I want each of you to write a theme

Posted by Iannucci | 12/11/2008 | 19 comments »
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You humble host has often mocked the STOMP-STOMP-CLAP-STOMP-STOMP theme song the IRL has beaten into the ground featured in recent years, concluding as others have that the song sounds as if it’s proclaiming “I Am Mindy”. But mockery is no substitute for constructive criticism, and since we have both news free days and a new broadcast partner it seems like as good a time as any to garner suggestions for a replacement.

A while back over at YAUMB a reasonable suggestion was put forth: “Ready To Roll” by Jet Black Stare.



It’s not exactly an historic rock anthem, the video is unmemorable, and it’s lyrically generic, but that being said it is exceptionally catchy and it’s all about driving a car really fast. If nothing else it would make for good highlight music, which is more than I can say for the Mindy Song (although the version en espanol is marginally better since they aren't saying "Mindy").

But enough about my thoughts - how about you? Thumbs up or down on "Ready To Roll"? Does anyone in the peanut gallery have a better suggestion for a theme song?

19 comments

  1. Anonymous // December 11, 2008 11:02 AM  

    ANYTHING would be a vast improvement over "I am Mindy". I absolutely hate that song. How about anything NOT written by Gene Simmons. Whoever decided on that song needs to be fired. I really hope we don't hear it next season. What ever happened to that one song "how fast can you run" they played during May. That wasn't too bad, as is "ready to roll"

  2. Fred Hurley // December 11, 2008 11:13 AM  

    The "How Fast" song ESPN used for Indy Qualifying was based on the song "How Fast," by Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, which isn't actually about racing. That said, the actual track, which is a little more Zeppelin-ish than the brief cut for ESPN, is a cool song, and would work as an into, I think.

  3. Anonymous // December 11, 2008 11:47 AM  

    Jeff,

    We could nominate He's Going the Distance by Cake, a fine song about racing and determination, but

    a) The female drivers in the IRL and Indy Lights might not appreciate that HE, and not SHE is going the distance

    b) The subject of the song finishes apparently MULTIPLE laps off the pace:

    As they speed through the finish the flags go down.
    The fans get up and they get out of town.
    The arena is empty except for one man,
    Still driving and striving as fast as he can.
    The sun has gone down and the moon has come up,
    And long ago somebody left with the cup.
    But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns,
    And thinking of someone for whom he still burns.


    So while it may be Marty Roth Racing's theme song, for the IRL, perhaps not so much.

    I'd also nominate Aerosmith's cover of Bo Diddley's Road Runner from their CD Honkin' on Bobo, which I thought would be a great track for an IRL themed YouTube video:

    I'm a road runner honey
    And you can't keep up with me
    Well I'm a road runner lover
    And you can't keep up with me
    You got a green light baby
    Baby baby you will see

    Well... move over honey
    Baby... let me by
    Yeah move over honey
    C'mon... let me by
    I wanna show you baby... cheers...
    Here's mud in yo eye
    Wellll... eat my dust


    Other than that, I've got nothin'

  4. Iannucci // December 11, 2008 11:51 AM  

    Deja Vu. I guess you never saw this post in 2006, mmack.

  5. Anonymous // December 11, 2008 12:03 PM  

    Jeff,

    To reduce waste in this difficult economic period, I am recycling blog posts and jokes.

    :^P

  6. Allen Wedge // December 11, 2008 12:19 PM  

    I have the day off today so I've probably spent too much time on this; but having spent a little over 10 years in the music and video biz, whatever song used doesn't have to be about cars or racing or winning necessarily, just things that can be interpreted into a racing mentality (e.g the Iron man song has nothing to do with Iron Man the comic book character or even good things in general). just can't be something interpreted badly (e.g. Andrew W.K's "Ready to Die" good song just can't be used)

    It needs a good rhythm to make a montage out of, after all its being used as an intro to the broadcast and back from commercials right?

    I don't think it should be just one song; should have many, and the one thing that should be consistent; the songs should have parts (usually intros) that can be looped instrumentally (without their vocals) so our announcer can talk over it, and when hes done talking the song can kick in for a little bit; since Versus gets 13 races this year, here's 13 songs:

    Feable Weiner - San Deem Us Ready

    Weezer - Beverly Hills
    (a MUST for Long Beach)

    Ash - Lose Control

    All American Rejects - Night Drive
    (perfect for a night race)

    Eve 6 - Open Road Song
    (was used perfectly in 'Can't Hardly Wait')

    Living End - Roll On

    Foo Fighters - All My Life

    Andrew W.K. - Victory Strikes Again

    OK GO - Here It Goes Again

    Fall Out Boy - Thriller

    Presidents of the USA - Mach 5

    Cake - Going the Distance

    Then your Ready to Roll song to round it out.

    and please for the love of all that's holy, IRL stop giving 3 Doors Down (the Kryptonite/Superman guys) work.

  7. Allen Wedge // December 11, 2008 12:24 PM  

    and just for the hell of it, here's the crash/blooper reel song:

    Aquabats - Robot Theme Song

  8. Deron Ertel // December 11, 2008 2:00 PM  

    I can't see this as an improvement. It's a pretty generic, unmemorable schlott song. Personally, I like the song "How Fast" by Rocco DeLuca & The Burden. I know, they use it for the 500 qualies, but it is still a good song for racing.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMyZwz-WOcY

  9. Anonymous // December 11, 2008 3:14 PM  

    I didn't know we were going to have homework when I added your RSS feed. =)

  10. Anonymous // December 11, 2008 8:10 PM  

    This song was played at every commercial break for the local Fox Sports network during the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup run a couple years ago (for Carolina Ford dealers, promoting the Mustang).

    "Beep Beep"

    Commercial: http://www.awfulcommercials.com/beepbeep01.php

  11. Anonymous // December 11, 2008 8:23 PM  

    And to support my most recent post right above, per Wikipedia a recent Ispos-Reid poll determined "Beep! Beep!" was one of the 5 worst songs ever written.

    http://www.myspace.com/13stories

    Kitty Cat and Cheri D, rev it up, let’s go, Beep! Beep!

    Oh yeah, get in gear, fire it up, steer clear!
    Oh yeah, oh yeah, fire up!

    Fire up, rev it up, shift it up, floor it now,
    And do you wanna smoke a Cuban cigar?
    Fire up, rev it up, shift it up, floor it now,
    And then we’ll take our lovin’ out to my car…

    Do you wanna get in first? Let me know,
    Come on and punch it, Beep! Beep! Beep!
    Peel out in second, oh no! You love to go Beep! Beep!
    Beep! Beep!

    Fire up, rev it up, shift it up, floor it now,
    I’m all in your trouble, and I don’t care,
    Fire up, rev it up, shift it up, floor it now,
    Let’s make out in my ride, babe, just let ‘em stare…

    Then we slide up in third, I like that clutch,
    You keep me movin’, Beep! Beep! Beep!
    Take the fourth now, I like that touch,
    You race me, baby, Beep!
    Beep! Beep!

    Don’t get ahead, don’t fall behind, stay between the lines, you know what I like..
    Your foot’s like lead, what did you think I said!?
    I hear a siren all hot wirin’, ooh, slide up the wall, don’t miss that turn!
    Shift quick, baby, and make that rubber burn!

    Fire up, rev it up, shift it up, floor it now,
    We took the top down, baby, with buildings tall,
    Fire up, rev it up, shift it up, floor it now,
    You took my top down, baby, and that’s not all!

    You wanna chase me? Come on, let’s go!
    I got your fifth gear, Beep! Beep! Beep!
    Come on and get me, your motor’s heat,
    I’ll tailgate you, Beep! Beep! Beep!
    You need a jump, or you wanna stop?
    I’m on your bumper, Beep! Beep! Beep!
    The flag is shakin’, I feel your steer,
    Sweet love we’re makin’, Beep! Beep! Beep!

  12. Carrie // December 11, 2008 9:06 PM  

    How about "I Dare You" by Shinedown?

  13. Anonymous // December 12, 2008 4:40 AM  

    I suggest George Harrison's Faster.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMm4bhs6GYY

    Now that would stand out!

  14. Anonymous // December 12, 2008 4:50 AM  

    For the TV monkeys to intro the races - Metallica - Breadfan

    For commerical roll out and in (music that you hear as they say sponsors and "We're Going Side by Side") - Pantera - Mouth of War

    Keep "I am Indy" for all the 30 sec TV spots and promo stuff (hell you know the IRL paid millions for it - might as well get your money's worth)

    For highlites of Milka crashing into someone - Peter Frampton - Baby I Love Your Way

    And for every reference to Helio they must play The Beatles - Taxman

  15. Johnny // December 12, 2008 6:15 PM  

    Or Wheels of Fire by Manowar.

    (idea courtesy of Andrew over at http://aversionline.com)

  16. Anonymous // December 12, 2008 9:40 PM  

    "One Day Remains" by Alter Bridge?

  17. Anonymous // December 13, 2008 12:24 PM  

    I'm for anything that rids the airwave of that POS "I am INDY" As for that ESPN tune played during their Indy coverage...

    ...I wanted to go out, buy a high caliber hand gun, wait the 7 days for licensing , & BLOW my freaking head off if ESPN played it again!!!

    Thank God I fixed the "MUTE" on the remote.

  18. Anonymous // December 13, 2008 6:21 PM  

    I take it I'm the only person that thinks "I Am Indy" is okay. It's not like "Super Bowl Shuffle" or "San Diego Super Chargers" are works of art either.

  19. Anonymous // December 17, 2008 11:15 AM  

    For anyone who was at the IRL Banquet in Las Vegas, Ready to Roll was the Opening video played.

    It was edited at IMS Productions and looked great.

    Sorry you can't see it for music rights reasons, but trust me it was VERY GOOD.