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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

St. Vincent’s DeJamz: Chicago sports celebration songs

(Graphic by Max Kleiner / The DePaulia)
(Graphic by Max Kleiner / The DePaulia)

With the Cubs fighting their way through the MLB playoffs right now, the Blackhawks starting off their hockey season this week and the Bulls officially hitting the court for their opening season late this month, Chicago sports hype has been themselves at an all-time high this fall.  And whether you’re celebrating at Wrigley Field, the United Center, or your local sports bar or even in the comfort of your own home, Chicagoans will (hopefully) be celebrating wins nonetheless this fall season and beyond.

Some of the many aspects that separate different team’s fan from others are in fact these celebrations — whether it is certain cheers, dances, or even specific songs. So in honor of the Cubs making their way through the playoffs and hopefully in the World Series, here is a look back at just some of the many sport team celebration songs.

1. The Fratellis — “Chelsea Dagger”

Countless numbers of teams from every city and every sport have a specific celebration song used after a goal is scored, after a play is made or sometimes maybe just to get the crowd’s energy uplifted.  For the Chicago Blackhawks, their goal song is easily one of the most recognizable in the league, though they weren’t the first to adopt it.  The song “Chelsea Dagger” by the Scottish rock band The Fratellis was originally used by Glasgow’s football team Celtic FC, which the band are fans of. Even beyond that, the song has been played routinely at Stamford Bridge when the England football team Chelsea wins an important match.  The song was adopted as the Blackhawks team anthem after an executive producer of the team heard it at a Chelsea match.

2. Neil Diamond — “Sweet Caroline”

A little different than “Chelsea Dagger,” the team anthem for the Boston Red Sox is undoubtedly a classic amongst all baseball fans.  Since 2002, the slow upbeat sound of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” has been played at every Red Sox game during the middle of the eighth inning, easily getting all fans on their feet singing along.  In the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the New York Yankees — longtime rivals of the Sox — along with a number of other baseball teams played Diamond’s song during their eighth inning in tribute and solidarity to the city.

3. Eddie Vedder — “All the Way”

While a great number of fans and artists have made tribute songs to the Chicago Cubs, the most notable is Pearl Jam member Eddie Vedder’s “All the Way” rendition of a fan’s look forward to a Cubs world series. Vedder recorded his single and later performed it at Wrigley back in 2008, a whole 100 years after their last World Series win.  Outside of Vedder’s song, the iconic “Go, Cubs, Go!” song written by Steve Goodman in 1984, has always been the most recognizable chant in the ivy ballpark.

4. Alan Parsons Project — “Sirius”

This may be cheating just a bit, but the instrumental piece by The Alan Parsons Project has been one of the most recognizable starting lineup songs in all of sports, and the Chicago Bulls are to thank for that.

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