Top Ten Band Playlist of All Time

[Chris '03]

1. Davy in 3

[dag14]

I didn't realize Nancy Miller actually played an instrument....

[BMac]

Unbelievably, I forgot 25 or 6 to 4.

Adjusted rankings:

1. Pinball Wizard
1A. 25 or 6 to 4
2. Jungle Love
3. Schafer Beer Song

(large gap)

4. Paradise City
5. Espana
6. Sir Duke

[ScrewBUHarvardtoo]

I'm glad my article prompted this discussion. In band my favorite songs to play are Pinball Wizard, Everybody's Everything, Take on Me and Holiday. And of course Schafer's Beer! And for those who have been to games in recent years, Espana ("cymbal guy" song) is always a crowd pleaser

[Trotsky]

Espana ("cymbal guy" song) is always a crowd pleaser

That guy is pretty amazing.  Has it always been such a maniacal song for cymbal, or is that his special contribution?  I never noticed anything special about it before.

[ScrewBUHarvardtoo]

Espana ("cymbal guy" song) is always a crowd pleaser

That guy is pretty amazing.  Has it always been such a maniacal song for cymbal, or is that his special contribution?  I never noticed anything special about it before.

That song has been played for years now, but only in the past 3 years or so has the percussion section been visible to the whole rink so people could actually see the awesomeness of the cymbal guy.

[Scersk '97]

Originally a marching band song, I believe, the old "Who eats the moose" was a favorite when transplanted to Lynah.

First off, as Scersk has reminded me on a recorded occasion, it's "Who Is The Moose," although your version is often sung. ...

Actually freshman year a dorm-mate of mine was in the marching band.  He said it was "Who eats the moose" as well.

I've been told "eats" as well, though probably not by anyone as authoritative (or, at least, loud and vehement) as Scersk.

Isn't loudness 9/10ths of authority? And I was told so by Clavin ('94), who is a full 150% louder than I am. Unthinkably loud. So he must have been right.

[Scersk '97]

My rankings are conditioned by years in the stands as a townie, so I'm going to bring up a few oldies.

First, my commentary [in brackets] on BMac's ratings:

Unbelievably, I forgot 25 or 6 to 4.

Adjusted rankings:

1. Pinball Wizard [A marching band song; although, it's the best for turning heads, e.g., vs. Clarkson, Lake Placid, '96.]
1A. 25 or 6 to 4 [double classic—"Twenty-four for just eight bucks!"]
2. Jungle Love [Why thank you, thank you very much.]
3. Schafer Beer Song [Since it's part of the routine, I'm not sure it should be on the list. I'll remove it. But it is, in fact, a super great arrangement.]

(large gap)

4. Paradise City [Sucks.]
5. Espana [Overplayed, under-inspired.]
6. Sir Duke [What?]

1. Pinball Wizard [See above.]
2. Birdland [Sadly not played as much as it used to be.]
3. 25 or 6 to 4
4. Soul Man [Ditto. Probably my favorite pep band song as a kid-townie.]
5. Everybody's Everything [Best song for showing off the band's skills, section-by-section.]
6. The Impression that I Get [Best of the new stuff.]
7. Star! [Personal favorite.]
8. Sing, Sing, Sing [I never understood this when in the band, but from outside it sounds like wonderful controlled chaos.]
9. Rockford Files [Also marching band, but a 'bone favorite. Played slower, it's better than it is right now.]
10. Basin Street Blues [Played with the proper dynamics and tempo change at the finish, a real showoff piece for the band.]

Honorable, or Dishonorable, Mentions

*. Vehicle [Needs revival. Played at the right tempo, the band sounds, almost, cool.]
*. Make Me Smile [Great tune. The arrangement could be better, though.]
*. Olympic Sprit [It's all we have! Would that we had an arrangement of Olympic Fanfare and Theme. Hmmm.]
*. Jungle Love [Recusal.]
*. Caravan [Clarkson.]
*. Russian Sailors' Dance [Which Clarkson hasn't played in years. Probably the most impressive other band tune I've ever heard.]

[Josh '99]

1. Davy in 3

Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

(From a practical standpoint, by far my least favorite thing to play, though.)

[Bahnstorm]

1. Davy in 3

+1

Also Dvorak Symphony No.9 Trombone part. (Not really a band piece, but intimidating anyway.)

[Dafatone]

25 or 6 to 4 and Espana for me.

[RichH]

My rankings are conditioned by years in the stands as a townie, so I'm going to bring up a few oldies.

First, my commentary [in brackets] on BMac's ratings:

Unbelievably, I forgot 25 or 6 to 4.

Adjusted rankings:

1. Pinball Wizard [A marching band song; although, it's the best for turning heads, e.g., vs. Clarkson, Lake Placid, '96.]
1A. 25 or 6 to 4 [double classic—"Twenty-four for just eight bucks!"]
2. Jungle Love [Why thank you, thank you very much.]
3. Schafer Beer Song [Since it's part of the routine, I'm not sure it should be on the list. I'll remove it. But it is, in fact, a super great arrangement.]

(large gap)

4. Paradise City [Sucks.]
5. Espana [Overplayed, under-inspired.]
6. Sir Duke [What?]

1. Pinball Wizard [See above.]
2. Birdland [Sadly not played as much as it used to be.]
3. 25 or 6 to 4
4. Soul Man [Ditto. Probably my favorite pep band song as a kid-townie.]
5. Everybody's Everything [Best song for showing off the band's skills, section-by-section.]
6. The Impression that I Get [Best of the new stuff.]
7. Star! [Personal favorite.]
8. Sing, Sing, Sing [I never understood this when in the band, but from outside it sounds like wonderful controlled chaos.]
9. Rockford Files [Also marching band, but a 'bone favorite. Played slower, it's better than it is right now.]
10. Basin Street Blues [Played with the proper dynamics and tempo change at the finish, a real showoff piece for the band.]

Honorable, or Dishonorable, Mentions

*. Vehicle [Needs revival. Played at the right tempo, the band sounds, almost, cool.]
*. Make Me Smile [Great tune. The arrangement could be better, though.]
*. Olympic Sprit [It's all we have! Would that we had an arrangement of Olympic Fanfare and Theme. Hmmm.]
*. Jungle Love [Recusal.]
*. Caravan [Clarkson.]
*. Russian Sailors' Dance [Which Clarkson hasn't played in years. Probably the most impressive other band tune I've ever heard.]

Going to have to think harder about this, but missing from this list:

"Doctor Worm," which is a good arrangement of a fun TMBG song, and seems to get a lot of positive comments from road fans seeing the band for the first time.  It has probably become the #2 "signature song" after Pinball Wizard.

"Silverado." I always group it with "Espana" for whatever dumb reason, but it's less of a chop-buster and also a better put-together song.

"Time Warp." It's a decent arrangement, especially for this time of year, and you do see a little hint of audience participation.  Good song to show off the percussion.

"Gimmie Some Lovin" At the right tempo (ie slower than currently played), it's solid.  "Soul Man" probably trumps it when it comes to songs associated with the Blues Brothers.

"In The Stone" and "Only Time Will Tell" Rarely ever played, these show good range for an echo-y arena.

[CowbellGuy]

1. Pinball Wizard
2. Power (never played any more; sadface)
3. Get It On
4. Carry On Wayward Son
5. 25 Or 6 To 4

...

759. Macho Man

Hon. Mentions: Battlestar Galactica, Star (with the right lead trumpet), Vehicle

[HeafDog]

I am nearly incredulous that the theme from The A-Team has not yet been mentioned. My buds and I got so pumped up by it that we couldn't help but sing it completely out of the blue when we were away from CU on a Colorado ski trip during Spring Break '97.

I also love "Hold On, I'm Comin'", played especially loud.

Rock 'n' Roll, Part 2, of course, always a fave, as are NCFS and its sibling auxiliary drinking/fight song ("Back To My Cornell", is it?). I also heart Olympic Spirit and Gimmie Some Lovin'.

I wish the Rockford Files theme would die a slow death. Never will understand the popularity of that one.

Seeing as how there are undoubtedly some bandies reading this thread, may I suggest a couple of songs?
- Talking In Your Sleep (by the Romantics)
- Tubthumping (by Chumbawumba -- I fully expect one heck of a backlash for this one)

[abmarks]

- Tubthumping (by Chumbawumba -- I fully expect one heck of a backlash for this one)

Former bandie starting the backlash parade.  Feel free to +1 the backlash.