Dick Marx Orchestra and Choir :: Here Come the Hawks
For reasons not completely clear to me, or God, ice hockey in the 60s and 70s, especially at the pro level, somehow gained an association with brass-heavy, grocery-store/game-show styled pop tunes (not to mention the associative big-collared polyester shirts, and bell-bottomed tweed, plaid pants).
For a fast-paced, highly improvised game born on the ponds of Nova Scotia and nurtured in the ice barns of Eastern Canada, this just doesn’t seem right. Perhaps it was a result of a strong push by the NHL to market the game in the States, and the subsequent hiring of several jingle writers and producers (Dick Marx, father of Richard, for example) to produce hockey related themes? Despite this rather artificial association of brass and ice, this era produced some real musical gems like The Hockey Theme (often referred to as the Hockey Night in Canada Theme), and the old Hartford Whalers tune Brass Bonanza. Although I wouldn’t consider this one a gem, the official Chicago Blackhawks fight song Here Come the Hawks was produced at the same time.
Certainly these tunes in no way whatsoever capture the essence of the game. But I cannot deny them, and their contrived link to a sport I love. Nor can I deny that I’m not wearing a shirt right now.
Here Come the Hawks
Dick Marx (wikipedia)
(song originally written by J. Swayzee)
Dom said on tuesday, may 20th, 2008
Kelly said on friday, may 23rd, 2008
I think I puked a little in my mouth listening to that, you know, in a good way. also, rob! you didn’t tell me that mccarty was back with the wings! the grind line’s back! dude!
Those bass-licks kill.