The Infinite Dial

While the end of summer brings sadness to some, it is the beginning of all things magnificent to others. Kids going back to school, new TV programming and last but far from least--good sports. College football, NFL, NBA, NHL and the MLB pennant race all come to the forefront in the fall to the delight of fans around the country. And whether you are a season ticket holder or just a diehard that mostly roots from the living room, you undoubtedly have felt that excitement when you hear the music pumping in the stadium.

Stadium anthems have become a staple for the players, teams and their loyal followers, and are now a musical category all their own. ESPN hit it out of the park in 1995 when they rolled out the original Jock Jams CD, which not only gave legitimacy to the sports anthem theme, but it also reignited songs on the radio that had been "rested" for some time. The CD was a hit even for those not into sports, and featured a mix of dance party favorites, featuring "Whoomp! (There It Is)" and "Hip Hop Hooray."

Songs like "We Will Rock You," by Queen and "Rock & Roll (Part 2)" by Gary Glitter are old standbys and are just about guaranteed to play at the stadium during a game. But what about some of the other additions to this growing novelty genre? Songs like "We Are Family," by Sister Sledge and "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C&C Music Factory may not be as universal as Queen, but then again, they are both on "ESPN Presents Stadium Anthems: Music for the Fans."

So what classifies as an "anthem?" Wikipedia defines an anthem as "a musical genre identifying songs that are played over the public address systems at stadiums and arenas during breaks in the action to rally the fans. Stadium anthems are characterized by a catchy up tempo rhythm and a repeated vocal call-response catchphrase, often a statement of pride or arrogance." Based on that definition, it seems just about any song can make the cut as long as it is either fast and furious or repetitive and addictive. Hence, "Who Let the Dogs Out," by the Baha Men.

What owns the title as greatest sports anthem ever? It depends on who you ask, but the usual aforementioned suspects are always there, along with old standbys like "YMCA," "Centerfield," "All Star," and "I Feel Good." The list goes on and on, since everyone has something to add.

I recently read an article by Rick Paulas for ESPN.com that made a great case for the Journey classic "Don't Stop Believin'," which I would have never thought of. But after reading how key it was to the 2005 season for the Chicago White Sox, and how it has undergone a rebirth in the sporting world, I think he's onto something. The Washington Capitals adopted it for their playoff run in 2007-2008 and the Dodgers recently began playing it in the eighth inning at every home game. Paulas went on to connect the dots with the series finale of The Sopranos which also used that same Journey song and helped to catapult it back into the public eye.

Any ideas on what the next big anthem will be? I think the new Bon Jovi single, "We Weren't Born to Follow," could be a contender. It has all the key elements: it's uptempo, catchy and has fightin' lyrics: "We weren't born to follow. Come on and get up off your knees. When life is a bitter pill to swallow, you gotta hold on to what you believe." Listen for it at a stadium near you.

What's your pick for the stadium anthem of the future? What current (or recent) song has "FIGHT" written all over it?