Help me choose a song that's fun, inspirational and unique.

April 10, 2013 9:17 PM

I won an award. They're going to play a song in the background while I walk up on stage and receive the award at a formal reception/event (with families, executives and other industry reps present). 30-45 seconds of the song will actually play and I can queue it up to the right spot if I don't want to play it from the beginning. My initial thoughts were to use a TV theme song since they're fun and catchy but all the ones I came up with were a little campy. Now I'm considering more classic songs - something everyone will recognize - but am freaking out. Help.
posted by shew to Society & Culture (26 answers total)

If you are American: The theme song from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) by Joe Scarbury.
posted by MT at 9:26 PM on April 10, 2013

What's the award for?
posted by miles1972 at 9:33 PM on April 10, 2013

Depending on the award, maybe Queen's "We Are the Champions."
posted by melesana at 9:36 PM on April 10, 2013

Yeah. Congrats on the award. What did you win it for?
posted by salishsea at 9:38 PM on April 10, 2013

The first 35 seconds of Pantera's "Walk".

Assuming the award is for pro wrestling or poetry.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:39 PM on April 10, 2013 [5 favorites]

I like the theme from Wallace and Gromit. We actually used this as the recessional at our wedding. It's upbeat and catchy, and while people may recognize it, it'll likely take them a minute.
posted by pompelmo at 9:39 PM on April 10, 2013 [6 favorites]

Shiny Happy People - REM
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
Feeling' Groovy - Simon and Garfunkel
Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
C'Mon, Get Happy - Partridge Family
Reminiscing - Little River Band
Blue Skies - Willie Nelson
September - Earth, Wind and Fire
When You Wish Upon a Star - Disney Instrumental
Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens
Penny Lane, Octopus' Garden or Yellow Submarine - Beatles
posted by carmicha at 9:50 PM on April 10, 2013

Someone in another thread lauded the track It Is Accomplished from Peter Gabriel's "Passion" album for "making you feel like something truly epic has happened." I absolutely concur.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:53 PM on April 10, 2013

This is always safe.

If it were me, I'd go with something hilariously inappropriate like the wedding march, thus spake zarathustra, hail to the chief, or adagio for strings, but i dont' know what kind of company you work for.
posted by empath at 9:53 PM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Personally, when I finished my graduation requirements at college, I walked out of the building humming the Rocky fanfare to myself. Probably best to start from the beginning.

The first 35 seconds of Pantera's "Walk".

Surely you jest. You could drop the needle pretty much anywhere on "A New Level", play 30 seconds, and have the rest of the organization/company/poetry group/knitting circle quaking in their boots until the end of time.
posted by LionIndex at 10:02 PM on April 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

thus spake zarathustra

I came in to suggest this as well.

Go big, or go home.
posted by nacho fries at 10:02 PM on April 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

The Final Countdown by Europe. You could just use the beginning...the singing doesn't kick it until about 1:29.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:07 PM on April 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Were it me, I'd use something from Carl Stalling, and do a stutter-step hobbly-de-hoy walk up to the podium.

(Please god never let me win any award of any seriousness.)
posted by nacho fries at 10:09 PM on April 10, 2013

Probably too campy, but the theme to Perfect Strangers.

Even worse: Blossom

There's also a YouTube user called ilovetvintros that might be a gold mine for you.
posted by LionIndex at 10:18 PM on April 10, 2013

Also: Harlem Shake would be a sure winner.
posted by empath at 10:51 PM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yeah, knowing what the award is for, or at least the line of work, would help a lot. Personally, I'd want to go for something more subtle and mellow, if it's gonna be that formal.

Looking through my list of Beatles songs, depending on what mood you end up going for:
In My Life
A Hard Day's Night
With a Little Help from My Friends
The last 30-45 sec of The End

Or to just be celebratory: Birthday
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 11:11 PM on April 10, 2013

For a formal event like you describe I'd suggest using something by Dave Brubeck.
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 11:24 PM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Brubeck would indeed be an elegant, festive choice.
posted by nacho fries at 11:54 PM on April 10, 2013

"I've Been to Paradise, But I've Never Been to Me"

or



"I'm a Lumberjack and I'm ok"
posted by taff at 2:05 AM on April 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

Theme to Chariots of Fire or Battle Without Honor or Humanity (from Kill Bill).
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:03 AM on April 11, 2013

Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man - ELP version if you like synthesizers, by the NYPO (or other orchestra) if you prefer non-synth.

Along the same lines, if you want a TV show theme that is orchestral and recognizable but slightly less fanfare-y try The West Wing.
posted by mikepop at 5:29 AM on April 11, 2013

After what Parks and Recreation did to it, my immediate go-to was "Get On Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan.
posted by dlugoczaj at 5:47 AM on April 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

Funeral March of a Marionette - both classical, AND a TV theme! Also weird and fun (to me.)
posted by Ouisch at 6:01 AM on April 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

The Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started
posted by msittig at 8:23 AM on April 11, 2013

the beginning to "Where the Streets have no Name by U2?"
the bridge/guitar solo to "Fix You by Coldplay?"

They're both played at the beginning of Canadiens' games, on the verge of being overplayed, but I like them
posted by bitteroldman at 8:52 AM on April 11, 2013

Tarzan Boy.
posted by ghostbikes at 9:11 PM on April 13, 2013