Pop Evil endorsed by Michigan Players?

Submitted by StephenRKass on

So there is a new piece at the Detroit News about Pop Evil's "In the Big House," a song regularly reviled in these here parts. http://detnews.com/article/20110930/SPORTS0201/109300356/‘In-the-Big-House’-finds-audience#ixzz1ZRqz4H1s

Brian's antipathy toward the song is well known, and some have blamed DB for giving it any positive credibility. However, the article focuses on one key demographic:  Michigan Football players, who (supposedly) want the song. Here's a few money quotes:

Hunter Lochmann, Michigan's chief marketing officer, said there has been considerable interest — good and bad.

"It's gaining traction," Lochmann said. "We know there are people who love it and some people who hate it, but our core customers — the players — they want to hear it."

That's an interesting quote, and one which has to be considered. What do the players want? And beyond them, the student body? I am clearly over the hill, and my opinion doesn't really matter that much. But it strikes me, if the team, and football alums, and the student body, are behind something, well, you might hate it and think it has terrible taste, but it isn't for you to decide. In fact, apparently, other Michigan athletes like it:

Lochmann said other Michigan teams have responded positively to the song, available for download at iTunes and Amazon.

"The other teams like it even though it's about the Big House, because it's also about being Wolverines," Lochmann said. "It's going to have (some) shelf life."

The article ends with what some what consider the ultimate nightmare scenario:

For Kakaty, (Note:  author, lead musician) who hasn't attended a Michigan game since he was a kid, he has one goal for the song, and Lochmann said Michigan would be all ears.

"We'd love to get into the Big House and play it," Kakaty said. "It would be our dream to play with the Michigan marching band. It's a song for fans, and we're fans, too."

EDIT:  I realized that I should put my personal opinion down. I am neither for nor against the song, but I don't particularly view it as a terrible abomination. Musical tastes are just that:  tastes, and they change. I am sure that "In the Big House" will be dated soon enough, and won't have the staying power of the Michigan Fight Song, etc., but if it pumps people up now, well, that's ok. And also, I don't find it nearly as ridiculous as "We Are Notre Dame."

mGrowOld

September 30th, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^

I know I'm in the severe minority around here and risk eternal board wrath for saying this but I like it.  Granted I'm 52 so my taste in music can be taken with a large grain of salt.

I don't know if I'll still like it next year but right now I like it.  When they played it following the ND game it was absolutely electric IMO.

Volverine

September 30th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^

I'm with you actually and I'm 23. I think it gets the players and fans pumped up and that's a good thing. I love the MMB but I don't see why it's so wrong to let this song live for a bit. I don't think anyone expects this song to be a new long-lasting tradition. I say we should let it ride out for a season or two.

dahblue

September 30th, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^

I think they could have blasted "Mary had a little lamb" over the PA and the crowd would have loved it post-ND game.  If they want a home grown song, I can appreciate that, but to pick a terrible band (that looks even more embarrassing) is not the way to go.  I'd bet my house that we have talented kids (or alums) at Michigan who can create much better hype music than that. 

Needs

September 30th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^

No kidding.

How about the Stooges "Raw Power" if we need a tunnel pump up song. Perfect analog of what Hoke's talking about. "Raw Power's a-sure to come a running at you." Iggy Pop's a former UM student too. 

Maybe no performance with the MMB, though. 65 year old guys should generally keep their shirts on.

Edit: Search and Destroy would also be acceptable.

dahblue

September 30th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^

I did have Iggy in mind when making that comment, but I'm partial to "The Passenger".  I think what the Powers that Be like about the Hot Topic song is that it's tailored to the "Wolverines" and "Big House".  Maybe a real band could put something together in about 12 minutes and pass it along to the AD.  I don't think they'd need more than that to do something better than Pop Evil.

Frank Drebin

September 30th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^

I can see where you guys are coming from, but any "real band" wont be able to write anything better about the big house. What make it unique is that it is from a Michigan band who are all fans of the school. Unless the "real band" were former students, fans, or had a connection to the team, I think some of the song would be lost. I am not a huge supporter of the song or the band, but it could be worse. 

dahblue

September 30th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^

I beg to differ.  Writing fluff about "The Wolverines" or the "Big House" is pretty easy stuff for nearly any musician of modest worth.  There are countless bands in Michigan (plenty with connections to Michigan - which Pop Evil lacks).  

BrickTop

September 30th, 2011 at 1:21 PM ^

but amongst younger circles, Pop Evil are a rather popular band which is getting more popular. This, not the fact that they are in any way superior songwriters or muscians, is a primary reason why the song is hot (aside from it being about Michigan and the Big House. I'm just differentiating why it would be popular over say, other songs written on the same topic).

dahblue

September 30th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^

That just isn't accurate.  They aren't a popular band, and any current increased popularity is due only to those folks who'd buy anything painted maize & blue.  I pointed this out in another thread about these goofballs a while back, but one of my clients is a popular live music venue (that's hosted many bands we've all heard of).  Pop Evil played the venue at the "height" of their pre-Brandon popularity (they had a semi-hit and a label deal).  Guess the head count?  Go ahead...popular band, charting song, label deal?  Less than 100.  That's right, not even 100 people cared enough to see them.

Again, you can paint a piece of dogshit with a block M and some slappy will buy it.  As such, I'm sure they're seeing an increase is sales, but don't confuse the fact that the song is being played in the Stadium with any notion that they're popular (in any "circle").

thisisme08

September 30th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^

I'm still thinking they are a popular band? The have/still get major air play on Z93 out of Saginaw which covers most of Central/East Michigan. 

I mean my parents knew who they were right off the bat when I mentioned they made a hype song for Michigan so thats saying something...

tn wolverine

September 30th, 2011 at 8:17 PM ^

I can tell you I live in Kingsport, Tn. and "The Monster You Made Me" is in heavy rotation on the Local heavy rock /alternative station. It won the battle of the bands for a few weeks in a row so to say they're not popular is simply not true. They also just opened up for 3 doors down in Knoxville, Tn. a couple of weeks ago. So they are or were out on a National tour with a popular band in their genre. That is how bands become big. I also hope that when they play in Ohio they lead off the show with "In The Big House." That would make all the Ohio fans wet themselves.

Naked Bootlegger

September 30th, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^

Again, you can paint a piece of dogshit with a block M and some slappy will buy it.

Add this quote to the top-100 list! I seriously envision a sweet MGoBlogStore T-shirt that proclaims this exact quote.

On the front of the shirt: "You can paint a piece of dogshit with a block M and some slappy will buy it" Also a picture of a nice steaming pile of dog shit painted maize and blue.

On the upper back of the shirt: "Slappy"

Victor70

October 1st, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^

I like the song, I liked it before I knew that this song was the song that was being treated is if it was awful around here.

I don't think I agree with a single sentance in your post, and I will gladly take your house in the bet, mine sucks.

The closest I can get to not disagreeing is that I don't know if the band is terible or good, I just like the only song that I heard by them.

I suppose it is just a matter of taste, like a preference in flavor of ice cream

profitgoblue

September 30th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^

If the come play in the Big House, will the AD provide knives with which to puncture ear drums?  Ear plugs just won't cut it.

P.S.  How is this "band" going to be one of the first bands to every play in the Big House?  Even Pearl Jam was only allowed to play in Crisler Arena back in my day.  (Say what you will about Pearl Jam, but they were a huge draw and probably could have put a bunch of people in the stands at Michigan Stadium back in the early 90s.)

 

da3mite

September 30th, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^

I obviously have no idea whether the players like it or not, nor do I know what each individual student thinks. However, I am a student myself and I know many of my fellow students absolutely dread the song. Not because it is RAWK, but because it is cheesy and has a generic sound.

The best example of many/most students hating this song is at College Gameday. When the Gameday crew asked if they should play "Pop Evil" to boot up the show, most people, if not all, booed this and wanted the Victors much more instead.

dahblue

September 30th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^

Some "some hate it", that means they're getting flooded with negative comments.  No matter how many friends and family of Pop Evil call to express their appreciation, admitting to "some hate it", should tell a smart marketing dept to move along to something else.