Columns
Morning Glory RCC: Theme
Music
After many long months with
nothing written but AIM messages, OWA shows and promos, I’ve decided to write columns
again. I got no RP’s clogging up my time any more. After many suggestions for topics,
and much nudging to write from a certain person (thanks Raine…lol) I’ve found a
topic. Theme music.
Theme music for wrestlers is one of the most important parts of a wrestler’s
character. Where would Austin be without the shattering glass? Kane without the creepy
organ and the pyro? Even in the WWF’s past, Bret Hart with the famous guitar riff,
HBK with ‘Ohhhh, ohhhh Shawwwwnnn!’ and of course Hulk Hogan with the classic
‘Real American’, which I’ve been told was actually played over in the
states in the wake of September 11th. Basically, a theme represents what a wrestler is all
about. If someone turns heel, one of the first modifications to that wrestler is usually a
change in theme music. Unless your name is Chris Jericho, if so you’re talented
enough to get away with using your regular theme (Jericho is that damn good, not HHH!).
Recently, there have been some great new themes used in the WWF, and more and more they
are being done by ‘real’ bands as opposed to the WWF’s people. Triple H and
Motorhead, Austin and Disturbed, Tazz and Cypress Hill, the list goes on. And although Jim
Johnston has created some great themes in the past, namely ones such as Val Venis' and
D'Lo Brown's, personally I think too many of them are too generic, especially ones like
Test's new theme, and I definitely prefer the ones done by real bands.
I think that a lot of people underestimate the power of theme music in getting a wrestler
over somewhat. Take Edge for example. He IS over, but not on the level of say….Rob
Van Dam or The Rock. However, since being given new theme music by Rob Zombie, his pops
have gotten louder and louder. Edge’s heat may die down when he’s in the ring,
but the main way to tell if someone is over is from when their music hits and they first
walk out onto the stage. And since he has used Zombie as his theme, Edge has been one of
the most over WWF wrestlers. If Edge is given a main event run this year- it won't be down
to his in-ring skills-although they are pretty damn good- it will be because of Rob
Zombie.
Undertaker is one of the strongest examples of music dictating level of how over someone
is. His ‘bong’ and ‘funeral’ music always garnered a huge pop when he
was the ‘deadman’ in the 1990’s, and since his return as a biker, although
his ringwork has not been as good, he has remained as over as ever. I have to believe that
one of the reasons for this is his use of theme music. When he first returned, he used Kid
Rock’s ‘American Badass’, and then switched in December to Limp
Bizkit’s ‘Rollin’. Both songs were massive chart hits, and guaranteed
monster face pops for Taker when he came out. However, when before, ‘Rollin’ was
a sure-fire way to keep Taker way over with the fans, since his heel turn it has been more
of a problem than an advantage. ‘Rollin’ guarantees a face pop, as did the
shattering glass for Austin. When Austin turned heel, he was still getting face pops when
the glass shattered. However, the real heel heat for Austin came in the summer, when he
changed his music to the faster, repetitive guitar riffs with the quieter glass shatter at
the beginning. On RAW this week, Taker was given a face pop by the crowd when he first
came out, but was booed once he cut his promo. The face pop would not be there in the
first place if he changed his theme music to something other than ‘Rollin’. If
the WWF has a contract with Limp Bizkit, there may be nothing they can do about this
problem. But if they don’t, they should get rid of ‘Rollin’ as quickly as
possible. Give Taker some other nu-metal song that fits his brutal heel character better,
I don’t know, something like ‘Down With The Sickness’ by Disturbed, or
maybe give him ‘American Badass’ back. The WWF has enough money to buy the
copyright to these songs, so why not? Taker needs some heel heat fast, and taking away
‘Rollin’ would work as a pop-killer.
Another example of the importance of theme music is the botched Alliance angle in the
summer. One of the problems of the Alliance, especially the WCW guys, was that they were
not big stars, nor were they treated like big stars. Big stars, hell, even low mid-carders
have memorable theme music. Who can forget Al Snow’s ‘What does everybody
want?’. The WCW guys were given the most generic, unrecognisable themes possible. I
watch wrestling more than most people, and yet the only WCW theme I can remember well from
the Invasion was Booker T’s classic theme. DDP’s Nirvana rip-off was replaced
with some generic music with his catchphrase at the start, and the same thing was done to
Kanyon’s, removing the organ and replacing it with his catchphrase. I’m
seriously surprised that the WWF didn’t have ‘If I can be serious for a
moment’ opening Lance Storm’s theme. Who knows- if the Alliance members had been
given better theme music, and of course a few more wins, maybe the angle wouldn’t
have flopped so badly. At least we can guarantee that the nWo will debut with their
classic porno music in tow.
And now I come to my final point. Theme music, as I’ve said before, garners huge pops
for guys who normally wouldn’t get them. Now, one man who has a new theme recorded
and ready for his return is Chris Benoit. Benoit was massively over when he left with his
injuries, but if he’s not careful, and the WWF don’t build up his return, he
will have trouble getting as over as he was. This is where his new theme,
‘Whatever’ by Our Lady Peace comes in. Basically, it’s a rule of thumb that
if a ‘real’ band record a wrestlers theme, that said wrestler is in line for a
good push. I think that the WWF is going to push Benoit hard upon his return, and his new
theme, which is far more ‘crowd-pleasing’ than his original one, will pop the
crowd a lot more. I would put money on Benoit, if his return is handled properly, getting
a pop to rival Triple H upon his return. Trust me, when ‘Whatever’ hits, the
fans will pop a lot louder than they did for his old music. And if Benoit gets mega-over
instantly, and gets a World title push, I’d be inclined to place some of the
responsibility on Our Lady Peace.
Well, that’s it. Pretty short, I know, but who cares? I’m writing columns again,
and that’s all that matters. I’m gonna write tons more too. Catch you later,
D’You Know What I Mean?
(couldn’t resist that one….lol)
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