Music at the competitions

[MikeT]

Anyone know where FIRST gets all that music for the competitions? Some of that techno they play is pretty sweet. There needs to be some kind of FIRST music database so everyone can get some of that. I think that would be pretty cool.

[GlitterRave113]

I think that the sponsering team(s) just makes a bunch of mix cds and uses a computer and speakers to play it...however, I'm not sure, so I'd still ask around. :D

[AmyPrib]

FIRST hires a DJ - I believe the same DJ company plays all the events. I think they have a list of acceptable music they can play or some guidelines.
Teams, commitees, sponsors, etc have very little, or nothing, to do with the music choices.

[Swan217]

FIRST hires a DJ - I believe the same DJ company plays all the events. I think they have a list of acceptable music they can play or some guidelines.
Teams, commitees, sponsors, etc have very little, or nothing, to do with the music choices.

This is correct. There is a (very short) list of songs that are allowed to be played at competitions, although many times the DJ's don't follow this list.
I'm working to get the official playlist from FIRST, and writing a whitepaper on DJing FIRST events. Stay tuned...

[Kevin Sevcik]

Yeah, I've heard some pretty borderline songs over some of the webcasts. I mean, I don't have a problem with the uncensored version of Devil Went Down to Georgia, but some listeners might. And that's the least questionable of the questionable songs I heard.

Also, someone needs to inform the DJs not to waste all their good songs at pointless times. At GLR, the DJ played the YMCA like three times on Saturday cause no one was paying attention the first two times.

Note: I have some small experience DJing smaller robotics competitions, and I've been avoiding being drafted as the LSR DJ for several years now.

Also note: Why the heck can't anyone play the real Cotton-Eyed Joe? It's a heck of a lot more fun to dance to.

[Nuttyman54]

ok, i've been dying to know this. What is the name of the FIRST "Theme Song". You know, the one they always play immediately after opening ceremonies as the first match of the day starts?

[Tytus Gerrish]

if i hear shake it by salt-n-pepper one more time my head will explode. i think I've heard YMCA over 4 times during the Florida regional. it was getting very redundant. However i Do firmly support the fact that the drivers drive much better with Crappy techno music playing.

[Mark Pierce]

Yeah, I've heard some pretty borderline songs

Several Parents and Mentors on our team feel much the same way. This is a multi generational, uplifting event. Why do we have to listen to suggestive stuff like "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy". There's lots of music out there that would be great to hear. I often listen to the independent Grand Rapids public radio station WYCE Radio (http://wyce.org) and quite a bit of their music would be nice to hear. Mixing in fast tempo Celtic, world beat, jazz or other stuff would be much better than the repetition.

[CourtneyB]

At Midwest, they played alot of the same techno music. Personally, I am not a fan of techno music except for like that new song thats out right now by Cascada-Every Time We Touch, but yeah i was getting really annoyed haha. Its not like I wanted to request songs or anything but yeah.

-Court-

[Greg Marra]

I noticed from watching the webcasts of the Midwest Regional and the Boilermaker Regional that the BMR had a lot more R&B style music. I don't really like that sort of stuff, so I muted that one and listened to the techno at the MWR :cool:

[George A.]

ok, i've been dying to know this. What is the name of the FIRST "Theme Song". You know, the one they always play immediately after opening ceremonies as the first match of the day starts?


I'm not sure if it's the "theme song" per se, but I do know at all the regionals I work at I meet with the MC and the DJ before opening ceremonies, and after the ceremonies when the teams are finalizing position of their robots and the crew gets the field in order we have "Get it Started" by the Black Eyed Peas...it really gets the crowd pumped for competition.

[Nuttyman54]

I'm not sure if it's the "theme song" per se, but I do know at all the regionals I work at I meet with the MC and the DJ before opening ceremonies, and after the ceremonies when the teams are finalizing position of their robots and the crew gets the field in order we have "Get it Started" by the Black Eyed Peas...it really gets the crowd pumped for competition.

It's not that one. No words so far as i know. Maybe it's different depending on the DJ, but it's always been the same at Silicon Valley. It's some sort of techno song.

[Jason Morrella]

It's not that one. No words so far as i know. Maybe it's different depending on the DJ, but it's always been the same at Silicon Valley. It's some sort of techno song.

Hey Evan,

You can blame me for that one - we play additional "intro" music in the background to jazz up the team introductions before the first match of the day and the playoff matches. The one you are thinking of is "Sirius" by the Alan Parsons Project - more comonly known as the Chicago Bulls Intro theme, as they and many other teams use it for the introductions of their players. As you know, it's one of about 15 intro songs we use for the playoff matches at the regionals out here. It seems really popular with the teams out here, so it might start being done at more FIRST events in the future - we'll see.

Hope that helps.

[Jill1022]

I agree with the questionable material issue. I personally don't mind hearing the uncensored Gwen Stefani and others songs, but playing them at a competition that is mostly school sponsored teams and all ages...that's a problem to me.

A huge majority of people at Boilermaker were young kids. I didn't think it was a good idea playing songs with the S word, or songs about doing it in the backseat of a car (two songs played talked about that).

I REALLY liked that they played a few Arcade Fire songs. That made my day. The Muse songs also rocked and the old Green Day songs.

[Madison]

Also note: Why the heck can't anyone play the real Cotton-Eyed Joe? It's a heck of a lot more fun to dance to.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if most DJs didn't know there is a real version of Cotton-Eye Joe :)

[Nuttyman54]

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if most DJs didn't know there is a real version of Cotton-Eye Joe :)
At any rate, how many remixes of it ARE there...I've got at least 5 on my computer (along with the original of course)

[JulieB]

There nothing more exciting than being inducton during the QF hearing Sweet Home Alabama!

[Ian Curtis]

The music at BAE was pretty good, barring when the drive team stood in front of the subwoofers waiting for the quarterfinals. They played a nice mix of stuff, largly crowd pumping techno in the eliminations, although there was plenty of rock during the qualifiers. Very little rap that I recall :) . Crazy frog was played. Twice. :D



PS. If anyone can tell me what the title of the song played in semifinal 1.2 at BAE was (http://www.team195.com/video/BAE2K6/BAE2K6-SF1.2.wmv) I would greatly appreciate it.

[George A.]

I make sure that I request songs from the dj that keep the crowds energy going...such favorites as "Welcome to the Jungle" "Rock and Roll all Night" "Rock You Like a Hurricane" "Shook Me all Night Long' those are a few of my favorites.

[Madison]

PS. If anyone can tell me what the title of the song played in semifinal 1.2 at BAE was (http://www.team195.com/video/BAE2K6/BAE2K6-SF1.2.wmv) I would greatly appreciate it.

No Limit by 2 Unlimited.

[thatphotochick]

yeh the DJs need to stop playing the same songs a billion times. i mean "we like to party" is a great techno song..but not after the 5th time in a day. as well, the uncensored gwen stephani and the black eyed peas, and other songs talking about things little kids do not need to hear should not played at all, they're annoying after awhile and they're just plain disgusting. since 1038 is very close to cincinnati and many people from the team are huge bengal fans, "welcome to the jungle" is a favorite, also just about anything from ac/dc gets some energy flowing..like thunderstruck and tnt

[Kevin Sevcik]

I vote more classic rock. I'll bring Guitar Hero and we can have mentors (myself included) embarrass themselves on the big screen between the Finals matches.

But yeah, overall, I think party DJs are a pretty poor choice for a FIRST event. They've become specialized for techno parties and such, and don't really have the range to make a FIRST event fun and interesting. Or... Well one year at LSR we had a DJ that had entirely too much range and no good sense about what good competition music is. Maybe FIRST should make all the CD competition music threads mandatory reading for DJs?

[Rickertsen2]

With music, everybody has enormously different tastes and there will always be those whom are dissatisfied no matter what. I thought the music at the Peachtree this year was a great improvement over the repetition of last year. Indeed, the techno is good for driving.

[anna~marie]

I have to agree... there are some songs that I hear that I find disgusting, but at the regionals that my team goes to the music isn't totally filled with nasty-ness.

[steven114]

I must say that I was impressed at both PNW and SVR by the choice of music... seemed to me at least that the classic rock and techno were the best. :) I did hear a few songs that I wouldn't have thought were appropriate for a general audience (some song that did nothing but repeat 'stupid girl' for like two minutes, for example)

Overall, very well done though. And I must admit that the first time I listened to an Alan Parsons Project CD, when Sirius came on the first thing I thought of was FIRST. I love that song, and the following two on the Ultimate CD (Eye in the Sky and Prime Time) are awesome too :)

[Nathan Pell]

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if most DJs didn't know there is a real version of Cotton-Eye Joe :)

Are you talking about the tradiational Irish Celtic version?

[Swan217]

Personally, I am not a fan of techno music except for like that new song thats out right now by Cascada-Every Time We Touch, but yeah i was getting really annoyed haha.
Get with the program, Court, I've had that "new" Cascada song on my mp3 player since June. ;)
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if most DJs didn't know there is a real version of Cotton-Eye Joe :)
Neither would I. I actually prefer the original version to the Jock Jams version. Of course, I also like the "Double Nation" remix. And how many people out there know the REAL name of "The Chicken Dance"?

if i hear shake it by salt-n-pepper one more time my head will explode. i think I've heard YMCA over 4 times during the Florida regional. it was getting very redundant. However i Do firmly support the fact that the drivers drive much better with Crappy techno music playing.


Agreed, Agreed, and Agreed. I yelled at the DJ for being redundant, unfortunately, he has a very short playlist to go off of. I'm attempting to fix that.

[Tomasz Bania]

At any rate, how many remixes of it ARE there...I've got at least 5 on my computer (along with the original of course)
Does anyone know where I can find the version of Cotton Eyed Joe that they play at the competitions?

Thanks,
Tomasz Bania

[thatphotochick]

the chicken dance :p that was played at pittsburgh, but then i think pittsburgh was at least trying to play more dance songs and less disturbing songs...but after they played the hokey pokey, they officially crossed the line of insanity

[George A.]

I do know that several times people have complained (although not in this thread) about the amount of techno music that's played at the regionals, however I've come to a conclusion, since most techno songs don't contain lyrics it's pretty much impossible for techno songs to offend someone...that and the beat make it a very exciting venue to be in during the finals!

[Elgin Clock]

WHen I'm at the Boston regional this weekend, to settle this "what music is played at FIRST events?" question once and for all, I shall either:

A) Take notes (artists - song names) for every song I know that is played there.
B) Talk to the DJ and ask for a printed or emailed list of the songs that are played at the regional all weekend, or at least just on Saturday when I am there.

If nothing else, I will get a list of which song is played during which award on Saturday. Yes, Virginia, they do have certain songs assigned for certain awards. :)
Wish me luck!

Although, from my five years in FIRST, I have heard lots of tracks I know to be from the Ultimate Dance Party (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/76357/103-1640159-3307068)series, the NYC UNderground (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-1640159-3307068?url=index%3Dmusic&search-type=quick-search&field-keywords=NYC+UNderground)series, and also the NOW That's What I Call Music (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-1640159-3307068?url=index%3Dmusic&search-type=quick-search&field-keywords=NOw+that%27s+what+I+call+music) series.

Most of the time, it's run in order that it is on the CD, one right after another which is cool since they have a nice fade to the next song.

[Kevin Sevcik]

I do know that several times people have complained (although not in this thread) about the amount of techno music that's played at the regionals, however I've come to a conclusion, since most techno songs don't contain lyrics it's pretty much impossible for techno songs to offend someone...that and the beat make it a very exciting venue to be in during the finals!
You are perhaps unfamiliar with the Speed Racer song by Alpha Team. I mistakenly put some students in charge of music at our Vex event, and I had to cut away from the end of that song rather quickly for them...

[mtaman02]

This is correct. There is a (very short) list of songs that are allowed to be played at competitions, although many times the DJ's don't follow this list.
I'm working to get the official playlist from FIRST, and writing a whitepaper on DJing FIRST events. Stay tuned...


I wouldn't say the list is short, believe it or not the list is close to 30 or less pages that list probably 35 songs per sheet. And of course the music needs to be within FIRSTs acceptability so the DJS due a very extensive job in making sure the songs are Ok, as they play the songs they preview the next couple of songs into their headphones and add it to the playlist or remove it from the playlist. The DJ at the NJ Regional played a wide variety of Genres some of them were: Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Rock, Dance,Techno and even some oldies =) and yes they do have if anything a bad habit of replaying the YMCA, Cotton Eyed Joe and a couple of others. I think the program the DJS use was MixMeister Pro. which seems to be very powerful over Windows Media Player. I have the Express Version of that program and it works quite well. Its easy to use and I think its straight forward.

[Elgin Clock]

I think the program the DJS use was MixMeister Pro. which seems to be very powerful over Windows Media Player. I have the Express Version of that program and it works quite well. Its easy to use and I think its straight forward.

The DJ at UTC last year used what I think was called Dell Music Jukebox or something like that. It included effects such as repeat, and all kinds of fancy "I'm more than a weekender DJ, and do this kind of stuff for a living, or at least know what I'm talking about" audio sampling tools for listening pleasure.

That to me is what it's all about. It's not about plugging your iPod in and letting it go on shuffle mode, but actually caring what you are playing and how it sets the mood for the entire venue, and events unfolding on and off the playing field.

[Kevin Sevcik]

MP3Stocker for me. Just cause I'm too lazy to find anything else. It works, though. And you don't HAVE to have a fancy program to care about what you're playing. I, for one, couldn't beat-mix two metronomes, but I think I'm decent at DJing robotics events.

[Yipster]

I loved the DJ at the PNW regional. He played the "numa numa" song. Why is this relevant? Well one of our teammates(he shall be unnamed) did an infamous "asian" numa numa video. Quite hilarious. Leading us in the numa numa dance at the competition. Too bad we didn't have the video on hand or we could have tried to get it played on the big screen. ^^

Other than that, the music is okay, mostly pop. But I guess punk rock or rap would be out of the question. Now if only I can learn the dance to the cotton eye joe song.

[Nuttyman54]

they played Numa Numa at SVR also. They also played American Idiot. I love the song and the band, but it's just not right for a robotics competition, especially with the political viewpoint and everything.

[MikeT]

I'm really big on techno music at competitions. It's just the right kind of music that goes with robotics. Something about it gets ur blood pumping when driving. Certain rap songs sound good on the playing field... like Chris Brown's "Run It" and Usher's "Yeah". Those aren't too bad. There's just so many songs im trying to download right now. I'm actually making a winamp playlist of songs i've heard at FIRST competitions.

By the way, i heard a remix of Sandstorm by Darude at the Peachtree regional and i cant find it anywhere online, but i keep downloading the wrong remix. But they're like 5000000000000000000 remixes to that song lol. Anybody go to Peachtree and know what im talking about?

[whytheheckme]

Is it possible to request songs to FIRST ahead of time (like now) that can be added to the list to be played?

For instance, New Numa by Gary Brolsma is out now, the *sequal* to Dragostea din tei (A.k.a the Numa Numa song). I would really like to see this added to the list, as it completely fits. Perhaps an *un-offcial* dance could be created to this song, but I don't want to ask my Spirit department before I know if there is even a possibility of them playing it.

In esssence, I am just wondering if there is a song request form somewhere. I'm sorry if this question has been asked before... I searched around though.

Jacob

[George A.]

Not that I know of, although you're more than welcome to request songs to the DJ's at the competitions themselves. Although their music selection was pre-screened by FIRST so they might not have the particular song you want. (Still bummed out that they didn't have "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins.

[mrmummert]

Hello everyone...

Since its a new song and it might not get much play at First events this year,I still think its a fitting song to play during the competitons.....

Saliva's "Ladies and Gentlemen"

and for my generation it might have been Emerson, Lake and Palmers's

"Karn Evil 9"

[koolguy8907]

hey can somone come up with a list of songs that are played at the regionals, eespecially the philly regional

[neutrino15]

It would be cool if FIRST sold cds or somthing to raise money for themselves. Or maybe even had a deal with.. ughhh (drm, maybe not such a good idea)... iTunes...
But for now, a list of their music would sufice.

An idea for the future?: Display the current track somewhere (maybe in the corner of the big screen)

[hiimcristhian]

if i hear shake it by salt-n-pepper one more time my head will explode. i think I've heard YMCA over 4 times during the Florida regional. it was getting very redundant. However i Do firmly support the fact that the drivers drive much better with Crappy techno music playing.

why are you calling techno music "CRAPPY" techno music is actually pretty good adn the fact that the real name is electronica which means electronic, actually goes with everything that happens in the competitions

[Ahnxlazyman]

I think it'd be cool if Teams could request songs(or even submit their own playlists!) at competitions,
at VCU, I heard Avril Lavigne XP, and you know random sporatic of music, everyone was waiting for Darude's sandstorm (it didn't come up once!) every other song played at least 2 or 3 times(Bowling for soup's 1985, The casper slide) where's the Bohemian Rhapsody?!?! It played at Farmville's Vex Competition 4 times!

[AV_guy007]

After sitting next to the DJ at NJ and being a DJ myself I have noticed a few things. When talking with him he showed me a printed out playlist given out to him by FIRST. He said he didn't really follow the exact songs on the playlist but he got the message that this is a family event. I am sure he wouldn't mind requests (I know that because a asked him for several) but there was really no way for people to reach him because e was in a place normal people don't have access to. I think having a way to relay requests to the DJ would be great, I know most DJ's like getting requests.

And just in case anyone was wondering that DJ had some sick remixes of stuff. :cool:

[Burnout]

I need a list BADLY cause there are some techno songs stuck in my head from the San Diego regional. AND I NEED THEM OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! its driving me nutz!?!?!?!?

[SizzelChest330]

Sillicon Valley
seems to play Metallica and KoRn alot
compared to the basic overplayed FIRST playlists of Techno/Dance music

[robocritter250]

This is correct. There is a (very short) list of songs that are allowed to be played at competitions, although many times the DJ's don't follow this list.
I'm working to get the official playlist from FIRST, and writing a whitepaper on DJing FIRST events. Stay tuned...

From what I have heard the playlist is only suggested, not manditory, in Rochester (Finger Lakes) we were allowed to request songs we wanted to hear (within reason)

[1t5h1e1o]

From what I have heard the playlist is only suggested, not manditory, in Rochester (Finger Lakes) we were allowed to request songs we wanted to hear (within reason)

The Music at FLR this year wasn't too bad. .....Well except for the practice day when they played the same 5 songs which I swear sounded like French elevator music all day long lol. Oh and they played like really intense/spooky music during alliance selections that really started to get to some of the people picking. I also noticed a kind of unnatural awards soundtrack.

[Coredesat]

I have heard the same songs played at all four of the NASA/VCU regionals I've been to; it'd be nice if they could mix things up a bit. I was tempted to offer the DJ a CD of some of the music I have, but I decided to hold off (doesn't seem that everyone likes happy hardcore, haha :P).

But I could perhaps have offered him a CD of, say, 50 songs of varying genres containing no lyrics, few lyrics, or family-friendly lyrics. Some of the videos I posted of that regional demonstrate the type of music I'm talking about.

[feliks_rosenber]

Well I personally think that there is the same playlist for regionals in the USA but there must be a different one for regionals outside the US.

In Israel, they play Israeli songs, which I will be very surprised to hear at a regional elsewhere.

The infected mushroom songs, that is an exception of course, might be played though.

[647techangel]

I bet Crank Dat was played at each Regional

[Dr Theta]

Personally if I could edit the play list I would include Mars from Holst's The Planets (classical is surprisingly under-represented) , The Metal by Tenacious D, Danger zone, the Time Warp, Ed Guy, Weird Al, and some Dio.

[Derek Smith]

I was kinda disappointed at Boilermaker. There was no 'We Will Rock You', from what I heard. I was in our pit (which was tucked in a very back corner) a fair bit of time or talking to the awesome people of 292 (who was close to us). So if they did play it, I missed it. But seriously. How did we get 'Thunderstruck' about 10 times during eliminations but no 'We Will Rock You' during qualifying matches? I'll be making requests for it in Atlanta (if they do requests, I dunno. This will be my first year at Nationals.)

[bduddy]

I believe the same piece of music is always played during alliance introductions for the first Final match-does anyone know what it is? Or is this not true? I believe it's always the same music at SVR...

[Kmo]

The AZ Regional music was pretty sad, well some what. during practice the music so low it made want to go to sleep. During the competition me and the other mascots couldn't really dance to the music they where playing half the time. But I can understand that since this is a family event i expect no other, but maybe if they played mixed, rock, and oldies music for time to time (the only kind that is not so vulgar) I think everyone would enjoy themselves.:)

But just a thought how do you talk to the DJ to request a certain song you want to hear?

[647techangel]

you cant request songs anymore(or at least thats what i remember)because before teams would just request their team song over and over so they stoped doing song request,but trying never hurt

[bduddy]

But just a thought how do you talk to the DJ to request a certain song you want to hear?
Just go up to them (preferably during a quiet moment-animation time maybe?) and ask! Our team did it today...

[Blue_Mist]

It would be cool if FIRST sold cds or somthing to raise money for themselves. Or maybe even had a deal with.. ughhh (drm, maybe not such a good idea)... iTunes...
But for now, a list of their music would sufice.

An idea for the future?: Display the current track somewhere (maybe in the corner of the big screen)

Ah! Another idea to reduce team fees to KOP/regionals!

At SVR they played at least three dance songs on Saturday, Cha-Cha-Slide, Chicken Dance and Hokey Pokey, and I think YMCA on Friday (I'm a pit and pit/match scout girl). I personally don't have a problem with the rest of the music. It's a great deal better than any of the songs that our school plays at any dance or social event, with exception of the Big Band Dance. All the sections of our school's bands each play live at that one, so there's excellent music, high school students-and-parents-dancing-in-the-same-room friendly.

Also, good idea for noting which songs are which for future reference.

[Blue_Mist]

One more thing, I know it's been mentioned before on another thread- Dean Simmons and the Kamen Brothers would be awesome at FIRST regionals. You know you've overdosed on FIRST when you memorize the lyrics, find the song on Youtube and try to sing along with the new lyrics!

[winkelman2007]

I bet Crank Dat was played at each Regional

haha i guess i wasnt the only one to notice they played the un-edited version at the SVR haha they do have a list of music to choose from. they just dont follow it alot. :D

suprizingly they played it like 3 times today and no one said anything. im not complaining tho. just thought some parents or mentors woulda said something to them.

[Éowyn]

All I know is that I still have the Chicken Dance stuck in my head . . . and it's driving me insane. :yikes:

[Winged Wonder]

Personally I was kind of unhappy with the music at the Florida Regional... At times it was good, but there was a lot of slow, romantic music... which is nice, i guess, but totally unappropriate for a robotics competition, and impossible to dance too or show any spirit with. hyped up music was rare, and the dance songs were mostly just the YMCA, the macarena, and the electric slide... the chicken dance was hardly played, and the same with the cha cha slide. :( those are all the songs that get people UP to move and dance and cheer and have fun... but oh well. hopefully things will be better in other places :)

[chrisstruttmann]

Personally I was kind of unhappy with the music at the Florida Regional... At times it was good, but there was a lot of slow, romantic music... which is nice, i guess, but totally unappropriate for a robotics competition, and impossible to dance too or show any spirit with. hyped up music was rare, and the dance songs were mostly just the YMCA, the macarena, and the electric slide... the chicken dance was hardly played, and the same with the cha cha slide. :( those are all the songs that get people UP to move and dance and cheer and have fun... but oh well. hopefully things will be better in other places :)

I totally concur. The music they played at UCF, especially while people were going to get their awards on Friday, was nothing short of depressing.

[Coredesat]

All I know is that I still have the Chicken Dance stuck in my head . . . and it's driving me insane. :yikes:

Oh, if I hear the Chicken Dance at next year's NASA/VCU regional, emails will be sent. They played that song every single day during that regional this year, and they played it every single day each year I've been to that regional.

[lbl1731]

Does anyone know the name of the song that is a mix of different songs like "I like to move it" and "Pump it up" and "Get ready for this" and "YMCA" etc.. They played it at the VCU Regional. Thanks!

[Pat McCarthy]

I think that we have a new record: The DJ at West Michigan played "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC 8 times over the course of Friday and Saturday!:D
Also, does anybody know the name of the Speed Racer techno track?

[synth3tk]

Buckeye was a huge disappointing broken record. I couldn't count the number of times they played YMCA or that train-sounding techno song (the name slips me) during all three days.

I agree that even though I myself listen to some of the songs, I felt a few of them were inappropriate for the competition/webcast. I did like Let's Get It Started, and Buckeye did play We Are The Champions, but only MORE Robotics did the lighter-wave. Generally, the spectators this year were seemed pretty bland from the field. Our MC tried more than once to get a good wave going, but it was lacking.

We need music that's family-friendly, but still helps to keep the crowd pumped.

[Sunbun]

At San Diego, I heard they played Snow (Hey Oh) over and over on Thursday.

At LA, it wasn't much better...

If I had $1 for every time they played Get Ready for This, I could fill a tank of gas.

[Kakashi]

The music at the Waterloo Regional and GTR was great! There's one song that I'm trying to find. http://www.thebluealliance.net/tbatv/match.php?matchid=8703
It's the one that played in this match... If anyone could tell me what the name of it is, that'd be sweet.

[Rick TYler]

At Seattle, I don't think I heard Cotton Eye Joe even once, but I did hear "Danger Zone" twice, which I think was kind of a nice tribute to my old team "Top Gun."

[COACHTJ1688]

how about I heard the song "boom boom boom, I want you in my room" at a recent regional.

[Danny McC]

The venga boys played at a reigonal? :O. I havent really heard any of the music at the regionals. So whats the general idea, good or bad?

[luciaes]

I think that we have a new record: The DJ at West Michigan played "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC 8 times over the course of Friday and Saturday!:D
Also, does anybody know the name of the Speed Racer techno track?

that must have been the same dj at great lakes then...

[luciaes]

The music at the Waterloo Regional and GTR was great! There's one song that I'm trying to find. http://www.thebluealliance.net/tbatv/match.php?matchid=8703
It's the one that played in this match... If anyone could tell me what the name of it is, that'd be sweet.

thats explosive by bond, someone asked the same question last year, its a pretty cool song.

[Kakashi]

Thanks so much!

[Sean.Conway]

The DJ at the LVRegional definitally played some DMX, wow, i was surprised and so were the parents, ha/

[Pavan Dave]

Soulja Boy, DMX, and a bunch of other songs that make very derogatory references are being played left and right. I heard them at the Bayou, I heard some at Lone Star, and I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure that they are being played everywhere. Does FIRST really want people attending our events? I mean, if I came to an event that was for people of ALL ages, where even children from ages 4-12 are "welcomed" I would think twice before taking a younger sibling with me, because even though they may like the robots, they may come out learning a few new phrases that I'm pretty sure their parents wouldn't approve of.

What happened to "If your grandmother wouldn't approve, don't do it!?"




.

[R2D2DOC]

Alrighty then. . . . A few songs to suggest for these DJ's. Some must be public domain or someone (or thier parents or GRANDPARENTS) may have the tracks:

(1) "The Elements" by Tom Lehrer
(2) "Hip to Be Square" by Huey Lewis and the News
(3) "Roll with the Changes" by REO Speedwagon
(4) "Hold on Tight (To Your Dreams)" by ELO
(5) "Future's So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)" by Timbuk 3
(6) "Hardware Store" by Wierd Al Yankovic
(7) "Virus Alert" by Wierd Al Yankovic
(8) "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller
(9) "Hot Rod Lincoln" by Commader Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen

Just Thinkin. . . . .

[Schmoll52]

At FLR this Year the music was pretty awesome, could have done without the chicken dance, but lifes not perfect. Is there anyway to get the Playlist from the DJ or is that like uber top secret....:p

[Gaurav27]

Yeah, it would be awesome to get the entire playlist from the DJ's playing at competitions. Anyone know how?

[rockbga]

For some reason, it seems like this season there isn't a variety of music. I've been to two regionals and I noticed that the SAME music was played OVER AND OVER AND OVER! It was like the same playlist of 10 songs was repeated throughout the competition.

I could swear I heard Sandstorm at least 15 times in all three days of the DC regional.

[misspunk]

At Kettering they played the same songs over and over and it kind of got boring after a while. We requested the Macarana and they only played 3 seconds of it and it was before awards. We requesded it about 3 hrs in advance too.

[Elgin Clock]

Discussions like this one always amuse me.
Let me share why.

You get the people who say
"I requested a song, & I never heard them play it"

Then you get the people who say:
"They play the same music over & over again..."

Then you get the people who complain about pop-music being used because it has a swear in it (which may or may not have been edited out).

Then you get the people suggesting the most random songs to be played here on this website... and not directly to the DJ themselves at the competitions.

So.. let's think about some things for a second.
If you had to DJ a FIRST competition, would you conform to all the following??

A) Have 24 hours (minimum - three 8 hr days after all) of music available to you & never play a repeat.

B) Be able to satisfy everyone who made a request because they didn't hear a song you just played.

C) Not play songs that were staples in FIRST multiple times. Ie:Sandstorm, Cotton-Eye Joe, (this year - Cupid Shuffle), or The Macerena - btw, when the heck is the last time you heard The Macerena outside a FIRST event - and no, weddings don't count! Seriously. 10 years ago??)

D) Play everything at a level of sound that would please everyone?

E) Have a fully screened music collection with songs seperated by edited & unedited versions?

F) Play a mix of songs from ones that will entertain & not offend people from ages <12 to about >90? Ya know, after all, even having music for all the very proud Grandmothers in the audience to enjoy is a good thing! ;) (Btw, have you seriously looked at the broad spectrum of people we have showing up at competitions nowadays?? It's awesome & crazy at the same time!)

G) Time every song perfectly to what is "supposed to happen" as we've come to expect it. Ie: Playing Thunderstruck anytime other than the finals. I personally like hearing that song during the practice rounds & qualifications of competition as well, & while I am kinda dissapointed to not hear it during finals, it's not assumed by every DJ.

H) Have a perfect music collection with every single song someone would come up with. - This is easier nowadays with online connections & streaming music from sites like iTunes & Rhapsody & what not, but not every DJ at events have an interenet connection available to them.

I) Play only the awards songs during awards time - because after all, we can't have repeats of songs now can we? ;)



Ok... ::takes deep breath:: :yikes:
So.. long story short, if you can somehow magically satisfy every one of those requirements - then you my friend, should be the event DJ at every single competition.

Bottom line, just chill.
Adapt to the music, enjoy it, have fun, & remember, as much as the competitions are NOT about the robots which we spend 6 weeks building, it's even less about the music played at the competitions. :cool:

/rant


Oh, and if you DO hear a cool song you want to identify from an archived video of the webcast, post it here!
I've done it, & gotten the CD/FIRST community to identify them for me & found some awesome music I had never heard of before!

[Pavan Dave]

I will have to say that the music list that FIRST gives sucks. Its three or four pages long and there and there aren't that many good songs on the list. I was with the DJ at Dallas for a good part of Friday and Saturday and he kept complaining that nothing that people requested was on the list. That is why he ended up playing the same songs over and over again.

Give the DJ an idea of what they can play and tell them the intended audience and no songs with profanity and all of that good stuff. Tell them to use good judgement and be tasteful and let it be.

It took someone with some authority to say something along the lines of "forget the list, just be tasteful" and then the music got better and less repetitive.

Pavan Davé.

[GGCO]

As long as it's not loud, I don't care.

[RaMoore]

The DJ at Dallas was good, but 1817 was a bit disappointed in the lack of historically common FIRST interactive songs. However I wasn't in the stands for more than about 5 minutes, so this is just word of mouth from my teammates.

This year the students really wanted to pursue the spirit award so each meeting we started off learning/practicing our dances and chants. Everyone who was at the meeting, mentors, students, parents, and volunteers all had to try the dance. (And students or mentors who showed up late to avoid the dancing got to do a solo-act!) And I think it worked really well! I was really proud, for anyone at the Dallas event, they were calling us the dancing team!

But my point was that there was much less interactive music played than compared to LSR in my memory anyway. After talking with the DJ I was told he said he didn't have some of the songs, maybe that means wasn't on the list. Just going by memory from what my students said he was missing songs like: The Electric Slide, and The Hustle (or was it Stayin' Alive?). I think they really wanted to dance to Thriller also, maybe at LSR. ;)

If you're going to be repetitive I want more Chicken Dance! :D Dance little chickens, dance!

[AB755]

As long as it's not loud, I don't care.

Ditto

[Pavan Dave]

Dance little chickens, dance!

Sadistic much?

[EricH]

Elgin, you missed one.

J) Be able to find out what team songs/team-appropriate songs are, if they have them, and play them at some point when the team is on the field. For instance, "Chicken Dance" when 217 is on in eliminations (due to it being an interactive song) or "We Will Rock You" for 968. That's actually pretty tricky to do, but it can be done.

[JoScore60]

I still have to say, it was pretty sweet when the DJ at the AZR played "Ground Control to Major Tom" when team 1726 was a team being introduced. I mean, their robot was named Major Tom.

[Kimmeh]

I spent most of my time in the pits at West Michigan, and on Saturday, there was a point where it seemed like Enter Sandman by Metalica was played every other song for 2 or 3 times.

It might not have actually been every other time, but it seemed like every time I actually stopped and listened to the music, that's what they were playing.

[dragonrulr288]

I spent most of my time in the pits at West Michigan, and on Saturday, there was a point where it seemed like Enter Sandman by Metalica was played every other song for 2 or 3 times.

It might not have actually been every other time, but it seemed like every time I actually stopped and listened to the music, that's what they were playing.

no, I agree, I noticed that too.. I was dancing the whole time! did they have a tiny playlist? but the songs they had were good!

[Mike Hendricks]

I think it's just a matter of the DJs at the events catching on to the team names. If it hasn't been mentioned earlier, at the regionals, on Thursday just a random collection of songs are played, and no actual DJ is there. Friday and Saturday have a live DJ - usually can be found on the field side of the curtain opposite the end with the production staff. Most will let you request songs. I know last year we requested MC Hammer's "You can't touch this" in honor of our robot "hammertime". The guy actually told us that he couldn't play it during our match, but he would when we were loading the bot onto the field.

This year, the same DJ was used for LA and SD regionals, so most of the songs had a "rerun" feeling to them. I know in LA they played "if I only had a heart" in honor of 399's robot "The Tin Man". There were a few other instances of this happening, but that was the only one I actually remember.

I have been really disappointed in the fact that Sirius (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=474374&postcount=13) has NOT been played at the CA regionals (at least Sac, LA and SD - I can't speak for SVR) ever since Jason Morrella stepped down from FRC Regional Director on the West Coast. For those of you who haven't heard it, I highly recommend checking (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkGa0gNCZKI) it out. One of the strongest memories I have from my first few years in FRC was hearing this during the team introductions in the finals and on the first matches of the day.

[Gerdee]

did you guys notice at the West Michigan GVSU comp. the rap song that was cussing the whole time in the song there was like a 5 year old sitting next to me

[GVDrummer]

did you guys notice at the West Michigan GVSU comp. the rap song that was cussing the whole time in the song there was like a 5 year old sitting next to me

Yes I did too!

Some of the songs were terrible, they were dropping the "F" and "N" word multiple times through songs that were played more then once.

So much for a family friendly event that exposes swear words to young kids.

I hope that GVSU did not condone that music because I attend that university.

[mtaman02]

SBPLI had alot of randomness to it but also had alot of repeats. I was informed that there was one song in particular was being replayed w/ lyrics that described the male organs but then again I didn't hear it play at all so I don't know.

We didn't do too many line dances except during Field Troubleshooting after the first match of the day where they had nearly an hour to get it all out of their systems =P

[dragonrulr288]

Yes I did too!

Some of the songs were terrible, they were dropping the "F" and "N" word multiple times through songs that were played more then once.

So much for a family friendly event that exposes swear words to young kids.

I hope that GVSU did not condone that music because I attend that university.

yeah, I didnt like alot of the music there. Yeah there were good songs, but these are mostly high school and younger people, and songs like this should NOT be played at competitions. I think there should be some way of checking the DJ's song list for things like that, because it isnt right for a 5 year old to hear that. at all.

[dani190]

im sure it was just a mistake... But if the song is on, they really cant go stop it and change it when its on...

[dragonrulr288]

im sure it was just a mistake... But if the song is on, they really cant go stop it and change it when its on...

if it swears, the DJ should have some general idea of what he/she is playing, and shouldnt be playing those kinds of songs at all, eliminating the problem.

[Kimmeh]

no, I agree, I noticed that too.. I was dancing the whole time! did they have a tiny playlist? but the songs they had were good!

And on that note, I think that there should be plenty of songs played that you can dance to. I know after a while you get tired of hearing The YMCA or the Cha-Cha slide, but they're upbeat songs that are easy to get the crowd involved. I think people would rather hear those again, then a song with negative connotations.

Apart from eating lunch on Friday and when the pits were closed for Opening ceremonies, I wasn't in the stands for more than a moment at a time. So right before awards at GVSU, when they were playing The YMCA, I had a blast dancing to it.

[Gerdee]

I didnt really like the dancing songs because our team was sitting next to 904 and 2771 and they took up the whole isle way to go to the pits and i didnt want to get kicked by them when they were dancing to "cotton eye joe"

[GVDrummer]

I didnt really like the dancing songs because our team was sitting next to 904 and 2771 and they took up the whole isle way to go to the pits and i didnt want to get kicked by them when they were dancing to "cotton eye joe"

I think the competitions should have a designated dance area complete with a disco ball, lights, and a fog machine. It gives teams the ability to still have the team spirit and dancing freedom with out the inconvienence of hitting and blocking people trying to get back and forth to the pits that are trying to work on the robots and watch the competition.

[ajisjesus]

im sure it was just a mistake... But if the song is on, they really cant go stop it and change it when its on...

It was not a mistake.. FIRST is very strict on their playlist rules.... there are 2 playlists... a main list for qualifying matches and a finals list.... I was volunteering at the Hawaii regional this year and the DJ showed up late so they asked me to DJ in his place.. I was given about a 5 page list and even from that list i couldnt play some of the songs due to the rules i was given.

"no cussing, no violence, suggestive material... if you have to think about playing it, then dont play it..."

[Corey Oostveen]

As the DJ at West Michigan. The song that was bad was on the "FIRST Approved CD's, I have no idea how it got on there but it was.

If you took the time to come up and ask for a song, I would hand you a list of FIRST approved songs and if your song was not on there I could not play it. I was given a small selection so I was doing the best I could do, My apologies that a five year old heard 30 seconds of a really bad song that somehow made it on the CD


In my defense I can not hear the tracks that are playing, I have the monitor turned down in respect of the people on the field and all the sound is directed out.

Probably good to keep in mind that I am a Volunteer, not a payed DJ.



Corey Oostveen

[mtaman02]

I think the competitions should have a designated dance area complete with a disco ball, lights, and a fog machine. It gives teams the ability to still have the team spirit and dancing freedom with out the inconvienence of hitting and blocking people trying to get back and forth to the pits that are trying to work on the robots and watch the competition.

Impossible!!!!

Each venue is different in size. your lucky if the regional committee can make space for a small sized mascot pit.

As far as the playlists are concerned, it doesn't bother me to hear ANY song. We live in an age where there is no such thing as "virgin ears". Yea you could get away with not playing songs that contain cuss words nearly 7 - 8 years ago but times have changed. Artists are doing their best to come out with both PG songs AND Explicit versions. Just about every song has at least one bad word in it in almost every genre and I doubt FIRST will go that extent in banning all those songs b/c what you'll end up with is the same song playing 20 times over. You also have to keep in mind that someone at FIRST HQ doesn't really sit there and listens to EVERY song that's on the market and if they do then I want to copy their Hard Drive.

In short I'm not saying bend over and take it, just saying that in this day and age this is what where left with as for right now and since I grew up listening to all genres I myself don't find a problem with what is played at the events.

[Q. Sheets]

Here is the official playlist for this past season. Thank you Marian Murphy at FIRST for sending it to me. There are 572 songs on it (577 if you count duplicates, 2 titles but same artist and song)