War Cry

As the Indians put the final nail in the Tigers’ coffin and continue to simply roll to the AL Central Pennant, something occurred to me…this team needs an anthem.

Like Europe’s “The Final Countdown” will always take me back to Richfield (or GOB’s magic act) or Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” harkens back to the dark days of 2005 when the Boys in Black were making their WS run, the 2007 Tribe has reached a point where a rallying cry needs to be identified and played ad nauseum until they’re playing it in Public Square at the conclusion of the World Series Parade.

A song that we can all get behind and cue up to get the good times going, both down at the Jake and wherever Tribe fans congregate. And we’re not talking “Again Tonight” by Johnny Cougar Mellencamp or the various montages on the JumboTron, the 2007 Cleveland Indians need some walking music, some swagger to accompany this team to the win column night after night and through the playoff run that we all think is coming.

Realizing fully that this is Cleveland, the “Rock and Roll Capital of the World” (despite the fact that most of the city is stuck in the glory days of The Buzzard and isn’t aware of new rock from the past 5…make it 10 years), the song needs to be a pretty-well known song and being from the 70’s or 80’s wouldn’t hurt for most fans to recognize it.

First, what can be ruled out?
They already use the inspirational Rocky II scene when the bullpen door opens for JoeBo (though not exactly as the link shown), so that’s out.

“More Cowbell” is also used with AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells" to get the crowd fired up late in the game, so that’s out too.

Of course, WTAM’s Mike Trivisonno has identified Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” as the Tribe theme, but I could find more inspirational music at a grade school band concert. Great lyrics, great song…but just doesn’t get the blood moving like an anthem should.

Unfortunately, all modern music (particularly hip-hop and rap) are ruled out because…well, if you’ve been to the Jake recently, you don’t need the answer. Most fans at the Jake couldn't tell you what the difference betweeen SpeakerBoxx and The Love Below is, much less get behind a song from it.

It’s also time to put the old Cleveland stand-bys that have been leaned on far too heavily for the past 25 years by the town to bed. You know the ones, MSB’s “My Town” and “Cleveland Rocks”.
Really, this is how creative this city can be?
To hear these songs over and over to create some sort of civic pride?
We're still stuck on this?
No, that day has passed.

Let's also rule out movie songs as not everybody can recognize, say the outstanding music from the Balboa-Drago match in Rocky IV.
And the great "Top Gun Theme" always sadly somehow brings to mind the mind-bogglingly out of place Volleyball Scene that just about ruins the whole movie for me.

This team needs an anthem that plays up the attitude of the team – a team playing for one purpose, with the steam rising from the roster. So how about “Train Kept A Rollin’”?
Nah, Aerosmith’s from Boston and the Chowderheads can keep this one.

How about something that says that this team is what it is…a solid group of great ballplayers comfortable in their own skin, more than happy to take the criticism of a JoeBo tightrope walk or a Peralta error? Something that plays up the old “we’ll put our best players on the field, you do the same…let’s see who wins” idea of sandlot baseball.
Maybe “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw?
Unfortunately this song got locked in with some show called “One Tree Hill” on a network I’ve never heard of, so it’s out.

What about a song that stresses their workmanlike approach, the way that the team simply goes out and takes care of the business at hand…how about “Takin’ Care of Business”?
As much as I like this one (and it does play every day to introduce Tony Rizzo’s show on WKNR), the Mets and Braves have apparently been using it for some time to celebrate their victories and if we’re just recycling other ideas…this one’s out.

But, we’re getting closer.

We need that inspirational song that everyone knows and can sing along to the chorus that’s easy enough for Grandma to sing along to it, but also has that moment when everyone can go absolutely bananas.
“Livin’ On a Prayer”, anyone?

As much as I LOVE this song (it was actually the last song played at my wedding), I don’t like one basic premise behind it for a supremely talented baseball team – why are we the ones hoping and praying that our time will come?

Can’t we be the ones walking into the situation with all the confidence in the world?
Aren’t the prospects of this team in the post-season and the overall outlook for this team in the foreseeable future rosy enough that we should EXPECT this?

To hell with this underdog card, it’s time to make an announcement to the AL and all of MLB…
“You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”.
This team is taking the first strides in what promises to be a winning race. The Indians take a backseat to nobody and won’t rely on prayers to get this team a title.
We’re going to win on talent and pitching and guts…and it’s only the beginning.

You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet, Tribe fans.
Trust me, You Just Ain't Seen N-N-N-N-N-N-Nothin' Yet.