Help pick a walk-in song for our president
January 23, 2011 10:26 AM Subscribe
We're looking for the perfect high-energy song to introduce the president of our tech company at our annual kickoff meeting.
Last year we used "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas. Has to be 2 1/2 minutes long, clean, high-energy, and internationally appealing. The song signals to the crowd that we're about to kickoff the event. A large 2 minute countdown timer will display to the crowd, and when it hits zero, the voiceover will introduce our president to the stage while the music continues.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Last year we used "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas. Has to be 2 1/2 minutes long, clean, high-energy, and internationally appealing. The song signals to the crowd that we're about to kickoff the event. A large 2 minute countdown timer will display to the crowd, and when it hits zero, the voiceover will introduce our president to the stage while the music continues.
Thanks for your suggestions!
The only intro song you'll ever need.
posted by phunniemee at 10:29 AM on January 23, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 10:29 AM on January 23, 2011 [8 favorites]
Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover is a high-energy instrumental guitar piece that's seemingly tailor-made for introductions. You want the studio version.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:49 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:49 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
"I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas is the most overused song for this purpose ever. So don't use that. I say this as someone who's sat through soundcheck for more general sessions, awards banquets, sales meetings etc. than anyone else you know.
Other bad choices: Theme from Rocky, anything ACDC.
posted by mollymayhem at 10:50 AM on January 23, 2011
Other bad choices: Theme from Rocky, anything ACDC.
posted by mollymayhem at 10:50 AM on January 23, 2011
ELO - Mr. Blue Sky
Junior Senior- Move Your Feet
posted by mireille at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2011 [4 favorites]
Junior Senior- Move Your Feet
posted by mireille at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2011 [4 favorites]
I just acquired the new Cee-Lo record "The Lady Killer." Track no. 2, "Bright Lights Bigger City" is equal parts "Final Countdown" and "Billie Jean." I mean that as a compliment. Here.
posted by Gilbert at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Gilbert at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Eye of the Tiger"
posted by Ad hominem at 11:25 AM on January 23, 2011
posted by Ad hominem at 11:25 AM on January 23, 2011
Daft Punk, "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:40 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:40 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Your president, huh? How about Jean Knight's "Mr Big Stuff?"
posted by honeydew at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2011
posted by honeydew at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2011
Another brick in the wall.
posted by iamabot at 11:52 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by iamabot at 11:52 AM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Breakwater - "Release The Beast" has a break just before 2:00 that continues out past 2:30.
posted by rhizome at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2011
posted by rhizome at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2011
Song n° 2, Blur is 2.04 minutes and tailspins into a kind of benevolent chaos at the end. It's also been used to death, but I'm sure presidents of companies will love it.
In Europe, every political party begins rallies with 'It's a beautiful day' by U2.
posted by NekulturnY at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
In Europe, every political party begins rallies with 'It's a beautiful day' by U2.
posted by NekulturnY at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Two an a half minutes? That sounds painfully long to me. After about 20 seconds I'd be thinking "get on with it already". How about just the countdown timer with everyone-come-in-and-sit-down muzak, then bring down the house lights and stop ALL the music at about the 30 or 15 second mark, then go right into the intro? The simple timer display kind of creates its own tension, no need to be hammer over the head obvious. No matter what song, someone's going to hate it, someone's going to roll their eyes, and someone's going to be offended that you commercialized their favorite band's art.
I'd actually be tempted to loop the non-lyric intro to some NWA during a voice-over. Big start, lower the volume a bit as the announcer talks. (Preferably, the song would be Fight the Power)
Depends what business you're in. Some corporate cultures would not find that amusing)
posted by ctmf at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd actually be tempted to loop the non-lyric intro to some NWA during a voice-over. Big start, lower the volume a bit as the announcer talks. (Preferably, the song would be Fight the Power)
Depends what business you're in. Some corporate cultures would not find that amusing)
posted by ctmf at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
What phunniemee said - The Final Countdown has the added advantage of everyone knowing the words. At Interesting 2009 we kicked off the event by singing along to this classic, and it was *awesome*.
Failing that, this.
posted by migurski at 12:36 PM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Failing that, this.
posted by migurski at 12:36 PM on January 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fight the Power... which, duh, is Public Enemy. The other one I'd want to use (without lyrics) is NWA Straight out of Compton.
posted by ctmf at 12:40 PM on January 23, 2011
posted by ctmf at 12:40 PM on January 23, 2011
The THX sound right at the t-5 second mark in the dark, then BAM, lights and voice-over music might work, too. At least it would get everyone out there to STFU and pay attention.
posted by ctmf at 12:49 PM on January 23, 2011
posted by ctmf at 12:49 PM on January 23, 2011
Hah! We used Let's Get It Started last year AND this year :)
posted by analogue at 1:00 PM on January 23, 2011
posted by analogue at 1:00 PM on January 23, 2011
Though it will never, ever be chosen because it consists of blasting punk rock guitar and two guys screaming the same three words over and over at the top of their lungs, Husker Du's New Day Rising would be a bold and appropriate choice. Please do this. It would be awesome.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:04 PM on January 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:04 PM on January 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
"More" by Usher
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 1:27 PM on January 23, 2011
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 1:27 PM on January 23, 2011
The John O'Callaghan remix of U2's 'Where the Streets Have No Name' would work *beautifully*, methinks, especially if you sequence the intro something like this:
@2:00 - lights fade, music kicks in
@2:36 - timer starts (beats kick in ~1 minute mark)
@4:36 - voxover intro (25 seconds)
@5:10 - President walks onto stage
posted by prinado at 1:41 PM on January 23, 2011
@2:00 - lights fade, music kicks in
@2:36 - timer starts (beats kick in ~1 minute mark)
@4:36 - voxover intro (25 seconds)
@5:10 - President walks onto stage
posted by prinado at 1:41 PM on January 23, 2011
The only song I ever want to be introduced to is Van Halen - Jump. Anything else just isn't awesome enough by comparison. I even temporarily forgave George H.W. Bush for his presidency when they introduced him to this song at the Republican National Convention after he had just gone skydiving.
Buuuut if you happen to need something less awesome, Eurocheez dance pop is pretty high energy.
Qkumba Zoo - Child Inside
Dario G - Say What's On Your Mind
JX - There's Nothing I Won't Do
Basement Jaxx - Do Your Thing
Cut n' Move - Give It Up
And they always play Sandstorm to get basketball audiences pumped up.
A fun, foot stompy one from a different genre - B.O.B. f. Rivers Cuomo - Magic
Happiest song ever, with nostalgia ingrained - Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine
I'll give you a million dollars if you use Marky Mark instead though. It even has counting in it. Pleeeease!
posted by Askr at 5:48 PM on January 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Buuuut if you happen to need something less awesome, Eurocheez dance pop is pretty high energy.
Qkumba Zoo - Child Inside
Dario G - Say What's On Your Mind
JX - There's Nothing I Won't Do
Basement Jaxx - Do Your Thing
Cut n' Move - Give It Up
And they always play Sandstorm to get basketball audiences pumped up.
A fun, foot stompy one from a different genre - B.O.B. f. Rivers Cuomo - Magic
Happiest song ever, with nostalgia ingrained - Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine
I'll give you a million dollars if you use Marky Mark instead though. It even has counting in it. Pleeeease!
posted by Askr at 5:48 PM on January 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Other bad choices: Theme from Rocky, anything ACDC
Surely you couldn't go wrong with Shoot to Thrill. Iron Man suit optional.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 7:41 PM on January 23, 2011
Surely you couldn't go wrong with Shoot to Thrill. Iron Man suit optional.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 7:41 PM on January 23, 2011
Part of me wants you to use 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready For This" simply because it is the height of hackery, but it's being shouted down by the much larger part of me that says "Ride-O-Rocket" by the Brothers Johnson is the best entry music ever, full stop.
posted by Vervain at 8:02 PM on January 23, 2011
posted by Vervain at 8:02 PM on January 23, 2011
I like BOP's Husker Du suggestion. What's his/her name? I hope it's Tony.
posted by arcticseal at 11:28 PM on January 23, 2011
posted by arcticseal at 11:28 PM on January 23, 2011
BitterOldPunk, is that the one where the liner notes read, "...And we all threw chairs at the end"? Great stuff.
Something by The Ventures, perhaps? Certainly loud and high-energy. "Haulass Hyena" by the Cramps or "Rebel Rouser" by Duane Eddy? "Jesus Built my Hotrod"? (Wait, not clean...) How about "Do You Remember Rock'N'Roll Radio?"? All of thopse should be editable down to your time, and they'd certainly turn heads.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:31 AM on January 25, 2011
Something by The Ventures, perhaps? Certainly loud and high-energy. "Haulass Hyena" by the Cramps or "Rebel Rouser" by Duane Eddy? "Jesus Built my Hotrod"? (Wait, not clean...) How about "Do You Remember Rock'N'Roll Radio?"? All of thopse should be editable down to your time, and they'd certainly turn heads.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:31 AM on January 25, 2011
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posted by bfranklin at 10:29 AM on January 23, 2011