♫ SHE’S HOT BLODDED, CHECK IT AND SEEEEEEE!!! SHE’S GOT A FEVER OF A HUNDRED AND… ♫ Oh I’m sorry. Didn’t notice you there. I was just vocally shredding the first album I ever purchased: Foreigner’s “Records.” Is it the WORST album ever made? Maybe. Probably. Almost certainly. But I only listened to it about 3 trillion times in 1982, so yeah. There’s that. It’s deeply embedded in my brain at this point, and there’s little I can do about it now. It essentially murdered whatever musical acumen I might have had, and made me distrust women until approximately 1998. They’re as cold as ice, you know. Even when they have a fever, which is ALL THE TIME, I’m told — by Lou Gramm. But nevermind all that.
Why am I telling you this? Because IndyCar VP of Marketing John Lewis needs our help. Specifically, he asked for YOUR help. (He knows of my grave musical impairments, obviously.) He’s in charge of selecting the intro music for the pre-race videos, and he’s seeking your input for the 2010 editions. He needs two different songs for two different videos, and – well here, I’ll just let him explain:
Video #1 (Drivers to your cars) – this happens exactly 9 minutes before the “command to start engines” is given. This video is typically 60-90 seconds but has flexibility because live fill is used for the next 7 minutes. Last year I used Lenny Kravitz “Always On The Run”. Good guitar riff to start, and allowed a nice cut to end the song.
Video #2 (One Minute To The Command) – this happens, ironically, one minute before the command. Last year I used AC/DC “Thunderstruck”. A bit clichéd, but effective nonetheless.
So there it is. You all have been entrusted with this sacred duty. Seriously. We need TWO face-melting songs that would be perfect for the pre-race videos. So get after it.
(And while you’re at it, throw in the song that you feel would be the WORST song for that setting (OOOH! OOOH! I CHOOSE SOPHIE B. HAWKINS!!!) and also the first album you ever bought — just because.)
The floor is yours. Rock on.
By kid_charlemange, February 27, 2010 @ 11:59 am
Some Suggestions, going for more unique than obvious:
Are you gonna go my way -Lenny Kravitz
Karn Evil No. 9 1st impression -ELP (welcome back my friends to the show that never ends…)
Vehicle -Ides of March (Chicago only)
Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’ -MJ
Working Man -Rush
Worst song: Dean Man’s Curve -Jan and Dean
1st album: Freeze Frame J.Giels band
By Carrie, February 27, 2010 @ 12:56 pm
Pedal to the Metal by Kazzer is THE perfect song for either video.
Also:
Break by Three Days Grace
Two-Lane Blacktop by Rob Zombie
Clubfoot by Kasabian
Uprising by Muse
And because we need a really kickass song for the Indy 500 intro: This Could Be The Year by Ryan Star
By Carrie, February 27, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
Oh and the first album I ever bought (and it was an actual album): Reach for the Sky by RATT. *hangs head in shame*
By Porthos, February 27, 2010 @ 1:01 pm
One Minute to Command is easy!!!
Steppenwolf: “Born to be Wild” Heavy, heavy guiter intro followed by:
“Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way”
Drivers to your cars is a little harder. Maybe
By indy44, February 27, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
Video #1 Heavy Metal (Takin a Ride)-Don Felder, Video #2 Kickstart my Heart-Motley Crue, Worst song Do You Really Want to Hurt me-Culture Club, 1st Album Queen News of the World
By Nicky Scarfa, February 27, 2010 @ 1:19 pm
Vid1:
1901 – Phoenix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4MXFOMpVIw
Vid2:
Mess of Me – Switchfoot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et1vriu29Qk
Worst: She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore – Billy Ray Cyrus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROwUAT8oSIw
By BP, February 27, 2010 @ 1:20 pm
- Delta Force always works well.
- Immigrant Song
- Warrant’s “Mr. Rainmaker”
- Also any early Metallica can’t hurt.
- If we’re looking for something a little more “hip” (you know, for the 10 year olds), “Closer” by Kings of Leon isn’t bad.
- Mike Tyson’s intro song – “Intro” off of DMX’s “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” – always got me fired up, too.
- And one final thought: If Marco Andretti is such good friends with Ludacris, why the hell isn’t he giving the series a song to use?
By Joel, February 27, 2010 @ 1:57 pm
Maybe the “Drivers to your cars” should be a song specific for the track? i.e. Barber would be “Sweet Home Alabama”, Sonoma would be “Hotel California.”
One minute to command: “For Whom the Bell Tolls” – Metallica
Or another idea, just make this a weekly contest on IndyCar.com and the chosen winner gets a $25 gift card to use at the IndyCar online store.
By P Daddy, February 27, 2010 @ 2:37 pm
Metallica- Enter Sandman, classic for the video #1 portion!!
Kid Rock- Bawitdaba long slow intro and then all hell breaks loose
One Step Closer- Linkin Park
Boom- P.O.D.
Hope that helps.
By Jason McVeigh, February 27, 2010 @ 2:46 pm
Video 1: Enter Sandman by Metallica
Video 2: The Final Countdown by Europe
How about seperate music for each driver? Briscoe and Power could have Land down under by Men at work, Helio could have I wanna dance with somebody by Whitney Houston, Danica could have Bitch by Meredith Brooks… Oops.
By chunter, February 27, 2010 @ 3:02 pm
Asking ME about music is also a very dangerous thing. Is this too electronic for most tastes?
http://chunter.info/2009/05/23/waiting-at-the-starting-line/
It’s two minutes long and can be edited and remixed to taste. Write me to work out a contract so you won’t have to pay royalties per use.
If you didn’t expect me to pitch my own tunes and want stuff people recognize, I second Clubfoot by Kasabian and raise “Everything Must Go” by Manic Street Preachers and this tune called “King of Speed”: http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=rLk8D6xfsPQ&v=UWcqEcnNTtk
By Fro, February 27, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
Mr. Lewis needs to pick ‘Nardo’s brain on Monday I think. I watched a couple PBR events and was very impressed when they played non-country music.
Can’t go wrong with AC/DC for the demographic you’re probably drawing to the track right now (maybe “TNT”?). I’d like to see Muse – Knights of Cydonia used at some point but that’s probably better suited for a longer montage on TV than something at the track.
By Shane Rogers channeling John Barnes, February 27, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
Bloody 40 year olds with computers, haven’t I told you already? YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
I’m not saying AC/DC is cool guys, heck even Shagers who I’m channeling here will be popping down to AC/DC Lane in Melbourne later for a beer.
But it’s soooo 1980′s.
I’ve surveyed a bunch of ten year old students, and I can assure you, the kids go crazy over stuff like this:
Smashdisco – Vandalism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O7p2SAGCQk
Something Good 08 – Utah Saints http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhV8WlMvvGA (that running man dance is so funny, it reminds me of Wheldon trying to catch up to the bobsled)
Hot Summer – Rhys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yL73FqDX1Y
My People – The Presets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ufW2INWmM
Work (Freemasons Remix) – Kelly Rowland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py_PavqqOao
And just to keep all the 40 year olds with computers happy: The Right Time – Hoodoo Gurus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efXXdWhJiIk
And if the IMS productions people are looking for something for the 500, they look no further than this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_9id4I0pCw
By DZ, February 27, 2010 @ 6:11 pm
I LOVE Joel’s ideas. There’s got to be tunes the work better in some regions than others.
As far a a tune, while I appreciate what Metallica brings to the table, I also think music from soundtracks tend to lend themselves to video well…
Please give One Vision by Queen (from Iron eagle sndtck./It’s a Kind of Magic/Queen Classics compilation) a serious listen.
2 parts in particular that evoke a building cinematic mood – from 0:00 to appx 2:15 and from 2:30 to 3:25. iTunes store search for Queen One Vision will get you started.
First album – AC/DC – Back in Black, 1980.
PS I second the Delta Force Theme. It will bring many an approving nod from longtime fans to the greatness of Indys past.
By DZ, February 27, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
PPS – Thanks to Carrie for turning me on to some new (or new to me) music!
By Catie, February 27, 2010 @ 6:20 pm
@ Jason: if you want to go that route for Danica, you could use “The Bitch is Back” by Elton John…
Video 1: “Foreplay/It’s Been Such a Long Time” by Boston. Mostly the intro… it’s pretty beastly and definitely long enough.
Video 2: Probably not classic enough, but “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence would be rather cool.
Worst pick? um… yeah. I’ll get back to you there. First album? Probably some violin-y thing because I didn’t realize other music existed. Oops…
By H.B. Donnelly, February 27, 2010 @ 6:44 pm
kid_charlemagne, I like where you’re going with the Rush thing, though “Working Man” is a little slow and plodding. From their songbook, I’d go with “Driven”.
Judas Priest’s “Painkiller” wouldn’t even bother with face-melting…it’d be more like a phaser set to “vaporize” to the face.
…or just play the intro video for the Alaska-Fairbanks hockey team, and don’t even change anything.
By H.B. Donnelly, February 27, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
oh, and “Hell’s Bells”, naturally…don’t think you can ever go wrong with that one.
By the patriot, February 27, 2010 @ 8:10 pm
seriously, the 80′s-ish song that can be done for anything is Dire Straights – Money for Nothing. Singlehandedly the best guitar solo of anything ever. And, I’m all for living in the past, but picking an 80′s to start a new generation marketing campaign is a death blow. Hard to think of something new worth a crap though. Earn your money VP of Marketing…
By Thiago, February 28, 2010 @ 7:43 am
I’m astonished as no one suggested Deep Purple’s Highway Star.
For Chip Ganassi’s cars, George Thorogood’s Bad to the Bone.
For Ana Beatriz (known here in Brazil as Bia Figueiredo), Tom Jobim’s Garota de Ipanema.
For Helio Castroneves, the Spiderman theme song.
For Tony Kanaan, a guy from Bahia, Ivete Sangalo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPRjl9W10aI
By Earnastine, February 28, 2010 @ 9:09 am
Drives to your cars: “My Way” Frank Sinatra Style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGWq7Ig2KH4
One minute to command:
COUNTDOWN from the ‘Signals’ cd by Rush.
By Thiago, February 28, 2010 @ 2:00 pm
I forgot to mention Europe’s The Final Countdown . . .
By Christopher Leone, February 28, 2010 @ 3:01 pm
I have this CD put out by the IRL in about 1997 called “To The Extreme”. (Bad sign naming it after a Vanilla Ice album, I know.) Anyways, it had some songs played by then-IRL drivers (read: drivers who never did anything with their careers) on it. I suggest somebody in the league marketing office dig that bad boy out and restore the classic sound of the IRL.
Unfortunately, I don’t know where my copy went. It used to be between my copy of the Backstreet Boys’ “Millenium” and the soundtrack of “Space Jam.” Give me a break. I was 7, and it’s what all the girls at school were into. Unlike you, Roy, I have never had an aversion to women.
By Christopher Leone, February 28, 2010 @ 3:05 pm
Oh, worst song: “Take on Me” by a-Ha. Just because I would eat that up, doesn’t mean everybody else would. Then again, it could be so bad, it’s good.
My first CD was “Happy Nowhere” by Dog’s Eye View. Classic. My first vinyl album, though? A used copy of “Zenyatta Mondatta” by the Police. Also classic.
P.S.: Does anybody remember this? http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10367260_ITM
By BP, February 28, 2010 @ 7:08 pm
Wouldn’t AC/DC’s “Big Balls” work for talking about Target Chip Ganassi Racing? Or does the mere suggestion of that potentially shut down the Pagoda again?
By lazlo, February 28, 2010 @ 8:19 pm
Vid 1 – Let’s Get it Started – Black-Eyed Peas
Vid 2 – Know Your Enemy – GreenDay
1st Album – Who’s Next
Worst – Too many tied to list [though, I do see a few mentioned in earlier posts]…
By Riss, February 28, 2010 @ 9:21 pm
Video 1- Ladies and Gentlemen by Saliva
Video 2- Riot by Three Days Grace
Worst possible song- Making Love Out of Nothing At All by Air Supply (nothing like 2 Australian guys singing tender love songs, possibly to each other)
First album- Centerfield by John Fogerty
By Sticky McCombs, February 28, 2010 @ 9:50 pm
Two people mention a song named Club Foot and we’re still in deliberation? Why?
By Carrie, March 1, 2010 @ 7:45 am
DZ: What music did I turn you onto? I love it when I can broaden people’s minds.
Sticky: Cheers! Club Foot has been a staple on my Get Up And Go, Dammit playlist forever.
By DZ, March 1, 2010 @ 10:44 am
Carrie – ‘Pedal to the Metal’, and ‘Clubfoot’. I’m so old, I don’t even know how far behind I am by not knowing these (reminds me of Dick Simon just a bit, ha!). Oh well, never stop learning, right?
Man, that AK-faribanks hockey team video creeped me out. As if polar bears weren’t intimidating enough, now they’re all rocket-ified and blowin’ up planets, sheesh!
Earnastine – Countdown by Rush is also a keeper – good one!
By DZ, March 1, 2010 @ 10:59 am
Also did a little digging over the weekend…
Battle Without Honor or Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei. Not instantly recognized by name, but most people will recall by sound from the Kill Bill soundtrack.
Also from that soundtrack, Vol. 2 – Summertime Killer by Luis Bacalov.
By Christopher Leone, March 1, 2010 @ 12:18 pm
Also from the Kill Bill soundtrack, “Woo Hoo” by the 5 6 7 8′s, better known as the soundtrack to Vonage commercials for years, and my new vote for “worst possible song for an intro video.” Although you have to admit, it is catchy, in a “what if Daffy Duck wrote an ad jingle” way.
By Br!an McKay, March 1, 2010 @ 2:02 pm
I’m coming to late to the party. The first thing that I thought of was “Are You Gonna Go My Way” because Lenny Kravitz was mentioned. Then I thought of “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones and “Start The Commotion” by Wiseguys for video 2.
I cannot remember what my first album (on casstte tape) was. I think that my first CDs, in 1984, were Cars ‘Greatest Hits’ and Van Halen’s ’1984.’
By Carrie, March 1, 2010 @ 2:32 pm
Ahaha! Perfect intro song for Milka just came up on my iPod.
“Move B*tch” by Ludacris
Move b*itch get out the way!:
By Roy Hobbson, March 1, 2010 @ 2:37 pm
Time to cross demographic lines, I say. TAKE IT AWAY, LIL BOOSIE!!
BAM!!! That’s video #2, no questions asked. You’re welcome.
(Pat Caporali once blatantly ignored my requests to add this to the Vision Racing Songs Playlist. Don’t make the same mistake she did, IndyCar.)
By Coz, March 1, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
Song #1 Jessica – Allman Brothers
Song #2 Zippity Doo Dah (Indy Only)
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Mister Hulman is our leader
And it’s off, we’re racin’
Ev’ry driver danger facin’
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!
1st Albums were Uriah Heep-Sweet Freedom; Led Zeppelin II; and Frank Zappa Apostrophe. (Either that or Overnite Sensation)
By Bob, March 1, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
I would go with Wild Side by Motley Crue for the walk to the cars.
For start your engines, I gotta think some more.
By Zoe, March 1, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
I want to make suggestions but being that I was brained washed as a child with F1 on the BBC all I can think is THE CHAIN…
By pressdog, March 1, 2010 @ 8:07 pm
Woe woe woe woe there. What is THIS? Asking fans for input on something??? Slippery slope, Mr. Lewis, this whole fan involvement deal. Besides you lost me when you put “AC/DC” and “clichéd” in the same sentence. I’d vote for Hobbson’s Lil Boosie above on three conditions 1) use it for “drivers to your cars”, 2) we include the profanity and 3) all the drivers do the little zoom-zoom move standing by their cars while the pit crews bust phat hip-hop moves. I’m telling ya, ESPN EXTENDED PLAY for that video, baby. Let’s take this (bad word) thang on up to the rev limiter, Chico. E’eybody like zoom-zoom, zoom zoom. Lean like a cholo. out.
By drdisque, March 1, 2010 @ 11:28 pm
Drivers to cars: You’re Gonna go Far, Kid by The Offspring.
Ever since I first heard this song, I thought it was really well suited to the “new” Izod IndyCar Series.
By will-isitmayyet.com, March 2, 2010 @ 10:24 am
Avoid cheese.
Drivers to your cars: Ace of Spades by Motorhead
One Minute to Command: Walk by Pantera
That’ll explode some heads.
Any idea involving Enter Sandman is the worst idea ever. Seriously, I think half the players in baseball enter to this song.
Speaking of, during driver introductions, let each driver choose their songs like at a ball game. (do they do this already?) I want Casper Viso to come out to Casper from Kids singing the Capser the Dopest Ghost song.
By will-isitmayyet.com, March 2, 2010 @ 10:29 am
Oh, or anything by Ol’ Dirty. I 100% support the Series honoring a fallen legend like Dirt McGirt.
By Roy Hobbson, March 2, 2010 @ 10:37 am
^^ “Old Dirty Bastard has now changed his name to Old Dirty Chinese Restaurant.”
/Chappelle’d
By brentsn, March 2, 2010 @ 11:27 am
awesome !! kid_char , i agree !!! welcome back my friends…ELP would be great…come inside come inside…havent heard the ides of march in many a year , man. as a kid , i had an autographed copy (45rpm) of “vehicle” by the ides of march & gave it to my cousin. cant remember how it even goes now !
By brentsn, March 2, 2010 @ 11:33 am
oh i forgot…1st album (i think) was meet the BEATLES….i know my 1st 45 was nowhere man by the beatles,followed by get off my cloud…rolling stones!
By DZ, March 3, 2010 @ 7:58 am
@Roy @isitmayyet – Did you hear Tiger Woods just got traded to Thailand for $3mil plus a first-round pick in 2011? Watch out for the Whites in the next draft!
By Coz, March 3, 2010 @ 11:49 am
Drivers to your cars: Also Spoke Zarathustra – Hey, if it was good enough for Elvis.
I’ll still stick with Zippity-Doo-Dah. I regale you with another old Indy tale: On the first trip down to Indy, It was my buddies Junior and Boogie (brothers) and Weegie (Thompson- Real name Rick, but nicknamed after the receiver that was playing for the Steelers at the time). Well, we didn’t know the ins and outs of Flo and Jim at the time, so we were driving down I-65 waving American Flags at bikers and the parade of decorated cars headed to Indy, singing Zippity-Doo-Dah; and of course, drinking copious amounts of beer in the back of the van. When we got to that rest stop north of Indy, we all had to take a whiz, and for a short time, the refrain changed to the Beatles-”There will be a rest stop let me pee-eee-EEEEE. Let me pee, let me pee, lemmee pee I gotta pee. There will be a rest stop lemme peee-eeee-EEEEE!!
Well, Ol’ Weegie disappeared (more on that story some time later), Boogie remains a drug addict and alcoholic to this very day, and Junior thinks he’s too good to associate with his old friends.
By Richard, March 8, 2010 @ 9:35 pm
To your cars: Song 2 by Blur
One minute to the command: Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
Worst song: Crash into Me by Dave Matthews Band
By Gordo, March 8, 2010 @ 10:35 pm
Delta Force Rocks!!!!
By Gordo, March 8, 2010 @ 10:39 pm
Shane!
Hoodo Gurus: “What’s my Scene?” or “In the Wild” I will drive down Highway 1….
They are my Desert Island Top 5!
By Dave Grohl, March 9, 2010 @ 12:04 am
Hey
you can use my song and I’ll change the middle F word.
Sorry no vid. just stuff kids have loaded onto Utube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRw6KN9RdK0