The Ecstasy of the Blueprint 2
This is a drastic departure from my previous diary entry (thanks for the all the love btw) but an item on the message board this evening piqued my interest and sent some of my right-brain synapses firing.
The answer to MMBhorn's question is Big Boutros' suggestion: The Ecstasy of Gold.
While it's not a "jump around" type song, it's perfect for specific situations such as second half kick off or key second half defensive series (ala Iowa '97). The song has a mountain of intensity behind it for fans to get amped up and scream their asses off and for players to get hocked up on adrenaline and unleash some Barwis-esque fury at some poor unfortunate on the opposition.
There's also actually a football tie-in for this song. It was featured in a Nike Football commercial a year or two ago with Troy Polamalu and LaDainian Tomlinson:
Additionally, there's a hip-hop connection; Jay-Z used it in a track on 2002's Blueprint 2. The track was also called Blueprint 2 and was on the second disc (hmmm, the number 2 comes up again and again weird...). While this isn't a reason for consideration per se, it does at least provide something current for the student section and players alike to relate to.
Finally and most importantly, while the lyrics and song aren't Jay-Z's finest there are many lyrics that could be forged into descriptors and anthems for the past/current/future state of Michigan Football once you absract the subjects and/or objects in the phrases. Gems like:
"Y'all and your articles, hard to spit at Jay
Y'all from afar threw darts my way
What you thought, I would naught have nothing to say? Nope!
....
"And now you'se can't leave
You opened the door dog, I'm at you annually"
...
"It's time to wake up the dead
You sound a little naive in them articles that I read"
...
"I've been real all my life, they confuse it with conceit
Since I will not lose, they try to help him cheat
But I will not lose, for even in defeat
There's a valuable lesson learned, so it evens it up for me"
...
"When the grass is cut, the snakes will show..."
...
"I'm back before you had a chance to miss me
ma' can't save you this time, n***** is history..."
...
"I won't rest till you on one knee
You want war then war's gonna be..."
Not to mention the many overtones of the title: Blueprint 2. C'mon, it's too perfect...
Now, obviously an all out rap song (a dis no less) will have many stone cold traditionalists in the Michigan community all up in a tizzy. That's what makes 'The Ecstasy of Gold' such a perfect basis: it provides a link from the old to the new. It has passion; It has swagger; and the music provides a perfect fit for the musicianship and sound of the Michigan Marching Band. This must happen.
(God I'm so ready for some Michigan football)
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 PM ^
August 9th, 2009 at 10:08 PM ^
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