Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

LOL.

That's what I have to say about these songs... ack, they are just Bad. I guess if I had to pick one, it'd be the second one since it's more rock. But dang, I think they need to give it another shot.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Why FIRST? Why? So...There should hopefully be a "neither" button by tomorrow.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

No. I don't think so.
FIRST is making us choose either or. Not whether or not. They are in complete denial and think because it say FIRST that were supposed to love it with all of our heart and soul. So it looks like were gonna be stuck with one of these trainwrecks from now on.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Come on everybody. Relax. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Send your soul to your happy place. It will be OK. It's only a song we are talking about here.

On the other hand, does anyone have Al Yankovic's phone number?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

The vote is "either - or" because Dean wants one to play during this year's Atlanta. I doubt they'll compile a different song in three weeks.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Okay, enough ranting in this thread. How about a positive suggestion?

I wonder if someone (umm **cough**Kevin Kolodziej**cough**) would mind doing a remix of these songs? I don't know if that violates any copyright laws that FIRST might have on these songs, but a good techno remix of these songs might liven them up and make them better/more bearable.

Sorry Kevin, but your FURC music is pretty good. ;)

As for suggestions for new songs, what is FIRST's target audience? If these songs are meant for promotional videos and the like, a softer song with lyrics might be better. But if FIRST is looking for a good anthem to play at competitions, it has to be a good techno / dance / rock song (with less lyrics) that people will like. If you want some good suggestions, look on the FIRST DJ playlists and pick something. Maybe like these:

Get Ready For This, by 2 Unlimited

Rock and Roll Part II, by Gary Glitter

Welcome to the Jungle, by Guns n' Roses

any of the Vengaboys party music

Blue Man Group :cool:

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Alright, I'll have to agree: both need work. #2 was kinda catchy, and is closer to the mark than #1 in my book.

As a person who gets picky about music (yet also play William Shatner at least once a week), I think my main gripe about this exercise is that both of the songs sound derivative. They sound like about half of the songs on the radio--that's a bad thing, in my book. (How many bands have used that odd drowned-out sound effect as seen in #2? And how many have token scratching like #1?)

Personally, I'm of the opinion that with 1,100 teams in this shin-dig (not even counting FLL and FVC), we can do better. Perhaps pass the hat to fund a scholarship for the best student-created FIRST anthem, then accept entries in the fall?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

To FIRST:

You might be scratching your heads, you might be wondering "Why, we thought they were good, we thought that's what you guys liked."

You had us help design the games, you had us help do other things for FIRST in the past, so why not a song writing competition? Why not get with other FAMOUS composers and write something?

As for WHY this, uh, SUCKS, look at all the GOOD songs of the past. None of them are like this, none of them have a similar song structure, none are as blatant or horrible. This is the Superbowl Shuffle of geek songs, sort to speak. We DON'T NEED A BLOODY SONG TO INSPIRE PEOPLE! We don't need a jingle to spread the word! When I tell people about FIRST I never have to break into song or dance to express it, unlike other organizations. WHY? Because the concept and execution of FIRST is totally unique and amazing. People are captivated by it. FIRST is true inspiration and excitement, it doesn't need a jingle to get it across. I see it in kids eyes when I go to the competitions.

FIRST, ditch the song. Ditch the idea. You don't need a song, you're not an insurance company or car dealer, you're the life of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You create careers and improve lives, not sell a fad product. And sure has heck don't stand for the ideas of pop songs.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I think that its fairly safe to say that we've been pretty brutal when judging these songs. I mean, its not every day where we get to become the "Simon Cowell" of the FIRST world. I think one way to approach this is to figure out what went wrong with this...

I don't know about you, but when I first heard the song, I almost felt like my inteligence was being insulted. The song kinda came off like one of those songs I used to hear on like...the Lambchop show on PBS. Honestly...if you want kids to have a good time, and dance, and sing...you really don't need to make up a song just for them...even if they end up dancing to a song about a different organization.

The basic idea behind the song was to make something similar to YMCA that everyone could do a similar dance to. While in theory, the idea may have seemed cool...in the end, honestly, we already have YMCA...we don't need another. While we're at it...we also already hava a cha-cha, train, electric slide, chicken, and cotton eyed joe. I think...a first song would be good if it was high energy, not gimicky, and just something thats good to listen to...maybe ONCE possibly twice a competition.

FIRST already puts on a great show...in my humble opinion, it would serve the program better if the energy put into making the song went towards something that made a little more of a difference...like figuring out a way to give dying teams money.

I may sound like a kill joy...but hey...even Simon Cowell, as miserable as he is, knows what can make a star.

-Andy Grady

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

We need a new recipe.
Mix:

1 Part Daft Punk
2 Parts John Flansburgh
1 Part Andrew WK

Stir gently and enjoy.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I wholeheartedly agree. These songs would be much better with a harder sound to them.

For those who don't know, here's their website

http://www.deansimmonsandthekamens.com/

They most recently tore it up live at the monkey house at Milwaukee Zoo for the Wisconsin Regional. A most excellent show.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

So what's the deal, here? I've spent several minutes scrutinizing these songs, and yet, I can't find much redeeming value in them. Has FIRST had enough of the usual ceremonial anthems, and decided to substitute their own? Is this an elaborate ruse to distract us from this weekend's regionals? I vote the latter, simply because anything else is too painful to contemplate.

Whatever the reasoning, these songs (ridiculous excuses for acrostic poetry, at best) remind me of the Mickey Mouse Club theme, more than anything else. The comparison to Lamb Chop wasn't all that unfair either; these songs are simply non-tuneful, non-memorable, non-inspiring, and so very contrived.

Perhaps FIRST is trying to create something with mass appeal, and yet, once all is said and done, all they have to show for it are two examples of less-than-mediocre drivel. Fundamentally, given a random sample of people, how many actually greatly enjoy the same specific types of music? Maybe, for that reason alone, mass appeal is their mistake. Furthermore, is FIRST trying too hard to get the message out, at the expense of its presentation? It sure seems like it to me.

Traditionally, to create a dignified atmosphere through music, a certain style is used. Maybe a march, maybe a chorus, maybe a memorable tune—in fact, combinations of the three have been used with great success over the years. But this is just too blatant. Imagine if La Marseillaisse were sung like these brutal efforts. If FIRST is going to try this, they have to realize that barring some truly exceptional circumstances, their anthem will be relegated to ceremonial use only—it's got to be good for that sort of thing, first and foremost. Whether or not it appeals to popular sensibilities is necessarily a secondary concern.

If FIRST needs an anthem—and I'm by no means convinced that it does—they ought to take the example of the Olympics, or of the European Union; hold a contest or a assemble a panel to find something with a little dignity and panache, ensure that its musical merits are unimpeachable, and if it needs lyrics, hire someone who understands both verse and FIRST. It doesn't have to be classical in style (though that would be my personal preference); just don't make it into a demo tape for the Mickey Mouse Club.

I really hope this is a joke, because if it isn't, like someone said earlier, it's wack.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Maybe someone will pop up in the next day and say April Fools. If not, I hope FIRST HQ re-evaluates the need for an anthem/jingle. There are many better ways to spread the mission/spirit of FIRST (if that is the intention).

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Well.. <sigh> I'm gonna have to agree with most of you and say that although it was a good attempt, I think they are both lacking something.

But, I give a gold star for effort, and this definitely deserves one.

As for my vote, since these are currently the only 2 choices, I would have to go for a cross.

Number one, I can barely understand the words, but I like the beat. If they re-release another version well spoken, I would vote for that one I guess.

Number two, I can understand the words perfectly, but the beat is a bit lacking, and reminds me of a pre-school song, not a song based in High School, or Middle School.
Also, when you hear it played 6 times in a row during an award ceremony (re: Boston regional) it gets annoying.
edit: Looks like this version isn't gonna be released anytime soon going by the mp3's ID3 tag anyways.
:p

Also, I don't think anyone touched on this yet, but who actually is the singer/s behind these songs for FIRST?

I'd like to know that.

Also, just for the heck of it I decided to update the lyrics so I can have it karaoke style in my winamp plugin called minilyrics.
http://www.philocode.com/minilyrics/

Anyways, here's the info for the first version.

I rounded all the times, so it's not that exact, but it's darn close.

Also, I'm trying to decide whether the word leather from the FIRST site is supposed to be lever or not.

I don't get the "time to pull the leather" statement.
What do you all think it should be / is?



Version 2 coming soon.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Well if they want to fashion a theme after another song how about the America theme from Team America (just much much cleaner). If your gonna be dopey go all out.