Music at the competitions

[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 series, the NYC UNderground series, and also the NOW That's 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]

Originally Posted by M.O.R.T.

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]

Originally Posted by Dan Swando

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]

Originally Posted by mtaman02

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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!