i find this extremely interesting
A Sonic Landscape Survey
MGoBlog isn't a representative slice of Michigan fandom but I thought it would be interesting to ask the assembled folk here what their opinion of the sonic landscape is at Michigan Stadium. Neutral questions follow; you're asked to approve or disapprove of each.
I've left the poll open to everyone, but it does track usernames and if there's a flood of suspicious results I'll probably dump all the anonymous entries. If you've got a username make sure you're logged in when you submit.
If you're so inclined, bug your internet-unaware friends and relatives to fill out the form, too, so we can get a broader sample. I'll compile the results next week.
To take the survey, click through.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:42 PM | 
In the Big House
In the Big House
September 29th, 2011 at 12:14 PM |
Being in the middle of the
Being in the middle of the
Being in the middle of the student section after the ND win, I'd have to say I think the piped in music really pumped up the crowd. So I was a big fan.
September 27th, 2011 at 8:23 PM |
Speaking of "sucks"
Speaking of "sucks"
I wish the survey would have included:
Do you like the "you suck" chant after a 3rd down stop, when the band plays Temptation ?
Go Blue!
No place on earth I'd rather be on a football Saturday than Michigan Stadium !
September 29th, 2011 at 12:18 PM |
It should also include, do
It should also include, do
It should also include, do you like the "you suck" chant on 4th and 1 and the other team is going for it..... You'd think the people running the Band would have enough sense to wait until we stop them. This season alone, the band has done "You Suck" on a 4th down conversion 3 or 4 times, for which the opposing team has converted on all of them (ignoring 4th and a miles).
September 27th, 2011 at 10:55 PM |
No, it's lame and
No, it's lame and
No, it's lame and unimaginative and puerile.
Cazzie33
September 27th, 2011 at 5:48 PM |
the Band
the Band
Maybe this has already been noted in the comments, but I'd like to add that, while I don't want the band to be miked, they kind of have to be because they're not really much of a marching band when it comes down to it. (at least not in the get the kids off their seats kind of way that Neil Diamond seems to have mastered)
I don't know. The Victors is perfect. Let's Go Blue is great. And the Blues Brothers is fine I guess, but remember that it first came around because it was a really popular, fun song at the time, and the band had a great number for it. (remember when they used to pile up at the final chorus? I haven't seen them do that in a while) Can you imagine them playing the 2011 version of that song today? Not sure what it would be, but I think the Penn State band playing Seven Nation Army comes close. They need some new material to add to their repetoire if they're going to supplant the piped in crap.
September 27th, 2011 at 5:29 PM |
Piped in Music needs to be tweaked
Piped in Music needs to be tweaked
For the most part I have enjoyed the addition of piped in music to Michigan stadium. The biggest problem I see is that the choice of WHEN to play the music. Second and 5 in the 1st quarter against SDSU is NOT an appropriate time to play Seven Nation Army or any other "pump up" music. In fact I would be in favor of limiting it to 3 times a game (unless you are coming up from a 17 pt hole and it is awesome). I would also like to try and get some songs where the crowd can get involved (think Jump Around at Wisconsin), this will take time, but playing the same 5 songs every game is no way to try out new things.
September 27th, 2011 at 5:28 PM |
In the Big House sucks...but
In the Big House sucks...but
In the Big House sucks...but I was thinking about it -- is it just because I really don't like Pop Evil? I was thinking about the synergy between the Red Sox and The Dropkick Murphys. I love that -- so is it just the band choice or is it the "get-off-my-lawn" mentality that other Michigan fans and I adopt.
DKM!
September 27th, 2011 at 5:02 PM |
Muzak
Muzak
I was flipping through all the games this past Saturday and heard Seven Nation Army on each game I went to. I don't mind a little pumped in music but for God's sake can we show some originallity? Also, I'm strongly bias (my son's a member of MMB) but when ever possible the band should be heard, not Rawk Mukak. That's one of the great things college football has that pro doesn't. So play some current, cool hip-hop during a review but let's keep it to a minimum and keep it fresh.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:55 AM |
Seven Nation Army is fine for
Seven Nation Army is fine for
Seven Nation Army is fine for us to use/co-opt because the White Stripes are from Detroit. Let others stadiums - I love that OSU plays a song from a Michigan band - deal with being unoriginal.
September 27th, 2011 at 3:50 PM |
As a former band member...
As a former band member...
I have no problem with music being piped in, but I do think it should only be in key situations (not more than once or twice in the first half) when the band is NOT playing, especially during long breaks. I will say that hearing the crowd chant Seven Nation Army while at the ND game was one of my favorite Big House moments of all time. However, if that song is played multiple times every game, that moment loses its significance.
When my mom sent me the video for In The Big House, I just felt like I was watching that video everyone laughed at from AppState before, well... So let's never play that song again, please, thank you.
Absolutely no problem with plugging other UM sports. I hope that our football fans also support other UM sports.
Weddings and stuff at the Big House though, c'mon... The Big House has (/d?) dignity, let's not throw it away for a few extra bucks.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:57 AM |
Totally agree on the Seven
Totally agree on the Seven
Totally agree on the Seven Nation Army frequency. I was at the ND game and that song was an epically good call at the time. But it should be reserved for huge, huge moments. I'm thinking two or three times a season. I know that won't happen now that they see people like it, but maybe limit it to the 4th quarter of tight games?
September 27th, 2011 at 2:39 PM |
Band Amplification
Band Amplification
It's hard to answer the band amplification question, especially as a former bando myself. When they have the timing right between the band and the PA speaker, it sounds great. When they don't, it just sounds like an awful echo, espeicially if you're sitting close to the student section. I think it gets better as the season goes on, but the first game this year was awful.
"They're running through the core of all Michigan activities both on & off this campus, a certain intangible thing: we call it the great Michigan Spirit!" - Bob Ufer
September 27th, 2011 at 2:31 PM |
Love Seven Nation Army & Eminem, hate Journey/Neil Diamond
Love Seven Nation Army & Eminem, hate Journey/Neil Diamond
I'm all for appropriate music being piped in. Lose Yourself and Seven Nation Army get the crowd going and also get the players into it. Those songs amp people up in a way that the band isn't able to.
I like when the band plays Don't Stop Believing but hate when it comes on the speakers, especially in the first half against teams like Eastern Michigan!? We need to keep believing that we can beat MAC teams? They only time that song should come on is in the 4th quarter of a big game, or when we are about to win a game and are still Big Ten championship contenders. Neil Diamond is annoying and cliche, it doesn't get the crowd amped up and and does nothing for the players. 'In The Big House' is cheesy as well.
I think the promos for other Michigan Athletics are fine and bring much needed awareness to those programs.
September 27th, 2011 at 3:28 PM |
Never Heard of Seven Nation Army
Never Heard of Seven Nation Army
How about some Beastie Boys or Clash or KISS? Detroit Rock CIty??
LS&A, 1987
NYBlueFan
September 27th, 2011 at 2:21 PM |
Seven Nation Army
Seven Nation Army
Playing Seven Nation Army once or twice a game is tolerable, although it makes us generic.
Playing Seven Nation Army before every big play is way too much.
Also, I want a t-shirt that says: "Put those damn keys away, get on your feet, and yell your fool head off!" I know the saying isn't catchy, and I know that jingling your keys is nice and traditional, but "Key Play" needs to go.
September 27th, 2011 at 8:33 PM |
Key Play
Key Play
Something happened along the way with the key play. I remember being in college (94-98), and the keys only came out on offensive 3rd downs. Now, maybe people still pulled the keys out on defensive 3rd downs, but I never heard em because we were all screaming in the student section. In fact, I never knew people pulled the keys out on defense until years later. Dumb as hell to do it on defense. Maybe it used to work in the 40's or something.
They key play on offense is a whole other thing. I also remember at least one third down, (It was a big one... Brian Griese to Woodson kind of big one) where the whole student section had their keys out, but everybody was silent. All you could hear were thousands of keys rattling away. It was like being in a quiet casino. Pretty fantastic actually.
Am I mis-remembering here, or does anybody else share this memory?
September 27th, 2011 at 2:05 PM |
Is there any way to track how many
Is there any way to track how many
Is there any way to track how many people logged out of their accounts before answering the "In the Big House" questions?
September 27th, 2011 at 1:39 PM |
Piped-in music volume
Piped-in music volume
"The volume level of piped-in music is too high."
I had to vote "Neutral" on this, because I both agree and disagree. When the stadium is loud, the volume level is fine. In pre-game, when the stadium is quieter, the volume is way too high.
September 27th, 2011 at 2:50 PM |
Piped-in Music Volume
Piped-in Music Volume
The volume during pre-game and after the band leaves the field at half-time is way too loud. I've had season tickets for years and know most of the folks sitting around me in Section 4. We're all frustrated that we can't carry on a conversation at those times without shouting.
The music is fine to pump the energy level (although a bit more creativity in selection would be nice) but there's no reason it has to be deafening at those times. Let the tailgaters on the UM golf course buy tickets if they want to hear the music.
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing”
--Bo Schembechler
September 27th, 2011 at 1:38 PM |
I don't really mind plugging
I don't really mind plugging
I don't really mind plugging other sports, most of these sports barely get any recognition at all, and I don't mind the season tickets plugging. But "In the Big House" sucks and needs to go away forever.
If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?
Generally I'm pretty ambivalent about the piped in music - I think it has its place. But I was STEAMING when they started blasting it immediately after The Victors when we beat ND, completely overpowering the "It's great to be a michigan wolverine!" chant that was just getting started. (Yes, I managed to be angry after that game).
I've been a Michigan fan for a long time, but my first game at the big house coincided with RichRod's - which meant I didn't know the "it's great" chant even existed until week 4 when we came from behind against wisconsin. I don't think we had the opportunity to use it more than a few other times after that during the course of my 3 year program in AA, and that first time was by far the most joyful, moving rendition. The ND game could have been that for 10,000 new Michigan fans, but instead we all got "In the Big House." Fucking tragic.