OT - Michigan Daily piece on "Mr Brightside" phenomenon

Submitted by Rufus X on

One of the coolest moments at a U-M game in recent memory - game result notwithstanding.

As a 40-something 1990s alumnus, I was both delighted and puzzled last year by the spontaneous chorus of the student section during the downpour at the MSU game. I liked the song well enough, but I couldn't quite figure out why it meant so much to the mostly drunk, wholly drenched millennials.

The Daily put together a nice piece on the history of the song and an attempt to understand the phenomenon.  Thought I'd share it:

https://www.michigandaily.com/section/arts/coming-out-our-cage-look-ins…

mgobleu

March 8th, 2018 at 9:40 PM ^

Cool story bro: I had some friends in a band that had just started getting some traction locally and even some radio recognition when Mr Brightside hit.

The name of their band was "The Killers".

They scrambled to find another name (l don't even remember what it was) and struggled to keep momentum after the rebranding, but eventually gave up and started playing emo/punk covers of Waylon and Willie songs instead.

Cool. Story. Bro.

Blueskidoo

March 8th, 2018 at 9:45 PM ^

 

Music from the roaring 20's was so much better than the bullshit from the 30's 40's 50's 60's 70's and expecially that crazy shit from the 80's. 

Late Bluemer

March 8th, 2018 at 10:20 PM ^

Please let this replace that horrific stake blues brothers hand twirling thing that we do at the start of the fourth quarter. That is so damned embarrassing in front of the visiting fans.

I really love the mr brightside sing along. It feels spontaneous instead of forced like most of the piped in music and preprogrammed antics at the big house

FatGuyTouchdown

March 9th, 2018 at 3:57 AM ^

Ohio State fans can't because they Dot The I, which is lame and cool at the same time.

Penn State fans can't, because they honored Joe Paterno. 

Wisconsin fans can't, because they literally jump up and down for 3 minutes, which is also lame and super cool at the same time.

Michigan State fans can't, because good behavior is a condition of their parole. 

 

Indiana Blue

March 9th, 2018 at 7:09 AM ^

for the Michigan game last year, and the "jump around" was entirely lame.  It looks pretty cool on TV, but is an utter fail in person.  Plus the fact the the student section has about 20 police officers watching to make no no more alcohol is consumed after entering the stadium ... was rather lame too.  Everyone knows the issues that Wisconsin band has ... well, evidently the students also have issues.  Pretty sad that a few "baddies" ruin a great time for everyone.

Go Blue!

Late Bluemer

March 9th, 2018 at 7:10 AM ^

Poor initial choice of words on my part apparently.  I could care less what OSU fans or anyone else think about us.

I love the other 99% of the Big House experience and tradition. I just wonder each game as they play that blue brothers song and do whatever moves go along with it, "this is the best we've got"?  Kind of hoping that Mr. Brightside can become for us what "Jump" is for Wisconsin or "Sandstorm" is for South Carolina.  I like it because when it happened at the MSU game it seemed spontaneous and genuinely from students, not something programmed by someone in the athletic or music departments.

Other than that, everything's good.  Trust me, I don't go obsessing about this.

Rufus X

March 9th, 2018 at 8:35 AM ^

I am too young to fully appreciate the Blues Brothers reference, but it is part of our tradition. Isn't that what makes college football so different - the quirky and oddball traditions that have a life of their own?  The sanitized corporate bullshit pisses me off way more than the stuff like this, that has existed for so long that we don't even remember how it got started or why it has persisted.

 

MrBrightside

March 8th, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^

"Mr. Brightside" is the Tom Brady of songs; initally met with modest fanfare, but defiantly stood the test of time, and excited women and confused straight men ever since. 

 

Greatness doesn't have to be understood, just appreciated. 

GoBlueBill

March 8th, 2018 at 11:38 PM ^

I was unfamiliar with that Mr Brightside song so i gave it a listen....If thats what you people consider good music, we wont be hanging out anytime soon .

House Mother

March 8th, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^

As another poster mentioned, I liked the whole stadium singing Have You Ever Seen the Rain with CCR. So appropriate during the monsoon that hit the stadium.

Blue Balls Afire

March 9th, 2018 at 2:12 AM ^

This might also have been the last music video I paid attention to.  After that, videos, while never a huge part of my music consumption experience, dissipated completely.

BTB grad

March 9th, 2018 at 7:28 AM ^

Everytime I hear the song, it brings me a lot of joy (like on the verge of tears joy if I'm drunk). It immediately brings back memories of belting out the song with my best friends near closing time at ye ol' Ricks American Cafe

turtleboy

March 9th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^

Now I want to read an article breaking down the deeper meaning behind, long backstory of, and the psychology examining why Sweet Caroline is also a staple at sports venues. How the instruments are arranged, the pacing and studio editing, how that all affects sports fans, and what the song really "means" to its generation.