The Singalong to End All Singalongs
So the Mets are finally considering some songs to replace Sweet Caroline in the 8th. Thank god. Y2K, the little site that could, gets no love for begging for this a year ago, but whatever.
The list of songs the Mets are suggesting is generally horrifying. Before reading the list I would have said nothing could have been as bad as "Sweet Caroline", then I saw the theme from Friends was an option.
No matter how many times I ask myself how it's even possible for that to be an option, I never get anywhere close to an answer. Can you imagine 55,000 people singing that song in unison? If that wins I'll hang myself.
In fairness, if you're drunk enough by the 8th inning, which happens, some of these songs could be fun. "Land of 1000 Dances" and "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" fall under this category to varying degrees.
As for the other songs:
As I reviewed the list it came to me. My mission.
Some how, some way, I'm going to get the Mets to make Glenn Frey's "You Belong to the City" one of their theme songs.
Not familiar with this mid-80s gem? Here's the video, which is also awesome.
(Not a fan? I defy you to tell me this is a worse suggestion than the theme from Friends.)
As it happens, it's the Mets that introduced me to this song. Prominently featured in the fabled 1986 Mets Tape, which defined a generation of Mets fans, "You Belong to the City" is the perfect song for the Mets. It's catchy, the lyrics work, it's singalong-able, it has obvious Citi Field compatibility, and, you know, it's about New York.
I've long wanted this to be the song the Mets play after victories, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's perfect for the sing along.
Consider the lyrics:
"You were born in the city / Concrete under your feet / It's in your moves, it's in your blood / You're a man of the streets" or the crawl to the crescendo "You can feel it, you can taste it / You can see it, you can face it / You can hear it, hey, you're getting near it, hey / You wanna make it, cause you can take it / You belong to the city, you belong to the night / You belong to the city, you belong to the night / You belong / You belong."
It's a song New Yorkers can sing about themselves and the team they love.
I can see it now. Images of an illuminated stadium at night. Images of the crowd in celebration. Images of Reyes rounding the bag at second and diving head first into third. Images of David Wright watching a game winner on his way to first with the crowd going nuts behind him. Gary Cohen's home run call. Bob Murphy's call of the Buckner play. The green light. The orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. Something! Anything!
It's not going to happen in 2008, but that's no matter. Some day we'll make this thing work.
I'm happy to hear your suggestions for how to do that.
- A.F.O.M.G.
The list of songs the Mets are suggesting is generally horrifying. Before reading the list I would have said nothing could have been as bad as "Sweet Caroline", then I saw the theme from Friends was an option.
No matter how many times I ask myself how it's even possible for that to be an option, I never get anywhere close to an answer. Can you imagine 55,000 people singing that song in unison? If that wins I'll hang myself.
In fairness, if you're drunk enough by the 8th inning, which happens, some of these songs could be fun. "Land of 1000 Dances" and "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" fall under this category to varying degrees.
As for the other songs:
- Brown Eyed Girl: Love it. Introduced Nails to it. Don't think it's right for a ball game.
- Livin' On a Prayer: A classic, yes, but come on, this song belongs to the stroke of midnight at Jake's Dilemma / Bourbon Street / Off the Wagon. Is nothing sacred?
- Movin' Out: When the fuck did Billy Joel become Mr. Met? Isn't he a Yankee fan?
- I'm a Believer: I mean, sure, it has the word "believe" in it, but come on, if you want this as the song I suggest you take the next train to Kansas City.
- Build Me Up Buttercup: It's like, yes, I enjoyed "There's Something About Mary", but something about the lyrics "Why do you build me up (build me up) / Buttercup, baby, just to let me down" kind of reminds me of 2007. Pass.
- I Love Rock N' Roll: I love rock n' roll (is that really where the apostrophe's supposed to go? Weird) too, and it's anthemic as all get out, but it just doesn't work for me for this song. Sorry.
- I'll Be There For You (Theme from Friends): Seriously, what the fuck?
As I reviewed the list it came to me. My mission.
Some how, some way, I'm going to get the Mets to make Glenn Frey's "You Belong to the City" one of their theme songs.
Not familiar with this mid-80s gem? Here's the video, which is also awesome.
(Not a fan? I defy you to tell me this is a worse suggestion than the theme from Friends.)
As it happens, it's the Mets that introduced me to this song. Prominently featured in the fabled 1986 Mets Tape, which defined a generation of Mets fans, "You Belong to the City" is the perfect song for the Mets. It's catchy, the lyrics work, it's singalong-able, it has obvious Citi Field compatibility, and, you know, it's about New York.
I've long wanted this to be the song the Mets play after victories, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's perfect for the sing along.
Consider the lyrics:
"You were born in the city / Concrete under your feet / It's in your moves, it's in your blood / You're a man of the streets" or the crawl to the crescendo "You can feel it, you can taste it / You can see it, you can face it / You can hear it, hey, you're getting near it, hey / You wanna make it, cause you can take it / You belong to the city, you belong to the night / You belong to the city, you belong to the night / You belong / You belong."
It's a song New Yorkers can sing about themselves and the team they love.
I can see it now. Images of an illuminated stadium at night. Images of the crowd in celebration. Images of Reyes rounding the bag at second and diving head first into third. Images of David Wright watching a game winner on his way to first with the crowd going nuts behind him. Gary Cohen's home run call. Bob Murphy's call of the Buckner play. The green light. The orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. Something! Anything!
It's not going to happen in 2008, but that's no matter. Some day we'll make this thing work.
I'm happy to hear your suggestions for how to do that.
- A.F.O.M.G.
posted by A Friend of Mr. Glass' at 3:54 PM
8 Comments:
'Livin on a Prayer.'
I phuks with that cshit. I dont know the words really just the hook/ chorus part...But i think it might be a little too charged up for a routine everyday type of deal... Is that Bon Jovi?
Great eye/ear with that 'build me up buttercup thing' ..
Time out...has anyone noticed how David Wright has come out the gate with this look like he is ready to ROCK? He has this sweaty look that I appreciate... like he is going to get his money's worth out of every at bat ...almost like he realized his pre season rouitine last year sukked azz and he owes us all(including himself)
Im hyped!
nice blazing saddles reference
You Belong to the City is a better choice than most of the tunes posted.
I wrote in the Curley Shuffel.
People who want "I'm A Believer", wouldn't take your suggestion of taking the next train to KC, but they would take the Last Train to Clarksville.
Another Classic, but it's outdated:
Get Metsmerized
I'm George Foster, I love this team
the Mets are better than the Red Machine
I live to play, and that's my thing
this year we're gonna win the series ring.
We play together, our team's real tight
don't mess with us, we're dynamite
Strawman, Darryl, it's all the same
call him Berry what's in a name.
Thank you George, you're a classy guy
with your black bat, we can rely
ya California's where I'm from
but for New York, I hit homeruns.
Power and speed you know we got
we're the beast of the east, when you're hot, you're hot
when Dwight's in the groove, there's no doubt
next words you'll hear, three strikes you're out.
Dwight's my name, what can I say
you know they call me Doctor K
change up, fastball, slider and curve
step up to the plate if ya got the nerve.
With control and power of a diesel train
throwin' tombstone bullets and a ball'n'chain
Lenny D., your spirit's contagious
what ya do to your body is really outrageous
I love to run down long fly balls
I catch them all, ain't afraid of no walls
I bunt, I run and then I dive
it's a wonder I'm still alive.
Rafael Santana is my name
playin' short stop is my game
I'm a cool glove man, I'm really smooth
being Metsmerized is in the groove.
When they want a batter filled with terror
they call on me, Rick Aguilera
slider's hot, I'm on the mound
with cool control I mow 'em down.
I'm Kevin Mitchell, the season's rook
studied all the moves, ready to cook
I got it together, ready to play
up in the bigs, hopin' to stay.
I'm Tim Teufel, lemme begin
by saying I was once a Twin
I made the move and it feels just right
I've been Metsmerized and I see the light.
My name is Ho Jo, I'm here to say
our team is goin' all the way
with pitching, power, speed and style
results guaranteed to make you smile.
Team's real hot
stand up proud
do the wave
shout it loud!
Get Metsmerized, Get Metsmerized
Get Metsmerized, Get Metsmerized.
Clearly, I'm living in the past.
Glory Days. I thought we had settled this?
Haha. You really are crazy.
As I said last year, "Dancing in the Streets" is a surefire winner, but "You Belong to the City" is a fucking great choice.
Too bad we can't go with "Bend Ya Knees" any more.
Impeccable analysis and a perfect solution. The only point you overlooked is the extremely high probability that the hideous karma associated with the misappropriation of Sweet Caroline from Boston was the root cause of the Collapse. I can't prove that to a scientific degree of certainty but I'm pretty sure it's the case. Among other things there is no sensible alternative explanation. So, regarding the theme song from Friends, I just hope management is prepared to go something like 20-142 if they pick it.
hound: pretty sure we've set the groundwork for that type of season well before tomorrow's opening day announcement of what song is going to ruin the middle of the 8th.
it boggles my mind that aaron heilman has not been shipped to gitmo.
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