If you’ve ever stepped foot in the Caesars Superdome on a Sunday, you know the sound. It’s not just a song. It’s a physical force. It starts as a low rumble in the concrete and builds until the roof feels like it might actually pop off. "Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?" It is repetitive. It is loud. To an outsider, it might even sound a little nonsensical. But the who dat saints song is basically the heartbeat of a city that refuses to stay down.
People think it’s just a football cheer. They’re wrong. Honestly, the chant predates the Saints by decades, tracing back to minstrel shows and vaudeville acts in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was a common refrain in Black entertainment circuits long before Archie Manning ever took a snap. By the time it fused with New Orleans football in the early 1980s, it had already lived several lives.
The 1983 Explosion: When the Chant Met the Record Player
For a long time, the chant was just something fans hollered in the stands. It was organic. Then came 1983. This was the year everything changed for the who dat saints song. A group called the Aaron Neville and the Singing Saints recorded a version that featured the legendary Aaron Neville’s silky-smooth vocals over a funky, brass-heavy beat.
It wasn't a corporate marketing play. Not really. It was local. Steve Monistere and Carlo Nuccio were the brains behind the production, and they managed to capture that specific New Orleans "swamp funk" that you can't fake in a studio in Los Angeles or New York. They brought in five Saints players—Brad Edelman, Dave Waymer, Reggie Lewis, James Geathers, and Wayzelle McDuffie—to provide the "Who Dat" responses.
The record sold like crazy. We’re talking over 60,000 copies in the first week alone, which, for a local sports record in the early 80s, was unheard of. It wasn't just a song; it was a badge of identity. If you had the 45rpm record, you were part of the club.
Is it Stolen? The Bengals vs. Saints Controversy
Look, we have to talk about Cincinnati.
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Bengals fans claim "Who Dey" came first. Saints fans will fight you over "Who Dat." It’s one of those sports arguments that will never truly die because both sides have a sliver of the truth. The Bengals’ "Who Dey" chant gained national prominence during their 1981 Super Bowl run. That’s a fact. However, New Orleans high schools and southern universities like Southern University and St. Augustine High had been using variations of "Who Dat" for years before that.
New Orleans didn't "steal" it from Cincinnati; they reclaimed a piece of southern linguistic history and slapped a fleur-de-lis on it. The Bengals' version sounds more like a commercial jingle for Hudepohl beer (which is where some say it originated), while the Saints version feels like a street parade.
There was even a legal dust-up in 2010. The NFL tried to claim they owned the rights to the phrase "Who Dat." They started sending cease-and-desist letters to local t-shirt shops in New Orleans. It went about as well as you’d expect. The city revolted. The Louisiana Attorney General got involved. Basically, the people told the NFL: "You don't own our language." The league eventually backed down, realizing they were trying to copyright the soul of a city.
The Post-Katrina Anthem
The who dat saints song took on a much heavier meaning after 2005.
When Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, the Saints became the primary symbol of the city's survival. That 2006 return to the Dome—the Steve Gleason blocked punt game—wasn't just a football game. When the crowd started the chant that night, it wasn't about winning a division title. It was a roar of defiance. "Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?" translated to "Who says this city is dead?"
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It’s rare for a sports song to carry that kind of emotional weight. Usually, it's something cheesy like "Go Team Go." But in New Orleans, the song is a prayer. It’s a way of saying, we are still here. ### The Evolution of the Sound
The song hasn't stayed frozen in 1983. It evolves.
- The Re-birth: In 2009, during the Super Bowl run, the song was everywhere.
- The Remixes: Local bounce artists like Big Freedia and DJ Jubilee have integrated the chant into their tracks.
- The Modern Era: Now, you hear it blended with trap beats and modern brass band arrangements.
You’ll hear the Rebirth Brass Band playing it in the streets of the French Quarter, and then you’ll hear a high-definition, stadium-shaking version at the game. It bridges the gap between the old-school jazz funerals and the modern NFL experience.
Why the "Who Dat" Logic Works
Grammatically, "Who Dat" is a masterpiece of Appalachian and Creole linguistic intersection. It’s a "call and response" structure.
- The Call: "Who dat?"
- The Response: "Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?"
It requires participation. You can't just listen to the who dat saints song; you have to do it. That’s why it works so well in a stadium. It’s an interactive loop. Most fight songs are complicated—think of "Hail to the Redskins" or "The Autumn Wind." They have verses. They have narratives. "Who Dat" is visceral. It’s a loop that builds energy.
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The Aaron Neville Influence
Aaron Neville’s involvement is probably the reason the song has such staying power. His voice is synonymous with the city. By having a legitimate musical heavyweight on the track, it moved from a "gimmick" to a "standard." Neville didn't just sing it; he blessed it.
I remember talking to an old-timer at a bar on Magazine Street who swore he could tell a "real" fan from a "tourist" just by how they timed the "Who Dat" during the song. There’s a specific cadence. You don't rush the "Dat." You let it breathe. It’s New Orleans; nothing happens fast.
Actionable Steps for the Full Experience
If you want to truly understand the who dat saints song, you can’t just watch it on YouTube. You need to immerse yourself in the culture that created it.
- Visit the French Quarter on Game Day: Go to a spot like Pat O'Brien's or any hole-in-the-wall bar. When the chant starts, don't just stand there. Join in. Feel the rhythm.
- Listen to the 1983 Original: Find the version by Aaron Neville. Notice the instrumentation. It’s not a synthesizer; it’s real brass. That matters.
- Learn the History of "Who Dat": Research the minstrel roots and the "Who Dat" sketches from the early 20th century. Understanding that this phrase has survived for over 100 years adds a layer of respect to the chant.
- Support Local Brass: The next time you see a brass band in New Orleans, tip them and ask for the "Who Dat" second line. You’ll see how the song transforms from a stadium anthem into a street celebration.
The song is more than a melody. It’s a survival strategy. It’s the sound of a city that has been through hell and came out the other side with a whistle and a drum. Whether the Saints are 13-3 or 3-13, the song remains the same. It is the one constant in a city defined by beautiful chaos.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by exploring the discography of the Rebirth Brass Band or The Soul Rebels to hear how traditional New Orleans sounds influenced the modern stadium experience. If you’re heading to a game, arrive at least an hour early to witness the "Who Dat" chant in its purest form during pre-game warmups—that’s when the real local energy is highest. For those interested in the legal battle for the phrase, look up the 2010 Louisiana "Who Dat" dispute to see how grassroots activism protected the city’s cultural heritage from corporate overreach.