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Post by umbrella0326 on Jun 30, 2016 12:21:18 GMT -5
I work with a research group and recently, we worked on 'difficult movies'. I want to thank everyone for your responses. They were really helpful.
Now, my research group's topic is 'college fight songs'. Our group is studying what is considered the 'best' fight songs in American universities. Our focus is centered on two things - one, the quality of the march-like music, and two, how people react when they hear the music.
I need suggestions on what's considered the 'best' college fight song. Some in my group struggled separating their personal feelings of a specific university and the quality/effectiveness of a song.
Right now, it's generally considered in my group that the University of Michigan's fight song is the best, in terms of how inspiring the lower brass and drums make it more effective, and that fans can easily participate in the sounds. Another one is the University of Illinois' song, which changes tempo and how fans also participated in the sounds. Notre Dame University's song was also mentioned, mainly because of the woodwinds.
For now, I'm in agreement with Michigan's fight song. Yes, that was hard to type, but the march-like, triumphant sounds (especially with the lower brass) make it really effective.
What about the rest of you? Any suggestions on what might be considered the 'best' fight song, and why?
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Post by picabo on Jun 30, 2016 16:01:35 GMT -5
Our focus is centered on two things - one, the quality of the march-like music, and two, how people react when they hear the music. Interesting topic. I think the reaction is of people is directly tied to their emotions of the school - brought on by the song. Music brings forth so many emotions and memories. So fans react . . . to all of that. And a good song can evoke from even the hardest heart. OSU has two fight songs - the older is Across the Field; then also, Buckeye Battle Cry. The excitement of the fans when both play - and then when you get to "Drive, drive on down the field," it is deafening to be in the stadium singing your lungs out! Then there is Script Ohio! I know it is not the fight song, but it is probably the most amazing thing to be a part of at a football game. If you've ever been in the stadium as the band starts that song and the marching and the fan reaction - WOW! Leading up to the culmination of the dotting of the "I." There is nothing like being present for that moment. I was blessed to witness many games as my father had season tickets. As a child - the highlight of the day for me was watching the band. Later in my teen and adult years - the game was the focus, and although the team might have disappointed (esp. in the Cooper years) the band NEVER did. Many thanks to Jim Tressel for resurrecting the tradition of the players singing "Carmen, Ohio" after the game - win or lose. Those are the reasons are the OSU band is TBDBITL!
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Post by picabo on Jun 30, 2016 17:14:06 GMT -5
You didn't specify DI only. Heres's another fun song from D3 - the College of Wooster Fighting Scots. I get goosebumps everytime I hear the bagpipes and watch at home games as the bagpipes lead the football team down the hill onto the field where the rest of the band is waiting. static.psbin.com/9/b/fq2rc1v66kzo5j/exitscotland.mp3
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Post by Observer on Jun 30, 2016 19:13:28 GMT -5
Don't overlook Michigan State and Wisconsin fight songs.
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Post by BellevueBuckeye on Jun 30, 2016 21:30:11 GMT -5
Putting my OSU bias aside, here are a few that I've always liked (not all of these are fight songs though):
Tennessee's Rocky Top, love the singing part of it:
The full version of USC's fight song with the fanfare entrance, which is an great job of theming the music to the mascot:
The Illini War Chant
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Post by maplecityjake on Jul 1, 2016 10:52:36 GMT -5
Michigan and USC for me.
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Post by deathfromabove on Jul 1, 2016 14:57:51 GMT -5
another one that has great sprite is Clemson TIGER RAG. you should see the fans go nuts when the team comes down the hill and that song is playing and the tiger roar over the speakers in Death Valley.
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Post by sportsjock on Jul 1, 2016 19:40:16 GMT -5
Notre Dame fight song is the standard and tradition that goes to the infancy of college football.
After that, there's the Buckeye Battle Cry, On Wisconsin, Good Old Rocky Top, USC Trojan, Michigan, MSU, Bama, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texsas, Texas A&M and Purdue fight songs, in no particular order.
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Post by BellevueBuckeye on Jul 1, 2016 20:30:07 GMT -5
Yep, I like the Notre Dame one too. Though I actually knew it as "That song from the movie Airplane!" before I knew it was ND's fight song.
Oklahoma's is a nice tune, though I find it kind of lame that the lyrics to almost the entire thing is simply repeating either the phrase "Boomer Sooner" or the word "Oklahoma" over and over again.
Texas and Alabama fall into an interesting category of fight songs that mention other teams....that they now no longer or seldom play. Texas Fight includes the line "and it's goodbye to A&M"....which is now a literal description of their spot on the schedule, and Alabama's fight song mentions sending the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave, though Georgia Tech has long since left the SEC (Alabama's also mentions teaching Bulldogs to behave, which covers 2 different conference opponents at once....and even includes a mention of the Rose Bowl, which they played in 5 times before the B1G/Pac 12 tradition started)
Wisconsin's is very catchy, though any time I hear it I can't help inserting the alternate lyrics the OSU band came up with for it (released with many others during that scandal a couple years back)
And as for Ohio State, it's quite interesting to me that we have 2 fight songs. I've always preferred Buckeye Battle Cry over Across the Field, and I like that it's the one that gets used for touchdowns, the ramp entrance, and the script Ohio sousaphone solo.
and now I'll end this post with the awesomeness that is Buckeye Swag (a new cheer that became a big hit during Urban Meyer's first year, finally giving OSU a unique modern song to replace the constant use of the "Seven Nation Army" cheer that just about every other school/sports team was/is doing):
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Post by deathfromabove on Jul 2, 2016 0:48:06 GMT -5
That song they are playing on the pipes is no other than Scotland the Brave. And those pipes and drums along with the song sure gets my Scottish blood stirred.
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Post by NorCal on Jul 2, 2016 16:16:17 GMT -5
Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State rank at the top for me.
Of course I have an attachment for Cal which has 3 fight songs: "The Big C," "Fight For California," and "Sons Of California." The band plays all 3 during their pre-game performance. "The Big C" was written in 1913. The lyrics twice refer to Stanford as Stanfurd. From 1940 to 1960 Cal and UCLA would host double headers when they played. The preliminary game usually featured 2 smaller UC's. The combined bands would play at halftime of the featured game. In preparation for a halftime show featuring the bands of Cal, UCLA and UC Davis the UCLA band director tweaked "The Big C" including new lyrics repping the Bruins. He called his version "Sons of Westwood." In 1969 UCLA made the rip off version their official fight song pissing off legions of Cal fans. To this day when either band plays their version fans from the other team sing their version's lyrics over the performing group.
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Post by sportsjock on Jul 2, 2016 22:34:46 GMT -5
Some of the so-called fight songs sound more like songs from Broadway musicals.
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Post by Buckeye2b on Jul 3, 2016 8:55:53 GMT -5
As much as it pains me to say it, you can't argue about the ND fight song. It was the second one I thought about and michigan a close third. Overall tho... Even to fans of other teams, it is more recognizable if only due to exposure over the years.
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Post by umbrella0326 on Jul 3, 2016 19:45:48 GMT -5
Thank you all for your responses. I think we have enough to work with, in addition to our own research.
And my thanks to Picabo, who provided Wooster's interesting song (unusual for a fight song, too - nice!).
Thanks all!
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