Nerina Pallot the avid Gooner and was Interviewed by Kellys Eye. The song The Right side has just been adopted by Sky for their Champions League Theme Tune

NerinaPallot.tv

Hi Nerina, so you have your new album out soon, its all exciting times for you and I understand you’re an avid Arsenal fan as well, so tell me how you became a Gooner.

I was born in Plumstead in London and the hospital I was born in no longer exists anymore but

it was about 250yds from Manor Ground which doesn’t exist anymore either. In my family you are either an Arsenal or a Charlton supporter and I fell into the Arsenal camp so when I was growing up although not all of it was in London because I also moved to Jersey, it was hard to get to games so when I moved back to London to go to University I also went games again.

So what was your first game, can you remember?
I’m sure it was against Blackburn and we got beaten and it was either 97 or 98 but it was the year we won the title and the only game I say we got beaten really badly at home.

That match you are speaking about was a really significant game, it was actually the turning point of the whole 97-98 season, from that match which we lost 3 – 1 I believe and then we went undefeated for the rest of the season until we won the league, so although you actually saw them lose it maybe you are a very lucky Arsenal Supporter.
The only game I went to see that season when they won the league and they lost but that game turned around the season?

So what made you start going back to football when you returned for Jersey?
When I returned to go to University a lot of my friends were either Chelsea or Arsenal Supporters so occasionally I would go to derby’s then I went to work for a company where loads of people were Arsenal supporters so I could get tickets quite easily, I even went to an away game at Derby which was really depressing back in 1999-2000 when Man U cleaned up and I travelled to quite a few games. Whenever I could get hold of tickets from friends I used to go but this year is the first year I have had a season ticket so I am really excited.

You won your season ticket on a bet didn’t you?
I did a business deal where i wanted to make sure the person was really genuine and wanted to see their intentions were good and knowing they were a Spurs fan so I asked him to get me an Arsenal season ticket to conclude this deal, so yes I actually got a Spurs fan to buy my Arsenal season ticket.

Fantastic and what more could you ask for, a Spurs fan parting with his hard earned money!! So who are you looking forward to see play.

I like Arshavin in this team but when I was a teenager also like a lot of other people I liked Tony Adams, Ian Wright that’s when I first started to get into Arsenal. Then like probably all female Arsenal Supporters I had a soft spot for Thierry Henry, but maybe by the time this interview comes out we will have Vieira back. Everybody keeps saying this is a young squad and it is going to be exciting to see what Walcott and Jack Wilshere do as well. Its all about lots of players, I don’t thing we are a team that is all about one player and what’s going on, its all about lots of players

So with the new season coming up how do you think we are going to do this season?
I want to say that we are going to win but its hard and we haven’t won since 2004 so its tough to go five years without a trophy or any big silverware. I’m nervous because it is getting harder and harder to stay in the top 4, Aston Villa nearly took us out last season. They ruined my Christmas with that game and O’neil was so smug about Boxing Day, please Arsenal do not ruin my Christmas this year. Arsene Wenger is clearly a man of great intelligence and he is unusual in the fact he does not want to blow loads of cash like Man City, he is a man with a plan and it is all going to come together and he is right. Maybe next season we will have loads of cash and win and it will be wonderful.

I don’t think it will be the cash that will make the difference; I just think he will get the balance right, I actually think he has got it right now by getting rid of Adebayor and Toure.
Yeah, they were bitching and moaning for ages as well, they were really disruptive.
Yes, I have just done the player interviews and the harmony in the dressing room is absolutely fantastic and they can’t wait to get going      
We now have a lot of key players back from injury and it is going to really great seeing them all come back together I  would love to see Eduardo have a great season again, actually I think not just Arsenal supporters but everybody in football see Eduardo have a good season.

OK, so now the big question, predictions, where are we going to finish this season?
We will do top 4 , I would love to see us win but that is going to be really hard, I think Liverpool are going to be near after having a really close finish last season, I think they might win it this year, I don’t see Chelsea top 4, I just have this feeling and maybe Villa or Man City jump into 4th place. I would love to see us win but if we come third that would be great as well. Am I being on the fence, am I being a bit negative? I would love to see Arsenal then Liverpool but I think it is going to be really really hard. I am waiting just to see what is going to happen to Man City because they are trying to build this extraordinary squad but whether they can play together I don’t know, they are a very top heavy squad.

That is going to be down to their manager, now you’re clearly passionate about Arsenal Football Club and also about music and you have a new album coming out soon as well, so tell me about it.
Its called “The Graduate” because when I finished my last album I had really bad writers block so previous to that I started an English degree and I left halfway through, but I have since been back to finish it and I have just graduated so that is why I called the album “The Graduate”

You have a track on there about Arsenal Football Club, so tell us about that.
Its called “The Right Side” so I suppose that any football fan can identify with it but it is about Arsenal, there are a few lines in there and if you are an Arsenal Fan you will clock why it is about Arsenal Football Club.
You know I love that bit just before games when all the crowd are singing along to all the latest track in the charts, its like going to a really big party and I thought that I would really like to write a track that was like that with all that energy, it has all of that get up and go like a glam rock song, where you all throw your hands in the air.

Is it a good football anthem song?
I don’t know, I will have to see what everybody else thinks, I play it at shows and everybody really gets into it and then I make sure to mention it is about Arsenal and if you’re a Spurs Supporter you might want to leave now. (The Right Side is now being used by Sky Sports for their Champions League theme Tune)

So what inspired your album?
I have had a long time away from my music and I just wanted to do something that was fun. My last record was a bit low key and I was at a time in my life when I was feeling a lot more melancholy, now I feel a lot happier, I got married a couple of years ago to my lovely husband and I just feel really lucky things are really good and I went for a long time trying to get into my music and it was really difficult and then I finally had a hit and everything changed. Some of the changes weren’t particularly nice but most of it was completely positive and it was really nice just to have that happen and it made me feel a lot better in myself and as you get older and you settle more into your skin and I think the album is my first grown up record.

So the album is reflective of your now positive attitude?
Yes I hope so and even the sad songs are hopeful, when you are younger you have lots of hang ups and as you get older life does throw you a curve ball, I’ve learnt you have got to laugh because there is no point in being miserable so I think that is what I have been trying to do with my music, its to make it uplifting because life is hard for everybody especially now the world feels a bit glum right now because the recession is really tearing into peoples lives and the spirit is a bit down. I don’t think you help matters by making miserable music and I wanted to make something that people could put on and just feel uplifted, even if it was for half an hour and people feel yeah its ok.

That’s excellent and is what music is supposed to be all about, so is there a question that I have not asked that you were hoping I was going to ask?
No not at all, we are talking about my two favourite things music and football and we are outside the emirates having a cup of tea, it does not get better than this, with my Arshavin shirt on, awesome.

So are you a singer in the ground or a sitter?
Oh a bit of both really.

Where will you be sitting with your new season ticket?
Block 81, its just below the executive tier in Club Level.

Do you have any superstitions?
Not really, but I can’t look at a penalty being taken if Arsenal are taking it, or if we look like we are going to score.

Enjoy the new season and I wish you every success with The Graduate.