Ok, so originally I was going to totally bag on the music choices of the Sabres and their event staff. Some of their choices for what gets played at Sabres games are terrible, no question, and yes I've had to seriously wonder what the fourteen year old girl tasked with making those decisions was thinking. But the situation isn't all grim down at the FNC, and if buffaBLOG is anything it's positive, and I want to be positive about this.
Why? For two reasons: 1) they're using Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" before the game and The Black Keys' "Lonely Boy" after Sabres goals, and 2) it's not all their fault. Of course using Arcade Fire and The Black Keys goes a long way, but the real problem is #Sabretunes and us Sabres fans. Twitter users, check out #Sabretunes .... and prepare to be disgusted. I'm not going to name names, but that Twitter hash-tag is a wasteland. No wonder it's 98.5 rubbish and hair metal with the occasional decent song thrown in to give us hope. The Sabres are soliciting suggestions and we're not helping them out.
That's where we come in as music fans. We've got to step it up and send #Sabretunes some decent suggestions, or re-Tweet the decent suggestions somebody else has already offered to build up some critical mass for those suggestions. But lets not get crazy folks. Taste and discretion folks are important. A gradual shift is the key.
Here's a few suggestions of my own for #Sabretunes:
- Stick with the Black Keys after Sabres goals and that Arcade Fire before the game. This is good stuff.
- Use more soul music. Soul music is always good, and you can dance to it.
- Enough of the hair metal. Break out of the time warp. The only acceptable hair metal is The Darkness, which they do play occasionally at games. They need to keep that going.
- There's a large Canadian contingent at Sabres games so why not play more Canadian rock? In addition to the Hip, how about Arkells and Tokyo Police Club?
- Ditch the "Sweet Caroline", at the very least during Carolina Hurricanes games.
- M83.
- And "The Hockey Song" has to get played at every game. Every game.
It falls to us, Sabres fans and lovers of good music to get that train back on the tracks. It has to be done, and it will be done.
I've definitely wondered if the people at #SabresTunes ever read my suggestions because I never heard any of them at the games I have gone to. This is a great article, we need to organize and get better music played at Sabres games (it's not like it's a Bandits game). While I agree that "hair metal" can easily be overdone (we're all familiar with Whitesnake, thanks, no need to remind us), I do have to say that hard rock and metal is the penultimate sports music... nothing gets you pumped to physically dominate your opponent like Pantera. Finally, what are you referring to as "The Hockey Song"?
Just throw on Jock Jams and call it a day.
I LIKE TO MOV IT MOV IT
love your suggestions
The key is compromise. I agree with you that the Sabres games needs new music, as the shit they've been churning out (for years on end) has been atrocious. It is a balance though. For every younger adult that wants to hear the Keys, Arcade Fire, whoever, there is an older adult that still appreciates the hair metal and classic rock of their generation. I think it's important to update their catalog to include these people too. Theres nothing wrong with playing AC/DC but how many times can you hear You Shook Me All Night Long. Play something from their back catalog or a single you don't hear every day, in ADDITION to some newer music that satiates the younger generations appetites (I'm thinking Foo Fighters, Wavves, Whiz Khalifa, Rise Against) It has to be something somewhat recognizable or familiar, and it can't veer too far into the obscure or you risk alienating alot of people who just don't get or feel uncomfortable with that music. After all, Sabres games are about the communal experience as much as they are about a rocking soundtrack. Great songs that span generations help build that experience. End rant.
what Jon said
and that is gospel.