If you`re pissed at the NFL and NBA for using acts such as the Black Eyed Peas or Faith Hill for their theme music, blame the NRL. Australian rugby league has been using mediocre music since the late 80s to raise their brand. Several months ago, we brought you the homoerotic Tina Turner joint that introduced the 1989 NRL season. Bear down even.
Since that debacle, the NRL hasn`t been capable to pump anyone up for what is legitimately one of the toughest sports in the world. The conference has used artists such as Tom Jones, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Hoodoo Gurus, Chumbawumba and "racing car noises" in the past. 2011 is no different. Enter Bon Jovi with "This Is Our House".
That`s one step above Tracie Spencer`s "This House". That song doesn`t give you think bonecrushing tackles and concussions being handed out like food at a soup kitchen. It makes you conceive of, well American sports. Let`s see the almost non-threatening, milquetoast music that will cause people who aren`t watching or interested tune in. "I ever hated football but now that Faith Hill is singing the theme song to Sunday Night Football, I`ll tune in. That Joan Jett original was too controversial and she`s a lesbian anyway." The PR and marketing people for Australian Rules must be chuckling as they search out Megadeath and DMX.
I was leaving to get to Bon Jovi but I decided to really look up NRL theme songs from the artists I mentioned. Check them out later the rise but I admonish you they aren`t much better.
1998: Tubthumper by Chumbawumba
Not often to say about this strain that hasn`t been said over the years. I`m guessing this call was chosen to throw fans an estimate of what rugby players do when they aren`t on the field. They drink some whiskey drink. They drink some vodka drink. They drink some lager drink. They drink some cider drink. Repeat. Just add fight and that`s your average day off in rugby league.
2000: What A Plot by Tom Jones
Taking it second to the old school with greased up players and Tom Jones. All I can remember of when I see this is a grouping of drunk girls singing "Whatta Man" in a bar at the top of their voices and stressful to do the rhythm-less, white sorority girl dance. I believe the NRL used those same girls in the video. I mean of 60 year old women throwing their underwear or Depends on stage when I hear Tom Jones and the NRL doesn`t disappoint. Those old people would be front and focus during "Sex Bomb".
1997: Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes
I couldn`t see the NRL version of this song meaning I did aught more than a cursory YouTube search. We`ll only go with the original. Don`t get what this has to do with rugby. League or union. The call itself isn`t bad. However it reminds me of the clock when I got my first fake ID in Chicago. Some friends and I went to a bar on Belmont to run it out. Keep in heed the guy on the ID was five shades darker than me. He was also 4-5 inches taller and much skinnier. Success! The one time I was cool with all black people looking the like to white people. We enter the first bar, get some drinks and settled in. Soon we noticed there were a lot of guys in there and no women. That was strange. Suddenly we realized we were in a gay bar and we weren`t nearly as clever as we thought. Fresh meat. Oh Two Tribes was performing in the bar.
The NRL has been doing this since the eighties when they started out with Thin Lizzy`s "The Boys Are Back In Town". They haven`t gotten much better but then again maybe they`re hitting the demographic they want. If these song choices and videos represent that, they`re right on target.
No comments:
Post a Comment