I’m bullish on this taking off. Solid lyrics. Come sing along and enjoy. https://t.co/fq4Ry4SjGR
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) September 3, 2025
Stadium Sing Along
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Last: 1 hr ago by cal83dls79
I don't want to be the grumpy old guy, but I am, so I'll be the grumpy old guy: what does this song have to do with Cal?!? Why not just let the band get after it like they used to...
panoramicknob said:
I don't want to be the grumpy old guy, but I am, so I'll be the grumpy old guy: what does this song have to do with Cal?!? Why not just let the band get after it like they used to...
Do both
panoramicknob said:
I don't want to be the grumpy old guy, but I am, so I'll be the grumpy old guy: what does this song have to do with Cal?!? Why not just let the band get after it like they used to...
Agree! The song sucks.
GO BEARS, GO!
"Won't you save me San Francisco?"
Are people paid to come up with these ideas?
Are people paid to come up with these ideas?
The Texas Southern Band is one of the best in the nation, and they'll be performing at halftime in Berkeley this Saturday, come check it out! https://t.co/o1YxI55tJQ
— Avinash Kunnath (@avinashkunnath) September 3, 2025
Texas Southern looks to be more entertaining than the Cal band
Anarchistbear said:I’m bullish on this taking off. Solid lyrics. Come sing along and enjoy. https://t.co/fq4Ry4SjGR
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) September 3, 2025
Comon guys!
Don't be spoiled eggs.
Get UP
Jump
Clap
Sing.
Enjoy the Ride
Anarchistbear said:The Texas Southern Band is one of the best in the nation, and they'll be performing at halftime in Berkeley this Saturday, come check it out! https://t.co/o1YxI55tJQ
— Avinash Kunnath (@avinashkunnath) September 3, 2025
Texas Southern looks to be more entertaining than the Cal band
They're really good and entertaining. They remind me of the Grambling Band that came to Berkeley a few years back.
I actually like the idea of a song after the third quarter. All of the major teams do it. Let's try!
oregoncalbear said:
I actually like the idea of a song after the third quarter. All of the major teams do it. Let's try!
It needs to be a well known, easy to sing song. My nomination is Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" but as "Three Little Bears"
Or just go with Cal fight songs like Stanford Jonah or the Cal Drinking Song
I probably listened to any Train songs maybe two or three times in my life and after hearing it, i felt disappointed. No way it is gonna work. But then i listened again and watched it with the highlights and i started liking it. Its quirky. It's silly. It talks about the Bay. Could people sing along to it ...yeah i think so. So im open to trying it out. And maybe instead of San Francisco at the end everyone can yell Cal Bears!
What about this classic? Dionne W
Roll on you Bears!
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Two things:
First, let's all sit back and recognize that Cal is finally thinking out of the box, looking to do something fun and innovative - That's the headline here.
Second, please recognize that there is NO song that everyone is going to love (not hate) and frankly none of us are going to know whether a particular song works or not until they try it.
This is a safe place for people to share opinions and we all know there's almost no topic that will have more subjective views than Music. That said, if we don't recognize that the bigger thing is that Cal is actually trying to improve the gameday experience then we lose the forest through the trees.
First, let's all sit back and recognize that Cal is finally thinking out of the box, looking to do something fun and innovative - That's the headline here.
Second, please recognize that there is NO song that everyone is going to love (not hate) and frankly none of us are going to know whether a particular song works or not until they try it.
This is a safe place for people to share opinions and we all know there's almost no topic that will have more subjective views than Music. That said, if we don't recognize that the bigger thing is that Cal is actually trying to improve the gameday experience then we lose the forest through the trees.
Personally I'm almost always a football traditionalist but I don't see any issue with this. Maybe it takes a while to catch on or maybe it never does but it's like 2 minutes out of a 4-hour game. I would have chosen Phantom Planets "California" because I imagine it would be a ton of fun for drunk students to wail out the long vibrato "Caaaaalliifoooooorniiiiaaa" with their buddies. Even the kids who don't know the song (which is probably most of them these days) would pick up on it pretty fast and once the band learned it too and with the words playing on the big screen it could be a really fun vibe when we have butts in the seats
I mentioned the following on a thread in the Men's Basketball forum a few weeks back. The Cal Band has played "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand for a number of years, but they don't really feature it. I think the tempo build-up is riveting; imagine students clapping and stomping on the bleachers, and if the "Take Me Out" refrain was replaced by "Let's Go Bears", with the MicMen leading the student section, it could have some impact.
An example is at the 7:32 point of the following:
An example is at the 7:32 point of the following:
Bearly Clad said:
Personally I'm almost always a football traditionalist but I don't see any issue with this. Maybe it takes a while to catch on or maybe it never does but it's like 2 minutes out of a 4-hour game. I would have chosen Phantom Planets "California" because I imagine it would be a ton of fun for drunk students to wail out the long vibrato "Caaaaalliifoooooorniiiiaaa" with their buddies. Even the kids who don't know the song (which is probably most of them these days) would pick up on it pretty fast and once the band learned it too and with the words playing on the big screen it could be a really fun vibe when we have butts in the seats
I second. Good choice.
calumnus said:oregoncalbear said:
I actually like the idea of a song after the third quarter. All of the major teams do it. Let's try!
It needs to be a well known, easy to sing song. My nomination is Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" but as "Three Little Bears"
Or just go with Cal fight songs like Stanford Jonah or the Cal Drinking Song
Cal has some of the best songs in the country.
Why wouldnt we use one of our own? Sons of California for example. We do it pregame, but the song is lead by the lyrics and has the whole spell-out. Its also easy as hell to teach. Imagine a Full spellout that yell leaders couldn't Fk up the pace of.
If we are going to use a more common song, why not something about... not San Francisco?
It would need some editing, but Zion I's The Bay is pretty good, but not exactly what I would want.
My choice has always been Long December. Not sure why that one never got traction.
Golden One said:Anarchistbear said:The Texas Southern Band is one of the best in the nation, and they'll be performing at halftime in Berkeley this Saturday, come check it out! https://t.co/o1YxI55tJQ
— Avinash Kunnath (@avinashkunnath) September 3, 2025
Texas Southern looks to be more entertaining than the Cal band
They're really good and entertaining. They remind me of the Grambling Band that came to Berkeley a few years back.
The Grambling performance was excellent.
Those HBCUs in the south do it differently.
BearGreg said:
Two things:
First, let's all sit back and recognize that Cal is finally thinking out of the box, looking to do something fun and innovative - That's the headline here.
Second, please recognize that there is NO song that everyone is going to love (not hate) and frankly none of us are going to know whether a particular song works or not until they try it.
This is a safe place for people to share opinions and we all know there's almost no topic that will have more subjective views than Music. That said, if we don't recognize that the bigger thing is that Cal is actually trying to improve the gameday experience then we lose the forest through the trees.
A song about San Francisco is pretty bad.
Reminds me of when the Stadium played Wolves at the end of the 3rd Quarter against Nevada.
Not all songs will be loved by everyone, but some are pretty close to objectively bad choices.
panoramicknob said:
I don't want to be the grumpy old guy, but I am, so I'll be the grumpy old guy: what does this song have to do with Cal?!? Why not just let the band get after it like they used to...
Also, when other schools do this kind of thing, at least they use a song people recognize and can actually sing along with the track. Of course not everyone is gonna like it, but if most people DON'T even know it, they aint gonna try to sing it either. I don't understand this choice at all. I've asked all my brothers, my Mom, and several co-workers, NOBODY has heard this of the people I've asked so far.
Posted this on one of the new The Black Bear spot, but I'll post here also since it's related
So, we got a little... blackened? (a little idea/reference to the whole hype song discussion. I still like the Metallica idea, lol...) Please click below where song starts
"Color our world blackened! Blackened!"
So, we got a little... blackened? (a little idea/reference to the whole hype song discussion. I still like the Metallica idea, lol...) Please click below where song starts
"Color our world blackened! Blackened!"
At least it wasn't San Francisco Days, San Francisco Nights by Chris Isaak
calfanz said:Anarchistbear said:I’m bullish on this taking off. Solid lyrics. Come sing along and enjoy. https://t.co/fq4Ry4SjGR
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) September 3, 2025
Comon guys!
Don't be spoiled eggs.
Get UP
Jump
Clap
Sing.
Enjoy the Ride
Yes get on board. I would prefer California by Phantom Planet or any Green Day song like Basket Case or Welcome to Paradise, but baby steps! After JK left we have a sign along and Black Bear section. We're doing stuff. It only took JK leaving!
HairOfTheBear said:panoramicknob said:
I don't want to be the grumpy old guy, but I am, so I'll be the grumpy old guy: what does this song have to do with Cal?!? Why not just let the band get after it like they used to...
Also, when other schools do this kind of thing, at least they use a song people recognize and can actually sing along with the track. Of course not everyone is gonna like it, but if most people DON'T even know it, they aint gonna try to sing it either. I don't understand this choice at all. I've asked all my brothers, my Mom, and several co-workers, NOBODY has heard this of the people I've asked so far.
I have a feeling this was the cheapest way to go without having to pay up the wazzoo for licensing.
DonnieMcCleskey said:Bearly Clad said:
Personally I'm almost always a football traditionalist but I don't see any issue with this. Maybe it takes a while to catch on or maybe it never does but it's like 2 minutes out of a 4-hour game. I would have chosen Phantom Planets "California" because I imagine it would be a ton of fun for drunk students to wail out the long vibrato "Caaaaalliifoooooorniiiiaaa" with their buddies. Even the kids who don't know the song (which is probably most of them these days) would pick up on it pretty fast and once the band learned it too and with the words playing on the big screen it could be a really fun vibe when we have butts in the seats
I second. Good choice.
This would be the perfect choice -- very singable and most of us have heard it in some form. My guess is that getting permission is too costly for us. But otherwise, yeah, this would be fire for a end of third Q sing along.
@Sebastabear can't we get them to change it to this? I know you have the power to do all things right?
This is an adaptation of a Train song (Save Me San Francisco) btw:
At least this is more original than Sweet Caroline. But it would be nice to have something more BERKELEY or California instead of SF.
A stadium PA decision that stands out in my memory is when late in a close game several years ago, they played 'Build me up Buttercup.' Not exactly a song that pumps up the crowd or the team!
A stadium PA decision that stands out in my memory is when late in a close game several years ago, they played 'Build me up Buttercup.' Not exactly a song that pumps up the crowd or the team!
Build me up buttercup is Wisconsin's., played every game.
Like Sweet Caroline, the objective is less musical fit than a song that lends itself to a ritualistic sing along bad as that may be.
Like Sweet Caroline, the objective is less musical fit than a song that lends itself to a ritualistic sing along bad as that may be.
glutton said:
At least this is more original than Sweet Caroline. But it would be nice to have something more BERKELEY or California instead of SF.
A stadium PA decision that stands out in my memory is when late in a close game several years ago, they played 'Build me up Buttercup.' Not exactly a single that pumps up the crowd or the team!
I think tOSU marching band has it in its rotation and plays it where the crowd sings along. Nothing to pump you up but just a communal moment which is what we're looking for. Jump Around at Wisconsin is still the best. Mr. Brightside at Michigan is second imo. I do like the Country Roads sing along at West Virginia after games. Very cool arm in arm.
A KALX mainstay!
Look, I'm a Cal product of the '70s, but I think people are hung up on lyrics and an explicit connection to Cal or California and that's overrated. We have GREAT traditional Cal songs for that. For years, two of the most popular college sing along songs have been UW's "Tequila!" and, THOUGH I HATE TO ADMIT IT, Stanfurd's "All Right Now". What do these songs have in common?
So, if you agree, what are some more current songs (with links) that have the above traits?
EDIT - This is another Boomer era song, but I always thought the refrain, "What is hip!" from the Tower of Power song of the same name makes a great sing along. And I believe the Cal Band has played it at various times over the years.
- Neither song has any connection to the schools - it's just not important
- The lyrics the students actually sing are ~four words or less (as far as I know, "Tequila!" is the entire lyric)
- Both songs have a real driving thumping rhythm with an instrumental build-up to the part the crowd sings/chants - that's what gets their attention
So, if you agree, what are some more current songs (with links) that have the above traits?
EDIT - This is another Boomer era song, but I always thought the refrain, "What is hip!" from the Tower of Power song of the same name makes a great sing along. And I believe the Cal Band has played it at various times over the years.
KoreAmBear said:
I have a feeling this was the cheapest way to go without having to pay up the wazzoo for licensing.
Yeah, synchronization fees (since this goes along with video) might put a VERY singable song like "Hotel California" way out of reach when you get into 6-7 figures. ROI on that would not be very good.
"Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly
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