Question: Why do some NHL clubs regularly encourage their fans to stand up, clap their hands & cheer to a tune by a convicted child porn collector?
Answer: They lack the creativity to come up with something better than Gary Glitter’s "Rock & Roll Part II."
Question: Why do the Red Wings play “He’s So Fine” by 60’s girl group The Chiffons after a goal?
Answer: The song is played when center Robert Lang scores because the refrain after every line is “Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang.”
HockeyDirt.com recently asked NHL teams about the music they play after goals, penalty calls, and other game situations. The majority report that they still blast the tired cliché "Rock & Roll Part II" after the home team scores.
Rock & Roll Part II is a 70's hit by glam rocker Gary Glitter (aka Paul Gadd). Glitter is famous (infamous?) for: (1) Rock & Roll Part II and (2) a 1999 sex offence conviction relating to his massive collection of pornographic images of children. Glitter was sentenced to 4 months in jail. Following his release he left England. The paedophile was living in Vietnam, allegedly with an underage girl, but according to recent reports he is now on the run.
Thankfully a number of teams, including the Red Wings, have abandoned Glitter. At the Air Canada Centre, the Leafs organist and music man Jimmy Holmstrom treats the fans to "Zombie Nation" by Kerncraft 400 every time the home team scores. The same tune is played after a King’s goal, along with Randy Newman’s classic “We Love L.A.”
The Wings are not the only team with player-specific songs to celebrate goals. Lightning fans are given an opportunity to “decode” the lyrics to The Kingsmen’s "Louie Louie" every time Martin St. Louis scores. Senators’ fans must be getting pretty used to hearing "The Heat Is On" by Glenn Frey and U2’s "Beautiful Day," played after goals by Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson, respectively. The U2 song is played because the Sen's Captain is a huge fan of the Irish rockers.
The Devils stick with Glitter on a home goal, but mix it up with Weezer's “Say It Ain’t So, ” Bob Marley’s “Don't Worry” or “No Easy Way Out” by Survivor when the opposition scores. The Leafs turn to “I Did It” by the Dave Mathews Band or “Innocence”, a 70’s Canadian rocker by Harlequin when a penalty is called.
Carl Douglas’ novelty hit “Kung Fu Fighting” is a popular post-fight song, and the Devils also play “Fight For Your Right (To Party)” by the Beastie Boys after a brawl.
Glen Gower, the Ottawa Senator's Director of Entertainment & Events, says he often pulls out special tunes for special situations. Gower has even created his own site about hockey arena music. HockeyMusic.ca is designed to help other arena djs find some of the most common hockey songs. Gower also helps fans looking for a specific song they heard at a game. HockeyMusic.ca includes lists of situational songs including amazing plays, power plays, penalty kills and more.
Gower says "you always have to have a steady base of classics, and then mix in new & different songs on top of that. And above all, make sure the music is something than fans can respond to -- whether they clap along, sing along, laugh along, or whatever." Hopefully some of the other arena djs will follow Gower's lead, toss out Porn-Rocker Gary Glitter's tired old tune and pump up the volume on some new ideas.
Music for when Domi drops a guy - "Tie your mother down" - Queen
Posted by: Budfan | November 17, 2005 at 08:16 AM