Bowls and fight songs

[winghaz]

Poinsettia: The biggest blowout of em all. Navy's Anchors Aweigh clobbers Utah 100-0.

New Orleans: Not much difference in quality, but give the nod to FAU over Memphis.

Las Vegas: No close call here. UCLA easily over BYU. Utah schools have bad fight songs while UCLA is a classic, although a stolen classic.

New Mexico: New Mexico's unique fight song beats Nevada's version of Down the Field (although it is a good version).

Papajohns.com: Southern Miss has an underrated fight song. Great sound. Easy win over Cincy.

Hawaii: East Carolina doesn't have a good fight song, but it's better than Boise State's.

Motor City: Hail Purdue. You beat a good CMU fight song.

Holiday: ASU has a great fight song, but Texas has a classic.

Emerald: Oregon State sure has a better fight song than it has uniforms. Maryland is great, too, but not quite as good.

Champs Sports: A clobbering here -- Michigan State over BC.

Texas: Houston has a great fight song; TCU doesn't. Simple as that.

Alamo: Texas A&M may have lots of tradition in its slow-moving "Aggie War Hymn," but it can't keep up with the classic "Fight On State" or "Hail to the Lion" of Penn State.

Liberty: UCF over a rare lousy fight song in the SEC from Mississippi State.

Meineke Car Care: UConn over Wake Forest in two good fight songs, although you expect to hear UConn's fight song during a basketball game.

Independence: Colorado can't keep up with solid, classic "Yea Alabama."

Insight: Another blowout with Indiana's classic over OSU's lousy fight song.

Chick-fill-A: Auburn's "War Eagle" soars over Clemson. But why does a team with a name Tigers have a cheer and a fight song called "War Eagle"?

Music City: Two very good ones, but I give Kentucky the edge over Florida State. I'm sure many will disagree here.

Humanitarian: Oh, the humanity! Fresno State doesn't stand a chance against the Ramlin Wreck from Georgia Tech.

Sun: The state of Oregon is known for lousy uniforms but fine fight songs. "Mighty Oregon" looks mighty against USF.

Armed SForces: It's bombs away for Air Force over Cal with "Wild Blue Yonder."

Capital One: Florida has a cool fight song, but they don't call Michigan's fight song "The Victors" for nothing.

Gator: Texas Tech in a clobbering over Virginia.

Cotton: Missouri can't get past the classic of Arkansas.

Outback: Wow! Talk about the dream matchup. A classic in "On Wisconsin" vs. Tennessee's home cooking in "Rocky Top." One usually has to go with the classic, but I've heard "On Wisconsin" too much, so the edge goes to the Vols.

International: Rutgers, easily over Ball State.

GMAC: Bowling Green vs. Tulsa? Who cares?

Sugar: Both are bad, but give Georgia the edge over Hawaii because of tradition.

Rose: "Oskee Wow-Wow" of Illinois is fantastic, but how can you beat "Fight On" by USC? Unless you're Michigan or Notre Dame?

Fiesta: "Boomer Sooner" goes bust. OU may have the classic, but it's stolen from Yale and West Virginia's fight song is better, anyway.

Orange: Kansas, in a blowout, over Virginia Tech. The game itself, though, may be the opposite.

BCS Title Game: Sorry, LSU, but there's no question here. Ohio State not only has a classic, but two classics in "Buckeye Battle Cry" and "Across the field."

[BlueSky]

Fiesta: "Boomer Sooner" goes bust. OU may have the classic, but it's stolen from Yale and West Virginia's fight song is better, anyway.

Sorry, your credibility is zero based on that opinion.

[The_Admiral]

Insight: Another blowout with Indiana's classic over OSU's lousy fight song.

That ain't true!

[infrared41]

BCS Title Game: Sorry, LSU, but there's no question here. Ohio State not only has a classic, but two classics in "Buckeye Battle Cry" and "Across the field."

In a shocking development, I couldn't agree more. Imagine that.

And don't forget Carmen Ohio.

[winghaz]

In a shocking development, I couldn't agree more. Imagine that.

And don't forget Carmen Ohio.

I also left out Le Regement Whatever-the-rest-of-the-name-is, played during Script Ohio, and which is also very cool.

[FiddySicks]

Outback: Wow! Talk about the dream matchup. A classic in "On Wisconsin" vs. Tennessee's home cooking in "Rocky Top." One usually has to go with the classic, but I've heard "On Wisconsin" too much, so the edge goes to the Vols.

Rocky Top you'll always be

Home sweet home to me

Good Ole Rocky Top (WHOO!!!)

Rocky Top Tennessee

Rocky Top Tennessee

[infrared41]

In a shocking development, I couldn't agree more. Imagine that.

And don't forget Carmen Ohio.

I also left out Le Regement Whatever-the-rest-of-the-name-is, played during Script Ohio, and which is also very cool.

Yeah, we don't call it "The Best Damn Band In the Land" for nothing. We also do a pretty mean version of Hang on Sloopy.

[averyj]

Rose: "Oskee Wow-Wow" of Illinois is fantastic, but how can you beat "Fight On" by USC? Unless you're Michigan or Notre Dame?

All bias from me aside, Fight On has got to be one of worst fight songs I've ever heard.

It's lyrics are generic, and symbolizes nothing related to the school, other than featuring "SC" in the first and sixth lines.

Music:

http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/pac10/USC__Fight_On.mp3

Lyrics:

Fight on for ol' SC,

Our men fight on to victory.

Our Alma Mater dear

Looks up to you,

Fight on and win

For ol' SC

Fight on to victory

Fight on!

That song could be applied to any school... Again, with the exception of "SC" featured 2 times in the song... But regardless, the lyrics have nothing to do with a Trojan, a white horse, or hating UCLA and Notre Dame. haha

It keeps its tempo the same through the whole thing, not very exciting. And the melody of it is just well... Wimpy. It doesn't strike fear in the hearts of the other team, it makes them chuckle. It's bouncy and light, and just well... playful. And playful is not menacing.

Plus, it doesn't have any crowd interaction in it, something that involves fans during the fight song, other than just singing, whistling, or humming it. UCLA has the Bruin 8 clap inside Sons of Westwood, and the Fighting Illini have the "hold", where the tempo slows down dramatically. Hey it's not much, but it's something, something more than "Fight On" has.

As an aside from that, during basketball and volleyball games, the band will start Oskee Wow Wow "from the top" (the beginning of the whole piece) with about 32-34 seconds on the clock that indicates the end of the warmup period. When properly conducted, this allows the "hold" to be played just as the buzzer sounds. By extreme coincidence, the buzzer at most every stadium, home and away, is in the chord of the hold. Now that's what I call interaction.

Note: In a football game, a touchdown always evokes Oskee Wow Wow "from the hold" and the entire piece is played after an extra point is scored.

Music:

http://www.bands.uiuc.edu/MI/media/1997CD/...oskeewowwow.mp3

Lyrics:

Old Princeton yells her Tiger,

Wisconsin, her Varsity

And they give the same old Rah, Rah, Rah,

At each University,

But the yell that always thrills me

And fills my heart with joy,

Is the good old Oskee-Wow-Wow,

That they yell at Illinois.

Os[hold]-kee-Wow-Wow,

Illinois,

Our eyes are all on you.

Oskee-Wow-Wow,

Illinois,

Wave your Orange and your Blue.

Rah! Rah!

When the team trots out before you,

Every man stand up and yell,

Back the team to victory,

Os-kee-Wow-Wow.

Illinois.

From the hold:

http://www.bands.uiuc.edu/MI/media/1997cd/...fromthehold.mp3

First off, can you name another fight song that simultaneously mocks other schools and their fight songs, and praises its own in its first stanza?

Didn't think so. haha

Second, the name Oskee Wow Wow, immediatley conjures up thoughts of the Fighting Illini, Native Americans, Indians, what have you.

The song incorporates the school colors into the song, instead of just singing about generic well being and good fortune.

It speaks of the team, and how the song rallies them to fight, and fight into victory.

All in all, it does so much more than Fight On does, you can't really hold them to the same plane.

Whew, that was a long one.

With all that being said, go Illini!

[winghaz]

I agree with you, averyj, that the words of "Fight On" aren't very good. Downright awful, in fact.

But I disagree with you about the tune, especially the way the Trojan band plays it. You have an intro that is riveting, a powerful first play, a soft second play (I think it was intended that way to play it while the extra point is being kicked) and a riveting third play featuring the trombone section.

Look, I'm an old UCLA fan from WAY back (like the mid-1960s -- I think it had to do with John Wooden's teams) but I love it when the Trojan band plays "Fight On."

[averyj]

I agree with you, averyj, that the words of "Fight On" aren't very good. Downright awful, in fact.

But I disagree with you about the tune, especially the way the Trojan band plays it. You have an intro that is riveting, a powerful first play, a soft second play (I think it was intended that way to play it while the extra point is being kicked) and a riveting third play featuring the trombone section.

Look, I'm an old UCLA fan from WAY back (like the mid-1960s -- I think it had to do with John Wooden's teams) but I love it when the Trojan band plays "Fight On."

Haha. I do give them credit for their intro. And the tune IS catchy.

My song of choice for SC is Tribute to Troy. Hey it might not have any lyrics, but saying this as a Bruin at heart; it's scary as hell.

THAT'S the song that really represents what SC is trying to represent.

Unfortunately they play it so much that it loses its... well... scaryness. haha

Played few times, it really is terrifying. The deadbeat of the drums, blaring brass, ugh - gives me the chills. haha

[rainmaker17]

Texas A&M is notorious for bashing UT in half of their fight songs. I'd say it was silly, but the way Ags treat everything they do like religion it's pretty scary. Focus on your own damn team.

I kind of like the Aggie War Hymn though.

[AndrewPF]

as a BC fan, i absolutely hate Notre Lame, but the fight song they got there, that's a catchy tune...

[averyj]

as a BC fan, i absolutely hate Notre Lame, but the fight song they got there, that's a catchy tune...

Notre Dame's fight song, The Notre Dame Victory March, has got to be the best fight song I've ever heard.

GREAT lyrics, all relating to the school.

What ND stands for, the history of the school, how greatly they'll fight. It's all so good.

THE BEST, is when in the fight song, is in the middle of the song the band stops playing except for the low horns and the crowd sings the lyrics that have been engraved in their heart.

The music is great too.

I'd say more about the victory march, but there's no time. haha

Music (With Intro):

http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/ind/Notre_Da...ctory_March.mp3

Lyrics:

Rally sons of Notre Dame

Sing her glory and sound her fame

Raise her Gold and Blue

And cheer with voices true:

Rah, rah, for Notre Dame

We will fight in every game,

Strong of heart and true to her name

We will ne'er forget her

And will cheer her ever

Loyal to Notre Dame.

Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame,

Wake up the echoes cheering her name,

Send a volley cheer on high,

Shake down the thunder from the sky!

What though the odds be great or small,

Old Notre Dame will win over all,

While her loyal sons are marching

Onward to victory!

[The_Admiral]

Is "Tribute to Troy" the slower song that they usually play before "Fight On"? That one is great. "Fight On" is just typical blustery fight song pap.

[footballfiji]

Poinsettia: The biggest blowout of em all. Navy's Anchors Aweigh clobbers Utah 100-0.

New Orleans: Not much difference in quality, but give the nod to FAU over Memphis.

Las Vegas: No close call here. UCLA easily over BYU. Utah schools have bad fight songs while UCLA is a classic, although a stolen classic.

New Mexico: New Mexico's unique fight song beats Nevada's version of Down the Field (although it is a good version).

Papajohns.com: Southern Miss has an underrated fight song. Great sound. Easy win over Cincy.

Hawaii: East Carolina doesn't have a good fight song, but it's better than Boise State's.

Motor City: Hail Purdue. You beat a good CMU fight song.

Holiday: ASU has a great fight song, but Texas has a classic.

Emerald: Oregon State sure has a better fight song than it has uniforms. Maryland is great, too, but not quite as good.

Champs Sports: A clobbering here -- Michigan State over BC.

Texas: Houston has a great fight song; TCU doesn't. Simple as that.

Alamo: Texas A&M may have lots of tradition in its slow-moving "Aggie War Hymn," but it can't keep up with the classic "Fight On State" or "Hail to the Lion" of Penn State.

Liberty: UCF over a rare lousy fight song in the SEC from Mississippi State.

Meineke Car Care: UConn over Wake Forest in two good fight songs, although you expect to hear UConn's fight song during a basketball game.

Independence: Colorado can't keep up with solid, classic "Yea Alabama."

Insight: Another blowout with Indiana's classic over OSU's lousy fight song.

Chick-fill-A: Auburn's "War Eagle" soars over Clemson. But why does a team with a name Tigers have a cheer and a fight song called "War Eagle"?

Music City: Two very good ones, but I give Kentucky the edge over Florida State. I'm sure many will disagree here.

Humanitarian: Oh, the humanity! Fresno State doesn't stand a chance against the Ramlin Wreck from Georgia Tech.

Sun: The state of Oregon is known for lousy uniforms but fine fight songs. "Mighty Oregon" looks mighty against USF.

Armed SForces: It's bombs away for Air Force over Cal with "Wild Blue Yonder."

Capital One: Florida has a cool fight song, but they don't call Michigan's fight song "The Victors" for nothing.

Gator: Texas Tech in a clobbering over Virginia.

Cotton: Missouri can't get past the classic of Arkansas.

Outback: Wow! Talk about the dream matchup. A classic in "On Wisconsin" vs. Tennessee's home cooking in "Rocky Top." One usually has to go with the classic, but I've heard "On Wisconsin" too much, so the edge goes to the Vols.

International: Rutgers, easily over Ball State.

GMAC: Bowling Green vs. Tulsa? Who cares?

Sugar: Both are bad, but give Georgia the edge over Hawaii because of tradition.

Rose: "Oskee Wow-Wow" of Illinois is fantastic, but how can you beat "Fight On" by USC? Unless you're Michigan or Notre Dame?

Fiesta: "Boomer Sooner" goes bust. OU may have the classic, but it's stolen from Yale and West Virginia's fight song is better, anyway.

Orange: Kansas, in a blowout, over Virginia Tech. The game itself, though, may be the opposite.

BCS Title Game: Sorry, LSU, but there's no question here. Ohio State not only has a classic, but two classics in "Buckeye Battle Cry" and "Across the field."

I'll add some comments to your comments:

1. Memphis actually has a pretty decent fightsong. Memphis Fight Song.

although it sounds like "Great Green Globs of Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts" at the start.

2. "Hail Dear Old State" is a classic. It's also catchy, easy to learn, and if you go to just one game you'll immediately keep singing it for a week aftwerwards.

3. War Eagle is the battle cry. Tigers is the nickname. It can be confusing. This might help: War Eagle

4. Technically, Rocky Top isn't UTs Fight Song. This is: Fight Vols Down

the Field Rocky Top is just an overplayed, popular bluegrass song (which incidentally talks about killing visitors) which the blare like its oxygen in Neyland.

[footballfiji]

First off, can you name another fight song that simultaneously mocks other schools and their fight songs, and praises its own in its first stanza?

Didn't think so. haha

Alabama's Yea Alabama

Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!

Every 'Bama man's behind you;

Hit your stride!

Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,

Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave!

And if a man starts to weaken,

That's a shame!

ugh that pains me to type that.

Also, Texas A&M's Fight Song is pretty much an entire song devoted to bashing Texas.

Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!

Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!

Good-bye to Texas University

So long to the Orange and the White

Good luck to the dear old Texas Aggies

They are the boys that show the real old fight

"The eyes of Texas are upon you..."

That is the song they sing so well

So good-bye to Texas University

We're going to beat you all to--

Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem

Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem

Rough Tough! Real Stuff! Texas A&M!

And the end of Georgia's "Glory (Battle Hymn the Republic)" They always say, "...and to hell with Georgia Tech"

[winghaz]

One of the stanzas of "Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech" is kind of classy, kind of humorous, in its putdown of Georgia:

Oh, if I had a daughter, sir, I'd dress her in White and Gold,

And put her on the campus, to cheer the brave and bold.

But if I had a son, sir, I'll tell you what he'd do.

He would yell, "To Hell with Georgia," like his daddy used to do.

[illwauk]

Outback: Wow! Talk about the dream matchup. A classic in "On Wisconsin" vs. Tennessee's home cooking in "Rocky Top." One usually has to go with the classic, but I've heard "On Wisconsin" too much, so the edge goes to the Vols.

As someone who had to learn On Wisconsin for music class in grade school, I always thought Tennessee had the best fight song around (followed by Florida).

And I HATE to say anything positive about the SEC!!!

[averyj]

Is "Tribute to Troy" the slower song that they usually play before "Fight On"? That one is great. "Fight On" is just typical blustery fight song pap.

Probably:

http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/pac10/USC__F...nd_Fight_On.mp3

Fanfare|Tribute to Troy|Fight On