An estimated 92% of us experience earworms. Despite the annoying times we can’t get a chorus or a hook of an overplayed pop song out of our heads, getting a really good earworm stuck can be one of the best things, ever. We here at Nerdist are dead set on bringing you those types of songs—even if only for the weekend. So shove this into your grey matter!
The Chicago Cubs won game six of the National League Championship Series, and for the first time in 71 years. As I write this, there are people out in the streets, cars laying on their horns, fireworks going off, and people cheering from all directions. It’s pretty impressive since I live about four miles away from Wrigley Field. I need to be upfront about this; I’m not much of a sports fan at all. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t, in some small way, celebrate the victory of the city I live in. I’ve been in Chicago for the better part of a decade and even though I don’t get wrapped up in sports, I’ve been here long enough to know this is a very big deal. Families have bonded and friendships have been forged thanks to the Cubbies and tonight, all my snark is melted away to celebrate this momentous occasion. Chicago is on cloud nine right because the Cubs have finally broken the Curse of the Billy Goat.
The past few weeks I’ve been bringing you Nerdoween-related earworms but thought I’d share some of the songs bound to be drilled into my head in the coming weeks. From my perspective, this Cubs winning is something the whole world should recognize as a piece of history regardless of team alliance. And hey, it’s curse related. So there’s the Halloween tie-in.
“Go, Cubs, Go!”
In the past hour, I’ve heard this song an estimated… infinity amount of times. The 1984 song by Steve Goodman has been, from time to time, the official team and victory song for the Cubs and is, as you can imagine, going to be everywhere over the coming days and weeks. Cubs fans even made sure the city could hear it earlier this month by singing it so loudly it could be heard a mile away.
However, if that isn’t your speed, there are surely other options to show your Chicago pride…
The Mountain Goats “Cubs In Five”
There are quite a few ways to interpret any song by The Mountain Goats, and most usually lead to existential angst, but I choose to believe John Darnielle wrote this song in the most optimistic way he could. A song filled to the brim with hope of a bright outlook to the future of all the things he’d want to happen. I’m sure Darnielle is placing a check mark next to “…the Chicago Cubs will beat every team in the league” and debating whether or not he’ll have to tweak the lyrics from here on out.
Speaking of possibly having to change lyrics…
Eddie Vedder “All The Way”
Illinois resident and Pearl Jam front-man Eddie Vedder wrote this song at the request of Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks. Whether you’re a fan of another team or not even a sports fan at all, it’s hard to not get caught up in the sea shanty-like aspects of this song and sing along. And when it comes to fight songs for the upcoming World Series, you really can’t do much better than rallying behind the vocals of Eddie Vedder.
As I’ve mentioned, I’m really not a good example of a sports fan, but I see no better way to end this week’s edition than with one of the biggest fans of the sport and the best damn earworm that ever existed.
This was actually the last time Harry Caray sang “Take Me out to the Ballgame” back in 1997. He would pass away a year later. You’ll bound to see videos of him in the coming weeks talking about his hopes for the Cubs to someday win the pennant and World Series but it’s in this video where I can see what baseball can do for people. Bringing an entire stadium together. Friends, family, and sports rivals all singing together for the love of the game at the 7th inning stretch.
I’ve often scoffed at die-hard fandom of anything (I’m sort of a dick) but there’s definitely something to be said about the love people put into the game and behind a team that helps define their city. I recognize how deep this passion can go. Across Chicago, the country, and the world there are fans who’ve wanted this for generations and now have it. I’m still no fan of baseball, but I love Chicago and having the Cubs win the pennant is pretty damn special. Let’s go Cubbies!
What are your favorite sports-related songs? Should I have made more funky butt-lovin references than just this one? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Image: Rookie of the Year (20th Century Fox)
Blake Rodgers writes for Nerdist from Chicago, IL where he lives happily with his Guinness World Record for High Fives. You can be his pal by following him on Twitter (@TheBlakeRodgers)
