After reading up about it I discovered a bit more information on the football wave.
Here is a short video of a wave at Camp Nou. It falters at first but then sweeps around the stadium.
Watching it on the video made me think about the contradictory feelings I get in large crowds at spectacular events.  Memories of marching through London with hundreds of thousands of people in the 1970’s and 80’s.  Good causes but also an awareness of the potential loss of identity in a throng.
On one level we were walking in small groups, chatting or singing or chanting. On another you could feel the power of the crowd – much much stronger than the sum of the individuals.
In general I am someone who likes to feel independent. I don’t easily join in chanting or whooping or hollering in a group. I can feel self conscious and stay a little apart. I want to keep my right to choose.
But there is another part of me that thrills to the rush of energy that arises when a massive crowd comes together as one. As if we have something more than just our individuality and separateness.
But it feels dangerous doesn’t it? And history confirms this.
I always prefer singing to chanting – I wonder why this is?