Stadium anthem
Encyclopedia
Stadium anthems or sports anthems or arena anthems are a musical genre identifying songs that are played over the public address
systems at stadiums and arenas during breaks in the action to rally the fans. Unlike college fight song
s, most stadium anthems were not written primarily for use at sports events, though compilation
s like ESPN Presents Stadium Anthems and the "Jock" series
occasionally feature remix
ed versions of these songs designed to segue
together or to accentuate the rhythm or other elements of the songs.
Stadium anthems are characterized by a catchy up tempo rhythm and a repeated vocal call-response catchphrase, often a statement of pride or arrogance (such as "We Will Rock You
", "We Are the Champions
", and "Another One Bites the Dust
" by Queen
). Most stadium anthems are drawn from popular rock and roll
, dance, or rap hits. At college football
games, the schools' marching band
s often add stadium anthems to their repertoires. In baseball
many stadium anthems are used as entrance music for various ballplayers. For example, AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" is the entrance music for Trevor Hoffman
.
Some stadium anthems are popular in a particular region, or with a specific team because of a reference in the song's lyrics. "You'll Never Walk Alone
" is the club anthem of Liverpool Football Club. The Dallas Cowboys
made heavy use of "Should've Been a Cowboy
" by Toby Keith
in the 1990s, while sports teams in Alabama
often use "Sweet Home Alabama
" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
. In a rare example of a team actually being mentioned in a song's lyrics, the University of Alabama
marching band often plays "Deacon Blues
" by Steely Dan
due to the school being referred to as one of "the winners in the world," even though the reference was intended as sarcastic
.
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
systems at stadiums and arenas during breaks in the action to rally the fans. Unlike college fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
s, most stadium anthems were not written primarily for use at sports events, though compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s like ESPN Presents Stadium Anthems and the "Jock" series
Jock series
The Jock series is a superseries of sports music albums startedby Tommy Boy records in 1994.The Jock series consisted of the Jock Rock series, the Jock Jams series and the Slam Jams series.Amazon.com markets the albums as ESPN Presents:....
occasionally feature remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed versions of these songs designed to segue
Segue
A segue is a smooth transition from one topic or section to the next.-In music:In music, segue is a direction to the performer. It means continue without a pause. It comes from the Italian "it follows". The term attacca is also used in classical music.For written music it implies a transition...
together or to accentuate the rhythm or other elements of the songs.
Stadium anthems are characterized by a catchy up tempo rhythm and a repeated vocal call-response catchphrase, often a statement of pride or arrogance (such as "We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
", "We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
", and "Another One Bites the Dust
Another One Bites the Dust
"Another One Bites the Dust" is a song by the English rock band Queen. Written by bass guitarist John Deacon, the song featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game . The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100, number two on the R&B charts and...
" by Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
). Most stadium anthems are drawn from popular rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, dance, or rap hits. At college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
games, the schools' marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
s often add stadium anthems to their repertoires. In baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
many stadium anthems are used as entrance music for various ballplayers. For example, AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" is the entrance music for Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
.
Some stadium anthems are popular in a particular region, or with a specific team because of a reference in the song's lyrics. "You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone is a song from the musical Carousel, a pop standard and football club anthem, for example that of Liverpool F.C.You'll Never Walk Alone may also refer to:* You'll Never Walk Alone , studio album...
" is the club anthem of Liverpool Football Club. The Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
made heavy use of "Should've Been a Cowboy
Should've Been a Cowboy
"Should've Been a Cowboy" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. Released in February 1993, it was the lead off single released from Toby's first album Toby Keith. On June 5, 1993, it reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
" by Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
in the 1990s, while sports teams in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
often use "Sweet Home Alabama
Sweet Home Alabama (song)
"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping.It reached #8 on the US charts in 1974, and was the band's second hit single.-Creation and recording:...
" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
. In a rare example of a team actually being mentioned in a song's lyrics, the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
marching band often plays "Deacon Blues
Deacon Blues
"Deacon Blues" is a song by Steely Dan from their 1977 album Aja.The song contains the lines:In a 1994 AOL chat interview with Becker, someone asked him about the inspiration for "Deacon Blues"...
" by Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
due to the school being referred to as one of "the winners in the world," even though the reference was intended as sarcastic
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is “a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt.” Though irony and understatement is usually the immediate context, most authorities distinguish sarcasm from irony; however, others argue that sarcasm may or often does involve irony or employs...
.
Popular Sports Anthems
- Rock and Roll Part 2
- We Will Rock YouWe Will Rock You"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
- We Are the ChampionsWe Are the Champions"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
- Get Ready for ThisGet Ready for This"Get Ready for This" was later remixed and re-released for 2 Unlimited's compilation album Greatest Hits Remixes.-Dancemania:The song has appeared on the eurodance compilation Dancemania series albums, including Dancemania Super Techno II , Dancemania Speed 6 and Dancemania Super Techno Best...
- Remember the NameRemember the Name"Remember the Name" is a rap by American hip hop artist Fort Minor, the side project of rock band Linkin Park's co-lead vocalist Mike Shinoda. It is the second single from his 2005 album The Rising Tied, released on October 5, 2005. It was released alongside the album's first single, "Petrified"....
- Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him GoodbyeNa Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" is a song written and recorded by Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer, attributed to a then-fictitious band they named "Steam". It was released under the Mercury subsidiary label Fontana and became a number one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1969,...
See also
- Entrance musicEntrance musicEntrance music is a musical piece or song that is played for sports persons or celebrities when they enter the ring or the playing field.-Wrestling:...
- Fight songFight songA fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
- Football chantFootball chantA football chant or terrace chant, is a song or chant sung at association football matches. They can be historic, dating back to the formation of the club, adaptations of popular songs, or spontaneous reactions to events on the pitch. They are one of the last remaining sources of an oral folk song...
, many of which are based on popular songs