direction
Kamal Chafi, known as KamC, directed the official video. His job: put on screen what the song is about, a club, a town and the voices behind them.
Oyonnax Rugby posted the video on its official channel. The club credits RACKS for music and lyrics, HASS’N and MAONIE as performers, and KAMC as director.
Le Chant des Oyomen, the official video (Oyonnax Rugby)
February 9, 2023
The song hits the stands
On February 9, 2023, Oyonnax hosted Biarritz at the Charles-Mathon stadium. As the players walked out, Le Chant des Oyomen played in front of the crowd for the first time.
That is when the song left the studio and started to belong to the stands. Le Progrès covered how it was made and that first night in a March 3, 2023 article (in French).
A song that keeps going
The official video went live on March 8, 2023. Five days later, on March 13, the track hit the streaming platforms.
More than a year later, in June 2024, photos published by Le Progrès still show fans singing it at the Charles-Mathon stadium.
From two parents’ idea to the voice of a whole stadium, Le Chant des Oyomen brings the artists, the players and the crowd together around one chorus.
Le Chant des Oyomen, 2023
- Music and lyrics
- RACKS (Rachid Moussaïd)
- Performers
- HASS’N, MAONIE
- Video director
- KAMC (Kamal Chafi)
- Project pitched by
- LEGENDZ RECORDZ
- Featuring
- Haut-Bugey Conservatory choir
- With support from
- Oyonnax Rugby, City of Oyonnax, Haut-Bugey Agglomération
- Release date
- March 13, 2023
- Length
- 3:18
Listen
Press & archives
- Le Progrès · March 3, 2023 (in French)Rugby : deux papas composent Le Chant des Oyomen, le nouvel hymne officiel (new tab)
- Le Progrès · June 2, 2024 (in French)C’est la fête au stade Mathon après la victoire d’Oyonnax face à Bayonne (new tab)
- Oyonnax Rugby · OYO TVThe club’s videos (new tab)
- LinkedInPost about Le Chant des Oyomen (new tab)