Stay with me here. I promise I’m going to get to football.
I think I can sing a little. I’m self-aware enough to admit my vocal range is equal to the battery range of an early 90’s electric car – it’s not getting anybody very far. With this in mind, I also LOVE a good sing-a-long. I’m talkin’ an old-fashioned, apple pie, college football, tailgate tipsy, all-american, sing-a-long. I once played Grease’s Summer Nights on the jukebox in the Sunset Strip Mel’s Drive-In. What followed was a sing-a-long with the Mel’s waitresses that would have made Olivia Newton-John give me a wink and say “tell me about, stud”.
Now…as promised…to football. Some of college football’s best atmospheres are in the SEC and, as you know, the Sooners are SEC-bound. Those Saturday Down South atmospheres are enhanced by some of the most famous sing-a-longs in college football and maybe even sports – period.
Here are some of the best sing-a-longs in college football:
The University of Wisconsin. “Jump Around” by House of Pain. In Camp Randall, when those horns sound to open the classic 1992 hip-hop classic – the fans GO CRAAAZY. They literally jump around…and around…and around.
WISCONSIN JUMP AROUND in student section at Camp Randall, Madison
Louisiana State University. “Callin’ Baton Rouge” by Garth Brooks. Earlier this summer you probably saw a viral video of LSU’s Tiger Stadium of 100,000+ people in a sing-a-long of this Brook’s 1994 hit. I’d be willing to bet a good number of people bought tickets knowing that was the #1 song they wanted to hear.
Garth Brooks, “Callin’ Baton Rouge” from LSU Tiger Stadium — April 30, 2022
University of Florida. “Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. This one isn’t exactly audio caffeine for The Swamp, but Petty is a Gainesville native and the message of the song is an important one. “I won’t back down. You can stand me up at the gates of Hell and I won’t back down.” Don’t underrate the message in a quality sing-a-long.
“I Wont Back Down” by Tom Petty Sung At The Swamp
University of Alabama. “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama. I have to include this one for the pom-poms. I know, pom-poms aren’t limited to Tuscaloosa. Lots of schools use them, but the first time I saw those poms shake to the beat of “Spend my dollar, parked in a holler, ‘neath the mountain moonlight” – I was a fan.
Dixieland Delight Bryant Denny Stadium Oct 23 2021. AL vs. TN
The Sooners need a quality sing-along to welcome all the SEC fans into Norman. The candidates should have at least one of the following qualities:
- Oklahoma Artist. Toby Keith, Kings of Leon. There are plenty to choose from.
- Oklahoma-centric lyrics.
- Reflect the spirit and excitement of Sooner gameday and/or Oklahoma.
Here are some candidates:
“Okie from Muskogee” by Merle Haggard. Granted, Norman is nowhere near Muskogee, but maybe the most famous (non-stage musical) Oklahoma song there is. “…a place where even squares can have a ball.” I’ve felt that way about Oklahoma for years. Really listen to the lyrics – it’s a contender.
Okie From Muskogee by Merle Haggard
“Never Been To Spain” by Three Dog Night. “Well, I’ve never been to Spain, but I’ve been to Oklahoma”. It’s not exactly audio caffeine, but not bad. Plus it was written by Duncan, Oklahoma’s own Hoyt Axton.
Three Dog Night – Never Been To Spain Lyrics
What do you think? Give us your ideas!
Leave your songs in the comments.
Let’s get this done.
We can do it.
Joe Castiglione.
Sooner Game Ops.
Let Oklahoma SING!
Cheers from our Yay Dude team: Bourbon St. Cafe, Commonplace Books Edmond & Waters Edge Winery Moore.
