12/21/24
April 25, 2003
Sports Songs!: In the tradition of sports movies, tv shows and books, I bring you the best sports songs of all time! Aww yeaaaah. I'm not talking about your little college or high school fight song. I'm talking about songs that are recognized the world over. Songs that have probably topped the pop charts. Bring it on!
posted by worldcup2002 to culture at 01:03 PM - 25 comments
Hockey Monkey by the Zambonis. Probably the best song ever written about hockey and monkeys.
posted by Samsonov14 at 01:39 PM on April 25, 2003
god protect anyone who dares to mention "the cup of life".
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:20 PM on April 25, 2003
they could have at least given us the actual name of the Hey Song... which makes no sense whatsoever, but is one of those good things to know. Cornell hockey fans know it as the "sieve" song :) I'll nominate Centerfield, and I Wanna Drive the Zamboni :)
posted by Bernreuther at 02:39 PM on April 25, 2003
Bern: Somehow, the Hey Song makes me think of Dr. Who and the Daleks. I don't know why. But everytime I hear the song, or even the mention of it, I think that's what they're singing: "Dr. Whoooo ... HEY! ... and the Daleks ... Dr. Whooooo ... HEY! duh-duh-duh-duh ..." Also, I think it interesting to note that the top two sports songs in the US are by a British rock band (named Queen and led by a queen, no less!) whereas perhaps the most popular song in the UK was written by the biggest names in US theater. Awesome. And how come no mention of Louie Louie? Oh, yeah, one more thing, I think that song on Shrek that goes "Hey now, you're an all-star ..." has got to be a candidate for sports song stardom, if it isn't already. Anybody know the name? The band? Has it been played in any arenas? C'mon, this is a no-brainer.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:55 PM on April 25, 2003
Being a UW Husky, I'll vouch for our band's rendition of "TEQUILA!!!" - which of course is more of a fight song. "Centerfield" by John Fogerty has to be my favorite all time though. Well, beat the drum and hold the phone the sun came out today! We're born again, there's new grass on the field. A-roundin' third and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man Anyone can understand the way I feel. Oh, put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today! Put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today; Look at me, I can be Centerfield. Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench. You know I took some lumps when the Mighty "Case" struck out. So, say Hey Willie, Tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio; Don't say "It ain't so", you know the time is now. Oh, put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today! Put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today; Look at me, I can be Centerfield. Yeah! I got it! I got it!! Got a beat-up glove, and a homemade bat, and a brand new pair of shoes; You know I think it's time to give this game a ride. Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all ~ a moment in the sun: {POP!} It's gone and you can tell that one good-bye! Oh, put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today! Put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today; Look at me, I can be Centerfield. Oh, put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today! Put me in, Coach ~ I'm ready to play today; Look at me, I can be Centerfield. Oh man...just looking at the lyrics, and looking at Seattle blue sky (believe it or not) out my office window makes me want to head to the ballpark! Diablo's first game is Wednesday May 7!! Thanks worldcup!
posted by vito90 at 02:56 PM on April 25, 2003
Did anyone ever see that NBA commercial with Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love by Van Halen playing? I saw it only once, and I don't even like basketball, but it was cool. I wish they had something similar for football... The end of the song has a chorus that goes, "HEY! HEY! HEY!.........HEY! HEY! HEY!" Those that like Van Halen know what i'm talking about...anyway, with every HEY, they showed a slam dunk. That would be cool as hell with some 30 yard curlers from Steven Gerrard or a 25 yard blast from Paul Scholes accompanied by one of those HEY!s
posted by StarFucker at 03:05 PM on April 25, 2003
The "Heh" song is "Rock and Roll Part 2" by noted collector of child porn, Gary Glitter.
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:23 PM on April 25, 2003
You say that like its a bad thing...
posted by StarFucker at 03:24 PM on April 25, 2003
The first link in my reply above is to a BBC article and is safe for work. Second note: "Rock and Roll Part 2" was used by The Timelords (also known as the JAMS, or the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, or, most popularly, KLF) in their popular "Doctorin' The Tardis" - this is sometimes refered to as "That Dr. Who song."
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:30 PM on April 25, 2003
Joey: So I'm not crazy! Thanks! And, here you go, SF: HEY! 
HEY!
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:36 PM on April 25, 2003
Sweet Georgia Brown only gets honorable mention, but their stupid uni fight song makes the list? Puh-leeze!
posted by billsaysthis at 03:38 PM on April 25, 2003
More history on that Hey Song, from the glam-awful Gary Glitter site. And Doctorin' the Tardis lyrics in all their blinding blue-text-on-black-background glory. No thanks for the hyper-retro, naive art, folkeriffic web-design, Joey! Holy crap.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:48 PM on April 25, 2003
worldcup2002: Yes. It is appalling. I believe in sharing the pain. Should "Who Let The Dogs Out" and "Tubthumping" ("I get knocked down, btu I get up again...") have a place on this list? Oh, yes. Yes they should.
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:54 PM on April 25, 2003
Here's some hockey picks although why The Hockey Song isn't NUMBER ONE is beyond me. The most recognizeable theme in Canada is the "Hockey Night In Canada" theme. Without question. I mean, even Ford commercials use it!
posted by mkn at 04:03 PM on April 25, 2003
World over? What a crock of shit. I highly doubt the "World" knows the music from Sportscentre for example. I'd say less than half the songs are known world over. Typical yankcentric nonsense.
posted by Drood at 06:19 PM on April 25, 2003
Na-Na-Na-Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye?
posted by smithers at 12:53 AM on April 26, 2003
World over? What a crock of shit. I highly doubt the "World" knows the music from Sportscentre for example. I'd say less than half the songs are known world over. Typical yankcentric nonsense. Drood: That's why I'm encouraging everyone to name their songs. Did you read any of the comments?
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:58 AM on April 26, 2003
I don't suppose anyone remembers the Godawful fight song that Marv Levy once wrote for the Bills...ugh. When CNN got hold of it, they intercut footage of Marv singing his own song off-key with footage of The Three Tenors.
posted by Jaquandor at 12:22 PM on April 26, 2003
Some songs I hear at hockey games:
- "The Final Countdown" by Europe - usually played in the final minute of a hockey game when the score is tied.
- "That's What I Like About You" by The Romantics - played when a goal is scored by the home team.
- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor - usually after a good fight, or when the team's enforcer steps on the ice for some obvious fisticuff action.
- "Cotton-Eye Joe" by Rednex - I haven't got a clue why this REALLY annoying song is played at arenas, but it might be to get the crowd all charged up. It just makes me want to get up and go to the washroom.
posted by grum@work at 08:19 PM on April 26, 2003
How 's about 'Backfield in Motion': backfield in motion baby, you know that's against the rule. whohoo... backfield in motion baby, gonna have to penalize you So bad it's good. But my personal favorite is the first sports song I ever learned: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Never get tired of that.
posted by kloeprich at 12:19 AM on April 27, 2003
What about that awful NFL tune they had a while ago? I think it was the the Bears that did it. It was the something shuffle? 86 or someone else will have to help me out here, as I'm too hungover to look at the Google logo right now.
posted by Samsonov14 at 11:50 AM on April 27, 2003
Samsonov, how about Hank Williams Jr.'s ongoing efforts on behalf of Monday Night Football. Never enough cheerleader shots in the videos though.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:06 PM on April 27, 2003
Samsonov14: that'd be the Super Bowl Shuffle.
posted by kirkaracha at 03:38 PM on April 27, 2003
hello all i need some help if you can. i am doing a theme for a dance and we are being refs. so all i need now are some songs that are related to sports. now i know you have posted a lot of songs however we can only use songs that haven't already been used. so my question is, is there any other song that you can dance to and is sports related that any of you know of. please respond asap! thank you all!
posted by Sportsfreak at 05:03 PM on December 28, 2004
Sorry about the double post. It's Friday and I couldn't help myself. vito made me do it. btw, where's "You'll Never Walk Alone"? (brilliant and succinct account of the sweeping history of this song). It ties everyone from creators Rodgers & Hammerstein, to performers like the recently-departed jazz great Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Chet Atkins, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Elvis and Sinatra, to Jerry Lewis and his MDA telethon, to my beloved Liverpool and virtually every British soccer stadium, as well as the top of the British singles chart (1985). For cryin' out loud, people!