Friday, January 15, 2016

"Young" Triumphs & Mistakes

Song - Race to the Death
Released - 2000
Primetime Usage - 2000
Featured Highlight - Steelers @ Jaguars, 2000


One of the most obscure songs from the later heyday of NFL Primetime, "Race to the Death" seemed to be an attempt to replace the melancholy struggle motif previously occupied by Neck and Neck.  It's an OK song in small doses, though, and "small doses" were definitely what we got—it was just used a handful of times during only the 2000 NFL season.  The artists behind Race to the Death were, ironically, not so obscure…  well one of them at least.  I don't know a whole lot about Bryan "Chuck" New, but he does have a massive number of credits listed on Discogs.  George Young is a bit more famous, though.  In addition to being the older brother of Malcolm & Angus Young of AC/DC (and an AC/DC producer), he was also the co-writer & co-producer of top-10 disco hit "Love is in the Air" by John Paul Young (no relation).  Additionally, George Young was one of the inaugural inductees in the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1988.

I apologize for the quality of the included highlight video, but this was the only Primetime clip I've been able to find with Race to the Death.  This game was a fitting example of the decline of the Tom Coughlin Jaguars, but it's mostly memorable for one reason.  Steelers rookie Plaxico Burress, after getting a long reception over the middle, decided to do a celebratory spike even though he hadn't actually been touched.  It didn't ultimately affect the contest's outcome, but this play often shows up on "top sports blunders" lists.



6 comments:

  1. There are two songs used in NFL Primetime in the first two weeks of 2001, then never used again. Can't find their names. I believe they were Giants-Chiefs in Week 2, Steelers-Jags in Week 1, Dallas-Tampa in Week 1 and one other instance. Any chance you could find the names in order to download? Thanks!

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    1. I have the highlights from week 2, so I think I know what you're talking about. I haven't identified the songs, though. I assumed the Giants/Chiefs track—which was kinda somber—was just a post-9/11 choice, but I guess not if it was used in week 1.

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    2. Rams-Eagles Week 1 2001 (probably the "one other instance") had an obscure song, too.

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    3. That song wasn't quite as rare (I actually remember them using it, unlike some of these others), but I don't know what it is.

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  2. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated! I would imagine it was a song released not to much prior to 9/2001, but who knows?

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