FIRST SONGS!!
 

so i was helpin out at the Boston Regional this weekend and i heard the two songs that were made about FIRST...i was thuroughly amuzed and got the idea to want to play those songs live at nationals with students on robotics teams...personally i want nerds to do it :P me being one myself (unofficially official lol) unfortunately idk if im goin to make it to nationals...but i think it would be cool if we could get a band of nerds to play the FIRST songs...if any of the nerds know how to play drums, bass, and guitar...and sing too...let me know cause i wanna go up and rock out!!!

-Crash

Re: FIRST SONGS!!
 

Nothing like spelling out FIRST in the middle of the field... Yea I got to be the "T" That was amusing, as well as the giant chicken dance turned mosh pit esque field reset crew dance time... That was amusing. Field reset people really have the most fun at one of these events.

Edit: Oh and while I am sure FIRST loves the song if I hear it anymore any time soon I think I might run and hide... There is only so many times you can hear FIRST spelled out. /Edit

Re: FIRST SONGS!!
 

yes! i couldn't stand that by the awards and guess what played atleast 6 times for finalists, winners! the song. only play it so many times is good enough....................

Re: FIRST SONGS!!
 

ha ha ha i agree...they need to make it a full song instead of a 1.5 minute or so loop. i cant wait until the songs are available to download...although by then we will probably kill anyone that plays them lol.

-Crash

Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Hmmmm.....

http://www.usfirst.org/wsurveys/FMPr...u=81-zbhc&-new

Can I choose "neither"? It seems to be trying way to hard, with the second one sounds way too much like Global Guts theme song, only with more lyrics. Can we get Blue Man Group to create one? ;)

Your thoughts?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I heard BOTH of the newly-released FIRST songs at the Boston Regional.

I can fully understand the FIRST organization wanting or needing to create their own music for both an "identity" plus i suspect that royalties are being paid to play the official FIRST playlist at a public venue each time.

Therefore, why don't we suggest to Dean that he contract with several music houses to come-up with FIRST songs that sound MOST LIKE .......(fill-in your favorite song).

By the way, I did indeed see people inthe stands lip-syncing the new FIRST tunes even after only hearing them played once or twice....are they "catchy"....?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I voted for Number 2. It sounds like the Outback steakhouse song.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

There are lots of "catchy" songs, but it doesn't mean they represent FIRST well, or at all. I say talk to a good geek band (BMG, Weird Al, etc) and see if you can create something cool.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I think they both pretty much aren't very good at all.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I wouldn't mind a Blue Man Group song. :D Truthfully, if there was a neither, I would have chosen it mainly because by limiting FIRST to a single anthem is kinda silly and.........I didn't really like either one. I chose the second primarily because it sounded a little heavier in the bass.

Oh and contract directly with a band rather than a music house. It would be a lot cheaper and easier, plus you wouldn't get rootkits installed on your computer if you tried to play the CD. ;)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I'm pretty sure that Hanson could come up with a good FIRST song.

Grady, what do you think? ;)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

FYI,
this thread about the new FIRST songs should be tied-int the following thread about "popular" songs

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=45840

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

F to the I to the R to the S to the T? OMG.

Seriously, this is really bad. That said, I voted for number 2, because, uh, see above.

Haha.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Oh, but number 2 had....

"F-I-R-S-T,
The kings and queens of the lab-ra-tor-y"

Personally, I'd vote for Mark Mothersbaugh doing the anthem....

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

When I first listened to these songs, I wasn't really liking either of them. After listening to them a couple times I came to the conclusion that Song 1 sounded like it would be good in a commercial or promo video for FIRST and Song 2 sounded like they were trying to rip of Weezer. Since there wasn't a "neither" option I decided to vote for Song 1 because it seems like it could be used better then Song 2.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Anyone else recall this one from the early 80's? The original lyric is quintessentially geeky. The instrumental line might make a good FIRST anthem if the lyric could be reworked.

MAKE A CIRCUIT WITH ME
(Tim Worman - Phil Bloomberg)
THE POLECATS (MERCURY 6059.588, 1982)

A sweet romance is not for me
I need electricity
If you wanna make me flip
Hit me with a micro chip

[Chorus]
I'll be a diode, cathode, electrode
Overload, generator, oscillator
Make a circuit with me

Just plug in and go-go-go
I'll be a human dynamo
Signals in my power cord
Impuls on my circuit board

I'm an AC/DC man
You can read my circuit diagram
I feed on electric jolts
I need fifty-thousand volts

A sweet romance is not for me
I really need electricity
If you wanna make me flip
Come on and hit me with a micro chip

I'm an AC/DC man
You can read my circuit diagram
I feed on electric jolts
I need fifty-thousand volts

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I have to say I'm a little SHOCKED by these. Was this the best FIRST could come up with?
Why didn't they ask students/mentors to maybe work together to come up with lyrics for a possible theme song!
SCARY! I voted for the first one, because, it's less....pre-school?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

So these are going to be a permanent fixture at FIRST events....


meh.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Wow... who came up with these? They are REALLY cheesey. Do we really need a song?

What happened to all FIRST music being unnamed techno? That's what it should be, or written by Styx.

I felt obligated to vote so I voted for Number 2 cause I actually sat through that one.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

<old school>I'm sorry, the only one that should be allowed to do a FIRST song is Off Kilter. Period.</old school>

Do we have to choose an anthem? I would rather have a whole CD full of FIRST songs, if that's where we're going.

If we can get Will Smith to do a 30-second bit, then I'm sure we could find a bunch of bands to do something instead of choosing one, you know?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

How about no!

Just...no...no to 1, no to 2...just no.

I know they are trying really hard, and I appreciate the effort...but after hearing it a billion times in Boston...I was pretty much ready to jump off of the Bunker Hill Bridge.

I vote for Mr. Roboto...or any 90's Dance song.

-Andy Grady

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Personally if I were to pick a FIRST anthem it would be Rush's "The Mission"

Hold your fire
Keep it burning bright
Hold the flame 'til the dream ignites
A spirit with a vision is a dream
With a mission

I hear their passionate music
Read the words that touch my heart
I gaze at their feverish pictures
The secrets that set them apart

When I feel the powerful visions
Their fire has made alive
I wish I had that instinct
I wish I had that drive

Spirits fly on dangerous missions
Imaginations on fire
Focused high on soaring ambitions
Consumed in a single desire

In the grip of a nameless possession
A slave to the drive of obsession
A spirit with a vision is a dream
With a mission

I watch their images flicker
Bringing light to a lifeless screen
I walk through their beautiful buildings
And I wish I had their dreams
But dreams don't need to have motion
To keep their spark alive
Obsession has to have action
Pride turns on the drive

It's cold comfort
To the ones without it
To know how they struggled
How they suffered about it
If their lives were exotic and strange
They would likely have gladly exchanged them
For something a little more plain
Maybe something a little more sane

We each pay a fabulous price
For our visions of paradise
But a spirit with a vision is a dream
With a mission

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I would have been more accepting if they played it a few times and that was it. When it was played over and over and over again to the point where the words were being burned into my mind, they got old really fast. I need to be warmed up to new things like this, not force fed.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Why do they feel the need to make up new meanings for the letters in FIRST? Why not put lyrics that actually describe things that we do in FIRST?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Ha! I can't really see him doing a sports anthem type of song! But I think pretty much anything he'd create would be preferable to the two songs they played on repeat at the Boston regional.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I hate to be so negative, but these are awful. Really awful. They are very childish.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Now I'm glad I didn't go to Boston.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I agree.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Yes! Maybe they could get Geddy to sing it in Atlanta. Or even better, Neil Peart could write a new FIRST song and they could reveal it live during opening ceremonies.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

...I like them *hides under table*

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

They're...growing on me. Around the fifth time, I've started to sing along...they're definately corny...

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I would vote for no. 2. if i actually liked them but i was loooking for more of a techno approch. i think i could grt some sort of band together and we could come up with something better.

hey, i got a idea. what about a CD Anthem. now that would be hot.

EDIT: I just thought of a better idea. if nationals are in Atlanta, who better than Ludacris to do a 60 sec bit repin FIRST. just like the promo he did for EA Sports Madden 2000.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Why not the song from Beatty's video? It might have been rap, but it is better than these two songs.

BTW, I voted for the first one. It sure is corny, but in the stands you don't hear the words that much anyways, just the beat.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Oh Lord! Are they playing this at all the regionals this weekend (most notably GTR)? I need to know so I can remember to bring my headphones in!

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

By the end of finals at Boston we wanted to shout at the winning teams to go through the line faster so they wouldn't play it a 7th time... well, they did. I would vote for one but I will probably jump out the widow if I have to listen to them in order to pick which is less offensive. Seriously though. It was mildly amusing the first few times during competition, but the repeat during finalist awards and regional winner awards? Sure fire way to make you hate it. God, I wish I had something positive to say here....

I may not like the songs, but I love FIRST! :) (post was getting to be a downer)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I think we need to hear a Dean Simmons and the Kamens version of these... :p

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

well if you listen to those lyrics for the beatty video, aka Salt N Pepa "Push It"
you'll understand why it's not the anthem.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Wrong Beatty video. They were referring to http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=44260

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

They decided that if they put up the lyrics it would be better. WRONG!

These are straight off the FIRST site, as they say, truth can only be stranger than fiction.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Okay, so I think how horrid these songs are is clear.

Let's make this positive. Write the lyrics to your own FIRST anthem and, if you dare, the music, too.

Let's see how well y'all can do at crafting something that's not quite so magnificently cheesy ;)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

second one is better for chanting and possibly memorizing. Might want to ask FIRST to make a real song.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

That's wack. :eek:

The beatty video is infinitely better than these.

FIRST ought to stay off the mic if they are going to do stuff like this. FIRST is good with no anthem and a bad one won't make it better.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I like the concept, but these songs need a REAL artist to perform them.
What about...

They Might be Giants!!! :)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

No way. These are so bad. I like the idea of a song but it has to be good. If one of these is picked it will be played with every promotion and event, casting a cheesy, fake, childish shadow over everything FIRST. :ahh: :mad:

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I say the Beatty song, a BMG song, Wierd Al, TMBG...anything but those 2. I'll work on writing one (i'm a musician and composer in my....well what spare time i used to have)

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.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Wow,
four (4) whole pages of responses to this thread in less than 24 hours! That must mean that we're passionate about our music and what gets played at FIRST events.

Let's be POSITIVE about what FIRST can do to "go back to the studio". As Dean himself said in Boston, these two songs were a) very rough cuts and b) were inspired by a 3rd-party studio who did them for free or nominal charge as an experiment (isn't that what science is all about anyways?).

As I said in a prior thread, I highly suspect the reason that FIRST wants to use some of its own music is to avoid paying royalties. I'm 99% sure that you can't play "YMCA" at any public venue without copyright concerns.

So, let's be POSITIVE, not negative, and start to brainstorm some catchy lyrics and suggest a danceable beat (e.g. something that has the same beat as a Michael Jackson tune.....etc)...So, keep the suggestions coming.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I haven't heard the music, but I read the lyrics. Let me break it down for the first one.

F-We're gonna write the future
I-a little inspiration
R-rock the bleachers
S-T- scientifically.

Not only are these inconsistent, but S and T don't get their own lines. Seriously, they could have at least done S-Science & T-Technology, to reference what FIRST originally stood for. Secondly, How does one go about "rocking" bleachers, especially when most of the regionals/nationals don't even have bleachers to be rocked. I'd imagine rocking the bleachers could be very dangerous, because there should be people in the bleachers.

First- we're gonna kick a little
First-gonna give a little
First- it's gonna take a little energy

In all of the FIRST anything that I have ever gone to, I have never seen anything kicked, unless someone was angry. Secondly, doesn't first take a lot of energy and time? Not only that, but using the words gonna and little three times in three lines just sounds stupid.

First-cause we got the vision
First-than we're gonna build it
First- gonna make a difference
We are gonna be...
F-I-R-S-T

We got the vision, than we're gonna build it. Now I'm no English professor, but I was taught in 6th grade that "than" was reserved for comparisons, like "Whoever wrote this is worse at writing songs than Nickleback." For those of you who like Nickleback, I'm sorry...that you like Nickleback. I really wish Nickleback's music would somehow be erased and that the members of the group would become paralyzed from the neck down, but I digress. In addition, I'm sort of embarrassed by reading those lyrics, much less hearing them.

First- did you ever wonder
First-The facts we uncover
First- We gotta crunch the numbers
Now let's work it

No, I have never wondered what facts you uncovered, plus, wonder and uncover don't even rhyme.
If this was a real song, "Now lets work it" would logically be followed by an instrumental solo, but I don't have the music, so maybe someone could fill me in. If the musical tastes of the people on this forum are close to the musical tastes of whoever wrote this crapfest, it would more likely be some synthesized J-Pop bebooping loop for around a half a minute that a drunk orangutan could make in fruity loops. I hope someone could fill me in.

First- cause it's now or never
First-let's put it all together
First-it's time to pull the leather
Watch who winds up...FIRST.

Alright, I'll admit, I cheated a little bit. I broke up the last stanza into two parts. At our last team meeting before the robot shipped, one of the freshman was sitting around, doing nothing. I walked up to him and said "Jeremy, it's time to pull the leather." He immediately jumped up and started working on the robot, after filling out 13 college applications for mechanical engineering. Man, he was so inspired by that. What does pulling leather have to do with FIRST at all? Do you even pull leather? I mean, seriously. I went to rhymezone.com and came up with a few other words that rhymed with together, and made additional lyrics and are offering them to FIRST free of charge.
First-Now here's Joe, with the weather
First-my favorite sport is tether...ball
First-let's have a team get-together
First-i found an eagle feather
None of these make any sense or relate to First, except number three, but that was an accident. All of these would be just as good in the song as it's time to pull the leather.

For all of you that are complaining that you can't hear the lyrics, you should thank god instead.

edit: I vote for MC Chris for the re-writing/re-recording.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Unfortunately, you might end up with the Olympic Hymn, which is a real snooze-a-rama. The best songs are written by a person with passion for the topic. Roboticists, start your MIDIs.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

What about some Linking Park, Techno super remix

how much should it cost for an hour or two in the studio with linking park. and some DJ (I perfer DJ Assault do the mixing, because he's good.)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

My backpack's got jets. I'm Bobba The Fett..

I chill in deep space, a mask is over my face.

Hehehehe.. gotta love rhymes.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

i agree
neither of them are 'catchy' and they are way to cheesy

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I don't think this has anything to do with royalties for the music at the events. FIRST hires DJ's and those fees are covered in there...unless you're going to completely eliminate DJ's from the competition, you're never going to avoid those fees. Unless we want to hear a non-stop 8 hour mix of Shiny Dirt :D

Musically I like the second one better, but I heard them say F-I-R-S-T the first time...ugh.

Someone mentioned Will Smith. Seriously...he knows about FIRST, he's given the speech for the Championship...why HASN'T this happened yet??

The music in the promo videos that they are running at the regionals isn't half bad - was that custom made for the videos?

Kev - who is interested to see where this goes...and is brushing the dust off his recording equipment...

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I'm going to have to agree with what Joe Matt said. FIRST shouldn't need to stoop to the anthem-writing level. I understand that this was a free/donated venture into the unknown, and I applaud them for giving it a shot, but I guess this just wasn't the right idea to try.

No, I have not listened to the songs yet, but to all of the critics inside of everyone, no matter how cheesy the songs sound, think about the age range here. FIRST isn't just about high schoolers. There are FLL teams in the 8 year old range while we have a mentor on our team in the 78 year old range - that is a huge spread and a wide variety of musical tastes to accomodate.

Yes, I'm going to say that I don't like them already, based off of the lyrics, but I am still interested to see what other people can come up with - let's give Kevin and the other composers some time and see what they can do, eh? ;)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

this was the better song UNTIL THIS POINT!!! and 5 of us volunteers standing around the field were just like "OMG THAT KILLED IT!!!!"

i still go with niether... they need to making something from scracth not try to follow other things...

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Hey I've written the FIRST Anthem - unfortunately the Music it is based on,

Addicted to Love - Has been banned from FRC - (Too sexist or something.)

Here are my Lyrics to Addicted to FIRST:

With apologies to Robert Palmer:

Addicted to FIRST!

----------
Your lights are on, but your voltage's low,
You can't get autonomous mode.
Your finger's twitch, your body aches
Another match is all it takes.

You can't sleep, you can't eat
There's no doubt, you're in deep
Your throat is tight, you can't breathe
Another match is all you need.

Ohh oohh
you like to think that math and science are tough
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
you know you're gonna have to face it
you're addicted to FIRST.

You see the score, but you can't read
You're gearin' at the wrong speed.
You motors smoke, the belts they strip,
Don't give me any lip, you're losing grip, not very hip.

You can't be saved
Another round is all you crave
If there's some action left for you
You don't mind if you do

Ohh oohh
You like to think that math and science are tough
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough,
you know you're gonna have to face it
you're addicted to FIRST

Might as well face it, you're addicted to FIRST(5x)

Your lights are on, but your voltage's low
You can't get remote control,
Your joystick's stuck, your feeling sink
Your drive trains lost another link.

Ohh oohh
you like to think that math and science are tough
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
you know you're gonna have to face it
you're addicted to FIRST

Might as well face it, you're addicted to FIRST(5x)

---------

(I tried to talk one of Dean's Director buddy Paul into producing it, but he said he wouldn't do it unless he could get super models riding Segways!)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Sounds like the next DSK hit! You should try and pitch it to them.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

We need to do what they did back in the old days, commission someone with talent and experience to write a FIRST anthem

someone like, I dont know..... Austin Powers?

Woodie
Flowers
Make bots with me!

Turning out panels
Made of PVC!

PVC one, PVC two, PVC three, PVC four

BTW, is it just me or is it a little weird that after all these years FIRST has not found a song thats already out there that we can adopt as our own?

Im mean, are we so strange that no musician has ever wrote about what we are all about? There is nothing already out there that makes us stop and say "hey, thats us dude!"

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

By the way, why is the first anthem a rock song? The whole competition is non-stop happycore and techno. I think FIRST should commission joshua(www.joshuahardcore.com) to make the FIRST theme. An hour long happy hardcore techno song would make a much more fitting theme...

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I think someone's face @ FIRST is turning really red after reading this thread and realizing this might not have been the best idea- however they prob have not paid for these songs yet... most likely they put up a project an companies are currently bidding on the project and giving first samples of what the song will sound like.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I think the songs should have no reference to robotics. FIRST isn't robotics. FIRST is insperation.

But I DO fear these songs.
I fear hearing them over and over.
I really fear people from outside of FIRST hearing them. It would be a disaster. For years now, people are starting to understand FIRST. People are starting to forget battlebots. People are starting to think FIRST is cool.

These songs would be a setback.

Maybe we should do a camp song we can all sing along to.
Oh Camp Ivy
How we love your leaves
Your itchy-ness makes us happy
Your beds are full of fleas

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Ok - after listening to each song, I've come to the following conclusions (and yes, I did listen to each of them all the way through).

1. That's 4 to 5 minutes of my life I will never get back. A bit upset, yes, but nothing I can do about it now.

2. Mr. Gilbert pointed out the link of the web page to the survey, so my wishful thinking that this was an elaborate April Fool's joke doesn't appear very promising

3. I hope a couple more options are added to the survey answers - like "neither of the above" or "please, please, please don't play these at any week 5 events or the Championship"

4. must reference # 1 again

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I voted for #2 just because #1 reminded me of South Park's "Getting Gay with Kids" singing group. But seriously there should be a "no theme song" or "try again" option.

This has probably been said before in this thread: They should have asked the teams to try to write a song for an award (like animation) that could possibly be used as the theme song. It would be more connected with the FIRST community than a few independent song writers trying to do it. They would have more than 2 songs to choose from and one would be better than these. FIRST members are a multi talented group and there is substantial musical talent out there. My team produced a couple team songs a few years ago (more techno remixes of of our cheer than a songs but whatever). I am sure Dean Simmons and the Kamens or Beatty (that video was good) would be frontrunners in this music competition. You could keep the competition running for a few years even, until FIRST gets the right song (or one that can be rewritten into the theme song). How cool would it be if your team wrote the theme song? You would be forever immortalized in FIRST History.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

YEa pretty much they making FIRST stand for corny ..................if anything they should have the teams come up with anthems and pick from the teams........................................if someone already suggested that my bad i didnt read the whole thread.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Hmmmm.... It's a much better April fools joke than some of the other years. Didn't they say one year that Nationals was canceled? Then again they could be serious. If that is true I say we rebel and write our own. There are plenty of nerdy songs out there that we can tweak.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Dream On from Aerosmith seems pretty good for the purpose all it needs is a few small changes. (If that)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

That was a prank on CD, not from FIRST.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Are these really Silly Songs with Larry?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

I'm gonna agree with most of you in saying that they both were pretty bad.
I thought the first one sounded like it would work good in a commercial, a 30 or 60 second spot would fit the song and it wouldn't drive you crazy! I have to say I voted for the second one because I didn't think it was as bad as the first one. Or should I say the F to the I to the R to the S to the T.

-Chris

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

#2

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Even though there wasnt a neither button, I imagined myself clicking the neither button before I felt like pummeling you for making me listen to them, and the screaming :ahh: , and losing all hope in life. Now I shall hope-pray-beg that when I wake up the next day, this was an amazing april's fool joke or some bad dream or Im just going crazy and imagining all this in my head.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Please, please, please let this be an April Fools joke. Please.

<sigh> If either of these are to become an official anthem, then I would suggest that we immediately adopt an unofficial anthem that MUST be played immediately following the official one:
-dave

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

FIRST Robotics...
FIRST Robotics...
FIRST Robotics, FIRST YEAH!
Coming down, to save the future yeah,
FIRST Robotics, FIRST YEAH!
Gracious Professionalis is the only way yeah,
Greed and Selfishness your game is through cause now your gonna have to answer to,
FIRST Robotics, FIRST YEAH!
We're kickin in the door, and changin the culture,
FIRST ROBOTICS, FIRST YEAH!
Science and Technology are the key to the future,
it’s the dream that we all share; it’s the hope for tomorrow

FIRST YEAH!

Dean Kamen, FIRST YEAH!
Woodie Flowers, FIRST YEAH!
1992, FIRST YEAH!
Sportmanship, FIRST YEAH!
Team givaways, FIRST, YEAH!
Tigerbolt FIRST Chat, FIRST YEAH!
Kickoff, FIRST YEAH!
Chief Delphi, FIRST YEAH!

FIRST YEAH!

Mountain Dew, FIRST YEAH!
Disney world, FIRST YEAH!
Pizza, FIRST YEAH!
Team buttons, FIRST YEAH!
Spirit, FIRST YEAH!
Andy Baker, FIRST YEAH!
Rookie All Star, FIRST YEAH!
Taco Bell, FIRST YEAH!
Dewalts, FIRST YEAH!
All nighters (FIRST yeah, FIRST yeah)

Chairman's Award, FIRST YEAH!
Webhug, FIRST YEAH!
IRI, FIRST YEAH!
Band-aids, FIRST YEAH!
Off Seaon events, FIRST YEAH!
Pre ship Scrimmages, FIRST YEAH!
Regionals, FIRST YEAH!
Dave Lavery, FIRST YEAH!
Ship Night, FIRST YEAH!
Water game (water game)
(first yeah, first yeah)
Cotten Eyed Joe
Red Herrings

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Though I like Ed's rendition of FIRST Yeah (though I think its absolutely hillarious that anyone would even make mention to Team America on this board), I have another suggestion...

Whatever it takes
We'll make it by tommorow
Whatever it takes
You know it can be done
Something Something
Nothings gonna stop us
Do you accept the challenge today?
Do you accept...

Oh wait...that song has been done too ;)

Too bad 90% of you will not get this joke. But that one was for the old timers. :p

-Andy Grady

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

yeah! mountain dew and pizza!!! FIRST dinner of choice ^-^

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Kraftwerk should do our theme song. Perhaps they already have...

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

To continue with Ed's theme:

Everyone has FIRST!
FIRST FIRST FIRST FIRST FIRST!

But in all seriousness, lets just forget the theme song. no matter what it is, it's going to make anyone who likes good music want to curl up and die.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Amen! so much cheesiness... still i picked #2, because, ya know, just in case you don't know how to spell "FIRST" :p but really, it's because it used better (more creative) acronyms

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

You know - this sounds a lot like the people on stilts from Disney championship days. I have watched many old videos from those days, and there was a group that closed the show that sang some cheesy kiddie songs.

I vote also for DSATKB to rock one out. There is a group of talented, creative, story-telling, lyric-writing, passionate folks in that group.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Alright I think 6 pages of bashing is enough to get the idea of what we all think about the songs. Now what are we going to do about it? We all hate them, so...

Howabout a song writeoff? Lets let the community write something that everyone can rally around. We've got some talented people around here, I think all they really need is some inspiration, and if the horrific idea of these songs becoming permanent is enough to get that creativity flowing...

Still... Dean has quite a bit of influence and knows many people in high places, perhaps he could bring in a record label to kick off a FIRST songwriting contest, maybe a few celibrities could come in? Cash prizes? Label Deals? What would it take?

The basic idea is this: What can we do to come up with something better?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Haha to the Team America theme..
that's hilarious! It's a great attempt, but i think if FIRST is going to have a theme song it needs to have original music.

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

At Palmetto, we were listen into to "Jump On it," and after singing the Atlanta verse over and over again in anticipation of Championships (Wazzup Atlanta? Wazzup?) my friend thought it would be awesome if FIRST got the rights to make a new version of the song, but with a verse for every regional and nationals. It could probably never happen, but it'd be awesome.

On a more related note, I hate both of those original FIRST songs, they sound like '90s elementary school "hip" educational videos (you know what I mean, recycling raps and all that)

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Now I may be wrong here, but I think that parodies are not covered by copyright. Not sure of the details (ie, the lyrics/melody may not be protected but the instrumentals are, etc). Anyone up for checking this?

Re: Choose the FIRST Anthem?
 

Cpoy/pasted from here.
Parody. The law regarding parodies is based upon the "fair use" doctrine under the U.S. Copyright Act. Under this doctrine, certain uses of copyrighted works, which would otherwise be considered infringing, are permissible.

In 1994, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., which involved 2 Live Crew's parody of Roy Orbison's famous song, "Pretty Woman." In determining that the song at issue was a parody, the Court emphasized the "transformative nature" of the parody. The Court did not set forth a bright-line rule for determining when a parody will be protected, but stated that each parody must be judged on a case-by-case basis.

Courts consider four factors in determining whether a parody constitutes fair use and thus is not an infringement:

the purpose and character of use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
the nature of the copyrighted work;
the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

In addition, courts may consider any other relevant factors not specifically enumerated under the Copyright Act. In general, the following principles have emerged from the law on the doctrine of fair use:

Parodies generally enjoy a high degree of protection under the law. Courts generally view parodies as important means of expression that should be protected.
Parodies for nonprofit purposes are more likely to be deemed fair use than those for commercial purposes. This factor, however, is not determinative.
The more the author of the parody changes the original work in creating the parody, the more likely the parody will be considered fair use.

In summary, the law surrounding parodies is factually based. Accordingly, any use of a copyrighted work claiming to be a parody should be reviewed by legal counsel.